Wales was traditionally a Celtic region of Britain, and also one of the Celtic nations. After the withdrawal of the Romans from Britain in the 5th century a distinct Welsh identity emerged, somewhat separate from England. A defeat in the 13th century of Llewelyn by Edward I led to centuries of English rule. It is located to the West of England, and to the West of Wales, accross the Irish Sea lies Ireland.
It is an elective region of the European Union (EU), and many tourists are drawn to the area due to its amazing views and beautiful landscapes.
Culture in Wales
Wales had its own, distinctive culture including its own language, customs, music and even holidays. The main symbol of Wales is a red dragon. The daffodil flower is also a national symbol of Wales.
The most popular sports in Wales are rugby and football. Wales has independent representation (as in separate from the UK) in major sports competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, Rugby World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.
Rugby, as in New Zealand, is a core part of Wales' national identity and has its own rugby governing body, the Welsh Rugby Union.
Music plays a large part in Welsh culture, and Wales is sometime referred to as "the land of song". The nation is particularly famous for producing harpists and choirs. However, Wales has given us singers such as Katherine Jenkins and Dame Gwyneth Jones, and also more contemporary artists such as Duffy.
Economy of Wales
Since the 18th century and the industrial revolution, many parts of Wales have been heavily industrialised. Coal, copper, iron, silver and gold have been extensively mined throughout Wales. By the end of the 19th century, mining had come to dominate the Welsh economy, transforming both the landscape and the society.
By the second half of the 20th century, there was competition from overseas in the Far East, and there was major deindustrialisation in Wales. The heavy industry was replaced by lighter industry and services. Wales received significant investment from foreign companies.
In 2002, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Wales was around £26 billion. The currency of Wales is the British Pound.
Religion in Wales
The largest religion in Wales is Christianity, with the 2001 census giving a figure of 72% of the Welsh population who describe themselves as Christians.
Islam is the largest non-Christian religion with 30,000 reported Muslims in the country (according to the 2001 census).
General Information on Wales
- Capital City: Cardiff
- Population: 3,004, 600
- Area: 20, 779 km sq
- Currency: British Pound Sterling (£)
Sources:
2001 Census
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