Wales | History, Geography, Facts, & Points of Interest

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border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales">Wales</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Wales">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref45105"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales#ref45105">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45106"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales#ref45106">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45107"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales#ref45107">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref226287"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales#ref226287">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45108"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Climate">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45109"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Climate#ref45109">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref45114"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Climate#ref45114">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215070"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Climate#ref215070">Ethnic groups and languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref226288"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Climate#ref226288">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref226289"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Settlement-patterns">Settlement patterns</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref226290"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Settlement-patterns#ref226290">Rural settlement</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref226291"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Settlement-patterns#ref226291">Urban settlement</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref226292"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Settlement-patterns#ref226292">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref45115"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Economy">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215072"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Economy#ref215072">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45116"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Economy#ref45116">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45117"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Economy#ref45117">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215073"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Economy#ref215073">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45118"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Economy#ref45118">Transportation</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref45119"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref226293"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Government-and-society#ref226293">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215076"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Government-and-society#ref215076">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215075"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Government-and-society#ref215075">Justice and security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215077"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Government-and-society#ref215077">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45122"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Health-and-welfare">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref226294"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Health-and-welfare#ref226294">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45121"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Health-and-welfare#ref45121">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref45123"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Health-and-welfare#ref45123">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215078"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Health-and-welfare#ref215078">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215080"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/The-arts">The arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215081"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/The-arts#ref215081">Music, literature, and film</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215082"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/The-arts#ref215082">Visual arts</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215083"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Cultural-institutions">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215079"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Cultural-institutions#ref215079">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215084"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Cultural-institutions#ref215084">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref93717"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44615"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/History#ref44615">Wales before the Norman Conquest</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44616"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/History#ref44616">The prehistory of Wales</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44617"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/History#ref44617">Roman Wales (1st–4th centuries)</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44618"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/History#ref44618">The founding of the kingdoms</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44619"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Early-Christianity">Early Christianity</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44620"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Early-Christianity#ref44620">Political development</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44621"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Early-Christianity#ref44621">Early Welsh society</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44622"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Wales-in-the-Middle-Ages">Wales in the Middle Ages</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44623"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Wales-in-the-Middle-Ages#ref44623">Norman infiltration</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44624"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Wales-in-the-Middle-Ages#ref44624">Gwynedd, Powys, and Deheubarth</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44625"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Llywelyn-ap-Iorwerth">Llywelyn ap Iorwerth</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44626"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Llywelyn-ap-Iorwerth#ref44626">The Edwardian settlement</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44627"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Llywelyn-ap-Iorwerth#ref44627">Rebellion and annexation</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44628"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Wales-from-the-16th-to-the-21st-century">Wales from the 16th to the 21st century</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44629"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Wales-from-the-16th-to-the-21st-century#ref44629">Union with England</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44630"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Wales-from-the-16th-to-the-21st-century#ref44630">The