(Y Ddraig Goch) (Royal Coat of Arms)
National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever)
Wales's location within the UK
Official languages	English and Welsh
Capital	Cardiff
Largest city	Cardiff
First Minister	Rhodri Morgan
Area  - Total	Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km²
Population  - Total (2001)  - Density	Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km²
NUTS 1	UKL
Currency	Pound sterling (£) (GBP)
Time zone	UTC, Summer: UTC +1
National anthem	Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
National flower	daffodil; leek
Patron saint	St. David

Wales (Welsh: Cymru; pronounced IPA: /ˈkəmɹi/, approximately "KUM-ree") is a nation, a country, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom (along with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Wales is located in the south-west of Great Britain, and is bordered by England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, St George's Channel in the west, and the Irish Sea to the north. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... A lovely image of the Welsh flag, derived from an SVG file by Tobias Jakobs in the sodipodi flags collection. ... The national flag of Wales is The Red Dragon (Welsh: Y Ddraig Goch). ... A motto is a phrase or collection of words intended to describe the motivation or intention of a sociological grouping or organization. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... An official language is something that is given a unique status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd, from caer, fort, and dydd, Aulus Didius) is the capital and largest city of Wales. ... Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd, from caer, fort, and dydd, Aulus Didius) is the capital and largest city of Wales. ... The First Minister of Wales is the leader of the Welsh Assembly Government, Waless devolved administration. ... The Right Honourable Hywel Rhodri Morgan (born September 29, 1939) is a Welsh politician and the second and current First Minister of the Welsh Assembly. ... This article explains the meaning of area as a physical quantity. ... A list of United Kingdom nations (and English regions) by area: See also List of countries by area List of United Kingdom nations by population UK topics ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 10,000 km² and 100,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Population density can be used as a measurement of any tangible item. ... A list of United Kingdom nations (and English regions) by population as recorded by the 2001 Census: source: the 2001 census See also List of United Kingdom nations by area List of countries by population Population of England - historical population estimates National population register UK topics Categories: Demographics of the... The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) is a geocode standard for referencing the administrative division of countries for statistical purposes. ... The pound sterling, which strictly speaking refers to basic currency unit of sterling, now the pound, can generally refer to the currency of the United Kingdom (UK). ... Time zones are areas of the Earth that have adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time, is an atomic realization of Universal Time or Greenwich mean time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... British Summer Time (BST), known in Ireland as Irish Summer Time (IST), is the daylight saving time in effect in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October each year. ... The National Anthem is the name of a song by the band Radiohead. ... Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (usually translated as The Land of My Fathers, but literally The old country of my fathers) is by tradition the national anthem of Wales. ... A national emblem is a symbol that represents a nation. ... Species ????? Daffodils are a group of large flowered members of the genus Narcissus. ... Binomial name Allium ampeloprasum var. ... In several forms of Christianity, a patron saint has special affinity for a trade or group. ... Saint David (c. ... Welsh redirects here, and this article describes the Welsh language. ... The International Phonetic Alphabet is a phonetic alphabet used by linguists to accurately and uniquely represent each of the wide variety of sounds (phones or phonemes) the human vocal apparatus can produce. ... A nation is an imagined community of people created by a national ideology, to which certain norms and behavior are usually attributed. ... A country, a land, or a state, is a geographical area that connotes an independent political entity, with its own government, administration, laws, often a constitution, police, military, tax rules, and population, who are one anothers countrymen. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ... Northern Ireland is an administrative region and one of four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ... Location of Bristol channel The Severn Bridge and Bristol channel, looking from England towards Wales The Bristol Channel coast at Ilfracombe, North Devon, looking west towards Lee Bay The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, the area of the Atlantic Ocean and River Severn... St Georges Channel is a channel between Wales and Ireland, connecting the Irish Sea to the North and the Atlantic Ocean (the Celtic Sea) to the South. ... bmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb...

