Pembrokeshire
Welsh Sir Benfro
Unitary authority in southwest Wales; population (1996) 117,700;
area 1,588 sq km/613 sq mi. The administrative centre is Haverfordwest.
The area includes the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and there
is an oil refinery at Milford Haven. A former county, from 1974
to 1996 it was part of the county of Dyfed.
Pembrokeshire is bounded on the south by the Bristol Channel
and on the west and north by St George's Channel, into which protrudes
St David's Head. The chief bays are Milford Haven and St Bride's,
the coast of which is part of the national park; smaller bays
include Fishguard and Newport. All have good anchorage. A number
of islands lie off the coast, including Skokholm, Skomer, Caldey,
Ramsey, and Grassholm, as well as many rocky islets, including
the group known as the Bishops and Clerks, which has a lighthouse.
The south coast is wild and precipitous, fronted by high cliffs.
Inland Pembrokeshire is undulating, consisting of green hills
alternating with fertile valleys. The main relief is the Preseli
Hills in the northeast; the most important rivers are the East
and West Cleddau, which unite and form a navigable portion of
Milford Haven. There are many prehistoric monuments in the district.
Other main industries include agriculture, fishing, and woollen
milling.
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