About Wales

Geography and history

Wales is a nation within the United Kingdom. It is situated to the West of Central England and is separated from Ireland by the Irish Sea. It has a land area of 8,023 square miles (20,779 square kms) with 750 miles (1,200km) of coastline. It has three National Parks: Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park (the only coastal National Park in the UK).

The Welsh landscape is characterised by hills, mountains, lakes, rivers and forests and is lush and verdant particularly in the summer months. From north to south the coast is dotted with award-winning beaches where the cleanliness of the sands and waters complements the superb surroundings

The country was a powerhouse of the industrial revolution with coal mining in the South Wales Valleys and an iron and steel industry which was one of the largest in the world at the time.

Nowadays the evidence of its heavy industrial past is less apparent and the country now has a mixed and dynamic economy with cities such as Cardiff and Swansea becoming centres for Financial Services, IT and Creative Industries.

Most industry in rural West, Mid and North Wales is dominated by agriculture, forestry and tourism.