Reformation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44631"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Wales-from-the-16th-to-the-21st-century#ref44631">Social change</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44632"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Politics-and-religion-1640-1800">Politics and religion, 1640–1800</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44633"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Politics-and-religion-1640-1800#ref44633">The growth of industrial society</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44634"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/Politics-and-religion-1640-1800#ref44634">Political radicalism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44635"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/The-20th-century">The 20th century</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref344485"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Wales/The-20th-century#ref344485">The 21st century</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Wales">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/4962-050-E0A65F01/Flag-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/61924" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/4962-004-7D6CF6DB/Flag-Wales.jpg" alt="flag of Wales" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/129460-050-61C275C6/Wales-map.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/126717" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/60/129460-004-28D2D3C3/Wales-map.jpg" alt="Wales" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/94735-050-4E7CACDF/Conwy-Castle-River-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/100211" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/94735-004-0E49245B/Conwy-Castle-River-Wales.jpg" alt="Conwy Castle, Wales" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/195469-050-AEECA516/Locator-map-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/224293" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/195469-004-98E8ACD1/Locator-map-Wales.jpg" alt="Wales" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/129464-050-D37A6BB5/Wales-features-map.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/126751" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/129464-004-8BF73B17/Wales-features-map.jpg" alt="Physical features of Wales" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/116748-050-180C782B/Snowdon-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/112727" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/116748-004-C3821AC0/Snowdon-Wales.jpg" alt="Snowdon" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/60594-050-30C9E6B2/Coastline-Pembrokeshire-Coast-National-Park-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/37450" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/60594-004-AF66C4BF/Coastline-Pembrokeshire-Coast-National-Park-Wales.jpg" alt="Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales" height="50" /> </a> <a 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Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="Pyrs Gruffudd, J(enkyn) Beverley Smith, Harold Carter" data-title="Wales" data-published-date="24 Nov. 2024" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=634468] .md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="Wales" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales">https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales</a> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-feedback-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal=".md-feedback-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="message"></em> Feedback </button> </div> <div> <button class="qa-external-website-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=634468] .md-websites-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 mr-5" data-icon="link"></em> External Websites </button> </div> </div> <div class="md-feedback-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom"> Feedback </div> <form method="post" action="/submission/feedback/634468"> <div class="my-20"> Corrections? 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/uk-wales.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">GlobalSecurity.org - Wales, United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.wales.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Official Site of Wales, United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.visitwales.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Official Tourism Site of Wales, United Kingdom</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Wales/353904" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wales - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Wales/277638" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wales - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Cymru</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Pyrs-Gruffudd/5219" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Pyrs Gruffudd</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Wales, Swansea.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Pyrs Gruffudd</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Jenkyn-Beverley-Smith/2766" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">J(enkyn) Beverley Smith</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of Welsh History, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, University of Wales. Author of <i>Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Tywysog Cymru.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> J(enkyn) Beverley Smith</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-24T00:00:00CST" >Nov 24, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wales/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>Is Wales part of the United Kingdom?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Wales is a constituent unit of the United Kingdom that forms a westward extension of the island of Great Britain. " } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What kind of climate does Wales have?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Wales has a maritime climate with frequent precipitation; annual totals average 55 inches (1,385 mm). Winter snowfall can be significant in the uplands. The mean daily temperature is 50 \u00B0F (10 \u00B0C), ranging from 40 \u00B0F (4 \u00B0C) in January to 61 \u00B0F (16 \u00B0C) in July and August." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What languages are spoken in Wales?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Welsh and English are the primary languages spoken in Wales." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : "<div>What is the name of Wales in Welsh?<\/div><em><\/em>", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The name of Wales in Welsh is Cymru." } } ] } </script> <div class="top-questions qa-accordion d-flex flex-column module-spacing"><div class="font-weight-bold font-14 mb-5"> Top Questions </div><div id="intent-accordion" class="md-intent-accordion"><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="1"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>Is Wales part of the United Kingdom?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Wales is a constituent unit of the United Kingdom that forms a westward extension of the island of Great Britain. </p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="2"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What kind of climate does Wales have?