Here are some facts about Cornwall.
- Cornwall is the most westerly county in Britain, bordering Devon and surrounded by the English Channel and the Celtic Sea.
- The county has a population of over 500,000.
- Truro is the only city in Cornwall, although the town of St. Austell has the largest population. Other well known places include Polperro, Newquay, St. Ives and Land’s End.
- Tin mining became important during the Middle Ages and by the early 20th century half the world’s tin came from Cornwall. Today, fishing and tourism are two important industries.
- Cornwall has never officially been absorbed into England and many people see it as a separate country. Cornwall is one of 6 Celtic nations, which include Wales and Brittany.
- Cornwall has the longest coastline of any English county, measuring almost 700 km. It has about 300 beaches, some of which have 8 metre high waves and are popular with surfers.
- According to legend, Lyonesse was an area of Cornwall buried under a huge tidal wave. Legend also says that Lyonesse was the final resting place of King Arthur.
- St. Michael’s Mount is an island located 400 metres off the Cornish coast. The island sits on a mysterious ley line, and has its own underground railway connecting the harbour to the castle.
- The famous Cornish pasty is the county’s national dish and has protected status. One of the largest ever made was in 2010, weighing 860 kg and measuring 4.5 metres across.
- Land’s End is Cornwall’s most westerly point, and many people have walked the 1,340 km from here to John O’Groats in Scotland. The flight from the tiny airport to the Scilly Isles takes just 15 minutes.Cornwall’s Eden Project is home to the world’s largest indoor rain forest. The centre’s largest dome is 55 metres high and the Tower of London would fit inside it.
