WALES

Capital: Cardiff Largest City: Cardiff Official Language(s): Welsh, English W Government: Constitutional monarchy Area: 20.779 km Lakes and rivers: Population: 2,999,300 Currency: Pound sterling (GBP) National Day: St. Davids Day (March 1 )
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FLORA AND FAUNA

Wales wildlife is typical of Britain with several distinctions. Due to its long coastline and being a peninsular country, Wales hosts a variety of seabirds. The coasts and surrounding islands are home to colonies of gannets, Manx Shearwater, puffins, kittiwakes, shags and razorbills marine animals including basking sharks, Atlantic grey seals, leatherback turtles, dolphins, porpoises, jellyfish, crabs and lobsters.

HISTORY
The Britons, a Celtic tribe, who first settled in the area that is now Wales, had already begun to identify themselves as a distinct culture by the sixth century C.E. The word "Cymry," referring to the country, first appeared in a poem dating from 633. By 700 C.E, the Britons referred to themselves as Cymry, the country as Cymru, and the language as Cymraeg. The words "Wales" and "Welsh" are Saxon in origin and were used by the invading Germanic tribe to denote people who spoke a different language. The Welsh sense of identity has endured despite invasions, absorption into Great Britain, mass immigration, and, more recently, the arrival of non-Welsh residents. Language has played a significant role in contributing to the sense of unity felt by the Welsh; more than the other Celtic languages, Welsh has maintained a significant number of speakers. During the eighteenth century a literary and cultural rebirth of the language appears which further helped to solidify national identity and create ethnic pride among the Welsh. Central to Welsh culture is the centuriesold folk tradition of poetry and music which has helped keep the Welsh language alive. Welsh intellectuals in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries wrote extensively on the subject of Welsh culture, promoting the language as the key to preserving national identity. Welsh literature, poetry, and music flourished in the nineteenth century as literacy rates and the availability of printed material increased. Tales that had traditionally been handed down orally were recorded, both in Welsh and English, and a new generation of Welsh writers emerged In 1536 Henry VIII declared the Act of Union, incorporating Wales into the English realm. For the first time in its history Wales obtained uniformity in the administration of law and justice, the same political rights as the English and English common law in the courts. Wales also secured parliamentary representation. Welsh landowners exercised their authority locally, in the name of the king, who granted them their land and property. Wales, although no longer an independent nation, had finally obtained unity, stability, and, most importantly, statehood and recognition as a distinct culture.

WALES NATIONAL SYMBOLS

Gannets
The Flag

Dolphins

Coat of arms

The north facing high grounds of Snowdonia support a relic pre-glacial flora including the iconic Snowdon lily and otheralpine species such as Saxifraga cespitosa, Saxifraga oppositifolia and Silene acaulis - an eco-system not found elsewhere in the UK. Wales also hosts a number of plant species not found elsewhere in the UK including the Spotted Rock-rose Tuberaria guttata on Anglesey and Draba aizoides on the Gower.

The leek, St. David vegetable ---

The daffodil

WEATHER
Wales lies within the North Temperate Zone. It has a changeable, maritime climate and is one of the wettest countries in Europe. Welsh weather is often cloudy, wet and windy, with warm summers and mild winter. Average maximum temperatures range between 19 C (66 F) and 22 C (72 F) Rainfall patterns show significant variation. Rain is unpredictable at any time of year.

The red kite

The sessile oak ---------------------

GOVERNMENT
Referenda held in Wales and Scotland in 1997 chose to establish a limited form of self-government in both countries. In Wales, the consequent process of devolution began with the Government of Wales Act 1998, which created the National Assembly for Wales; Wales was divided into 22 council areas in 1996. These "unitary authorities" are responsible for the provision of all local government services. English law is regarded as a common law system, with no major codification of the law, and legal precedents are binding as opposed to persuasive. The court system is headed by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom which is the highest court of appeal in the land for criminal and civil cases. The Supreme Court of Judicature of England and Wales is the highest court of first instance as well as an appellate court. The three divisions are the Court of Appeal; the High Court of Justice and the Crown Court. Minor cases are heard by the Magistrates' Courts or the County Court. Since devolution in 2006, the Welsh Assembly has had the authority to draft and approve some laws outside of the UK Parliamentary system to meet the specific needs of Wales.

ECONOMY
Over the last 250 years, Wales has been transformed first from a predominantly agricultural country to an industrial and now a post-industrial economy. The Welsh economy faced massive restructuring with large numbers of jobs in traditional heavy industry disappearing and being replaced eventually by new ones in light industry and in services. Much of Wales is unsuitable for crop-growing and livestock farming has traditionally been the focus of agriculture. The lack of high value-added employment is reflected in lower economic output per head relative to other regions of the UK in 2002 it stood at 90% of the EU25 average and around 80% of the UK average. However, care is needed in interpreting this data, which does not take account of regional differences in the cost of living. When this is taken into account, the gap in real living standards between Wales and more prosperous parts of the UK is not pronounced. In June 2008, Wales made history by becoming the first nation in the world to be awarded Fair-trade Status. The pound sterling is the currency used in Wales.

Information compiled by:

Luenmar Marn ID 19823055 Norailys Acosta ID 19824747