Geography of Wales

Location

• Wales is bordered by England to the east and by sea in all other directions: the Irish Sea (Môr Iwerddon) to the north and west, St George's Channel (Sianel San Siôr) and the Celtic Sea (Y Môr Celtaidd) to the southwest and the Bristol Channel (Môr Hafren) to the south.

Size of Wales

• Area - 20,779 km2• It is about 274 km N-S and 97 km E–W. • Coastline is over 1,180 km

Landscape

• Wales is a generally mountainous country. The mountains were shaped during the last ice age.

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)

• 1,085 m high is the highest mountain in Wales

Waterfalls

• Pistyll Rhaeadr is 73 metres high which is 22 metres higher than Niagra Falls. Another of our waterfalls Sgwd yr Eira, meaning fall of snow, is 50 feet high and is so called because of its torrential foaming white water.

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Pistyll Rhaeadr Sgwd Yr Eira

Lakes, seas and rivers

• 488 lakes.(398 are natural) • Largest Lake: Bala (4.4 sq km)• Longest river: Towy (Tywi) 103 km

Cities of WalesCapital: CardiffMajor Cities:Swansea and

Newport