Introduction
Wales is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. It is located to the west of England. The capital city is Cardiff.
Geography
- Wales has over 2,700 kilometres of coastline
- The highest mountain in Wales is Snowdon (1,085 metres) in Snowdonia National Park
- The Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire Coast are also national parks
- The longest river in Wales is the River Severn (which flows into England)
- The Severn Bridge connects Wales to England
- Anglesey is a large island off the north coast of Wales
Major Cities
- Cardiff - the capital city, home to the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and Cardiff Castle
- Swansea - the second-largest city, located on the coast
- Newport - a large city near the English border
- Bangor - a city in north Wales with a historic cathedral
- St Davids - the smallest city in the UK, named after the patron saint of Wales
History
- Wales was conquered by England in the 13th century under Edward I
- The Act of Union 1536 formally united England and Wales
- Owain Glyndŵr led a Welsh rebellion against English rule in the early 15th century
- Wales was an important centre of the Industrial Revolution, especially for coal mining
- The Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru) was established in 1999 through devolution
Government
Wales has its own parliament, the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament), in Cardiff Bay. It was established in 1999. The Senedd makes decisions on:
- Health and social care
- Education
- Transport
- Local government
- Housing
- The environment
The Welsh Language
Wales has two official languages: Welsh and English. Welsh is a Celtic language, one of the oldest languages in Europe. About one-fifth of the population speaks Welsh.
You will see Welsh on road signs, in schools, and in official documents throughout Wales.
Culture and Symbols
- The national flower of Wales is the daffodil (and the leek is also a traditional symbol)
- The patron saint is St David, celebrated on 1 March
- The flag of Wales features a red dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) on a green and white background
- Wales is famous for its male voice choirs
- Traditional Welsh foods include Welsh cakes, cawl (a stew), and bara brith (a fruit loaf)
- Rugby union is the national sport and very popular
Famous Welsh People
- Roald Dahl - famous children's author (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
- Dylan Thomas - famous poet (Under Milk Wood)
- Tom Jones - famous singer
- Anthony Hopkins - famous actor
- Shirley Bassey - famous singer
- Aneurin Bevan - founder of the NHS
Key Facts for the Test
- Wales has its own devolved education system (England and Wales share the same legal system)
- Prescriptions are free in Wales
- The National Assembly for Wales was renamed the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) in 2020
- St David's Day (1 March) is celebrated with parades and daffodils
- Cardiff has one of the largest castles in the UK
Wales has a unique culture and language that make it an important part of the United Kingdom.