River Usk

River Usk
Looking north across the river, near Newport, towards Caerleon
Native nameAfon Wysg (Welsh)
Location
CountryWales
CountyPowys, Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire, Newport
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationFan Brycheiniog, Carmarthenshire / Powys, Wales
 • coordinates51°54′3″N 3°43′19″W / 51.90083°N 3.72194°W / 51.90083; -3.72194
 • elevation502 m (1,647 ft)
MouthSevern Estuary
 • location
Uskmouth, Newport, Wales
 • coordinates
51°32′31″N 2°59′6″W / 51.54194°N 2.98500°W / 51.54194; -2.98500
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length125 km (78 mi)
Discharge 
 • locationChain Bridge (Usk)[1] for 1957-2012
 • average27.919 m3/s (986.0 cu ft/s)for 1957-2012
 • minimum1.58 m3/s (56 cu ft/s)on 27 Aug 2003
 • maximum585.4 m3/s (20,670 cu ft/s)on 27 Dec 1979
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftCilieni, Nant Brân, Ysgir, Honddu, Rhiangoll, Grwyne Fawr, Gavenny, Olway Brook
 • rightHydfer, Crai, Senni, Tarell, Cyrig, Nant Menasgin, Caerfanell, Crawnon, Clydach, Berthin Brook, Sôr Brook, Llwyd, Ebbw
The River Usk near Abergavenny with the Blorenge in the background

The River Usk (/ʌsk/; Welsh: Afon Wysg) rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain (y Mynydd Du), Wales, in the westernmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially forming the boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys, it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and Abergavenny, after which it takes a more southerly course.

Beyond the eponymous town of Usk, it passes the Roman legionary fortress of Caerleon to flow through the heart of the city of Newport and into the Severn Estuary at Uskmouth beyond Newport near the Newport Wetlands. The river is about 125 km (78 mi) long.[2] According to the Encyclopaedia of Wales (which provides a figure of 137km), the river is the longest to flow wholly within Wales.[3]

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal follows the Usk for most of the length of the canal.

  1. ^ "Usk at Chain Bridge". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
  2. ^ "Usk Management Catchment Summary" (PDF). Natural Resources Wales. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  3. ^ Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Baines, Menna; Lynch, Peredur I. (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales (First ed.). Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 904. ISBN 9780708319536.

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