Transcript wales - Lide na UHK

Wales, part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, united politically, legally, and
administratively with England and occupying a broad
peninsula on the western side of the island of Great Britain.
Wales also includes the island of Anglesey, which is
separated from the mainland by the narrow Menai Strait.
Wales is bounded on the north by the Irish Sea; on the east
by the English counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, Hereford
and Worcester, and Gloucester; on the south by Bristol
Channel; and on the west by Saint George’s Channel and
Cardigan Bay. The total area of Wales is 20,760 sq km.
Cardiff is the capital, principal seaport, and shipbuilding
Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is located at the mouth of the Taff and
Ely rivers on the Bristol Channel. At one time among the world’s
biggest coal-exporting ports, Cardiff remains an important industrial,
commercial, and administrative centre.
LAND AND RESOURCES
Wales has an irregular
coastline with many bays,
the largest of which is
Cardigan Bay. Except for
narrow, low-lying coastal
regions, mainly in the south
and west, Wales is almost
entirely mountainous. The
principal range is the
Cambrian Mountains, which
extend north and south
through central Wales.
Other major highland areas
are the Brecon Beacons in
the southeast and the
Snowdon massif, in the
northwest, which reaches
an elevation of 1,085 m, the
greatest in England and
Wales.
The Dee River, which rises
in Bala Lake, the largest
natural lake in Wales, and
flows through northern
Wales and England, is the
principal river.
Climate
The climate of Wales, like that of England, is mild
and moist. The average daily temperature in July
is 16°C , and in January it is 6°C. Annual rainfall
varies with elevation, ranging from 760 mm in
certain coastal regions to more than 2,500 mm in
the Snowdon massif.
Natural Resources
Coal is the most valuable mineral resource of Wales; deposits are
located mainly in the south. Some high-grade anthracite is found,
but output consists principally of bituminous coal. Slate and
limestone are also commercially important, and limited amounts of
manganese, gold, lead, uranium, copper, zinc, and fireclays are
also found. Much of the soil of Wales is of infertile rocky or leached
types. The most fertile soils are in the southeast and in a few
coastal areas. Much of the electricity generated by the country’s
large waterpower resources is exported to England.
POPULATION
The people of Wales, like
those of Britain in general,
are descendants of various
stocks, including Celts,
Scandinavians, and
Romans. The population of
Wales is 2,952,500 (2004
estimate). The population
density was 142 persons
per sq km. About threequarters of the population
is concentrated in the
mining centres in the
Principal Cities
The major cities of Wales are Cardiff,
the capital, principal seaport, and
shipbuilding centre (2001
population,305,200); Swansea, a
seaport and centre of the tin-plate
industry (2001 population, 223,200);
and Newport (1996 population,
136,789
Political Divisions
Local government in Wales was reorganized
in 1996, when the 8 former counties and 37
districts were replaced by 22 new unitary
authorities. Administration for each authority is
the function of popularly elected councils.
Language
Both English and Welsh are official
languages. English is spoken by most of
the population. A small percentage of the
people speak Welsh only; more than onequarter of the population speak both Welsh
and English (see Celtic Languages). As
part of an effort to preserve Welsh culture,
the government supports Welsh language
books, plays, and other artworks. The
British Broadcasting Corporation has set
aside a channel to broadcast in Welsh
during peak viewing hours.
Culture
Somewhat isolated by a rugged, mountainous terrain, the
Welsh have retained more of the culture of their Celtic
forebears than have either the Scots or the English. A strong
feeling of national solidarity exists in Wales, and a nationalist
revival has received some political support, to the point that
representatives of the Welsh Nationalist Party serve in the
House of Commons in.
The Welsh are well known for their love of singing, and their
hymns and folk songs are widely known throughout the
world. Music plays a large part in the annual festival, the
Royal National Eisteddfod, at which poetry reading and
Welsh folk arts are also featured. The Eisteddfod is held
each year in a different locality, and Welsh natives and those
of Welsh descent from all over the world attend. The
International Music Eisteddfod is also held annually in
Llangollen.
Eisteddfod
ECONOMY
The chief economic activities of Wales include agriculture,
manufacturing, and tourism and other service industries. The
economy is largely integrated into that of the United Kingdom.
Llandudno Bay, Wales
Formerly a fishing village, Llandudno has become a major tourist resort.
Llandudno Bay, lying between the limestone headlands of Great Orme
and Little Orme, is a particularly popular destination.
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing
About 80 percent of the land in Wales is used for agricultural
purposes. In general the raising of livestock, mainly beef and
dairy cattle and sheep, is more important than crop
cultivation. Crops include barley, oats, potatoes, and hay.
Forests cover about 12 percent of the land, and government
reforestation programs are gradually increasing the area.
The fishing industry is concentrated along the Bristol
Channel.
Manufacturing and Mining
Wales is home to a diverse manufacturing sector. The refining of
metal ore, much of which is imported, has long been a major
industry. Almost all the tin plate and much of the aluminium of the
sheet steel produced in Britain are made in Welsh plants. Since the
1940s many new industries have been established. These include
oil refining and the manufacture of plastics, electronic equipment,
synthetic fibbers, and automotive parts. Mining, once a mainstay of
the economy, is no longer a major source of revenue or
employment in Wales.
The rich coal fields and iron ore deposits of southern Wales helped
fuel Britain’s Industrial Revolution. By the 1980s falling domestic
demand and declining competitiveness in international markets
forced most coal pits still operating in Wales to close. Welsh mines
also produce limestone and slate.
Government
Wales is governed as a part of England, and Wales is
represented by 40 members in the House of Commons. In
1999 Wales elected its own assembly, although it continues
to send members to Parliament in London. The Welsh
assembly, or Senedd, has 60 members and is led by an
executive committee. Unlike Scotland, which obtained a new
parliament, the new Welsh assembly does not have the
power to raise taxes. It is only able to distribute the monies it
receives from the British government.
The new assembly took over most of the responsibilities
previously handled by the secretary of state for Wales. Some
of these responsibilities include economic development, the
environment, education, local government, health services,
housing, transportation, the arts, and language. The British
government continues to control foreign affairs, defence,
taxation, overall economic policy, social security, and
broadcasting.
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