Wales

Area: 20779 km2

Population: 3000 000

Capital: Cardiff

Caerphilly

Newport

Swansea

Wrexham

Highest point: Mount Snowdon – 1085 m

Longest river: River Tywi – 103 km.

Largest lake: Bala ( 4,4 km2).

National day: St. David’s day.

National flower: the daffodil

A long time ago Wales was united with England. The English

language became the only official language. Little by little people

stopped speaking the Welsh language.

Today there are many people who work hard to keep the

Welsh language alive. Signs at airports, railway stations and

many other places are in both English and Welsh.

Many tourists visit Wales to go hiking in the mountains. One of the

most popular hiking areas is Eryri National Park. The English name for

this national park is Snowdonia.

A long time ago a boy was born in Wales. His name was

Arthur. He was born out of wedlock. His father was a king

and his mother was the wife of a duke. He was brought up

away from his parents. When his father died, there was no

one in line for the throne.

The great lords decided that they should arrange a tournament.

The man who won would be the next king.

Arthur had an older foster brother. His name was Kay.

Kay wanted to participate in a tournament. The whole

family went with him.

Kay forgot his sword.

Kay asked Arthur if he could go back and get it

for him. Arthur went the all way back. But he

could not find the sword.

Instead he saw a sword plunged into a

stone.

” Let me try to pull it out”, he thought. He did it easily.

Arthur hurried back to his brother with the sword.

In the blade of the sword there was an inscription saying: ”

Whoever pulls this sword from the stone is the rightful king of

Britain”. Kay knelt before Arthur because he understood that

the king was found.