English World
Wales
Population (2001): 2.9 million
Area: 21,000 square kilometres
Capital city: Cardiff
Wales is located on the western side of Great Britain.
The Welsh name for their own country is Cymru, which means "fellow countrymen". The name Wales originally meant "stranger" or "foreigner": the name was given to the country by the Anglo-Saxons because the people living there (the Celts) spoke a different language and had a different way of life from them.
Government
Wales was formally united with England by Henry the Eighth in 1536. The National Assembly for Wales was opened in 1999, giving some decision-making powers to an assembly of politicians who are elected locally. Many decisions affecting Welsh people are still made in the Houses of Parliament in London, which includes politicians from all parts of the United Kingdom.
Language
English is the main language spoken in most parts of Wales, but the Welsh language is taught in many of the schools and is spoken by about 20% of the population. Signs and information are usually written in both English and Welsh.
Economy
The Welsh economy was once dominated by the coal mining and steel industries. The production of slate (used mainly for roof tiles) was a major industry in the mountains of Snowdonia.
These traditional industries have declined; new jobs are being created in industries such as electronics and tourism. Because of the hilly landscapes, much of the land is used for sheep farming, and cattle are reared in the lowland areas.
Culture and Sports
The country has a strong musical and cultural tradition. It is famous for its choirs, and singers of many different styles (for example: Charlotte Church, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, the Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics).
The national sport is rugby. Famous Welsh actors / actresses include Sir Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The most famous Welsh poet is Dylan Thomas. Laura Ashley was a Welsh designer who established a chain of shops. Lloyds Bank (now Lloyds TSB) was originally a Welsh bank. Wales has the greatest concentration of castles in western Europe. There is a lot of beautiful scenery, including many attractive mountains, hills, valleys and rivers. There are three National Parks in Wales: Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire Coast. The national emblem of Wales is the leek (you can see this on the back of some one pound coins); daffodils are also often as a symbol of the country.
Fonts:
www.ukstudentlife.com/Britain/Countries/Wales.htm
www.visitwales.com
www.wales.gov.uk
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