Like England and Scotland, Wales is a part of the United Kingdom. The country is known as Cymru in Welsh. Its capital is Cardiff. Geography - A long stretch of coastline is preserved in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park of southwestern …
Wales is bounded on the north by the Irish Sea, on the west by St. George's Channel, and on the south by the Bristol Channel. On the east it borders England. Wales covers an area of 8,015 square miles (20,758 square kilometers). The landscape consists of mountains, plateaus, and hills. The Cambrian Mountains extend from north to south. Two main mountain areas project from here. These are the Brecon Beacons in the south and Snowdonia in the northwest. The Brecon Beacons rise to 2,906 feet (886 meters) at Pen y Fan; Snowdonia reaches a height of 3,560 feet (1,085 meters) at Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. The Severn and Wye are two of Britain's longest rivers. They lie partly within central and eastern Wales and drain into the Bristol Channel. The main river in northern Wales is the Dee, which empties into Liverpool Bay. The largest lake is Bala in northern Wales. Plants and animalsGrasslands and planted woodlands are common in Wales. The country has some mammals and birds that are rarely found elsewhere in Britain. These include European polecats and pine martens, red kites, and crowlike birds called choughs. Seabirds and shorebirds occur in large numbers, and bottlenose dolphins inhabit Cardigan Bay. People and cultureEnglish and Welsh are the region's two main languages. The Welsh language, which was in danger of extinction in the mid-20th century, experienced a revival. The survival of the Welsh language was important to people who wanted to preserve the Welsh heritage. Schools now teach in both English and Welsh, and about a quarter of the people can speak Welsh. Most Welsh are Protestants and belong to the Presbyterian Church of Wales. Wales has been called “the land of song.” The Penillion, a type of song sung to the accompaniment of the triple harp, was a feature of popular Welsh culture until the early 18th century. An annual arts festival and competition, the National Eisteddfod, celebrates music, poetry, drama, and art. It dates from medieval times. The Welsh National Opera is highly regarded. Wales has produced internationally famous writers, including the poet and playwright Dylan Thomas. EconomyAgriculture, forestry, manufacturing, and government are the main sources of income. Agricultural production mainly centers on the raising of sheep, cattle, and poultry. Major crops include barley, wheat, potatoes, and oats. The only significant mineral resource in Wales is coal. HistoryEarly historyWales has been inhabited since prehistoric times. However, the earliest written history of Wales began when the Romans invaded the area in the 1st century AD. The people of Wales started to practice Christianity in the 4th century. Roman Wales had a well-ordered settlement. The native inhabitants were called Britons. Their language, known as Brittonic, adopted many Latin terms. Roman rule ended in about 400, and a number of new kingdoms were started. The English considered the Britons to be Welsh, a named that comes from an Old English word meaning “foreigner,” but the people of Wales identified themselves as Cymry, or “countrymen.” Union with EnglandBy the 9th century a Welsh state emerged under such princes as Rhodri the Great and Hywel Dda. The Normans invaded Wales in the 11th century. They built a number of castles to assist them in controlling the country. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the English kings made several attempts to control Wales. Edward I of England succeeded in conquering Wales and named his son Prince of Wales in 1301. In 1401 Owen Glendower, a Welsh leader, led a successful revolt against the English. For a few years the Welsh were independent. By 1410, however, the English regained control, and in 1536 Wales was united with England. There was a movement for Welsh self-government during the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1997 the Welsh people voted to form a Welsh assembly that would give them a say in governing the country. The assembly was formed in 1999. Population (1999 estimate), 2,937,000. |