The term Principality of Wales, in Welsh, Tywysogaeth Cymru, is often used, although the Prince of Wales has no role in the governance of Wales and this term is unpopular among many in Wales. The nation has not been politically independent since 1282, when it was conquered by the English King Edward I. Until 1999, Wales was ruled directly from London; that year saw the first elections to the National Assembly for 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, based at Westminster. The capital of Wales since 1955 is Cardiff, although Caernarfon is the location where the Prince of Wales is invested, and Machynlleth was the home of a parliament called by Owain Glyndwr during his revolt at the start of the fifteenth century. The eldest son of the reigning monarch ofEngland/Great Britain is traditionally invested with the title of Prince of Wales. ... Events English conquest of Wales begins under Edward I of England Sicilian Vespers - Sicilians rebel against Charles of Anjou and are aided by Peter III of Aragon Births Pope Innocent VI Deaths August 25 - Thomas Cantilupe, Bishop of Hereford October 13 - Nichiren December 11 - Llywelyn the Last, Prince of Wales... Edward I; illustration from Cassells History of England circa 1902. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Greater London and the Regions of England. ... The National Assembly for Wales (or NAW) (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) was established in 1998, following a 1997 referendum in which a small majority of voters (but not the electorate) voted in favour of the Labour Governments plans for devolution. ... Westminster is the name of a city that covers much of central London, located to the west of the ancient City of London, and which has been the principal seat of government in England for more than nine hundred years. ... 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd, from caer, fort, and dydd, Aulus Didius) is the capital and largest city of Wales. ... Caernarfon, 2002 Caernarfon (the original Welsh spelling is now normally used in preference over the Anglicised form, Caernarvon or Carnarvon) is a Royal Town in Gwynedd in north-west Wales. ... Machynlleth is a town in the traditional county of Montgomeryshire, north Powys in Wales. ...

History

Main article: History of Wales The earliest inhabitants of Wales were from continental Europe, who migrated in several waves and who were later subsumed into the culture and race of the Celts. ...

The Romans established a string of forts across what is now southern Wales, as far west as Carmarthen (Maridunum). There is evidence that they progressed even further west. They also built the legionary fortress at Caerleon (Isca), whose magnificent amphitheatre is the best preserved in Britain. The Romans were also busy in north Wales, and an old legend claims that Magnus Maximus, one of the last emperors, married Elen or Helen, the daughter of a Welsh chieftain from Segontium, near present-day Caernarfon. Roman Empire between AD 60 and 400 with major cities. ... Carmarthen (Welsh Caerfyrddin - caer fort + Myrddin Moridunum, Merlin) is the county town of Carmarthenshire, Wales. ... Caerleon is a village situated on the river Usk on the northern outskirts of Newport. ... Magnus Maximus (Welsh: Macsen Wledig), also Maximianus, (c. ... Caernarfon, 2002 Caernarfon (the original Welsh spelling is now normally used in preference over the Anglicised form, Caernarvon or Carnarvon) is a Royal Town in Gwynedd in north-west Wales. ...

Wales was never conquered by the Anglo-Saxons, due to the fierce resistance of its people and its mountainous terrain. An Anglo-Saxon king, Offa of Mercia, is credited with having constructed a great earth wall, or dyke, along the border with his kingdom, to mark off a large part of Powys which he had conquered. Parts of Offa's Dyke can still be seen today. Offa (died July 26/29, 796) was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death. ... Offas Dyke is a massive earthwork between England and Wales, running from the estuary of the River Dee in the north to the River Wye in the south (approximately 240 km). ...

Wales remained a Celtic region, and its people kept speaking the Welsh language, even as the Celtic elements of England and Scotland gradually disappeared. The name Wales is evidence of this, as it comes from a Germanic root word meaning stranger or foreigner, and as such is related to the names of several other European regions where Germanic peoples came into contact with non-Germanic cultures including Wallonia (Belgium),Valais (Switzerland) and Wallachia in Romania, as well as the "-wall" of Cornwall. Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ... National motto: Walon todi ! (Walloon forever!) Official languages French, German Capital Namur Minister-President Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe Area  - Total 16,844 km² Population  - Total (2002)  - Density 3,358,560 inhabitants 199. ... The Valais (also known in German as Wallis) is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the south-western part of the country, in the Pennine Alps around the valley of the Rhone River from its springs to Lake Geneva. ... Map of Romania with Wallachia in yellow. ... Cornwall (Cornish: Kernow or occasionally Curnow) is the part of Great Britains south-west peninsula that is west of the River Tamar, often known as the Cornish peninsula or plateau. ...