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Wales has a maritime climate with frequent precipitation; annual totals average 55 inches (1,385 mm). Winter snowfall can be significant in the uplands. The mean daily temperature is 50 °F (10 °C), ranging from 40 °F (4 °C) in January to 61 °F (16 °C) in July and August.</p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="3"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What languages are spoken in Wales?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>Welsh and English are the primary languages spoken in Wales.</p></div></div></div><div class="top-question bg-gray-50 rounded" data-value="4"><h3 class="accordion--question font-14 font-weight-normal cursor-pointer rounded"><div class="pe-none d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center"><div>What is the name of Wales in Welsh?</div><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></div></h3><div class="accordion--answer hidden p-15 pt-5 font-16 mb-5"><div class="accordion--answer-copy"><p>The name of Wales in Welsh is Cymru.</p></div></div></div><button class="show-more-button js-toggle-top-questions btn btn-unstyled font-14 d-flex pr-10 rounded-sm"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></em></button></div></div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/24/storm-bert-batters-britain-bringing-flooding-and-power-cuts" rel="nofollow">‘Unprecedented’ flooding in parts of Wales after Storm Bert batters Britain</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 23, 2024, 9:41 PM ET (The Guardian) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn9x4py5990t" rel="nofollow">Storm Bert weather live: Man dies after tree falls on car as Storm Bert brings heavy snow and winds to UK</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 23, 2024, 7:38 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wqy0pd5lvo" rel="nofollow">Wales weather warnings as Storm Bert brings rain and strong winds</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 23, 2024, 5:29 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c154yvq7xego" rel="nofollow">Connor Roberts: Swansea City boss Luke Williams hails 'incredible' Burnley right-back</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 22, 2024, 9:45 PM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58090533" rel="nofollow">What is the energy price cap and how are gas and electricity bills changing?</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 22, 2024, 5:20 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="100211" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/94735-050-4E7CACDF/Conwy-Castle-River-Wales.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/634468/100211"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/94735-050-4E7CACDF/Conwy-Castle-River-Wales.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/94735-050-4E7CACDF/Conwy-Castle-River-Wales.jpg?w=300" alt="Conwy Castle, Wales" data-width="1600" data-height="1065" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/94735-050-4E7CACDF/Conwy-Castle-River-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/100211">Conwy Castle, Wales</a><span>Conwy Castle, along the River Conwy, Wales.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref483920"></span>Wales</strong>, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constituent" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constituent" data-type="MW">constituent</a> unit of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Kingdom</a> that forms a westward extension of the island of Great Britain. The capital and main commercial and financial centre is <span id="ref756871"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cardiff-Wales" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cardiff</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="224293" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/195469-050-AEECA516/Locator-map-Wales.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/634468/224293"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/195469-050-AEECA516/Locator-map-Wales.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/195469-050-AEECA516/Locator-map-Wales.jpg?w=300" alt="Wales" data-width="1600" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/195469-050-AEECA516/Locator-map-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/224293">Wales</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Famed for its strikingly rugged landscape, the small nation of Wales—which <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="comprises" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprises" data-type="MW">comprises</a> six distinctive regions—was one of Celtic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Europe’s</a> most prominent political and cultural centres, and it retains aspects of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="culture" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture" data-type="MW">culture</a> that are markedly different from those of its English neighbours.</p><div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 media-slider card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="rw-track w-100"> <div class="pt-10 d-inline-flex col-100"> <div class="w-100"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/4962-050-E0A65F01/Flag-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/61924" class="media-overlay-link card-media d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center px-20" > <div class="position-relative"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/62/4962-050-E0A65F01/Flag-Wales.jpg" alt="flag of Wales" class="cropped-false w-100 " /> <em class="material-icons qf-zoom" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <div class="card-body text-center pt-5 pb-10 font-14"> <span>See article: <a href="/topic/flag-of-Wales">flag of Wales</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>Cymru</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of Government: </dt> <dd>First minister: Eluned Morgan</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population: </dt> <dd>(2011) 3,063,456</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Languages: </dt> <dd>English; Welsh</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>National Religion: </dt> <dd>none</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Km): </dt> <dd>20,735</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Mi): </dt> <dd>8,006</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Monetary Unit: </dt> <dd>pound sterling (£)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Legislature: </dt> <dd>National Assembly (60)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Wales"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="medieval" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medieval" data-type="MW">medieval</a> chronicler <span id="ref756876"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Giraldus-Cambrensis" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Giraldus Cambrensis</a> (Gerald of Wales) had <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="topography" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topography" data-type="MW">topography</a>, history, and current events alike in mind when he observed that Wales is a “country very strongly defended by high mountains, deep valleys, extensive woods, rivers, and marshes; insomuch that from the time the Saxons took possession of the island the remnants of the Britons, retiring into these regions, could never be entirely subdued either by the English or by the Normans.” In time, however, Wales was in fact subdued and, by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Act-of-Union-United-Kingdom-1801" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Act of Union</a> of 1536, formally joined to the kingdom of England. Welsh engineers, linguists, musicians, writers, and soldiers went on to make significant contributions to the development of the larger <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Empire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">British Empire</a> even as many of their compatriots laboured at home to preserve cultural traditions and even the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Welsh-language" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Welsh language</a> itself, which enjoyed a revival in the late 20th century. In 1997 the British government, with the support of the Welsh electorate, provided Wales with a measure of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="autonomy" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomy" data-type="MW">autonomy</a> through the creation of the Welsh Assembly, which assumed decision-making authority for most local matters.