Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia National Park, or Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri (in Welsh) was established in 1951 as the third national park in England and Wales. It covers an area of 2,142 km² (840 mi²) of the Snowdonia region of northwest Wales. It is home to the highest mountain in England and Wales, and the largest lake in the latter.

Etymology

The English name for the park derives from Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, with an altitude of 1085 m. In Wales, the park is called Eryri. One of the most widespread hypotheses is that the name derives from Eryr (eagle), but others claim that the name simply means Highlands, as stated by the Welsh scholar Sir Ifor Williams. In the Middle Ages the title Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdonia (Tywysog Cymru ac Arglwydd Eryri) was used by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd; His grandfather Llywelyn Fawr held the title of Prince of North Wales and Lord of Snowdonia.

Prior to the designation of the national park boundaries, Snowdonia used to refer to a smaller area, namely the northern upland area of Gwynedd located in the Snowdon massif, while that the national park has an area of more than twice that size extending further south into Meirionnydd. This is evident in books published before 1951, such as the classic travel account Wild Wales (1862), by George Borrow, and The Mountains of Snowdonia (1925), by H. Carr & G. Lister. F.J. North, as editor of the book Snowdonia (1949), states that when the Committee delineated the provisional boundaries, which included areas some distance from Snowdonia, traditional Snowdonia included the regions of Snowdon and its satellites, the Glyderau, the Carneddau and the Moel Siabod group. Does not include the southern Maentwrog Hills. Like Eryri, this area occupies a unique place in Welsh history, tradition and culture.

Features

The park is governed by the Snowdonia National Park Authority, made up of local government, the Welsh Government and national representatives. Unlike national parks in other countries, Snowdonia (and other parks in England and Wales) are made up of public and private land governed by a central planning authority. The composition of the park property is as follows:

More than 26,000 people live within the park. It attracts millions of visitors every year. It is the third most visited park in England and Wales. On the park grounds a significant part of the land is dedicated to agriculture.

After an administrative reorganization in 1998, the park extends within the county of Gwynedd and the borough of Conwy. It is governed by a committee of 18 members, 9 of whom are elected from Gwynedd, 3 from Conwy, and the remaining 6 by the Welsh parliament.

As a curiosity, a small central extension is excluded from its land, which corresponds to the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog and its slate quarry. This area was deliberately excluded to encourage the creation of light industries after the closure of the quarries.

Mountainous areas

Snowdonia can be divided into four areas:

• The northernmost area is the most popular among tourists, and includes (from west to east) Moel Hebog, Mynydd Mawr and Nantlle Ridge, the Snowdon, Glyderau and Carneddau massif.
• The second area includes peaks such as Moel Siabod, Cnicht, Moelwynion and the mountains around Blaenau Ffestiniog.
• The third area includes Rhinogydd in the west, as well as Arenig and Migneint (the latter being a swamp area) and Rhobell Fawr.
• The southernmost area consists of Cadair Idris, the Tarren area, the Dyfi hills and the Aran group, including Aran Fawddwy, the highest mountain in the UK south of Snowdon.

Mountainous trails

Many of the hikers in the area concentrate on Snowdon. This massif is considered a challenging mountain range but can be quite busy, especially with the Snowdon Mountain Railway running to the summit.

The rest are high mountains with boulder peaks, such as Tryfan, one of the few mountains in the United Kingdom, south of Scotland, whose ascent requires climbing and are also very popular. There are also some great Snowdonia walks in the lower mountains and they tend to be relatively unfrequented. Among the trails favored by hikers are Y Garn (east of Llanberis) along its ridge to Elidir Fawr, Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd (west of Snowdon) along the Nantlle Ridge towards Mynydd Drws-y -Coed, Moelwyn Mawr (west of Blaenau Ffestiniog) and Pen Llithrig and Wrach north of Capel Curig. Further south is Y Llethr in Rhinogydd and Cadair Idris, near Dolgellau.

The Park has 2,380 km of public trails, 264 km of public horse trails and 74 km of other types of public roads. A large part of the park is also covered by the Public Right of Free Transit in Nature.

Flora and fauna

The entire coast of the park is a special area of conservation that extends from the Llyn Peninsula along the mid-Wales coast, a peninsula containing valuable sand dune systems.

Flora

The natural forests of the park are of mixed deciduous type. The most common tree is the Welsh oak. Birch, ash, as well as hazel are also common. Some large conifers grow in the park, planted in areas such as Gwydir Forest, near Betws-y-Coed. Some areas, once harvested, are becoming more natural.

Northern Snowdonia is the only place in Britain where the Snowdon lily, an arctic and alpine plant, and the rainbow-coloured Snowdon beetle – Chrysolina cerealis – are found there, the unique in the world where Hieracium snowdoniense grows.

A large part of the park is currently under designation – or under consideration for designation – as the Site of Special Scientific Interest, the National Nature Reserves in the United Kingdom, the Area of Special Conservation and the Area of Special Protection for birds, as well as associations related to the biosphere and the Ramsar Convention.

One of the main problems that the park has faced in recent years is the growth of Rhododendron ponticum. This rapid growth of invasive species has a tendency to take over and suffocate the plants. native species. It can form imposing massive growths and carries a fungus that grows on its roots and produces toxins that are toxic to the local flora and fauna, lasting for seven years until its complete eradication. As a result, there are currently a series of desolate landscapes.

Fauna

The importance of Snowdonia for habitat and wildlife conservation in the region is reflected in the fact that almost 20% of its total area is protected by UK and European legislation. Half of this area was set aside by the government under the European Habitats Directive as a special area of conservation. Mammals such as otters, ferrets, wild goats and even martens can be found in the park, although these The latter have not been seen for years. As for birds, they include crows, peregrine falcons, ospreys, merlins and red kites. Another famous inhabitant of Snowdonia is the Snowdon or Rainbow beetle. The park has three Ramsar Conventions:

• Dyfi Estuary Biosphere Reserve.
• Cwm Idwa.
• Llyn Tegid.

Climate

Snowdonia is one of the wettest parts of the UK climate; Crib Goch in Snowdonia is the wettest place in the UK, with an average rainfall of 4,473 millimeters a year over the last 30 years.

Table of percentages by property type