Encyclopedia

Wales

Wales, Welsh Cymru, western peninsula and political division (principality) of Great Britain (1991 pop. 2,798,200), 8,016 sq mi (20,761 sq km), west of England; politically united with England since 1536. The capital is Cardiff. Wales is bounded by the Irish Sea (N), by the Bristol Channel (S), by the English counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Gloucestershire (E), and by Cardigan Bay and St. George's Channel (W). Across the Menai Strait is the Welsh island of Anglesey.

Sections in this article:

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

More on Wales from Fact Monster:

  • University of Wales - Wales, University of Wales, University of, Welsh Prifysgol Cymru, founded 1893 through the ...
  • Welsh Marches - Welsh Marches Welsh Marches, lands in Wales along the English border. After the Norman conquest of ...
  • Welsh language - Welsh language Welsh language, member of the Brythonic group of the Celtic subfamily of the ...
  • Wales: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Information on Wales — geography, history, politics, government, economy, population statistics, culture, religion, languages, largest cities.
  • Welsh literature - Welsh literature Welsh literature, literary writings in the Welsh language. Sections in this ...

See more Encyclopedia articles on: British and Irish Political Geography
© 2000–2008 Pearson Education, publishing as Fact Monster