River Cleddau

Pembroke Castle on the Cleddau

The Cleddau River ( Afon Cleddau walis. [ avɔn klɛðaɪ ] ) is a river in the county of Pembrokeshire in Wales, United Kingdom. The river consists of an eastern arm (Eastern Cleddau Ddu or Cleddau, " black Cleddau " ) and a western arm ( Western Cleddau or Cleddau Wen "white Cleddau "). These form the estuary Daugleddau ( pronunciation [ daɪɡlɛðaɪ ], " the two Cleddau " ) in their common underflow. Often, the river is called as a whole also Daugleddau.

Description

The Cleddau River is one of the most western rivers of Britain and also flows in the Southern direction past predominantly agricultural land with deciduous forests and semi-natural vegetation.

The Western Cleddau

The western arm of the river system springs from a confluence of several smaller streams that serve as drainage for a bog. The headwaters of the Western Cleddau is the largest preserved Sumpftal in Pembrokeshire. It therefore provides an important habitat for a number of species that are found only here. The wetland serves as a reservoir and compensation area which protects the river from extreme weather events. The so-called Fennland and the humid forest areas are managed by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW ) and the Wildlife Trust of South West Wales.

The Eastern Cleddau

The eastern tributary springs from a rocky area that Foeldrygarn ( Three Cairn Hill) carries the name and consists of three large stone retention. The source area is located in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park at the eastern end of the Mynydd Preseli ridge. At the foot of the hill there are natural springs, streams and gullies form. These feed the Eastern Cleddau with their water.

Port Milford

The estuary, together with the Pembroke River to the port of Milford, the second largest natural harbor in the world after Port Jackson, Sydney. With 20 meters of Daugleddau is so low that the ferry port of Pembroke can be reached by larger vessels.

The tidal area and the tidal flats of the Daugleddau are important wintering place for wild fowl and waders.