River Llynfi
Encyclopedia
The River Llynfi, otherwise referred to as the Llynfi River or Afon Llynfi in Welsh
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/53546, is one of three main tributaries of the River Ogmore
or Afon Ogwr.
It runs for around 10 miles from its source north of Maesteg
and flows generally southwards through the Llynfi Valley to the confluence
with the River Ogmore
and the River Garw at Aberkenfig
. Its main tributaries are the Nant Cwm-du and Nant Cedfyw which enter on its left bank and the Nant Crynwydd, Nant Sychbant and Nant y Gadlys on its right bank.
The Llynfi has endured a long period of industrialisation
and coal mining especially around Maesteg. There was an ironworks
and brick works at Tondu
.
Industrialisation and poor provision of sewerage
led to severe water pollution
of the river. In the second half of the 20th century, whilst the impact of coal mining
diminished, new industries such as cosmetics
and toiletries, paper
making and sewage disposal
continued to maintain the Llynfi in an almost abiotic condition. Strong enforcement action against a number of industries helped to ensure a steady improvement in quality into the 21st century.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/53546, is one of three main tributaries of the River Ogmore
River Ogmore
The River Ogmore is a river in South Wales popular with anglers. It runs generally from north to south from the Ogmore Vale and Pentre, past Bridgend and Ogmore...
or Afon Ogwr.
It runs for around 10 miles from its source north of Maesteg
Maesteg
Maesteg is a town and community in Bridgend County Borough, Wales. Maesteg lies at the northernmost end of the Llynfi Valley, close to the border with Neath Port Talbot. In 2001, Maesteg had a population of 17,859, but it is now at an estimate of 20,000....
and flows generally southwards through the Llynfi Valley to the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
with the River Ogmore
River Ogmore
The River Ogmore is a river in South Wales popular with anglers. It runs generally from north to south from the Ogmore Vale and Pentre, past Bridgend and Ogmore...
and the River Garw at Aberkenfig
Aberkenfig
Aberkenfig Aberkenfig Aberkenfig (Welsh Abercynffig, meaning mouth of the Kenfig (stream) is a village of around 2,000 people located in the County Borough of Bridgend, Wales to the north of Bridgend town.-Location:...
. Its main tributaries are the Nant Cwm-du and Nant Cedfyw which enter on its left bank and the Nant Crynwydd, Nant Sychbant and Nant y Gadlys on its right bank.
The Llynfi has endured a long period of industrialisation
Industrialisation
Industrialization is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one...
and coal mining especially around Maesteg. There was an ironworks
Ironworks
An ironworks or iron works is a building or site where iron is smelted and where heavy iron and/or steel products are made. The term is both singular and plural, i.e...
and brick works at Tondu
Tondu
Tondu is a village in Bridgend County Borough, Wales, located about north of the town of Bridgend.Tondu lies on the A4063 from Bridgend to Maesteg, and was established in the late 18th century as a coal mining village servicing the Parc Slip Colliery...
.
Industrialisation and poor provision of sewerage
Sewerage
Sewerage refers to the infrastructure that conveys sewage. It encompasses receiving drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, screening chambers, etc. of the sanitary sewer...
led to severe water pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
of the river. In the second half of the 20th century, whilst the impact of coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
diminished, new industries such as cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
and toiletries, paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
making and sewage disposal
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...
continued to maintain the Llynfi in an almost abiotic condition. Strong enforcement action against a number of industries helped to ensure a steady improvement in quality into the 21st century.
- Map sources for: on Mynydd Caerau and with the Ogmore.