Wales continued to be Christian (see. 1904-1905 Welsh Revival and Welsh Methodist revival) when England, was overrun by German and Scandinavian tribes, though many older beliefs and customs survived among its people. Thus, Saint David went on a pilgrimage to Rome during the 6th century, and was serving as a bishop in Wales well before Augustine arrived to convert the king of Kent and founded the diocese of Canterbury. Although the Druidic religion is alleged to have had its stronghold in Wales until the Roman invasion, many of the so-called traditions, such as the gorsedd, or assembly of bards, were the invention of eighteenth-century "historians". The traditional women's Welsh costume, incorporating a tall black hat, was devised in the nineteenth century by Lady Llanover, herself a prominent patron of the Welsh language and culture. The 1904-1905 Welsh Revival was the last full scale Christian Revival the nation of Wales has seen. ... The Welsh Methodist revival of the eighteenth century was one of the most significant religious and social movements in the history of Wales. ... Saint David (c. ... (5th century — 6th century — 7th century — other centuries) Events The first academy of the east the Academy of Gundeshapur founded in Persia by the Persian Shah Khosrau I. Irish colonists and invaders, the Scots, began migrating to Caledonia (later known as Scotland) Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland founded by St. ... St. ... Kent is a county in England, south-east of London. ... St Peters St, Canterbury, from the West Gate, 1993 Canterbury (Latin: Duroverum) is a cathedral city in the county of Kent in southeast England. ... In the Celtic religion, the modern words Druidry or Druidism denote the practices of the ancient druids, the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies through much of Western Europe north of the Alps and in the British Isles. ... A gorsedd (SAMPA /gO:rsED/), occasionally spelled gorseth, plural gorseddau, is a community of bards. ...

The conquest of Wales by England did not take place in 1066, when England was conquered by the Normans, but was gradual, not being complete until 1282, when King Edward I of England defeated Llywelyn the Last, Wales's last independent prince, in battle. Edward constructed a series of great stone castles in order to keep the Welsh under control. The best known are at Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech. Wales was legally annexed by the Act of Union 1536, in the reign of Henry VIII of England. The Wales and Berwick Act 1746 provided that all laws that applied to England would automatically apply to Wales (and Berwick, a town located on the Anglo-Scottish border) unless the law explicitly stated otherwise. This act, with regard to Wales, was repealed in 1967. Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned King of England the day after Edward the Confessor dies. ... This article talks about the Norman people. ... Events English conquest of Wales begins under Edward I of England Sicilian Vespers - Sicilians rebel against Charles of Anjou and are aided by Peter III of Aragon Births Pope Innocent VI Deaths August 25 - Thomas Cantilupe, Bishop of Hereford October 13 - Nichiren December 11 - Llywelyn the Last, Prince of Wales... Edward I; illustration from Cassells History of England circa 1902. ... Arms used by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Llywelyn ap Gruffudd or Gruffydd (c. ... The Alcázar of Segovia, Spain A castle (from the Latin castellum, diminutive of castra, a military camp, in turn the plural of castrum or watchpost), is a fort, a camp and the logical development of a fortified enclosure. ... The ward of Caernarfon Castle, showing (from left to right) the Black Tower, the Chamberlains Tower, and the Eagle Tower. ... Conwy Castle - illustration from Cassells History of England circa 1902 Conwy Castle (often spelled Conway Castle in English usage, although this is now discouraged) was built in Conwy as part of Edward Is second campaign in North Wales. ... The main gatehouse of Harlech Castle. ... The Acts of Union 1536-1543 were a series of parliamentary measures by which Wales was annexed to England and the norms of English administration introduced in order to create a single state. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... The Wales and Berwick Act 1746 was an act of Parliament explicitly expressing that all future laws applying to England would likewise also be applicable to Wales and Berwick unless the body of the law explicitly stated otherwise. ... Berwick-upon-Tweed from across the river Berwick-upon-Tweed, (pronounced Berrick) situated in the county of Northumberland, is the northernmost town in England. ... 1967 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ...

See: Annales Cambriae Annales Cambriae, or The Annals of Wales, is a compendium of events thought to be significant occurring during the year they were recorded. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of Wales; see also Politics of the United Kingdom The Politics of the United Kingdom are based upon a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ...

