Wales

Region of Wales

When people hear about the country of Wales, many people may think of the Princess of Wales, Princess Dianna. While Dianna is a wonderful person to associate a country with, Wales is much more than a title given to royalty. Also known as Cyrmu, Wales is also associated with beautiful landscapes and shore lines, mid-evil castles, and a rich culture.  Part of the United Kingdom, Wales is located on the western peninsula of the island.

The nearly three million people who live in Wales live near the major cities, in the once mining valleys, and along the coast. The population of Wales is made up of various ethnicities, including Britons, Celts, Romans and Scandinavians. Despite the melting pot of ethnicities the major language in Wales is English. However a growing number of people can speak or are learning to speak the native Welsh language.

Much like the other countries of the United Kingdom, visiting the pubs is the most popular leisure activity. With 58% of people agreeing this is the most popular activity. After that, the people of Wales enjoy sporting activities such as football (American soccer) and Rugby.  These athletes participate in the FIFA world cup, Rugby World Cup, and in the Commonwealth Games. However Wales joins Great Britain when participating in the Olympics. The people of Wales also enjoy being outside and traveling to the country or seaside. 

Ryan Giggs, Wales Soccer Star

When traveling through Wales, one will come across various geographic features, such as mountain ranges, river valleys, and seacoast. Airplanes, ferries, busses, and trains are the most common means of transportation throughout the country. If exploring the land, one should keep their eyes open for any of the 400 castles that were built during the Middle Ages.

Conwy Castle

Not only does the landscape set Wales apart, the many specific beliefs and holidays help maintain Wales’s unique culture.  The Patron Saint, Saint David plays a large role in the culture. As a result, March 1^st, St. David’s Day is the one of the most important days on the Welsh calendar. It seems fitting that St. David is so important because over 70% of the people of Wales say they are Christians. The festival Eisteddfod, which involves literature, music, and performance, is also extremely important to Welsh culture.

In terms of economy, Wales is struggling like many other countries. The unemployment is higher than the average for Britain. The employment rate of people of working age in Wales was 68.9%
(http://wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/headlines/economy2010/100714/?lang=en). 
Once defined by coal mining, the economy of Wales depends on agriculture, tourism, consumer electronics, automotive parts, chemicals, information technology, and other service industries. The industrial cities and ports are Newport, Cardiff, the capital, Swansea, and Tenby. Much of the wealth in Wales can be found in the southern counties, the northern part of the country is now sparsely populated.