Wales-101-From-The-Web.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wales l0l Keep this page folded out as you read through Wales l0l. The numbers that appear on this map relate to some of the individual numbered facts you read. They show you where in Wales the geography, events, history and tourist attractions in this book are to be found. To Dublin/Belfast/Douglas Liverpool To Dublin M53 Llandudno Holyhead Anglesey 50 41 See Wales at a glance Bethesda M56 Bangor 11 Clwydian Range Location: Government: Manchester 80 km As part of the European 20 50 miles Wales is in Western Europe Llyn Llydaw 46 Wrexham on the western part of mainland Union and the United Kingdom, Wales elects four 64 18 Britain, bordering England to the Snowdonia Llangollen east and surrounded by sea to Members to the European 60 Parliament and 40 Members Llanymynech the north, south and west. to the UK Parliament. At the Size: Birmingham 2 national level, government 97 km 20,732 km (8,005 square miles). 60 miles is provided by the National Newtown 250 kms (155 miles) north to Assembly for Wales, made up south and 200 kms (124 miles) Aberystwyth of Assembly Members, from east to west at its widest. Only which the Welsh Assembly To Rosslare 75 kms (47 miles) from the Government is formed. Aberaeron English border to the coast at 36 its narrowest. Geography: Hay-on-Wye Ranges of the hills and Fishguard 78 Population: mountains are the main 2.9 million (2001 census). 16 feature, especially in Mid Brecon That’s an average of 140 and North Wales. Valleys Pembrokeshire Coast Brecon Beacons 2 St David’s 66 Abergavenny people per km (361 people radiate across the south, Milford 50 49 per square mile). linking the mountains of Haven 70 Tenby 88 London Mid Wales to the coast. 205 km Languages: Swansea 128 miles Gower 60 English and Welsh. Both The south-east is home To Rosslare 23 5 4 19 Newport M4 languages have equal legal to the largest centres of Cardiff status. English is spoken as population: Cardiff, the To Cork CARDIFF 62 14, 29, a fi rst or second language capital city, Newport 47, 51, Bristol Areas of Outstanding Natural and Swansea. 59, 93 by nearly everyone, whilst Beauty and National Parks Welsh is spoken as a fi rst or second language by over 20% of the population. Original thinkers welcome 68 To Dublin/Belfast/Douglas Liverpool To Dublin M53 Llandudno Holyhead Anglesey 50 41 SeeSee WalesWales atat aa glanceglance Bethesda M56 Bangor 11 Clwydian Range LoLocation:cation: Government:Government: Manchester 80 km AsAs part part of of the the European European Union 20 50 miles WalesWales is is inin WWesternestern Europe on Llyn Llydaw 46 Wrexham onthe the western western part part of mainlandof mainland andUnion the Unitedand the Kingdom, United Kingdom, Wales elects four 64 18 Britain,Britain, bordering bordering EnglandEngland to the Wales elects four Members Snowdonia Llangollen eastthe eastand sandurrounded surrounded by sea by seato toMember the Europeans to the Parliament European 60 Parliament and 40 Members Llanymynech theto thenorth, north, south south and and west. west. and 40 Members to the to the UK Parliament. At the Size:Size: UK Parliament. At the national Birmingham 2 level,national the Welsh level, Governmentgovernment 97 km 20,73220,782 km km²(8,005 (8,024 square sq miles). miles). 60 miles isis accountable provided by to the the National National Newtown 250229 kms kms (155(142 miles) miles) northnorth to Assembly for Wales, made up southsouth andand 200183 kmskms (124(114 miles)miles) Assembly for Wales, which has Aberystwyth 60of Members. Assembly Members, from easteast to to westwest at its widest.widest. Only Only which the Welsh Assembly To Rosslare 7557 kms kms (47 (36 m miles)iles) fr fromom thethe Geography:Government is formed. Aberaeron EnglEnglishish boborderrder toto the coastcoast atat Ranges of the hills and 36 itsits narrowest. narrowest (OS 2013). mountainsGeography: are the main Hay-on-Wye Ranges of the hills and Fishguard 78 feature, especially in Mid and PopuPopulation:lation: mountains are the main 2.93,063,456 million (2001(2011 census).Census. North Wales. Valleys radiate 16 acrossfeature, the espec south,ia linkinglly in Mid the Brecon That’sThat’s anan averageaverage of 140 and North Wales. Valleys Pembrokeshire Coast Brecon Beacons 2 mountains of Mid Wales to the St David’s 66 Abergavenny people148 people per km per (361km² (382peop perle coast.radiate The across south-east the sout is homeh, Milford 50 49 persquare squa mile).re mile). linking the mountains of Haven 70 to the largest centres of Tenby 88 London Languages: Mid Wales to the coast. 