Wales has been a principality since the 13th century, initially under the Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great, and later under his grandson, Llywelyn the Last, who took the title Prince of Wales around 1258, and was recognised by the English Crown in 1277 by the Treaty of Aberconwy. Following his defeat by Edward I, however, Welsh independence in the 14th century was limited to a number of minor revolts. The greatest such revolt was that of Owain Glyndwr, who gained popular support in 1400, and defeated an English force at Pumlumon in 1401. In response, the English parliament passed repressive measures denying the Welsh the right of assembly. Glyndwr was proclaimed Prince of Wales, and sought assistance from the French, but by 1409 his forces were scattered under the attacks of King Henry IV of England and further measures imposed against the Welsh. Prince Albert of Monaco on the left represents a principality where he wields adminisitrative authority. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Llywelyn ap Iorwerth ( 1173–April 11, 1240) was a Prince of Gwynedd. ... Arms used by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Llywelyn ap Gruffudd or Gruffydd (c. ... The eldest son of the reigning monarch ofEngland/Great Britain is traditionally invested with the title of Prince of Wales. ... Events= February 10 - Mongols overrun Baghdad, burning it to the ground and killing 800,000 citizens Llywelyn the Last declares himself Prince of Wales. ... Events The philosophical doctrine Averroism is banned from Paris by bishop Etienne Tempier Burmas Pagan empire begins to disintegrate after being defeated by Kublai Khan at Ngasaungsyan, near the Chinese border. ... Edward I; illustration from Cassells History of England circa 1902. ... (13th century - 14th century - 15th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. ... Events Henry IV quells baron rebellion and executes The Earls of Kent, Huntingdon and Salisbury for their attempt to have Richard II of England restored as King Jean Froissart writes the Chronicles Medici family becomes powerful in Florence, Italy Births Owen Tudor, seventh generation descedant of Rhys ap Gruffydd (approximate... Plynlimon (anglicised from Pumlumon in Welsh, meaning Five Peaks) is the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains in Wales. ... Events The Lollards, a religious sect taught by John Wycliffe, were persecuted for their beliefs. ... Events January 1 - The Welsh surrender Harlech Castle to the English. ... Henry IV of England, depicted in Cassells History of England, Century Edition, published circa 1902 Henry IV King of England, Lord of Ireland. ...

The Act of Union 1536 abolished the remaining Marcher Lordships, leaving Wales with thirteen counties: Anglesey, Brecon, Caernarfon, Cardigan, Carmarthen, Denbigh, Flint, Glamorgan, Merioneth, Monmouth, Montgomery, Pembroke, and Radnor, and applied the Law of England to both England and Wales, making English the language to be used for official purposes. This excluded most native Welsh from any formal office. Wales continues to share a legal identity with England to a large degree as the joint entity of England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland retain separate legal systems and identities. The Acts of Union 1536-1543 were a series of parliamentary measures by which Wales was annexed to England and the norms of English administration introduced in order to create a single state. ... In European history, marches are border regions between centres of power. ... Originally, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count (in Great Britain, an earl, though the original earldoms covered larger areas) by reason of that office. ... [The Isle of] Anglesey or Anglesea ( Welsh: [Ynys] Môn, pronounced as Uh-niss Mawn, in IPA), is an island and county at the Western extremity of North Wales. ... Brecknockshire, also known as Breconshire or, in Welsh, as Sir Frycheiniog is an inland traditional county of Wales, bounded N. by Radnorshire, E. by Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, S. by Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, and W. by Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. ... Caernarfonshire, also known as Carnarvonshire or, in Welsh, as Sir Gaernarfon, is a maritime traditional county of Wales, bounded N. by the Irish Sea, E. by Denbighshire, S. by Cardigan Bay and Merionethshire, and W. by Caernarfon Bay and the Menai Straits, which separates it from Anglesey. ... Cardiganshire (Sir Aberteifi in Welsh) is a traditional county in Wales that came into being in 1282. ... Carmarthenshire (Welsh: Sir Gaerfyrddin) is a county in Wales. ... Denbighshire (Welsh: Sir Ddinbych) is a county in North Wales. ... Flintshire (Welsh Sir y Fflint) is a county in northern Wales. ... Glamorgan or Morgannwg is a maritime traditional county of Wales, UK, and was previously a medieval kingdom or principality. ... Merionethshire (Meirionnydd in Welsh) is a traditional county of Wales. ... Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy) is a county in south-east Wales. ... Montgomeryshire (Welsh: Sir Drefaldwyn) is an inland traditional county of Wales. ... Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro) is a county in the southwest of Wales in the United Kingdom. ... Radnorshire is known in Welsh as Sir Faesyfed and is an inland traditional county of Wales, bounded N. by Montgomeryshire and Shropshire, E. by Herefordshire, S. and SW. by Brecknockshire and W. by Cardiganshire. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Wales was for centuries dwarfed by its larger neighbour, England. Indeed, one well-known British encyclopedia was said — perhaps apocryphally — to have had an entry reading "WALES. See under ENGLAND". In 1955 steps were taken to re-establish a sense of national identity for Wales when Cardiff was established as its capital. Before this, legislation passed by the UK parliament had simply referred to England, rather than England and Wales. 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd, from caer, fort, and dydd, Aulus Didius) is the capital and largest city of Wales. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ...

