Wales

Wales

Cymru – in the Welsh language

The Country

Has a population of 2.9 million people

Mainly a highland country

With high stretches of moorland plateau, hills and mountains

Broken by deep valleys The rivers Dee, Wye

and Severn

The Cambrian Mountains (known as the Welsh Massif

The highest Mountain Snowdonia in the north-west

Peak of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) (3,560 feet,

1, 085 m)

Lower Wye Valley, Wales

The Wye River rises in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales and flows southwards into the Severn River. The wooded slopes of the Wye’s

lower reaches are renowned for their natural beauty and attract many tourists to the area.

Richard T. Nowitz/Corbis

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Snowy Peaks of SnowdoniaSituated in the

northwestern corner of Wales, Snowdonia

National Park includes wild and rocky landscapes, such as Tryfan and Snowdon itself, as well as gentler hills such as those seen

here. As can be seen from the fields in the

foreground, Snowdonia, like other British national parks,

is set in a working agricultural landscape

with established communities.

Antoinette Jongen Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. ©

1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

The Country

Lowland zones – narrow coastal belts

River valleys in industrial south Wales

Two-thirds of the Welsh population

Chief urban concentrations of people and industry are around the bigger southern cities

The capital Cardiff Swansea Newport

In the past, the highland nature of Wales has hindered conquest, agriculture and settlement of people

Cardiff’s City CenterCardiff, the capital of

Wales, is a thriving cultural, commercial, and industrial center.

At the heart of the city, Cathays Park is bounded by an impressive set of civic and historic buildings, including

City Hall (pictured in foreground),

the Welsh National Museum,

Cardiff Castle, and Cardiff University. M.Leslie Evans/Robert Harding

Picture Library Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. ©


Skenfrith, WalesSkenfrith, in southeastern Wales, includes the ruins of a 13th-century castle, bottom

center, which is surrounded on all sides by an irregularly shaped stone wall. Like many other Welsh small towns and villages, Skenfrith relies on the rural land that lies

outside of the industrial southern portion of Wales. Green fields of grazing land for cattle and sheep dominate the mountainous countryside of Wales.

Y. Hanyuda/ALLSTOCK, INC. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Early History

After the colapse of Roman rule Wales remained a Celtic stronghold

During Norman times often under the influence of England

In 1282 Edward I brought Wales under English rule - the great castles that he built in north Wales remain among the UK`s finest historic monuments

His eldest son – Edward II - wasborn in 1284 at Caernarfon and was created Prince of Wales

The title has been given to the eldest son of successive reigning monarchs ever since

English Prince of WalesThis illustrated manuscript

depicts Edward I, king of England, conferring the title

of prince of Wales on his son, Edward II, in 1301.

Edward I crowned his son prince of Wales in an effort to lend legitimacy to his rule over Wales and to gain the loyalty of the Welsh people.

Thereafter, it became tradition for the firstborn son of each English (later British) monarch to receive the title

prince of Wales. British Library, London, UK/Bridgeman

Art Library, London/New York Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-

2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle is the largest castle in Wales, and the second largest in Britain after Windsor Castle. Its wide moat and massive stone walls appear to make it as impregnable as ever, some 700 years after its construction.

Robert Harding Picture Library Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Ruthin Castle, DenbighshireRuthin is the administrative

center of Denbighshire, a county in northern

Wales. The town developed around the fortification of Ruthin Castle, which was

completed in 1284. The original castle was

demolished in the 17th century during the

English Civil War but was rebuilt in 1826. It

has since been redeveloped as a luxury

hotel. Richard T. Nowitz/Corbis Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008

Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Aberystwyth, Wales

The ruins of a 13th-century castle overlook Cardigan Bay, where the seaside resort and university town of Aberystwyth is situated. The town,

in central Wales, grew up around the castle and is home to the University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Michael St. Maur Sheil/Corbis Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Harlech Castle, North Wales

Harlech Castle, on the northwest coast of Wales, was one of the six Welsh strongholds built by Edward I in the late 13th century.

Round watchtowers rise at each of the castle’s four corners. The castle is now a ruin.

Kord.com/age fotostock Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Early history

Strong Welsh national feeling culminated in the unsuccessful rising led by Owain Glyndwr at the beginning of the 15th century

The Tudor dynasty, which ruled England from 1485 to 1603, was of Welsh ancestry

The Acts of Union of 1563 and 1542 united England and Wales administratively, politically and legally

Devolution in Wales - In July 1999 the National Assembly for Wales was established

National Assembly for Wales

In a referendum held in May 1997, government proposals for devolution in Wales were endorsed by a narrow majoritiy of the Welsh people - 50.3 per cent of those who voted in favour

The Government odf Wales Act 1998 subsequently provided the necessary statutory framework to establish a National Assembly for Wales

The first elections to the Assembly took place in May1999 - 60 memebers

National Assembly for Wales

The Labour Party has traditionally had strong support in Wales

Since October 2000 it has run the Assembly in partnership with the Liberal Democrats

The cabinet of eight Assembly Secretaries

As part of the UK,Walesretains full constituency representation in the Parliament in London

The office of Secretary of State for Wales continues, although his or her function has changed considerably

Welsh Language

In 1997, 21 per cent of the population in pri vate households said that they spokeWelsh.

