Usk Reservoir
{{Short description|Lake in Carmarthenshire and Powys, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Usk Reservoir
| image = Usk reservoir.jpg
| caption =
|pushpin_map=Wales Powys
| alt = A sunset shot of a lake surrounded by trees
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Wales
| coords = {{coord|51|56|40|N|3|42|50|W|type:waterbody_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| type = reservoir
| inflow = River Usk
| outflow = River Usk
| catchment =
| basin_countries = United Kingdom
| length =
| width =
| area =
| depth =
| max-depth =
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| shore =
| elevation = 1,006 ft (307 m)
| islands =
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}}
The Usk Reservoir ({{langx|cy|Cronfa Wysg}}) is located in the upper Usk Valley, at {{convert|1006|ft|m}} above sea level, in the western part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales. The county boundary between Carmarthenshire and Powys runs through the reservoir which lies about six miles to the north of the Black Mountain escarpment. It is an important landmark for walkers on the mountain range.
File:Usk reservoir with Black Mountain peaks - geograph.org.uk - 540508.jpg
History
File:Usk reservoir dam wall.jpg
Completed in 1955 by Swansea City Council, the dam is approximately 109 ft (33m) in height and 1600 ft (480m) in width. It was the first example in the UK of an earth dam with horizontal drainage blankets.{{cite book|editor=Cragg, Roger |title=Civil Engineering Heritage: Wales and West Central England |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oTZZsUzmKrMC&pg=PA77 |year=1986 |publisher=Thomas Telford Publishing |location=London |isbn=0-7277-2576-9|page=78}} The reservoir covers some {{convert|280|acre|ha}} of land. It can be located just off the minor road between Trecastle and Llanddeusant, {{convert|7|mi|km}} west of Sennybridge. The reservoir is now owned by Welsh Water and the surrounding forests are managed on their behalf by Natural Resources Wales. Most of the area is open to walkers and cyclists via forest tracks and other footpaths. There are several small car parks for visitors. The reservoir is stocked with freshwater fish such as trout and can be fished with an appropriate licence.
References
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External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.brecon-beacons.com/usk-reservoir.htm Usk reservoir in the Brecon Beacons national park]
- [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2631261 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of the Usk reservoir and surrounding area]
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Category:Reservoirs in Carmarthenshire
Category:Reservoirs in the Brecon Beacons National Park
{{Carmarthenshire-geo-stub}}