Gwynedd
Unitary authority in northwest Wales; population (1996) 116,000; area
2,546 sq km/983 sq mi. The administrative centre is Caernarfon.
Industries include cattle and sheep farming, gold mining at Dolgellau,
textiles, electronics, slate, and tourism. The area includes the
highest mountain in Wales, Snowdon (1,085 m/3,561 ft), and the
largest Welsh lake, Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake - 6 km/4 mi long). Welsh
is spoken by 72% of the population. There are plans to rename
the authority Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire.
Most of Gwynedd lies within Snowdonia National Park. The Lleyn
Peninsula, which juts out into the Irish Sea and forms the northern
limit of Cardigan Bay, is a rural area with many seaside resorts.
Off the tip of the peninsula is the former pilgrimage centre of
Bardsey Island, with its 6th- century ruined abbey. In Tremadog
Bay is the fantasy resort of Portmeirion, built by Clough Williams
-Ellis.
Features
A rack railway to the top of Snowdon can be taken from the village
of Llanberis, which also houses the Welsh Slate Museum. Other
tourist centres and seaside resorts in the area include Aberdaron,
Abersoch, Barmouth, Criccieth, Dolgellau, Harlech, and Pwllheli.
Features of Pen y Bryn manor house at Aber, near Bangor, have
been identified as surviving from the royal palace of Llewellyn
I and Llewellyn II. The castles and town walls of King Edward
I in the unitary authority are a World Heritage Site. The area
includes Caernarfon, Criccieth, and Harlech castles. Caernarfon
also includes the Sergontium Roman Fort Museum. Edward II and
T E Lawrence were born in the area.
Industry and Agriculture
It is generally a region of mixed farming with sheep rearing on the
hills and dairy and beef cattle on the lowland fringes. The district
is noted for its hardy mountain sheep, rams, and Welsh black cattle.
Quarrying for slate and granite were major occupations but have
now declined, and light industries are found in the small towns.
The Clogau mine at Bontddu supplies the gold for royal wedding
rings. Lead, copper, and manganese have been worked near Dolgellau
in the past.
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