The National Assembly for Wales, sitting in Cardiff, first elected in 1999, is elected by the Welsh people and has its powers defined by the Government of Wales Act, 1998. The title of Prince of Wales is still given by the reigning British monarch to his or her eldest son, but in modern times the Prince does not live in Wales and has nothing to do with its administration or government. The Prince is, however, still symbolically linked to the principality; the investiture of Charles took place at Caernarfon Castle in North Wales, a place traditionally associated with the creation of the title in the 13th century. The investiture was considered an insult by many Welsh people, and Welsh folk singer Dafydd Iwan released mocking singles called Croeso Chwedeg Nain (Welcome 69, although a literal translation would be Welcome Granny's 60th (birthday)) and Carlo (Charlie). Two members of "Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru" – MAC (Welsh Defence Movement) – George Taylor and Alwyn Jones, the "Abergele Martyrs", were killed by a home made bomb at Abergele the day before the investiture ceremony. The National Assembly for Wales (or NAW) (Welsh: Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) was established in 1998, following a 1997 referendum in which a small majority of voters (but not the electorate) voted in favour of the Labour Governments plans for devolution. ... Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd, from caer, fort, and dydd, Aulus Didius) is the capital and largest city of Wales. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The Government of Wales Act, 1998 or, to give it its full title , was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom passed in 1998 by the incoming Labour government to create a National Assembly for Wales. ... His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor) (born 14 November 1948), the eldest son of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, is Heir Apparent to the thrones of the United Kingdom and over a dozen Commonwealth... The ward of Caernarfon Castle, showing (from left to right) the Black Tower, the Chamberlains Tower, and the Eagle Tower. ... North Wales is the northernmost region of Wales, bordered to the south by Mid Wales. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Dafydd Iwan is the president of Plaid Cymru -- The Party of Wales. ... Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (Welsh Defence Movement) is a Welsh republican movement, similar to the Irish Republican Army. ... Abergele is a town in the county borough of Conwy, traditional county of Denbighshire, north Wales. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of Wales Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Wales is located on a peninsula in central-west Great Britain. The entire area of Wales is about 20,779 km² (8,023 square miles). It is about 274 km (170 miles) long and 97 km (60 miles) wide. Wales borders by England to the east and by sea in the other three directions: the Bristol Channel to the south, St George's Channel to the west, and the Irish Sea to the north. Together, Wales has over 965 km (600 miles) of coastline. There are several islands off the Welsh mainland, the largest being Anglesey in the northwest. A peninsula is a geographical formation consisting of an extension of land from a larger body that is surrounded by water on three sides. ... bmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb wfkjbgfkjbdvjkdvqkjfdbmnbvnbvhjvhjvhvgjgkjnrgsklvnkjnsfegnlerjklh kljrthvnjkbijbvjklb... [The Isle of] Anglesey or Anglesea ( Welsh: [Ynys] Môn, pronounced as Uh-niss Mawn, in IPA), is an island and county at the Western extremity of North Wales. ...

The main population and industrial areas are in South Wales, including the capital, Cardiff, and the other two major cities, Swansea and Newport. South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the East and South, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the North and West. ... Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd, from caer, fort, and dydd, Aulus Didius) is the capital and largest city of Wales. ... Swansea (Welsh: Abertawe - aber river-mouth + river Tawe) is a city and county in South Wales, situated on the coast, immediately to the east of the Gower peninsula in the traditional county of Glamorgan. ... This article is about the Welsh city of Newport. ...

