Snowdonia

Eryri National Park, commonly known as Snowdonia, is a vast mountainous region in North Wales.

It covers much of central and southern Gwynedd and the western part of Conwy County Borough. The park is the fourth-largest national park in the United Kingdom. It includes a significant stretch of coastline between Porthmadog and Aberdyfi.

This area is a major center for nature and tourism. In 2015, the park welcomed 3.89 million visitors.

The landscape was shaped by intense geological processes. During a succession of ice ages, massive glaciers moved across the region. These glaciers carved the bedrock into a distinctive, rocky landscape. The last ice age ended approximately 11,500 years ago. This period of glaciation left behind many features that visitors see today.

Even Charles Darwin recognized this connection. In 1841, he visited Cwm Idwal and realized the landscape resulted from glaciation.

The mountains are the most prominent feature of the park.

The region contains all 15 mountains in Wales that exceed 3,000 feet in height. The Snowdon massif includes the highest peak in Wales, Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa). This peak is also the highest mountain in Britain south of the Scottish Highlands. Other major ranges include the Glyderau and the Carneddau.

To the south, the park extends to include the Rhinogydd, Cadair Idris, and Aran ranges.

The bedrock of these mountains is extremely old. Much of it dates back to the Cambrian and Ordovician periods. These rocks were affected by the Caledonian Orogeny, which involved intense folding and faulting. Low-grade metamorphism of ancient mudstones created the local slate.

For a long time, extracting this slate was the mainstay of the local economy. The geology continues to provide a focus for scientific and educational visits.

Water is another essential part of the Eryri landscape. The park is home to most of the large natural bodies of water in Wales. Llyn Tegid, also known as Bala Lake, is the largest natural lake in the country. Many other lakes occupy glacial troughs or small rocky hollows called tarns.

Some lakes are entirely man-made. For example, Llyn Celyn and Llyn Peris were created as part of pumped storage hydro-electric schemes. These schemes use dammed water to help generate electricity.

The history of the park's name reflects its cultural roots. The name "Snowdon" comes from Old English words meaning "snow hill." The Welsh name for the mountain is Yr Wyddfa. The name "Eryri" likely means "place of the eagle."

The national park was officially established in October 1951. It was the third national park created in the UK, following the Peak District and Lake District. Recently, the park authority began a transition to use the Welsh name, Eryri, more widely. This change aims to prioritize the Welsh language and culture.

Today, more than 26,000 people live within the park boundaries.

In 2011, 58.6% of these residents could speak Welsh. While much of the land is mountainous or open, agriculture remains important. The park is managed by a national park authority consisting of 18 members. This authority oversees both public and private land to protect the environment. The park serves as a vital link between the high mountains and the Irish Sea coast.