Wales Fact Cards

In 2015, according to oﬃcial estimates, about 3.1 million people lived in Wales. This is 5% of the population of the United Kingdom.

The fag of Wales is a red Welsh dragon on a green and white background. It has been oﬃcially used since 1959 but the dragon dates back to Arthurian legend.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock Wales has two national symbols, the daﬀodil and the leek. The daﬀodil was introduced in the 19th century to replace the leek, but the leek remained popular!

The Welsh motto is "Cymru am byth" - "Wales forever"

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock The Welsh national Anthem is "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (meaning Land of my Fathers).

Dewi Sant, or St David, is the patron saint of Wales and his day is celebrated on March 1st every year.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock The summit of Yr Wyddfa,

Snowdon in English, is the highest point in Wales, at 1085m (3,560 ft) above sea level. You can take a train to the top! The longest river entirely in Wales is the Afon Twyim (or River Towy in English). It runs along the border between the counties of Powys and Ceredigion and is about 105km (65 miles) long.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock Llyn Tegid (or Lake Bala in

English) is the largest lake in Wales. It is 6km (3.7 miles) long and about 45m (148ft) deep. Llyn Tegid means ‘The Lake of Serenity’. Caerdydd (Cardiﬀ) is the capital of Wales. It became the capital in 1955, after a competition was held. Other cities competing included Caernarfon and Aberystwyth.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock Cardiﬀ has the largest population, followed by Abertawe (Swansea) and Casnewydd (Newport).

Wales has two oﬃcial languages, English and Welsh. All of the road signs are written in both English and Welsh.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock About 11% of the population of Wales can speak Welsh fuently and 23% can speak some Welsh.

Wales has a National Assembly, which can make laws and agree taxes. The assembly was formed in 1999 and meets in Cardiﬀ.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock Wales covers a total area of about 20,782 sq km (8,024 sq miles) and has a 1,400km (870 miles) path around the coast.

The town with the longest place name in the world is in North Wales:

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

made his frst transmission in Wales. He sent a signal from Lavernock Point in Glamorgan to Flat Holm, an island in the Bristol Channel in 1897.

Wales is the only part of the United Kingdom that is not represented on the Union Flag.

www.teachingideas.co.uk © Images: © ThinkStock There are over 600 castles in Wales, more per square mile than any other country in the world.

The oldest tree in Wales is the Llangernyw Yew in St Digain’s church yard, Llangernyw. It is believed to be 4,000 years old.