Elan Valley

Elan Valley ( Elan River Valley , in Welsh Cwm Elan ) is a valley in central Wales , west of the small town of Rhayader .

nature

The area consists of rolling hills with steep valleys cut. Often you can still find original deciduous forest, which is mainly dominated by sessile oaks , as well as moors or large areas of grass. The area is largely a water protection area under the administration of the Dwr Cymru water board and is therefore protected.

It is rich in animals. 180 different bird species were counted here; The more than 20 mammal species include foxes , gray squirrels , badgers , otters , minks , polecats , as well as deer and many others.

The area is accessible via 180 km of hiking trails that are marked and described in brochures. This also includes the Cnwch Wood Nature Trail and the Elan Valley Trail .

Water management

A number of reservoirs have been built here since 1892, primarily supplying the city of Birmingham with water. The high rainfall (1830 mm, compared to London 593 mm), the narrow sections of the valley and hard rocky subsoil, which made it easier to build the dam, and the height of the valley, which allows the water to run off to Birmingham, made this area ideal for the water supply at that time emerging industrial city appear.

Several settlements had to give way to the construction of the reservoirs, including a home for the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley .

Web links

• http://www.elanvalley.org.uk/ (English language website)

Coordinates: 52 ° 15 ′ 44 "  N , 3 ° 35 ′ 19"  W.