River Usk
The
River Usk,
Afon Wysg in
Welsh,
rises in the
mountains of mid-
Wales then flows south-east through
Abergavenny and the eponymous town of
Usk to the
Roman legionary
fortress of
Caerleon and the
Bristol Channel at
Newport.
It is the deepest river in the
British Isles at its mouth and has the second largest tidal range in the world after the
Bay of Fundy in
Canada.
The Usk has played an important role both in the history of
South Wales, and some of the local folktales. Historically, the Usk has been used as a major shipping route for much of the last millennium, mostly because of its wide and deep mouth, and good access from the
Bristol Channel. Evidence of the Usk's longstanding use in transport and trade came in the form of the remains of the
Newport ship which were unearthed in July 2002. The ship, dated around 1465, was most likely a trade ship, and may have been around much of Europe and beyond in its lifetime [
1]. Its presence in the Usk has only confirmed what an important trading route the Usk must have provided to the many towns and villages along its route.
The Usk has also played a role in many local and regional legends. One of the most famous legends involves
King Arthur, who is thought by many to have been based in Wales. Legend has it that Arthur fought a battle against
Saxon invaders near Newport and, after a victorious outcome, sailed down the Usk on a boat to
Caerleon, where he held council and based himself for large stretches at a time. Some even suggest that Caerleon is the site of
Camelot, though such suggestions are conjecture and are not based on any hard evidence.
*
Rivers of the United Kingdom
