Transcript Things to do

In the 19th century, copper, zinc, lead and slate were all mined. Quarry men worked
away the whole of the mountain sides. Wales is has a lot of minerals and since the
bronze ages it has been exploited for these.For these quarries to fully succeed there
needed to be good transport links. This is why Snowdon has a railway. It made it easier
to take the products to port.
Early travellers to the area were botanists such as Thomas Johnston.
Thomas Pennant popularized the area with his three volumed work on "Tours of
Wales" written in 1778.
In the early 17th century Capel Curig was renowned for its harp making.
The old Turnpike road or Capel Curig Trust Road (now the A5) used gates and tollbars.
Thomas Telford undertook the work of building a new and better road and work began
in the Autumn of 1815.
Nant y Benglog congregational chapel in the Ogwen Valley was opened in 1853 and is
one of the smallest congregational chapels in Wales and continues to have regular
services.
Today the population of Capel Curig extends to just over two hundred. Tourism and
Agriculture are the main sources of employment - each complementing the other
There are about 8 million day visits to Snowdonia every year.
91% of visitors arrive in Snowdonia in their cars.
The graph below show the areas from which visitors travel to Snowdonia
Tourism in Snowdonia was valued at
£177.2m in 2000 and £196.9m in 1999.
A day visitor spends £22 here on
average, and those who stay overnight
spend £25 on accommodation and £44
on food and entertainment.
The majority of the visitors visit North
Snowdonia, with 62% of day visitors
visiting Betws y Coed and 41% visiting
the Ogwen Valley. This adds increased
pressure on public footpaths in
Snowdonia.
In a tourism survey in Gwynedd in
2000, the main reasons for travelling to
this area were the views (39%), the
peace and quiet (28%), beaches (20%),
mountains (25%), Snowdonia National
Park (24%) and the fact that it is so easy
to get to the area (20%).
Things to doBird watching-The rich diversity
of habitats in Snowdonia attracts
many species of bird to the area.
Snowdon mountain railway
Walking-Snowdonia has been
renowned for walking since
Victorian times. Since then the
main mountains of Snowdonia
have been well trodden.
Welsh Highland railway.
Climbing-Snowdonia has some of
the best and most varied rock
climbing in the world, with a
history dating back to the late
nineteenth century.
Mountain biking
Slate museum
King Arthur’s Labyrinth
Harlech Castle
Padarn Country Park
The majority of the visitors visit North
Snowdonia, with 62% of day visitors
visiting Betws y Coed and 41% visiting
the Ogwen Valley. This adds increased
pressure on public footpaths in
Snowdonia.
Litter is a common problem, not only in
villages, but on the mountains too. This
can be dangerous to wild animals, and
affects the beauty of the area.
On the main routes, constant feet on the paths
deepens and widens the footpath. This leads to
less grazing land for animals and scars the
landscape. SNPA in partnership with the National
Trust and Countryside Council for Wales are
working to improve the footpaths on these high
grounds.
Sustainable EnergyWith glaciated valleys, steep sides and hanging valleys
above them, a lot of energy from water is produced. A
very environmentally friendly way of producing energy.
Rain water is piped and runs a turbine, then allowed to
continue down the stream. This is what happens at
Cwm Dvli at the foot of Snowdon. The power stations
can produce enough energy for the whole of the United
Kingdom in 16 seconds. Two lakes are used: Marchllyn
Mawr is the upper lake at a height of 630m and Llyn
Peris is the lowest at a height of 500m. Water flows
through the middle of the mountain – Moel Eilio turning
the turbines on its way. When electricity is cheap at
night, the water is then pumped back into the upper
lake.
Snowdon stands 1,085 metres (3,560 feet) high.
 Each year 350,000 people reach the summit, some
on foot and some by train.
The summit has 200 inches(508 cm) of rain per year,
and can reach temparatures of 30 centigrade in high
summer, and plummet to - 20 centigrade in the winter.
 Winds of up to 150 mph
The summit buildings at the top can by covered by
ice and snow between November and April.
The Railway was built at the end of the 19th Century,
first opening to passengers on 6th April 1896.
The trains may be either steam or diesel worked,
there being 5 operational steam locomotives, 4 diesel
locomotives and a 3-car diesel-electric railcar set on the
line.
Many types of rock are to be seen there –sedimentary
mudstone and igneous/volcanic rock.