The country of Wales is one of the constituent administrative units of the United Kingdom. Located in the southwest of the English island. Most of its borders are adjacent to the sea: in the north, the state is washed by the Irish, in the south-west - the St George Strait, in the south - the Gulf of Bristol. The coastline of Wales is 1,200 km long. In the east, the state borders on the counties of Gloucestershire, Cheshire, Herefordshire and Shropshire. The population of Wales is 3 million people. The total area is almost 21 thousand km². Wales in the Russian version was previously pronounced as Wallis. Therefore, the inhabitants of the country are still called the Welsh.
Historical data
It is known that people have lived on this territory since the last ice age. At the beginning of our era, the country of Wales was inhabited by Roman conquerors who developed gold mines here. After their departure, at the beginning of the 5th century AD e., the Britons created in this area many independent kingdoms. However, due to the constant internecine wars, the divided areas were very quickly conquered by the Anglo-Saxons and Scots. Only under the reign of King Henry VIII did this territory become a united kingdom, having a legal merger with the rest of Great Britain. Many people care: Is Wales a separate country or not? In fact, it was never an independent territory, but always had a special status within the Kingdom.
In the eighteenth century, Wales became the center of the industrial revolution. The largest deposits of iron ore, coal, and tin were discovered in the country. During this period, more and more workers come here who become permanent residents of the country. Cardiff has always been a major port, and in 1955 it receives the status of the capital. Currently, the village is the largest in the country.
Characteristic
The country of Wales stretches from north to south. Numerically, its length in this direction is 274 km, from east to west - 97 km. Most of the territory (about 70%) is occupied by the Cambrian mountains. They are composed of volcanic and sedimentary rocks with wide ridges, which are deeply cut by river valleys. In the northwest, Wales is bordered by the Snowdon mountain range. The main peak of the same name is the highest point in the country (1,085 m). The southern part is occupied by the Brecon-Beacon Ranges. In addition, 23% of Wales is land, most of which is pastures.
The mountainous nature of the country was taken as a basis in the study of geological periods and the foundations of paleontology. And this left a definite imprint. So, this moment influenced the name of the Paleozoic periods: Cambrian - according to the old name of Wales (Cambria), Silurian and Ordovician are named after the Celtic tribes living in the country.
Climatic features
Where is Wales located and in what climate zone? We’ll talk about this now. The climate is typical marine, with warm mild winters and cool summers. In the west, Wales is not protected from the Atlantic winds, which often invade its territory. The average summer temperatures are + 17 ° ... + 19 ° , winter - + 5 ° ... + 7 ° . Frosts are rare in the country, as is snow. Here is Wales so unique in its weather conditions.
Which country can boast such good weather, especially if we take the climate of Russia in comparison? Sustainable snow cover is not observed. Precipitation falls in the form of rains and fogs. And their number varies from west to east: from 1,200 to 700 mm / g. The climate in Wales is cooler than in the UK, due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
Division into administrative objects
According to the administrative-territorial division, the country is divided into 22 unitary districts. Of these, 9 regions have the status of counties, 10 - city-counties, and 3 - city-cities. The Act on Local Self-Government was adopted in 1994. Although the border between Wales and England has been agreed upon, it has not been formally established. The largest cities are: Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor, Newport and St. Davis. Unlike other states, the large part of the country's population does not live in large settlements. Welsh people prefer to settle in small towns and small towns.
Government
The head of the government of Wales is considered the British monarch (currently Elizabeth II). The executive power is the responsibility of the head of the Assembly’s government, and the legislature belongs to the British Parliament. Executive bodies include the government of Wales, led by the prime minister. It consists of 7 people. The main sectors of the economy are mining, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, oil production and processing. Agriculture and dairy farming are also developing.
Beauty of the country
Wales has always attracted travelers to its lands. There is something to see here. These are bewitching landscapes, ancient castles, small ancient cities with narrow streets and special national color. Great Britain all harmoniously honors traditions and its history. But in the country being described, this moment is most clearly manifested.
National parks
The country of Wales has many natural national parks. They occupy a fifth of the territory. In the south is Brecon Beacons. The status of the park was received in 1957. Four mountain ranges, the Forrest Favre Geopark and the old commercial town of Brecon, are located on this territory.
In the north-west of the country is another natural attraction. It's about Snowdonia National Park. It covers the adjacent territory of the highest point in Wales - the city of Snowdon. Most of the park is mountains. But there are lands suitable for agriculture. Snowdonia is a popular destination for hiking trails. Especially for this purpose, trains run along the territory, and bus routes are laid.
In the western part of Wales is the third national park - Pembrokeshire Coast. This area is striking in its diversity of landscapes. Rocks suitable for sandy beaches, cliffs, hilly peaks, coastal estuaries, overgrown with grass - all this is an amazing local nature.
In addition to the natural landscapes of national parks, human buildings are used - ancient palaces and castles, small villages that have retained their original appearance. Unlike other national parks in the world, those located in Wales are not considered remote territories. Within their borders are pastures, villages and even cities.
Those students who become familiar with this information will be able to accurately answer the question: "Is Wales a city or a country?" They will easily make an interesting presentation or essay. By telling only accurate and correct data about the state, you can get a good grade at school or college.