- Cymru am byth

(Wales forever)

Where is Wales? Wales is in north-west Europe and is part of Great Britain, an island country and the United Kingdom (UK).

Wales (Cymru in Welsh) is a mountainous country on the western side of south, St George's Channel in the west, and the Irish Sea to the north. Great Britain, and is bordered by England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, St. Georges Channel in the west and the Irish Sea to the north. Technically, Wales is a principality. This means that it is ruled

by a prince. Traditionally the Prince of Wales is the eldest son of the English monarch. Wales is one of the four parts of the United Kingdom (along with England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland). Wales has not been politically independent since 1282, when it was conquered by King Edward I of England. Until 1999, Wales was ruled directly from London; that year saw the first elections to the National Assembly of Wales, which has limited domestic powers and cannot make law. Wales does not issue its own currency and is not in control of any armed forces. These are the powers of the national government of the UK. The national game of Wales is Rugby. Fact File
Population

3,063,500 (2011)
Area Size

20,780km2 (8023m2) Approx. 160 miles long by 60 miles wide (257km x 97km) with around 750 miles (1,207km) of coastline.

Capital

Cardiff (population: 341,000)

Cities

Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bangor , St Asaphand St Davids (smallest city in the UK)
Language

Welsh and English

Government

Welsh Government
Highest Mountain

Snowdon at 3,560ft (1,085m) the highest mountain in Wales and England.

National Parks

Snowdonia Brecon Beacons Pembrokeshire (the only coastal national park in the UK)
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Clwydian Range Lln Peninsula Wye Valley Gower Peninsula Isle of Anglesey
The Wales Coast Path

The world's first coastal path to cover an entire country.Stretching from the mouth of the River Dee in Flintshire in the north to Chepstow in south, the Wales Coast Path covers 870 miles (1,400km). The network also links into the Offa's Dyke Path - creating a 1,030 mile (1660km) route around the whole of Wales.
Longest Place Name

The longest place name in the world is a little town on the Isle of Anglesey known as Llanfair PG: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch It means: St Marys (Church) by the white aspen over the whirpool, and St Tysilios (Church) by the red cave.
Largest Island

Anglesey is the largest island off the coast of England and Wales
Longest Beach

The 8 mile (12.8km) beach at Cefn Sidan on Carmarthen Bay

Largest Natural Lake

Llyn Tegid, Bala at 4 miles (6.5km) long

Highest Waterfall

Pistyll Rhaeadr at 240ft (73m)

National Flag

Red dragon on a green and white field

Patron Saint

St David (Dewi Sant). St Davids Day is celebrated on 1st March.

National Emblems

The leek and daffodil

The National Anthem

Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (The Land of my Fathers)

The Millennium Stadium

The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital city, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team.
Currency

Pound Sterling () Famous Welsh people Wales is known for its great actors - Richard Burton, and today Sir Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones. It is also known for its Celtic traditions and the Red Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) on its flag.

Laura Ashley - famous fashion creator. David Lloyd George - past British Prime Minister, John Prescott - the present Deputy Prime Minister. Sir George Everest - famous traveler and explorer, the highest peak in the world is named after him.

Writers and poets

Roald Dahl (19161990), author Dick Francis (born 1920), jockey and author Dylan Thomas (19141953), poet Ronald Stuart Thomas (19132000), poet David Jones (18951974), artist and poet Musicians Tom Jones Shirley Bassey. Musical groups Catatonia Super Furry Animals The Stereophonics Manic Street Preachers.