River Usk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Usk |
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| Native name | Afon Wysg |
| Country | Wales |
| County | Powys, Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire, Newport |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Fan Brycheiniog, Carmarthenshire / Powys, Wales 502 m (1,647 ft) 51°54′3″N 3°43′19″W / 51.90083°N 3.72194°W |
| River mouth | Bristol Channel Uskmouth, Newport, Wales 0 m (0 ft) 51°32′31″N 2°59′6″W / 51.54194°N 2.98500°W |
| Length | 125 km (78 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The River Usk (in Welsh: Afon Wysg) starts high up on the Black Mountain in Wales. This area is part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The river flows for about 125 kilometers (78 miles).
It begins by forming a border between Carmarthenshire and Powys. Then it flows into the Usk Reservoir. From there, it travels east past places like Sennybridge and Brecon. After Brecon, it turns southeast, passing Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell, and Abergavenny.
Further south, the Usk flows through the town of Usk. It then goes past the old Roman legionary fort of Caerleon. Finally, it runs through the city of Newport and empties into the Severn Estuary at Uskmouth. The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal also follows the Usk for most of its path.
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What's in a Name?
The name "Usk" comes from an old British word. This word likely meant "full of fish" or simply "water." You can see this root in other river names like Exe and Esk.
The Welsh word for fish, pysg, is related to the name Usk. This shows how important fish were to the river. In an old map from 1573, the river was called "Wÿsk."
Amazing River Life
The entire River Usk is a special protected area. It's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means it's very important for nature. The river has many different places where plants and animals can live. These include muddy areas, salty marshes, and lagoons. There are also bogs, grasslands, and woodlands along its banks.
The river is home to many different creatures. You can find Atlantic salmon and European otters here. Many types of fish live in the Usk, such as twait shad, lamprey, European perch, brown trout, and chub.
Birds like kingfishers and grey herons are common. You might also spot dippers upstream. High above the river, red kites fly in the sky.
The Usk is famous for its salmon and trout fishing. People still catch large salmon, sometimes over 30 pounds! The river is known as one of the best places in Wales for fly fishing for salmon.
Crossing the River
Many bridges cross the River Usk. These bridges are for cars, people walking, and trains. Some of them are very old and have a lot of history.
One of the most famous bridges is the Newport Transporter Bridge. It's near the end of the river, close to the sea. This bridge was built in 1906. It's special because it's a "transporter bridge." Instead of cars driving over it, a moving platform hangs from the bridge and carries cars and people across. It's one of only a few left in the world!
Old Mills Along the Usk
For hundreds of years, people used the river's power to run mills. These watermills mostly ground corn into flour. The highest mill on the Usk was at Cwm-wysg, an old corn mill from the Middle Ages.
There was also a mill at Brecon called Watergate Mill. It used water from the Usk to grind corn. Another interesting mill was Forge Mill, which used a long weir (a low dam) to get water from the river.
Archaeologists have found a mysterious old channel, called a leat, near the start of the river. They think it might have been built by Romans or in the Middle Ages. Its purpose is still a secret!
History and Legends
The River Usk has been important throughout the history of Wales. It also appears in some old stories.
For a long time, the part of the Usk near the sea was a busy port. Ships could easily sail in from the Bristol Channel. This made the Usk a key route for trade.
In 2002, parts of an old ship were found in the river. This ship, called the Newport Ship, was from around 1465. It was likely a trading vessel that sailed all over Europe. This discovery showed how important the Usk was for trade long ago.
The Usk is also part of some legends. In one funny story, Sir Gawain (a knight from King Arthur's tales) accidentally pushes his uncle, King Arthur, into the Usk!
A writer named Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote about Caerleon in the 1100s. He said it was a wonderful place on the River Usk, close to the sea. He wrote that kings and princes could sail right up to the city. This shows how important the river was for travel and visitors.
The Usk valley has many ancient sites. It has always been a route for trade and a place where people settled. It was also a way for invaders, like the Romans and Normans, to enter Wales.
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See also
In Spanish: Río Usk para niños