205 km Languages: population: Cardiff, the capital Swansea 128 miles Gower 60 EnglishEnglish andand Welsh.Welsh. Both The south-east is home To Rosslare 23 5 4 city, Newport and Swansea. 19 Newport M4 languageslanguages havehave equalequal legal to the largest centres of Cardiff status. English is spoken as population: Cardiff, the To Cork CARDIFF status. English is spoken as a 62 14, 29, afirst fi rst or or second second language language by capital city, Newport 47, 51, Bristol Areas of Outstanding Natural and Swansea. 59, 93 by nearly everyone, whilst Beauty and National Parks nearly everyone, whilst Welsh Welshis spoken is spoken as a first as ora fisecond rst or secondlanguage language by over by20% over of the 20%population. of the population. Original thinkers welcome 68 Welcome to WalesFact Pg l–l0 Original thoughts 1 ll–26 History & Geography 9 27–37 Government & Economy 19 38–5l Language & Culture 27 52–7l Leisure & Tourism 35 72–83 Education & Health 49 84–l00 Trade & Investment 57 l0l Original thinkers welcome 67 Linked by land to England, thinking. An original language by air to the world, and by (but yes, we all speak English attitude to anyone who values too), an original people, an original thinking, loves culture, original spirit. We’ve gathered craves opportunity or simply together l0l of the original wants room to breathe. Where is thoughts from and about Wales? You’ll find the answer Wales. Our history, business to that on the fold-out page community, lifestyle, landscape opposite. What is Wales? You’ll and culture. Enjoy exploring find the answer to that on every the 20,872 km² (8,024 square page of this booklet. You’ll see miles), 3 million people, that, more than anything, Wales £47 billion economy and 3,000 and ‘Welshness’ is about original year history that is Wales. 1st 1 First for business; first for lifestyle . You’d expect a place that cherishes original thinking to have a lot of ‘firsts’ to its name. Wales was the first industrialised nation and home to Aneurin Bevan, architect of the world’s first national health service. Today, we continue our list of firsts by being a first choice for those seeking a safe and friendly place to study and a great business environment. Original thoughts 2 Sometimes an original thought is so good it sticks. Forever. 2 The dragon is the perfect symbol of our original thinking: bold and imaginative. Maybe that’s why we’re the only country in the world to enter the third millennium with the same symbol on our national flag that we had when we entered the second millennium. 3 “See you on the beach with your board at 5:31pm.” In Wales 3 the work/life balance isn’t a precarious tightrope act or a well-intended but impractical ambition. It’s a daily reality. Anything good is 4worth paying for. Most of the world’s toll bridges you have to pay a toll – but then are two-way affairs: you pay you are entering one of the when you go over them, most beautiful and fascinating whichever way you are going. parts of the world. Re-cross the As a land of original thinkers, Severn Bridge to go to England, it won’t surprise you to find out however, and you won’t have to that Wales is different. Cross the pay a thing. Think about it. Severn Bridge into Wales and Why is that? Original thoughts 4 5 6 ‘All aboard for What have an original thinking.’ ostrich, a vegetable The world’s first fare-paying and a flower got passenger railway took to the in common? rails between Swansea and Mumbles on March 25th, 1807. The three feathers of the Prince of Wales, the daffodil and the leek are all symbols of Wales. The first Black Prince who became Prince of Wales adopted the ostrich feathers after the Battle of Crécy. The leek commemorates another battle, fought against the Saxons in a field of leeks. And the daffodil? Well, in Welsh, the daffodil happens to share a common name (cenhinen Pedr) with the leek (cenhinen) and it’s a bit more colourful to wear in your jacket buttonhole. 5 7 8 The World’s first March 1st. Fair Trade Nation. The first day of spring and the In 2008 an independent panel National Day of Wales. assessed that Welsh schools, St David’s Day is the first of universities and colleges, along the UK’s patron saints’ days with towns, local and national celebrated every year. government were doing so much to promote a fairer deal for farmers in the developing world that we were qualified to call ourselves a Fair Trade Nation. Original thoughts 6 9 7 A taste Our agriculture and coastline mean that from lamb to lobsters of Wales. and Caerphilly cheese to laverbread, all Welsh people have a bit of the gourmet in them. But with so much to do, speed and practicality sometimes win the day.