geography wales wales welsh country united_kingdom island great_britain offshore islands bordered england east north west south total area hectares acres north south wide number offshore islands far largest mainland coastline including length wales population cardiff capital largest city situated area wales complex geological history left largely mountainous country coastal plain narrow north west country wider south best agricultural land exploitation south wales industrial revolution resulted development urban economy expansion port cities newport cardiff export coal smaller developed time country landscape rural communities small economy largely dependent agriculture tourism climate influenced proximity country atlantic_ocean prevailing westerly winds tends mild cloudy wet physical geography wales located western central southern great_britain north west south english counties lie east border england roughly follows line ancient known large island lies northwest coast separated mainland wales number smaller islands wales mountainous welsh northwest highest mountains highest mountain england wales south main range lie northeast wales lies possibly peaks feet known collectively welsh run northeast southwest occupy central country rounded clad rough grassland south country central spread parts southeast wales lies west border welsh lowland zone consists north coastal plain island narrow strip coast bay southern main rivers forms boundary wales england river river flow northwards liverpool bay round coast flow westwards rivers flow southwards parts river form boundary wales england length coast mainland wales adding coasts total largest bay country lake largest lake km2 large lakes include km2 lake km2 km2 km2 km2 lies glacial valley blocked terminal lakes created rivers provide drinking water hydroelectric schemes flood defences geology geology wales complex varied earliest rocks era found peninsula southwestern places near english border seas periodically flooded land retreated thousands metres volcanic rocks accumulated marine basin known early middle period volcanic activity increased large volcanic system centred emitted estimated cubic kilometres debris volcano formed near period great sand gravel mud deposited south wales gradually consolidated volcanic ash fell sea formed great banks unstable masses slid deeper water creating submarine caused great sea particles began settle according particle size strata formed called common central wales particularly obvious sea cliffs beginning period sea retreating land thrust collision land masses forming new range mountains strata compressed deformed places clay minerals developing grain allowed parallel making easy split rocks thin flat sheets stone known slate period erosion mountains resulted formation southern northeastern parts wales sea resulted limestone extensive swamps gave rise deposits eventual formation coal measures particular affected period continental collisions south caused complex folding strata episodes occurred wales alternately inundated sea raised cretaceous wales permanently sea level pleistocene recent underwent exceptionally cold periods ice ages mountains today largely assumed present shape ice age mid 19th century prominent studies geology wales establish certain principles latin wales derived derived earliest geological period era dispute periods era named pre roman celtic tribes wales climate wales maritime climate predominant winds blowing atlantic_ocean means weather wales general mild cloudy wet country wide geographic variations cause differences amounts sunshine rainfall temperature rainfall wales varies widely highest average annual totals lowest near coast east close english border wales winter months significantly summer ones snow comparatively rare near sea level wales frequent hills experience conditions winter low lying parts mean annual temperatures wales coast low lying inland areas cooler higher altitudes mean decrease annual temperatures approximately metres feet increased altitude consequently higher parts experience mean annual temperatures nights conditions occur little wind cloud cover especially ground snow clad lowest temperature recorded wales conditions sort temperature fell occasionally coastal area experiences winter conditions united_kingdom temperatures result wind south westerly warming descends mountains rainfall wales result arrival atlantic low pressure systems heaviest october january country months usually april june wales experiences fewer summer thunderstorms england rainfall varies country highest records greatest elevations experiences total annual exceeding coastal regions wales english border combination mountainous areas atlantic lows produce large quantities rain results flooding snowfall varies altitude enormously year year number days lying snow vary zero thirty average wales parts united_kingdom strongest winds usually associated atlantic depressions arrives winds usually start southwest west northwest system passes southwest experiences gale force winds highest wind speed recorded wales lowland site gusts knots mph october land use total terrestrial surface wales hectares acres area land agriculture forestry country hectares acres hectares acres hectares acres hectares acres grazing woodland occupied hectares acres hectares acres land addition hectares acres common rough grazing giving total area land agriculture purposes including common land hectares acres order area planted crops grown wales foods stock feeding spring wheat winter combining rape potatoes crops grassland predominantly permanent pasture grassland years old compared parts united_kingdom wales smallest percentage land considerably smaller area rough grazing hill land scotland natural resources south wales extends parts west east smaller parts vast quantities coal mined wales industrial revolution earlier twentieth century coal stocks remaining pits foreign coal available low prices deep pit wales closed northern edge south wales extensively worked production iron important initiation industrial revolution south wales lead mined roman occupation britain ore bearing sites lead silver mined metals mined areas numerous minerals occur parts wales gold found southern copper industry early 1800s exploited past minerals mined commercial scale today stone parts wales slate major industry worked 12th century later centre production producing reduced capacity compared converted visitor attraction railways carry ports restored tourist attractions including railway railway wales potential onshore production oil gas gas obtained coal potential source gas underground controlled coal produce mixture hydrogen carbon mountainous terrain ample rainfall water wales abundant resources country man supplies water england generating power hydroelectric schemes largest notable bodies water include popular resorts outdoor activities sailing cycling fishing bird watching wind resource wales abundance offshore wind farms coast second largest wind farm world wind farms found inland sites national parks political geography border wales england modern border wales england largely defined laws wales acts based boundaries medieval according welsh historian john davies created border wales england border survived today follow old line eastern boundary welsh excluded districts welsh language continue spoken centuries districts wholly consider purpose statute incorporate wales england location welsh border irrelevant purposes boundary confirmed referendum reviewed boundary line roughly follows south north far point miles northern coast swings east number counties detached parts act instance separates railway station divides village pub line local government wales divided authorities responsible provision local government services including education social work environmental road services areas community councils cover specific areas council area authority areas known principal areas queen represent preserved counties wales local authorities groups based main census dimensions demographic household composition housing socio economic employment industry sector local authorities mid west wales classified coastal countryside south wales authorities mining manufacturing cardiff cities services population wales increase previous year slowest growth rate country united_kingdom main population industrial areas wales specifically cardiff newport adjoining cardiff capital city population census followed authorities newport port cardiff heavily populated area wales people square kilometre mile high proportion welsh population lives smaller settlements nearly live villages persons compared england wales relatively low proportion population large settlements live urban areas population comparison nearly english population live urban areas larger largest wales feature settlement pattern wales share population living rural areas compared england communications communications wales influenced topography mountainous nature country main rail road routes south loop east pass largely england motorway wales motorway london entering country second crossing passing close newport cardiff extending far west services continuing northwest major trunk road connecting london coast road links links worcester main trunk road dual road chester past continuing coast crossing terminating main line links entering wales main line services join newport branch lines serve barry destinations include ferry heart links line crosses centre wales trains links ferry service ireland passengers change links cardiff airport airport wales offers international scheduled flights destinations available include parts united_kingdom ireland parts continental europe airport charter flights seasonal basis million passengers airport ferry services operate welsh ports ireland dublin dock protected areas wales designated national parks national park northwestern wales established national park britain following covers square miles km2 mountains miles coastline established following year protect spectacular coastal scenery includes estuary entire length established years later extends southern northwestern parts eastern case park authority acts special purpose local authority exercises planning control residential industrial development park authorities duty conserve natural beauty area promote opportunities members public enjoy appreciate park special qualities wales areas outstanding natural beauty differ authorities duty conserve enhance natural beauty landscape obligation promote enjoyment public additionally control planning designated britain england wales including striking united_kingdom near village formed mountain stream drops cliff changes character lowland river site designated site special scientific interest wales importance understanding welsh 19th century english author remarked saw water falling like thin beautiful threads
Geography of Wales