Wales

Cymru in the Welsh language

The Country
Has a population of 2.9 The Cambrian

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

Mountains (known as the Welsh Massif The highest Mountain Snowdonia in the northwest 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 Wyes 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 Snowdonia

Situated 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 The capital Cardiff

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

Swansea
Newport

In the past, the highland

nature of Wales has hindered conquest, agriculture and settlement of people

Cardiffs City Center

Cardiff, 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. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Skenfrith, Wales
Skenfrith, 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

His eldest son Edward II -

wasborn in 1284 at Caernarfon and was created Prince of Wales

The title has been given to

Wales under English rule the great castles that he built in north Wales remain among the UK`s finest historic monuments

the eldest son of successive reigning monarchs ever since

English Prince of Wales

This 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. 19932008 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, Denbighshire

Ruthin 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 castles 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 The Acts of Union of

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

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 The Government odf

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

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 As part of the

traditionally had strong support in Wales Since October 2000 it has run the Assembly in partnership with the Liberal Democrats
The cabinet of eight

UK,Walesretains full constituency representation in the Parliament in London

The office of Secretary

Assembly Secretaries

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

Welsh Language
Welsh is now more 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

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 Wales is an important

traditionally used to be based on coal and steel Steel industry remains important, andcrude steel productionaccounts for 42per cent of steel output

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 Ash

These 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. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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. 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Environment
Wales has a rich and 44 sites are proposed

diverse natural heritage Onequarter isdesignated as a National Park orArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty three National parks Snowdonia The Brecon Beacons ThePembrokeshire Coast

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 Special festivals, knownas

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

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 TV broadcaster S4C, Sienal

St. Fagans, near Cardiff Welsh Slate Museum at Llanberies a new Industrial and Maritime museum in Swansea
Welsh artists Augustus John

PedwarCymr4u, hasrecently been broadcasting in Welsh for 12 hours a day on its new digital chanel
Welsh national game- rugby

Gwen John
Kyffyn Williams

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.