lŷn Peninsula, Snowdonia National Park and Cambrian Coastline
Originally, Snowdonia (in Welsh: Eryri, meaning ‘Highlands’) in north Wales referred to an area upland of northern Gwynedd and centred on Mount Snowdon the highest mountain in Wales at 3,560 ft (1,085 m). In 1951 the area was designated a national park, almost doubling in size to 827 square miles (2,140 km2) as it extended south into Meirionnydd.
Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) is governed by the eighteen member Snowdonia National Park Authority, the central planning authority. The counties of Gwynedd and Conwy, in which the national park sits, are represented in the park authority as well as members from the National
Assembly for Wales who represent the national interest.
More than 26,000 people live within the park which is visited annually by more than 6 million people.
The northernmost area includes (from west to east) Moel Hebog, Mynydd Mawr and the Nantlle Ridge; the Snowdon Massif; the Glyderau and the Carneddau.
The second area includes peaks such as Moel Siabod, Cnicht, the Moelwynion and the mountains around Blaenau Ffestiniog.
The third area includes the Rhinogydd in the west, the Arenig and the Migneint (a bog area) and Rhobell Fawr.
The southernmost area includes Cadair Idris, the Tarren range, the Dyfi hills and the Aran group.
Nature, landscape and the environment
The park’s entire coastline is a Special Area of Conservation, which runs from the Llŷn Peninsula down the mid-Wales coast.
The park’s natural forests are mixed deciduous, the commonest tree being the Welsh oak. Birch, ash, mountain-ash and hazel are also common.
Northern Snowdonia is the only place in Britain where the Snowdon lily, an arctic–alpine plant, and the rainbow-coloured Snowdon beetle (Chrysolina cerealis) are found.
Snowdonia’s Special Areas of Conservation protect rare mammals including otters, polecats and the feral goat. Rare birds include raven, peregrine, osprey, merlin and the red kite. The park also has three protected wetland sites at Dyfi Estuary Biosphere Reserve, Cwm Idwal and Llyn Tegid.
Snowdonia’s average rainfall is high, at 4,473 millimetres (176.1 in).