What might you expect to find on the globe at 52 degrees N, 5 degrees W? You probably know right away that this place is very close to the Prime Merid- ian, an imaginary line that passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich in East London and that divides the Earth into the Western and Eastern hemi- spheres. If you circle the globe at 52 degrees N, you from the Presili Hills. For many years, will pass through Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Petropav- the hills were an important source of lovsk, Russia; and Berlin, Germany. So right away you slate, some of which was transported also know the place is unlikely to be warm much of the to London and used to construct the roofs of the year. The Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire County in houses of parliament. Remnants of slate quarries can southwestern Wales are located at 52 degrees N, 5 be seen at Rosebush. degrees W. Their proximity to the sea results in a Today the Presili Hills are part of the Pembroke- milder climate here than in other locations at the shire National Park. same longitude. Foel Cwmcerwyn (loosely translated as “land of deep Even though you now know the location of this valleys) is the highest point in the hills rising 1758 place on the globe, you still won’t have much of an idea feet above sea level. Deep wooden valleys nestled be- about who lives there and what the place is like. To tween heather-clad moorlands cut through the north- learn that, you’d have to know more about a place’s ern portions of the hills. Here you will find free rang- physical and cultural characteristics. Together physi- ing Welsh ponies and sheep as well as many rare and cal and human characteristics give a location its sense beautiful birds, including the water rail, Peregrine fal- of place—its own special personality. con and red kite. The Presili Hills are referred to as Mynydd Preseli The small seaport and market town of Fishguard in the Welsh language. Mynydd means hill and Presili is (Abergwuan, meaning mouth of the River Gwaun in thought to be derived from prys meaning woods. The Welsh) is the closest town to the Preseli Hills. In landscape is dotted with cultural evidence from the 1906, the harbor opened, and on August 31, 1909, the past, including prehistoric stone and earth monuments. New York Times reported the fastest transit time Here you will find Pentre Ifan, the most magnificent from London to New York (5 days, 9 hours, and 22 megalithic (“big rocks”) site in Wales. Dating to about minutes) aboard the Mauretania on her maiden voyage 3500 BC, nearly 1000 years before Stonehenge, Pen- from Fishguard, a record the Mauretania held for 22 tre Ifan means Ivan’s Village, and was once a huge years. Today in the summer thousands of travelers burial chamber used over many years. According to pass through the port of Fishguard on their way to local lore, fairies described as little children in sol- Ireland. In Fishguard, and throughout Wales, street diers’ clothes with little red caps are sometimes seen signs are in both the native Welsh language and Eng- here. The bluestone in Stonehenge’s inner circle came lish. For more on Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, visit http://pcnpa.org.uk.. For more on Wales and its history, visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history. To learn more about Welsh Place names and their meanings visit A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford University Press. 2003.: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-PreseliHills.html.

>What is your community like? What physical characteristics make it special? (For example, are mountains nearby? Is it on the coast or on the banks of a river? What is the climate like? Is it hot, cold, stormy or dry? What kinds of plants and animals live there?) Write your description here:

>What do you know about the history of your area? Think about whether there are any historic sites or any places whose names come from another language nearby. What do they tell you about the people who lived there in the past?

>What are some of the cultural characteristics of your area? Do you live in a city, a town, a suburb? How do people make a living? Do the people in your community speak more than 1 language?