Download Lesson 2

Shaping the Land
As the River Usk flows to the sea it cuts its own channel
and wears away the land — the process of erosion.
The water carries a heavy load of eroded material
— the process of transportation.
Mud, silt and sand are carried along by the current, while gravel,
pebbles and rocks are pushed and rolled along the river bed.
Whenever the river slows down it drops its load — the process of
deposition. Deposited material is naturally and precisely graded, the
heavier pebbles and gravel settling out first, followed by the finer
sand and silts.
Through these three processes the River Usk is
constantly shaping the landscape.
Visit a website to find out more about HOW RIVERS CHANGE THE LAND
TRANSPORTATION
EROSION
DEPOSITION
Can you see
how the
river and the
land are
changing?
Reservoirs
Rivers are the main source of water in many areas and
reservoirs are an excellent example of how this vital
natural resource is utilised and managed.
Dŵr Cymru - Welsh Water - use the Usk Reservoir not
only to supply a large area of South Wales with water,
but also to regulate the flow of the river.
The reservoir is only a few miles downstream of the
source of the River Usk on the Black Mountain.
Click here to take you to the River Words Smart Notebook file.