Much of Wales's diverse landscape is mountainous, particularly in the north and central regions. The mountains were shaped during the last ice age, the Devensian glaciation. The highest mountains in Wales are in Snowdonia, and include Snowdon, which, at 1085 m (3,560 feet) is the highest peak in England and Wales. The 14 Welsh mountains over 3000 feet high are known collectively as the Welsh 3000s. The caverns of Gobbinshire also home the legend of the ghost of Joel James. Mount Cook, a mountain in New Zealand A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. ... Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400 000 years For the animated movie, see Ice Age (movie). ... The Devensian glaciation is a name for an ice age period which occurred between 120,000 and 10,000 years ago. ... See also Snowdonia National Park The north ridge of Tryfan (seen on the left in this picture) makes an enjoyable scramble in Snowdonia. ... This article is about the mountain. ... The metre (American spelling: meter), symbol: m, is the basic unit of distance (or of length, in the parlance of the physical sciences) in the International System of Units. ... This article is about a foot as a unit of length. ... The Welsh 3,000s are the mountains of Wales over 3,000 feet high (914. ...

The Brecon Beacons are in the south and are joined by the Cambrian Mountains in mid-Wales. Part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, looking from the highest point Pen Y Fan, 886 m (2907 feet), to Corn Du, 873 m (2864 feet) The Brecon Beacons National Park is one of three national parks in Wales. ... The Cambrian Mountains are a mountain range in Mid Wales, reaching from the Brecon Beacons in South Wales to Snowdonia in North Wales. ...

The Seven Wonders of Wales is a traditional list of seven geographic and cultural landmarks in Wales: Snowdon (the highest mountain), the Gresford bells (the peal of bells in the medieval church of All Saints at Gresford), the Llangollen bridge (built in 1347 over the River Dee), St Winefride's Well (a pilgrimage site at Holywell in Flintshire) the Wrexham steeple (16th century tower of St. Giles Church in Wrexham), the Overton yew trees (ancient yew trees in the churchyard of St Mary's at Overton-on-Dee) and Pistyll Rhaeadr (Wales's tallest waterfall, at 240 feet or 75 m). The wonders are part of the traditional rhyme: The Seven Wonders of Wales is a traditional list of notable landmarks in Wales, commemorated in an anonymous rhyme: Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple, Snowdons mountain without its people, Overton yew trees, St Winefride wells, Llangollen bridge and Gresford bells. ... For the group sometimes known as Landmark, see Landmark Education Originally, a landmark literally meant a geographic feature, used by explorers and others to find their way back through an area on a return trip. ... Bell has a range of meanings: A bell is a simple sound-making device, including Tubular bells and cowbells. ... Gresford is one of the most beautiful churches in the whole of Wales. ... Llangollen is a small town in Denbighshire, north Wales, famous for the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, the Llangollen Canal (whose Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is nearby), and the Llangollen Railway. ... -1... Old Dee Bridge, River Dee, Chester, England (2002) The River Dee is a 70 mile (110 km) long river, which rises in Wales and discharges to the sea a few miles west of Liverpool. ... St Winefrides Well is a holy well located in Holywell, in Flintshire in Wales. ... A pilgrimage is a journey by a religious person to a place that is sacred according to his or her religion. ... Holywell (Welsh: Treffynnon) is a town in Flintshire, Wales, lying south of the estuary of the River Dee. ... Flintshire (Welsh Sir y Fflint) is a county in northern Wales. ... Wrexham (pronounced Recsam, and in Welsh spelt Wrecsam) is a town in north Wales. ... Species Taxus baccata - European Yew Taxus brevifolia - Pacific Yew Taxus canadensis - Canadian Yew Taxus chinensis - Chinese Yew Taxus cuspidata - Japanese Yew Taxus floridana - Florida Yew Taxus globosa - Mexican Yew Taxus sumatrana - Sumatran Yew Taxus wallichiana - Himalayan Yew Yews are small coniferous trees or shrubs in the genus Taxus in the... Overton-on-Dee is a town in Flintshire, North Wales, UK, on the river Dee. ... Pistyll Rhaeadr is the tallest waterfall in Wales. ... Tower Fall in Yellowstone National Park A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream, flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation. ...

Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple,

Snowdon's mountain without its people,

Overton yew trees, St Winefride wells,

Llangollen bridge and Gresford bells.

See also: List of towns in Wales This is a link page for towns in Wales. ...

Divisions

For administrative purposes, Wales has been divided since 1996 into 22 unitary authorities: 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

• 9 counties
• 10 county boroughs
• 3 cities

For more details and recent history of the political divisions of Wales, see Subdivisions of Wales. Originally, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count (in Great Britain, an earl, though the original earldoms covered larger areas) by reason of that office. ... County borough was a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom to refer to a borough or a city independent of county administration. ... A city is an urban area, differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. ... For local government purposes, Wales is divided into 22 unitary authorities. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Wales

Parts of Wales have been heavily industrialised since the eighteenth century. Coal, copper, iron, lead, and gold have been mined in Wales, and slate has been quarried. Ironworks and tinplate works, along with the coal mines, attracted large numbers of immigrants during the nineteenth century, particularly to the valleys north of Cardiff, which is now the capital city. Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground either by underground mining, open-pit mining or strip mining. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11 , 4, d Density, Hardness 8920 kg/m3, 3. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metal Group, Period, Block 8 (VIIIB), 4, d Density, Hardness 7874 kg/m3, 4. ... For the lead in news writing, see news style. ... General Name, Symbol, Number Gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11 (IB), 6, d Density, Hardness 19. ...

Demographics

Demographics of Wales as at the 2001 Census:

• Population: 2,903,085, Male: 1,403,782 Female: 1,499,303
• Percentage of the population born in:
  • England: 20.32%
  • Wales: 75.39%
  • Scotland: 0.84%
  • Northern Ireland: 0.27%
  • Republic of Ireland: 0.44%
• Ethnic groups:
  • White: British: 95.99%
  • White: Irish: 0.61%
  • White: other: 1.28%
  • Mixed: white and black: 0.29%
  • Mixed: white and Asian: 0.17%
  • Mixed: other: 0.15%
  • Asian:
    • Indian/British Indian: 0.28%
    • Pakistani/British Pakistani: 0.29%
    • Bangladeshi/British Bangladeshi: 0.19%
    • Other Asian: 0.12%
  • Black: 0.25%
  • Chinese: 0.40%
  • Percentage of the population self-identifying as Welsh: 14.39% (controversially, there was no question on the Census form asking this — people had to write this in).
• Religion:
  • Christian: 71.9%
  • Buddhist: 0.19%
  • Hindu: 0.19%
  • Jewish: 0.08%
  • Muslim: 0.75%
  • Sîkh: 0.07%
  • Other religion: 0.24%
  • No religion: 18.53%
  • Not disclosed: 8.07%
• Age structure of the population:
  • 0-4: 167,903
  • 5-7: 108,149
  • 8-9: 77,176
  • 10-14: 195,976
  • 15: 37,951
  • 16-17: 75,234
  • 18-19: 71,519
  • 20-24: 169,493
  • 25-29: 166,348
  • 30-44: 605,962
  • 45-59: 569,676
  • 60-64: 152,924
  • 65-74: 264,191
  • 75-84: 182,202
  • 85-89: 38,977
  • 90+: 19,404
• Knowledge of the Welsh language:
  • Percentage of the population aged 3 or more knowing spoken Welsh only: 4.93%
  • Percentage of the population aged 3 or more speaking Welsh but not reading or writing it: 2.83%
  • Percentage of the population aged 3 or more speaking and reading Welsh but not writing it: 1.37%
  • Percentage of the population aged 3 or more speaking, reading, and writing Welsh: 16.32%
  • Percentage of the population aged 3 or more with some other skills combination: 2.98%
  • Percentage of the population aged 3 or more with no knowledge of Welsh: 71.57%

Culture

Main article: Culture of Wales Though a part of the United Kingdom since 1282 and in close proximity to England, the nation of Wales has managed to preserve its own distinctive culture, including its language, holidays and music. ...

