The Afon Tawe, known in English as the River Tawe, is a 30-mile (48 km) river flowing through South Wales, beginning its journey below Llyn y Fan Fawr in the Black Mountain range — the westernmost reaches of the Brecon Beacons National Park. From its upland source, the river initially runs eastward before turning south and then southwest, eventually reaching its estuary at Swansea. The catchment covers approximately 246 km² (95 sq mi), draining a landscape that transitions dramatically from wild mountain terrain to the post-industrial valleys of South Wales. Despite a history of heavy metal contamination from centuries of copper, lead, nickel, and zinc refining in the lower valley, the river's water quality has improved significantly, and the Tawe today supports a healthy and recovering fishery that draws anglers from across the region.