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Although Wales was shaken by the decline of its industrial mainstay, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/coal-mining" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">coal mining</a>, by the end of the 20th century the country had developed a diversified economy, particularly in the cities of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cardiff-Wales" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cardiff</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Swansea-Wales" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Swansea</a>, while the countryside, once reliant on small farming, drew many retirees from England. Tourism became an economic staple, with visitors—including many descendants of Welsh expatriates—drawn to Wales’s stately parks and castles as well as to cultural events highlighting the country’s celebrated musical and literary traditions. In the face of constant change, Wales continues to seek both greater independence and a distinct place in an <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="integrated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrated" data-type="MW">integrated</a> Europe.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref45105"> <h2 class="h1">Land</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="126751" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/129464-050-D37A6BB5/Wales-features-map.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/634468/126751"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/129464-050-D37A6BB5/Wales-features-map.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/129464-050-D37A6BB5/Wales-features-map.jpg?w=300" alt="Physical features of Wales" data-width="1560" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/129464-050-D37A6BB5/Wales-features-map.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/126751">Physical features of Wales</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Wales is bounded by the Dee estuary and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Liverpool-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Liverpool</a> Bay to the north, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Irish-Sea" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Irish Sea</a> to the west, the Severn estuary and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bristol-Channel" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Bristol Channel</a> to the south, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">England</a> to the east. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Isle-of-Anglesey" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Anglesey</a> (Môn), the largest island in England and Wales, lies off the northwestern coast and is linked to the mainland by road and rail bridges. The varied coastline of Wales measures about 600 miles (970 km). The country stretches some 130 miles (210 km) from north to south, and its east-west width varies, reaching 90 miles (145 km) across in the north, narrowing to about 40 miles (65 km) in the centre, and widening again to more than 100 miles (160 km) across the southern portion.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/explore-england-scotland-and-wales-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/193443-131-17ABE1C9/Union-Jack-flag-Great-Britain-united-kingdom.jpg" alt="Union Jack flag of Great Britain, united kingdom" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Explore England, Scotland, and Wales Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <section data-level="2" id="ref45106"> <h2 class="h2"><span id="ref483922"></span>Relief</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="112727" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/116748-050-180C782B/Snowdon-Wales.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/634468/112727"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/116748-050-180C782B/Snowdon-Wales.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/116748-050-180C782B/Snowdon-Wales.jpg?w=300" alt="Snowdon" data-width="1200" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/116748-050-180C782B/Snowdon-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/112727">Snowdon</a><span>Snowdon, northern Wales.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Glaciers during the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Pleistocene-Epoch" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Pleistocene Epoch</a> (about 2,600,000 to 11,700 years ago) carved much of the Welsh landscape into deeply dissected mountains, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="plateaus" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/plateaus" data-type="EB">plateaus</a>, and hills, including the north-south–trending Cambrian Mountains, a region of plateaus and hills that are themselves fragmented by rivers. Protruding from that backbone are two main mountain areas—the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Brecon-Beacons-National-Park" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Brecon Beacons</a> in the south, rising to 2,906 feet (886 metres) at Pen y Fan, and <span id="ref483923"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Snowdonia-National-Park" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Snowdonia</a> in the northwest, reaching 3,560 feet (1,085 metres) at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Snowdon" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Snowdon</a>, the highest mountain in Wales. Snowdonia’s magnificent scenery is accentuated by stark and rugged rock formations, many of volcanic origin, whereas the Beacons generally have softer outlines. The uplands are girdled on the seaward side by a series of steep-sided coastal plateaus ranging in elevation from about 100 to 700 feet (30 to 210 metres). Many of them have been pounded by the sea into spectacular steplike cliffs. Other plateaus give way to coastal flats that are estuarine in origin.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="37450" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/60594-050-30C9E6B2/Coastline-Pembrokeshire-Coast-National-Park-Wales.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/634468/37450"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/60594-050-30C9E6B2/Coastline-Pembrokeshire-Coast-National-Park-Wales.