Elan Valley

Elan Valley ( valley of the river Elan in Welsh Cwm Elan ) is a valley in Mid-Wales, west of the small town of Rhayader.

Nature

The area consists of rolling hills, cut into the steep valleys. Often you can still find the original deciduous forest, which is mainly dominated by sessile oak, as well as Moore and wide lawns. The area is protected to a large extent water protection area under the administration of the Water Board Dwr Cymru and thus.

It is rich in animals. So here 180 different bird species have been counted; to the more than 20 species of mammals include foxes, gray squirrels, badgers, otters, minks, polecats, as well as deer and many others.

The area is accessible by 180 km walking that marks and are also described in brochures. This includes the Cnwch Wood Nature Trail and the Elan Valley Trail.

Water

Since 1892, here is a series of reservoirs were created, which primarily supply the city Birmingham with water. The high rainfall (1830 mm, for comparison London 593 mm), the narrow Talabschntte and hard rock surfaces, which facilitated the dam, and the height of the valley, which allow the flow of water to Birmingham, leaving this area as ideal for the water supply of then emerging industrial city appear.

The construction of the dams had to give several settlements, including a home of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.