WALES

ION IULIA, LAZAR ANDREEA, STOICA ANDREEA, STOICA ANGELA

XI B

INTRODUCTION
Wales is part of Britain and the United Kingdom. It's situated to the west of England and is around 170 miles (256 km) long and 60 miles (96 km) wide. It covers just over 8,000 square miles (20,720 km) - that's about the same size as Massachusetts in the USA or half the size of Switzerland.

EDUCATION
The education system in Wales largely resembles the structure set up in England, with maintained schools (most state schools) following the National Curriculum Education in Wales is compulsory between the ages of 5 to 16 and we have about 1900 state schools offering free education to more than 470,000 pupils. Another 65,000 students between 16 and 19 are in vocational training in further education institutions. A number of overseas pupils are also enrolled in our private fee-paying schools. A significant number of students all over Wales are educated either wholly or largely through the medium of Welsh and lessons in the language are compulsory for all until the age of 16. Welsh medium education is available to all age groups from nursery through to schools, colleges, universities and adult education. Today the student population in Wales is large and diverse; there are 10 universities and 17 further education colleges and institutes. We have around 250,000 learners studying at further education institutions per year.

THE MEDIA
The media in Wales has increasingly highlighted a sense of national identity. BBC Wales, which has always had considerable independence from the British Broadcasting Corporation, provides television and radio services in both English and Welsh. ITV Wales, a commercial company, covers Wales and the western part of England. A Welshlanguage television channel, S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru, or Channel Four Wales), began broadcasting in 1982 after a long campaign against the homogenizing tendencies of English-language television. The Western Mail is the national newspaper for Wales, although Liverpools Daily Post also has a significant readership. In addition to a lively periodical press, there are several other regional and local newspapers and dozens of Welsh-language papurau bro (community papers) produced by volunteers. The Internet has reduced the costs of, and expanded the possibilities for, Welshlanguage publishing.

INDUSTRY
Agriculture, foresrty and fishing Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for less than 2 percent of the GDP of Wales. Agricultural production mainly centres on the raising of sheep, cattle, pigs, and poultry. Major crops include barley, wheat, potatoes, and oats. Waless highly variable relief and climate are obstacles to the development of other commercial crops. Sheep and cattle raising dominate the economy of the central heartland. The Lleyn Peninsula and Anglesey have rich farming areas. Along the Ceredigion coast, fishing and dairying are important, and in Pembrokeshire and part of Carmarthenshire there are numerous low-lying pastures, dairy farms, and fishing ports. Milford Haven, which has a vast natural harbour, is the main fishing port. Resources and power Wales has few natural resources beyond coal, agricultural lands, water, and woodlands. Coal is the only significant mineral resource of Wales, but the local coal-mining industry is now precipitously diminished from its previous level; by the early 2010s only about 1,200 people continued to be employed in coal mining in Wales. The coal deposits of South Wales are far more extensive and contain higher-grade anthracite than those of the northeast. There are several hydroelectric projects and reservoirs in Wales for domestic and industrial purposes. About half of the hydroelectric power produced in Wales serves areas in England. Manufacturing Manufacturing accounts for nearly one-third of the GDP of Wales, although most heavy industries had declined by the late 20th century. Improvements in the Welsh transportation infrastructure helped bring diversified manufacturing into the southeast and northeast, including foreign-owned companies specializing in electrical, automotive, and chemical products. Foodstuffs, metals and metal products, beverages, and optical equipment are also important.

TOURISM
Wales is an emerging tourist destination, with 8,078,900 visitors to National Trust and Welsh Tourist Board destinations in 2002. The industry has been estimated to have an annual turnover of 3.5 billion. In 2005 tourism contributed to the economy of Wales supporting over 100,000 service-sector jobs, more than 8% of the country's workforce. The most popular activities undertaken by tourists in Wales were walking, shopping, hiking in the mountains and visiting historic attractions, museums and galleries. Over 1.1 million trips were made to Wales by overseas tourists in 2006 The main countries of origin of overseas visitors were the Republic of Ireland, the United States and Germany. The majority of tourism however, is from other parts of the UK (predominantly England. The capital, Cardiff is the most popular area in Wales for tourists, with 14.6 million visitors in 2009, which provides 26,300 jobs in the sector. In 2004, tourists spent the most money in Gwynedd, followed by Conwy and Cardiff.

TOP ATTRACTIONS
Millenium Stadium Cardiff Castle

TOP ATTRACTIONS
St Davids Cathedral National museum Cardiff

TOP ATTRACTIONS
Powis Castle Gardens Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

MEDICAL SYSTEM
Healthcare in Wales is mainly provided by the Welsh public health service, NHS Wales. NHS Wales provides healthcare to all permanent residents that is free at the point of need and paid for from general taxation. Health is a matter that is devolved, and considerable differences are now developing between the public healthcare systems in the different countries of the United Kingdom. Though the public system dominates healthcare provision, private health care and a wide variety of alternative and complementary treatments are available for those willing to pay. The largest hospital in the country is the University Hospital of Wales hospital.

