What Wales is known for

Wales is a country located in the United Kingdom. Generally, Wales is famous for its mountainous national parks, rugged coastline, and the Celtic Welsh language.[4] With a population of 3.1 million people and a size of roughly 20,800 square km, Wales acts as a home to several businesses and multiple languages, the main ones being English and Welsh. Wales receives around 10 million visitors a year, and approximately one million of those tourists are found to be international travelers. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Snowdonia National Park, and Brecon Beacons National Park are all located within the country. These national parks often draw tourists in from various places, and they also act as a home to many animals. Currently, there are six main historical cities in Wales. These are Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Bagnor, St. Davids, and St. Asaph. Cardiff, which is referred to as Caerdydd in Welsh, is the capital city of Wales, with a population of about 363,000 people. St. Davids, located in Pembrokeshire, is the smallest city in the UK, with a population of under 2,000 people. The population of the other cities varies depending on their location and proximity to other things.[3] 

One of the most commonly visited forms of attractions in Wales is castles. Out of all of the castles in the area, twelve are particularly popular. Some of these castles include Beaumaris Castle, Caerphilly Castle, Conwy Castle, Raglan Castle, Denbigh Castle, and Powis Castle. Each castle's historical background is unique from the others since they were all built in a slightly different time periods than the others. For example, the Conwy Castle was built between 1283 and 1289, while the Raglan Castle is a ruin of a 15th-century castle that was built by Sir William ap Thomas. An unparalleled structure and design characterize every castle, though similarities can be found between them.[8] 

Aside from the castles, one of the other main attractions in Wales are the national parks. Snowdonia National Park consists of a mountain range made up of 14 peaks that reach over 3,000 feet high. Snowdon, a mountain with its highest peak reaching 3,546 feet, is the largest in the national park. Hiking trails draw in visitors every year, along with the opportunities for horseback riding, climbing, and mountain biking. Two different sets of Black Mountains border Brecon Beacons National Park. Most of the mountains within Brecon Beacons National park reach above 1,000 feet and are named after the red sandstone that acted as beacons of light that were used to warn off invaders years ago. Caves and waterfalls, such as the Henrhyd Falls at Coelbren, are also situated inside Brecon Beacons National Park. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is surrounded by water on three sides. Because of the water, visitors often go on a hike down the Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail to find views of the coasts and shores. Multiple other attractions surround the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, such as the Pembroke Castle, Laugharne, and St. David's Cathedral.[2] 

Geography

Wales is a country located in the United Kingdom. It is a very mountainous terrain that also houses many forests and three national parks. Situated in the west section of the UK, Wales is mainly surrounded by water, with the exception of England to the east. It is bordered by the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, and Bristol Channel. Many of the major cities that call Wales home are located at the edge where land connects to the sea. Cardiff and Newport are two of the largest cities in Wales. Swansea is another large city within the country. 

There are several landmarks in Wales, most of which make the country more popular and well-known for its natural features. Snowdon is Wale's highest mountain. It was formed by volcanic eruptions that took place millions of years ago, and the surrounding landscape was formed through the melting and forming of glaciers. Cwm Idwal is a glacial valley that surrounds lake Llyn Idwal. The area gets its name from a local legend that involved a prince who gave his son, Idwal, to one of his friends. Out of jealousy and rage, the friend of the prince pushed Idwal into the lake, causing him to drown. After banishing his friend, the prince named the lake after Idwal. It is said that birds will not fly over the lake's surface and that a wailing cry can be heard around the Cwm during storms. Swallow Falls flows through a chasm that is surrounded by birch and beech trees. The falls are the largest continuous falls in Wales. Having been opened to the public in 1913, Swallow Falls receives visitors throughout the year. Other landmarks in Wales are Llanddwyn Island, Pen y Fan, Rhossili Bay, and Llyn Ogwen.[9]

In Wales, summers are short, while winters are significantly longer. During the year, temperatures often vary from 35 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees. On average, the hottest month of the year is July, followed by June and September. February tends to be the coldest month and often has relatively higher cloud coverage and wind. Precipitation is relatively low in Wales but constant throughout the year. Rainfall is the most common in October, with an average of 2 inches. February typically receives the least amount of rain. The humidity in Wales is relatively low, making Wales more dry compared to other countries in the United Kingdom.[5] 

There are around 1,578 different types of plants in Wales. Around 1,471 of those have been confirmed to grow in the area. Multiple types of horsetail plants thrive in the area, along with several ferns. Many of the plants in Wales grow near water, and only a few thrive in dryer places, which are relatively rare. Mammals that live in Wales include western roe deer, European fallow deer, blue whales, humpback whales, various types of dolphins, and multiple species of domestic animals such as cows and sheep. Birds roam Wales, especially in more forested areas. Some of the more exotic birds include rose-ringed parakeets, eastern rosellas, Eurasian eagle-owls, black storks, golden pheasants, and gray partridges.[6] 

History

Wales, despite being a part of the United Kingdom, does not represent itself with the Union Flag. Instead, Wales represents itself with the ancient battle standard referred to as the Red Dragon. Consisting of a red dragon and a passant on a green and white background, the Wales symbol has been adapted over the years and thus has several different variations. Adopted in 1959, the current flag of Wales is based on an old royal badge that British kings and queens used. The red dragon, named Draco, has been in several legends. Many things have been said about the red dragon, though the oldest recorded use of the dragon to symbolize Wales was in the Historia Brittonum, which was written by the historian Nennius around 820. The red dragon has been used to signify the direct descent of the English throne to one of the noble families of Wales. Though the red dragon was not always a significant symbol, today, it flies over public and private buildings throughout Wales. Many Welsh people carry the dragon around as a symbol of pride in their culture and history.[10] 

Wales officially became a country in 1536. Wales got its name from variations of different words, the main one being foreigners. The Anglo Saxons were the ones to establish this word, which has many different variations throughout Europe. Wales is named after the outsiders who moved to the area over the years.[7] 

Wales has been inhabited for at least 29,000 years. Plants and animals had likely been around before then. Modern humans have lived in the Wales areas for thousands of years, and over those years, a lot has happened. During the Roman era, the Roman conquest of Wales occurred. It took around 30 years to complete, and the result was a 300-year occupation. After the Roman era, the history of Wales became difficult to interpret. Eventually, the area where Wales is now located was separated into multiple kingdoms. Anglo-Saxons moved to the Welsh area shortly after the Roman era and had a large impact on many of the Welsh people.[1] 

Wales has seen many different types of colonies and people, such as the Romans, Vikings, and English. As the country aged, it experienced many changes. The industrial revolution brought agriculture, small-scale industries, manufacturing, and mining. Wales produced a large portion of pig iron for Britain during the 1820s. Slate quarrying expanded in the late 18th century in Wales, which had a large impact on the jobs that the Welsh had. Over the years, Wales has produced millions of tons of coal that have been used around the globe.[1]