In muchof the rural north and west, Welsh remains the first language

Welsh is now more widely used for officialpurposes, and is treated equally with English in the work of the Assembly

Extensively used in broadcasting

Most road signs are bilingual

Is taught – as a first or second language- to most pupils between the ages 5 and 16

Economy

Welsh economy –traditionally used to be based on coal and steel

Steel industry remains important, andcrude steel productionaccounts for 42per cent of steel output

Wales is an important centre for

Consumer and office electronics, optical and electrical industries

Automotive components Chemicals and

materials Aerospace industry Food and drink

Slate Quarry in Wales

Slate is still excavated in the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog in northwestern Wales. The region has a long industrial history based on slate quarrying. Slate is a dense, fine-grained rock that is formed by the metamorphism of shale or clay. Builders use slate for roofing tiles, paving stones, and flooring.

Farrell Grehan/Corbis Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Mining in Mountain AshThese buildings at the

foot of a tailings pile were once home to

the coal-mining families of Mountain Ash, in south central

Wales. Coal was once a major mineral

resource in Wales. In the 1960s, these valleys held more

than 150 mines and provided one of every four industrial jobs in Wales. Today, nearly all mining in Mountain

Ash has ceased. Duroy Rapho/Photo Researchers,

Inc. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. ©

1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All

rights reserved.

Sheepherders in Wales

Much as they did 100 years ago, shepherds meet to discuss life and swap tales in the

mountain pastures of Snowdonia near the tiny village of Llanuwchllyn. Life in north-central Wales has changed little in the past century. Many of the region's inhabitants still make their living by raising sheep. Although English is spoken throughout Wales, Snowdonia and the northwestern corner are home to most of the country's 500,000 Welsh speakers, who have preserved their country's rich traditions of music and verse.

Linda Bartlett/Photo Researchers, Inc. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Llandudno Bay, Wales

Formerly a fishing village,

Llandudno has become a major

tourist resort. Llandudno Bay,

lying between the limestone

headlands of Great Orme and Little Orme, is a

particularly popular

destination. Eric Gilbert/Papilio/Corbis Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. ©


Big Pit Mining Museum, Blaenafon

Coal mining was once the main industry of the

Rhondda Valley and the surrounding area. The Big Pit ("Pwll Mawr")

colliery ceased production in 1980 but its buildings and machinery

were preserved and converted into a museum

of mining. Visitors descend into the mine via the 90-m (300-ft) lift shaft to walk through

underground roadways, air doors, stables (for pit

ponies), and engine houses constructed by

past generations of miners.

Spectrum Colour Library Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. ©


Environment

Wales has a rich and diverse natural heritage

Onequarter isdesignated as a National Park orArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty

three National parks Snowdonia The Brecon Beacons ThePembrokeshire

Coast

44 sites are proposed for designation as Special Ares of Conservation under the European Community Habitat Directive

13 Special Protection areas are classified under theEc Wild BirdsDirective

Cultural and Social Affairs

Welsh Literature hasa long tradition and can claim to be one of the oldest in Europe

The Welsh people have strong musical traditions, well known for its choral singing

Welsh National Opera BBC National Orchestraof

Wales have international reputations

Special festivals, knownas EISTEDDFODAU, encou rage Welsh literature and music

The largest is the Annual Royal National Eisteddfod –entirely in Welsh

Crowning of the Bard, Wales

The Royal National Eisteddfod is an annual arts festival held in Wales in August to celebrate Welsh literature and music. It reaches its climax when

the person judged to have produced the most distinguished work in the preceding year is enthroned as the supreme bard.

E. Hughes/Spectrum Colour Library Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Cultural and Social Affairs

The Museum of Welsh life at St. Fagans, near Cardiff

Welsh Slate Museum at Llanberies

a new Industrial and Maritime museum in Swansea

Welsh artists Augustus John Gwen John Kyffyn Williams

TV broadcaster S4C, Sienal PedwarCymr4u, hasrecently been broadcasting in Welsh for 12 hours a day on its new digital chanel

Welsh national game- rugby – rugby union football - Wales staged the final of the Rugby World cup inNovember 1999 at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff

Rugby Match in Wales

Rugby is the most popular sport in Wales, the principality located on the western peninsula of the island of Great Britain. The Welsh team competes

in many international matches, and most Welsh towns and villages have rugby teams. Cricket and soccer are also popular, as are fishing, hunting,

hiking, and rock climbing. Colin Molyneux/The Image Bank Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Great Britain's Longest Place Name

The Welsh village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, variously spelled with between 54 and 58 letters, is credited with possessing the longest place name in Great

Britain, and one of the longest in the world. Often shortened to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, the name translates roughly as "Saint Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool by the red cave of Saint Tysilio." The village, in the southeastern part of the island of Anglesey, is heavily Welsh-speaking. Most of the village's signs are written in Welsh and English, as is the

case in much of Wales. Timothy Eagan/Woodfin Camp and Associates, Inc. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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Wales