Photos of Wales

The summit of Snowdon, Snowdonia, highest mountain in Wales	Caernarfon castle
Tredegar House, Newport	Hall of the Mountain Kings, Ogof Craig a Ffynnon, a cave in the Brecon Beacons
A lovely view of Conwy Castle See also Education in Wales List of not fully sovereign nations England and Wales List of public holidays in Wales List of rulers of Wales List of United Kingdom-related topics Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Seven Wonders of Wales Walh Welsh narrow gauge railways Madog ap Owain Gwynedd The size of Wales References Jones's History of Wales. External links Wales on the Web (http://www.walesontheweb.org) Webcam in Wales (http://webcam.deili.info/en,1,12) The National Assembly for Wales (http://www.wales.gov.uk) Outdoor Activities in Wales (http://www.waleslive.com) BBC Nations (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/nations/) History of Wales The British Isles (http://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/britishisles/) Independent view of Wales and the UK Mercator Atlas of Europe (http://www.walkingtree.com/) Maps of Cornwall & Wales ("Cornewallia & Wallia") circa 1564 Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 685 KB)Snowdon from Llyn Llydaw Photograph by User:Gdr File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 685 KB)Snowdon from Llyn Llydaw Photograph by User:Gdr File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about the mountain. ... See also Snowdonia National Park The north ridge of Tryfan (seen on the left in this picture) makes an enjoyable scramble in Snowdonia. ... Mount Cook, a mountain in New Zealand A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. ... Download high resolution version (2007x1482, 1022 KB)The courtyard of Caernarfon castle Photo by User:Gdr File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (2007x1482, 1022 KB)The courtyard of Caernarfon castle Photo by User:Gdr File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The ward of Caernarfon Castle, showing (from left to right) the Black Tower, the Chamberlains Tower, and the Eagle Tower. ... This article is about the Welsh city of Newport. ... Download high resolution version (600x776, 73 KB)The Hall of the Mountain Kings, Ogof Craig a Ffynnon, South Wales. ... Download high resolution version (600x776, 73 KB)The Hall of the Mountain Kings, Ogof Craig a Ffynnon, South Wales. ... Speleothems in Hall of the Mountain Kings Ogof Craig a Ffynnon (Welsh for Rock and Fountain Cave) is a cave of around 13 km in length, making it currently the 6th longest in Wales and 10th in the UK. The cave is renowned as one of the most well-decorated... A Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (better known by the recursive acronym CAVE) is an immersive virtual reality environment where projectors are directed to four, five or six of the walls of a room-sized cube. ... Part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, looking from the highest point Pen Y Fan, 886 m (2907 feet), to Corn Du, 873 m (2864 feet) The Brecon Beacons National Park is one of three national parks in Wales. ... This article is about the town, Conwy. ... Education in Wales may differ from the system used elsewhere in the United Kingdom. ... Often, the flags listed below have two meanings. ... Public holidays in Wales are simply the Bank Holidays of the United Kingdom that apply there. ... Before the Norman Conquest of Wales was completed in 1282, Wales consisted of a number of independent principalities, the most important being Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth (originally Seisyllwg and Dyfed), Gwent and Morgannwg. ... Shortcut: UK topics This is a list of topics related to the United Kingdom. ... Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (), a village on the island of Anglesey in Wales is the longest official placename in the United Kingdom and the third-longest in the world. ... The Seven Wonders of Wales is a traditional list of notable landmarks in Wales, commemorated in an anonymous rhyme: Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple, Snowdons mountain without its people, Overton yew trees, St Winefride wells, Llangollen bridge and Gresford bells. ... Walh is an ancient Germanic word, meaning foreigner or stranger. Several names of non-Germanic European regions are derived from the word Walh: Walachia Wales Wallis Wallonia Categories: Language stubs ... Major Current Welsh narrow gauge railways: Bala Lake Railway Brecon Mountain Railway Corris Railway Society Festiniog Railway Llanberis Lake Railway Snowdon Mountain Railway Talyllyn Railway Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Vale of Rheidol Railway Welsh Highland Railway Welshpool & Llanfair Railway Categories: Stub ... Madog ap Owain Gwynedd is a legendary Welsh prince. ... The size of Wales is a phrase that has become legendary for its use by the British news media to enable size comparisons of large areas to be made; by quoting the size of unfamiliar areas in terms of a familiar area (e. ...   The constituent parts of the United Kingdom (UK) England | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Wales