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/60594-050-30C9E6B2/Coastline-Pembrokeshire-Coast-National-Park-Wales.jpg?w=300" alt="Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales" data-width="1593" data-height="1057" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/94/60594-050-30C9E6B2/Coastline-Pembrokeshire-Coast-National-Park-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/37450">Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales</a><span>Coastline, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Wales consists of six traditional regions—the rugged central heartland, the North Wales lowlands and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Isle-of-Anglesey" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Isle of Anglesey</a> county, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cardigan-Wales" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Cardigan</a> coast (Ceredigion county), the southwestern lowlands, industrial South Wales, and the Welsh borderland. The heartland, which coincides partly with the counties <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Powys" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Powys</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Denbighshire-county-Wales" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Denbighshire</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Gwynedd" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Gwynedd</a>, extends from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Brecon" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Brecon</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="Beacons" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Beacons" data-type="EB">Beacons</a> in the south to Snowdonia in the north and includes the two national parks based on those mountain areas. To the north and northwest lie the coastal lowlands, together with the Lleyn Peninsula (Penrhyn Llŷn) in Gwynedd and the island of Anglesey. To the west of the heartland, and coinciding with the county of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ceredigion" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Ceredigion</a>, lies the coastline of Cardigan Bay, with numerous cliffs and coves and pebble- and sand-filled beaches. Southwest of the heartland are the counties of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pembrokeshire-county-Wales" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Pembrokeshire</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Carmarthenshire" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Carmarthenshire</a>. There the land rises eastward from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-David" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">St. David’s</a> Head, through moorlands and uplands, to 1,760 feet (536 metres) in the Preseli Hills. South Wales stretches south of the heartland on an immense but largely exhausted <span id="ref483928"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/coal-fossil-fuel" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">coalfield</a>. To the east of the heartland, the Welsh border region with England is largely agricultural and is <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="characterized" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/characterized" data-type="EB">characterized</a> by rolling countryside and occasional wooded hills and mountainous moorland.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner 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mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="112120" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/116145-050-7191B76B/River-Dee-Llangollen-Wales.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/634468/112120"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/116145-050-7191B76B/River-Dee-Llangollen-Wales.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/116145-050-7191B76B/River-Dee-Llangollen-Wales.jpg?w=300" alt="River Dee" data-width="1600" data-height="1200" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/116145-050-7191B76B/River-Dee-Llangollen-Wales.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/112120">River Dee</a><span>River Dee at Llangollen, Wales.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="222463" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/88/181988-050-4EED25F4/Waterfalls-Vale-of-Neath-Wales-United-Kingdom.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/634468/222463"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/88/181988-050-4EED25F4/Waterfalls-Vale-of-Neath-Wales-United-Kingdom.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/88/181988-050-4EED25F4/Waterfalls-Vale-of-Neath-Wales-United-Kingdom.jpg?w=300" alt="Wales" data-width="900" data-height="444" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/88/181988-050-4EED25F4/Waterfalls-Vale-of-Neath-Wales-United-Kingdom.jpg" data-href="/media/1/634468/222463">Wales</a><span>Waterfalls in the Vale of Neath, Wales, United Kingdom.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The main watershed of Wales runs approximately north-south along the central highlands. The larger river valleys all originate there and broaden westward near the sea or eastward as they merge into lowland plains along the English border. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Severn" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Severn</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Wye" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Wye</a>, two of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Britain’s</a> longest rivers, lie partly within central and eastern Wales and drain into the Bristol Channel via the Severn estuary. The main river in northern Wales is the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Dee-Wales-and-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dee</a>, which empties into Liverpool Bay. Among the lesser rivers and estuaries are the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Clwyd" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Clwyd</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Conwy-Wales" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Conwy</a> in the northeast, the Tywi in the south, and the Rheidol in the west, draining into <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cardigan-Bay" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cardigan Bay</a> (Bae Ceredigion). The country’s natural lakes are limited in area and almost entirely glacial in origin. Several <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="reservoirs" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/reservoirs" data-type="EB">reservoirs</a> in the central uplands supply water to South Wales and to Merseyside and the Midlands in England.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> </section> <section data-level="2" id="ref226287"> <h2 class="h2">Soils</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The parent rock of Wales is dominated by strata ranging from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Precambrian" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Precambrian time</a> (more than 540 million years ago) to representatives of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Jurassic-Period" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Jurassic Period</a> (about 200 million to 145 million years ago). However, glaciers during the Pleistocene blanketed most of the landscape with till (boulder clay), scraped up and carried along by the underside of the great ice sheets, so that few soils can now be directly related to their parent rock. Acidic, leached podzol soils and brown earths predominate throughout Wales.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> </section> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":15,"pageId":634468,"pageLength":1087,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"STATE_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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