River Usk
The River Usk (Welsh: Afon Wysg) rises in the Carmarthen Fans mountains or Fan Brycheiniog of mid-Wales, in the westernmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park then flows south-east through Brecon , Crickhowell, Abergavenny and the eponymous town of Usk past the Roman legionary fortress of Caerleon, through the heart of Newport city and into the Severn estuary at Uskmouth beyond Newport.
It is the deepest river in the British Isles at its mouth[1] and the River Severn into which it empties has the second largest tidal range in the world after the Bay of Fundy in Canada,[2] rising by as much as 30 feet (9 m) between low and high tide.
Environmental significance
The whole river has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It contains estuary, with mudflats and salt marsh, lagoons, bog and marsh, varied grassland and woodland habitats along its course. Its flora and fauna is diverse and includes salmon, trout, otters, twaite, shad, lamprey, perch, sea trout, chub, dace and roach as well as kingfishers, herons and other wildfowl and bird life. Dippers can be seen upriver along with red kite.
The Usk has long been a noted salmon and trout fishing river with a national and international reputation. Salmon of over 30 lb (14 kg) can still be caught. The river has the highest estimated salmon egg deposition of any river south of Cumbria and the Scottish rivers, and exceeded its spawning target. The river has recently been rated as the best fly-fishing water in Wales for salmon and inside the UK Top Ten.
In history and legend
The River Usk has played an important role both in the history of South Wales, and features in some local folk-tales.
Historically, the tidal reaches of the Usk has been used as a major shipping port for much of the last millennium, mostly because of its wide and deep mouth, and good navigable access from the Severn estuary and the Bristol Channel and thence access to home waters and further overseas.
Evidence of the Usk's long-standing use in transport and trade came in the form of the remains of the Newport ship which were unearthed in July 2002. The medieval ship, dated to around 1465, was most likely a trading ship, and may have sailed around much of Europe and beyond in its lifetime. Its presence in the Usk has confirmed what an important trading route the Usk must have provided to the many towns and villages along its route.
The Usk has also played a role in many local legends. One of the most famous legends involves King Arthur, who is thought by many[who?] to have been based in Wales. Legend has it [citation needed] that Arthur fought a battle against Saxon invaders near Newport and, after a victorious outcome, sailed up the Usk on a boat to Caerleon, where he held council and based himself for large stretches at a time. Some even suggest [who?] that Caerleon is the site of Camelot, though such suggestions are conjecture and are not based on any hard evidence.
The valley of the Usk contains many sites of archaeological significance from prehistory and the valley has long been a trade route, settlement area and suitable avenue into Wales for successive invaders such as the Romans and Normans.
See also
References
- ^ "River depth".
- ^ "Coast: Bristol Channel". BBC. Retrieved 2007-08-27.