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Wales

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Wales is a country found on the island of Great Britain. It is part of the United Kingdom.

Map of Wales
Map of Wales

You can find England sitting right on its eastern border. The sea surrounds the rest of the land. The Irish Sea lies to the north and west. To the southwest, you will find the Celtic Sea. The Bristol Channel sits along the southern coast.

The land is mostly made of mountains. These high peaks are mostly in the north and central areas. The very highest mountain is called Snowdon.

There are also over 50 islands near the coast. The largest of these is Anglesey.

The way the land looks was shaped by ice. During the last ice age, glaciers moved across the land. This created the diverse landscape we see today.

The weather in Wales is often changeable. This is because it has a maritime climate. This means the sea affects the weather patterns.

People live in different parts of the country. Two-thirds of the people live in South Wales. This area includes the cities of Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport. The largest city in the whole country is Cardiff.

In the north, Wrexham is the largest city.

History in Wales goes back a very long time. People settled the land after the last ice age.

Caradog (5227657)
Caradog (5227657)

During the Bronze Age, the Great Orme was a major place for copper. This metal was used to make bronze. The Romans later arrived in the area. They called the local Celtic people the Britons.

Caradog (5227657)
Caradog (5227657)

After the Romans left, the land was split into kingdoms. One king named Hywel Dda made important laws in the 10th century.

Laws of Hywel Dda (f.1.v) King Hywel cropped
Laws of Hywel Dda (f.1.v) King Hywel cropped

In 1055, Gruffudd ap Llywelyn united all of Wales. He was the only king to do this.

Laws of Hywel Dda (f.1.v) King Hywel cropped
Laws of Hywel Dda (f.1.v) King Hywel cropped

Later, King Edward I of England completed a conquest in 1283.

Life in Wales changed during the Industrial Revolution. This was a time when many new industries began.

George Childs Dowlais Ironworks 1840
George Childs Dowlais Ironworks 1840

Mining for coal, metals, and slate became very important. The South Wales Coalfield helped the population grow quickly.

George Childs Dowlais Ironworks 1840
George Childs Dowlais Ironworks 1840

This changed Wales from a farming society to an industrial one. Later, these heavy industries began to decline. Now, the economy relies on the public sector and tourism.

Profile of Wales
Profile of Wales

Agriculture is also still important for the country. Many farms raise livestock to sell food.

Profile of Wales
Profile of Wales

Wales has four UNESCO world heritage sites. Three of these special sites are located in the north.

Culture is a very big part of life in Wales. There are two official languages: English and Welsh.

Welsh spelling on road sign, Newtown, Powys - geograph.org.uk - 1319438
Welsh spelling on road sign, Newtown, Powys - geograph.org.uk - 1319438

Most people speak English every day. However, many people still speak Welsh. There are 538,300 Welsh speakers in the country.

Welsh speakers in the 2011 census
Welsh speakers in the 2011 census

People also have their own way of governing. In 1998, a system called devolution began.

Senedd
Senedd

This led to the formation of the Senedd. The Senedd is the Welsh Parliament.

Senedd
Senedd

It is responsible for many important policy matters. This helps the people of Wales make their own decisions.

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🖼️ Images & Media (30)
Hen Wlad fy Nhadau piano.ogg
File:Caradog (5227657).jpg
Caradog (5227657).jpg
File:Laws of Hywel Dda (f.1.v) King Hywel cropped.jpg
Laws of Hywel Dda (f.1.v) King Hywel cropped.jpg
File:George Childs Dowlais Ironworks 1840.jpg
George Childs Dowlais Ironworks 1840.jpg
File:Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) from Crib Goch, Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri National Park, Cymru (Wales) 09.jpg
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) from Crib Goch, Parc...
File:Map of Wales.svg
Map of Wales.svg
File:Milvus milvus R(ThKraft).jpg
Milvus milvus R(ThKraft).jpg
File:Senedd.JPG
Senedd.JPG
File:First Minister meeting with First Minister of Wales - 52943408033.jpg
First Minister meeting with First...
File:The Old Court House Ruthin Wales.jpg
The Old Court House Ruthin Wales.jpg
File:Laws of Hywel Dda (f.4.r) Judge cropped.jpg
Laws of Hywel Dda (f.4.r) Judge cropped.jpg
File:Profile of Wales.png
Profile of Wales.png

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