Wales

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

The nation is bordered by England to the east. To the north and west, the Irish Sea provides a coastal boundary. The Bristol Channel sits to the south. To the southwest, the Celtic Sea meets the land. Wales has a total coastline of over 1,600 kilometers.

The country sits within the north temperate zone. This location results in a maritime climate. A maritime climate means the sea influences the weather patterns. This often makes the weather in Wales very changeable.

The physical landscape of Wales is largely mountainous. These mountains were shaped by the Devensian glaciation. This was a period of intense ice movement during the last ice age.

Much of the high ground is in the north and central regions. The highest peaks are located in Snowdonia. Five of these mountains rise above 900 meters. The highest summit is Snowdon, also known as Yr Wyddfa.

There are over 50 islands off the mainland. The largest of these islands is Anglesey, located in the northwest.

History in Wales began when people settled the land after the last ice age. During the Bronze Age, the Great Orme became a major producer of copper. This resource was essential for smelting bronze.

The Roman invasion occurred after the land became distinctly Celtic. The Romans called these Iron Age people the Britons. After the Romans withdrew in the 5th century, Britain fractured into many kingdoms. In the 10th century, Hywel Dda codified Welsh law.

This law code was a major step in creating a sense of nationhood. In 1055, Gruffudd ap Llywelyn briefly united all of Wales. He was the only ruler to achieve this feat.

English conquest changed the political structure of the country. King Edward I of England completed his conquest in 1283.

This ended Welsh independence for a time. However, leaders like Owain Glyndŵr led revolts against English rule. In the 16th century, the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535 and 1542 incorporated Wales into the English legal system. This made the Welsh full citizens within the Kingdom of England. Later, the Act of Union in 1707 created the Kingdom of Great Britain. Despite these changes, a distinct Welsh national feeling continued to grow.

The Industrial Revolution transformed the Welsh economy and society. Before this era, Wales was primarily an agricultural society. The development of mining and metallurgical industries changed this.

The exploitation of the South Wales Coalfield caused the population to expand rapidly. This era saw the rise of heavy industries like coal, metal, and slate mining.

As these extractive industries declined, the economy shifted again. Today, the public sector, service industries, and tourism are major economic drivers. Agriculture remains important and is largely livestock-based. This makes Wales a net exporter of animal produce.

Modern Wales has its own system of governance called devolution. This process allows Wales to manage certain policy matters independently.

A major milestone was the formation of the Welsh Parliament, now known as the Senedd, in 1998.

This institution is responsible for a range of devolved policies. Culture and language also play a vital role in national identity. Both English and Welsh are official languages. While most people speak English, Welsh is dominant in the north and west. There are 538,300 Welsh speakers across the country.

Population distribution in Wales is uneven. Two-thirds of the population lives in South Wales. This region includes the cities of Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport. Cardiff is the capital and the largest city.

In the north, Wrexham is the largest city, and the eastern region of North Wales holds about a sixth of the population. The remaining parts of the country are sparsely populated. Wales is also home to four UNESCO world heritage sites. Three of these significant sites are located in the north.