Here are ten facts about Wales.
- Wales is part of the United Kingdom. The small country covers an area of just over 20,000 square km and lies between England to the east and the Irish Sea to the west.
- The actors Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins are from Wales. The comedians Griff Rhys-Jones and Tommy Cooper were born there, as well as the singer Tom Jones.
- Cardiff has been the capital of Wales since 1955, making it one of Europe’s youngest capitals. Wales is also home to the UK’s smallest city, St. David’s with about 2,000 people.
- Llandudno is one of Wales’ most popular seaside resorts and was the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. The Italian looking town of Portmerion was the setting for the cult 1960s television show The Prisoner.
- Wales is home to the highest mountain in England and Wales, Mt. Snowdon at 1085 metres. The Snowdon mountain railway has been taking visitors to the summit since 1896.
- Wales has more castles per square km than any other country. One of the most impressive is Caernarvon Castle, built in the 13th century and site of the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles.
- Fewer than 20 percent of the Welsh people can actually speak Welsh, although road signs are in both Welsh and English. The Welsh alphabet doesn’t contain the letters K. Q, V and Z.
- There are four times as many sheep as people in Wales, and the country’s long and often rocky coast make it a favourite haunt of a variety of sea birds.
- Wales has the longest place name in the UK. The town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch on the island of Anglesey is usually just abbreviated to Llanfair PG.
- Wales is the only UK country not to be shown on the Union Jack flag. The Welsh flag contains a red dragon, possibly originating from a legend about the magician Merlin fighting a dragon.
