Afon Clarach
Encyclopedia
The Afon Clarach is a small river discharging into Cardigan Bay
north of Aberystwyth
. It flows through a largely agricultural and forested landscape except in its lowest reaches where its banks are crowded with holiday developments. The Clarach is formed at the confluence of the Afon Stewi and Nant Seilo at Penrhyncoch, with both their headwaters originating in low hills at the edge of the Plynlimon
range. The course of the river takes it past the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
(a part of Aberystwyth University
), and the village of Bow Street. Between Bow Street and Llangorwen
, the river is joined by the Bow Street Brook.
In past centuries, the upper reaches of the river have been affected by lead
and silver
mining and the quality of the river has suffered as a result. There is some organic pollution from diffuse agricultural inputs and from the discharge of treated sewage from the Bow Street sewage treatment
works.
The river discharges into the sea over the beach at Clarach Bay
thus limiting the population of migratory fish able to access the river. Consequently Salmon
and sea-trout are rare, however Brown Trout
, brook lamprey
s, millers thumb
and stone loach are commonly found.
The picture below shows a Bridge over the Afon Clarach at Clarach Bay, where the river meets the sea.
Cardigan Bay
Cardigan Bay is a large inlet of the Irish Sea, indenting the west coast of Wales between Bardsey Island, Gwynedd in the north, and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire at its southern end. It is the largest bay in Wales....
north of Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
. It flows through a largely agricultural and forested landscape except in its lowest reaches where its banks are crowded with holiday developments. The Clarach is formed at the confluence of the Afon Stewi and Nant Seilo at Penrhyncoch, with both their headwaters originating in low hills at the edge of the Plynlimon
Plynlimon
Plynlimon is the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains in Wales, and the highest point in Mid Wales. It is a massif that dominates the countryside of northern Ceredigion....
range. The course of the river takes it past the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences is a department of Aberystwyth University , and is located in the town of Aberystwyth on the west coast of Wales, on Cardigan Bay. It has a remit for teaching, research as well as business innovation in the area of land use and the...
(a part of Aberystwyth University
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
), and the village of Bow Street. Between Bow Street and Llangorwen
Llangorwen
Llangorwen is a village located in the county of Ceredigion, Mid-Wales. Close to Clarach Bay and a mile north of Aberystwyth.Jutting out to sea the Sarn Gynfelyn shingle spit is located a few kilometres north of Llangorwen.-External links:*...
, the river is joined by the Bow Street Brook.
In past centuries, the upper reaches of the river have been affected by lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
mining and the quality of the river has suffered as a result. There is some organic pollution from diffuse agricultural inputs and from the discharge of treated sewage from the Bow Street sewage treatment
Sewage treatment
Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
works.
The river discharges into the sea over the beach at Clarach Bay
Clarach Bay
Clarach Bay is a small bay on the coast of Ceredigion, Wales, to the north of Aberystwyth, where the Afon Clarach flows into the sea. It has given its name to extensive nearby caravan and camping sites for holidaymakers.- External links :**...
thus limiting the population of migratory fish able to access the river. Consequently Salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and sea-trout are rare, however Brown Trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
, brook lamprey
Lamprey
Lampreys are a family of jawless fish, whose adults are characterized by a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. Translated from an admixture of Latin and Greek, lamprey means stone lickers...
s, millers thumb
European bullhead
The bullhead is a freshwater fish that is widely distributed in Europe, mainly in rivers. It is a member of the Cottidae family, a type of sculpin...
and stone loach are commonly found.
The picture below shows a Bridge over the Afon Clarach at Clarach Bay, where the river meets the sea.