RELIEF
Glaciers carved much of the Welsh landscape into deeply dissected mountains, plateaus, and hills, including the north-southtrending Cambrian Mountains, a region of plateaus and hills that are themselves fragmented by rivers. Protruding from that backbone are two main mountain areasthe Brecon Beacons in the south, rising to 2,906 feet (886 metres) at Pen y Fan, and Snowdonia in the northwest, reaching 3,560 feet (1,085 metres) at Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales Wales consists of six traditional regionsthe rugged central heartland, the North Wales lowlands and Isle of Anglesey county, the Cardigan coast (Ceredigion county), the southwestern lowlands, industrial South Wales, and the Welsh borderland. The heartland, which coincides partly with the counties Powys, Denbighshire, and Gwynedd, extends from the Brecon Beacons in the south to Snowdonia in the north and includes the two national parks based on those mountain areas. To the north and northwest lie the coastal lowlands, together with the Lleyn Peninsula (Penrhyn Lln) in Gwynedd and the island of Anglesey. To the west of the heartland, and coinciding with the county of Ceredigion, lies the coastline of Cardigan Bay, with numerous cliffs and coves and pebble- and sand-filled beaches. Southwest of the heartland are the counties of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. There the land rises eastward from St. Davids Head, through moorlands and uplands, to 1,760 feet (536 metres) in the Preseli Hills. South Wales stretches south of the heartland on an immense but largely exhausted coalfield. To the east of the heartland, the Welsh border region with England is largely agricultural and is characterized by rolling countryside and occasional wooded hills and mountainous moorland.

CLIMATE
Wales has a maritime climate dominated by highly unpredictable shifts in Atlantic air masses, which, combined with the diverse range of elevations, often cause local conditions to vary considerably from day to day. Precipitation is frequent and often more than adequate, with annual totals averaging 55 inches (1,385 mm) for the country as a whole. There is no markedly wet or dry season; roughly 4 inches (88 mm) of precipitation are recorded in April, whereas 6 inches (142 mm) are typical in January. Winter snowfall can be significant in the uplands, where snow or sleet falls some 10 days of each year. The mean diurnal temperature is 50 F (10 C), ranging from 40 F (4 C) in January to 61 F (16 C) in July and August.

NATIONAL PARKS
Together, the three Welsh National Parks Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons protect an impressive 20 percent of Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites. Theyre perfect for active weekends and holidays in the glorious outdoors.

BRECON BEACONS
Brecon Beacons National Park is around 42 miles wide. In total, it covers approximately 520 square miles of South and Mid Wales, just west of Herefordshire, and includes parts of Powys, Carmarthenshire, Monmouthshire, Rhondda and Merthyr Tydfil. It gets its name from the Central Beacons, which dominate the skyline south of Brecon. They rise to 886 metres at Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain. The night skies are remarkable. Theyve earned recognition as an International Dark Sky Reserve. The industrial heritage is magnificent: Blaenavon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And the rocks tell their own story. Theyre so unique that a large part of our National Park has been designated a European and Global Geopark.

PEMBROKSHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK

Britain's only coastal National Park, The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the only one of Britain's 14 National Parks to be almost entirely coastal in nature. It covers a third of Pembrokeshire including the Preseli Mountains and the upper reaches of the Daugleddau Estuary. Tenby, St Davids, Saundersfoot, Newport and Manorbier are all in the National Park. So are Skomer, Skokholm, Caldey and Ramsey Islands. Two inland areas are also in the National Park; The Preseli Mountains and the upper reaches of the Daugleddau Estuary. The Preseli Mountains are where the Stonehenge bluestones are supposed to have come from. The Daugleddau Estuary is known, locally, as the secret waterway.

SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK

Situated on the west coast of Britain covering 823 square miles of diverse landscapes, Snowdonia National Park is a living working area, home to over 26,000 people. As well as being the largest National Park in Wales, Snowdonia boasts the highest mountain in England and Wales, and the largest natural lake in Wales, as well as a wealth of picturesque villages like Betws y Coed and Beddgelert. Snowdonia is an area steeped in culture and local history, where more than half its population speak Welsh.

CULTURAL HERRITAGE
From ancient fortresses to centres of great industrial innovation, the World Heritage Sites of Wales are protected by UNESCO as areas of global importance

PONTCYSYLLTE AQUEDUCT AND CANAL

BLAENAVON WORLD HERITAGE SITE

An incredible town with an iron heart, Blaenavon grew around an ironworks in 1788. These days it is home to the Big Pit: National Coal Museum, the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway and, of course, the Blaenavon Ironworks

CAERNARFON CASTLE
Built in the 13th century by Edward I, Part of the coastal World Heritage Site, the mighty Caernarfon remains one of the most visually arresting sights youll ever see. Exhibition rooms also feature at a landmark to stir the senses.

HARLECH CASTLE
Such is its beautiful setting in Snowdonia, its hard not to believe some sympathetic positioning was afoot when it was built by Edward I more than 700 years ago. The views are unbeatable, but the massive inner walls of the fortress and battlements are equally impressive.

THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES

Support for the Arts. The traditional importance of music and poetry has encouraged a general appreciation of and support for all of the arts. There is strong public support throughout Wales for the arts, which are considered important to the national culture. Financial support is derived from both the private and public sectors. The Welsh Arts Council provides government assistance for literature, art, music, and theater. The council also organizes tours of foreign performance groups in Wales and provides grants to writers for both English- and Welsh-language publications.
Literature. Literature and poetry occupy an important position in Wales for historical and linguistic reasons. Dylan Thomas is the best known Welsh poet. Performance Arts. Singing is the most important of the performance arts in Wales and has its roots in ancient traditions. Music was both entertainment and a means for telling stories. The Welsh National Opera, supported by the Welsh Arts Council, is one of the leading opera companies in Britain. Wales is famous for its all-male choirs, which have evolved from the religious choral tradition. Traditional instruments, such as the harp, are still widely played and since 1906 the Welsh Folk Song Society has preserved, collected, and published traditional songs. The Welsh Theater Company is critically acclaimed and Wales has produced many internationally famous actors.