Geography of Wales
Location
• Wales is bordered by England to the east and
by sea in all other directions: the Irish Sea
(Môr Iwerddon) to the north and west, St
George's Channel (Sianel San Siôr) and the
Celtic Sea (Y Môr Celtaidd) to the southwest
and the Bristol Channel (Môr Hafren) to the
south.
Size of Wales
• Area - 20,779 km2
• It is about 274 km N-S
and 97 km E–W.
• Coastline is over 1,180 km
Landscape
• Wales is a generally mountainous country. The
mountains were shaped during the last ice
age.
Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
• 1,085 m high is the
highest mountain in Wales
Waterfalls
• Pistyll Rhaeadr is 73 metres high which is 22
metres higher than Niagra Falls. Another of
our waterfalls Sgwd yr Eira, meaning fall of
snow, is 50 feet high and is so called because
of its torrential foaming white water.
•
Pistyll Rhaeadr
Sgwd Yr Eira
Lakes, seas and rivers
• 488 lakes.(398 are natural)
• Largest Lake: Bala (4.4 sq km)
• Longest river: Towy (Tywi) 103 km
Cities of Wales
Capital: Cardiff
Major Cities:
Swansea and
Newport