Glamorgan

Glamorgan or Glamorganshire ( Welsh: Morgannwg ) is one of the thirteen traditional counties and a former administrative county of Wales. In the Middle Ages Glamorgan was a kingdom or principality. In Glamorgan are the two largest cities Welsh, Cardiff and Swansea.

Between 1974 and 1996 was in Glamorgan West Glamorgan (including Swansea ), Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan split (including Cardiff ). Today Glamorgan is divided for administrative purposes into several unitary authorities.

Geography

Glamorgan is adjacent to the north Brecknockshire, Monmouthshire in the east, Carmarthenshire and Carmarthen Bay on the west, and the Bristol Channel to the south. In 1961 the county had 1,227,828 inhabitants in 2118 km ² .. Its highest point is 600 meters at Craig -y- llyn.

Glamorgan is the most populous and most industrialized area in Wales. The northern part is mountainous and intersected by deep valleys. Previously dominated by coal mining, today only three mines are still in operation, the Tower Colliery in Hirwaun and the much smaller Aberpergwm Colliery in Glynneath. A third mine, the Unity Mine, formerly called " Pentreclwydau Colliery ", has recently been reopened.

The Vale of Glamorgan, which mostly consists of farmland and small villages area along the coast, stretching from Porthcawl to Cardiff. Further west, behind Swansea, lies the Gower Peninsula.

The largest bodies of water are the rivers Taff Glamorgan, Ely, Ogmore, Neath, Dulais, Tawe, the Rhymney, which forms the border with Monmouthshire and the Loughor which forms the border with Carmarthenshire.

The largest towns are Aberdare, Barry, Bridgend, Cardiff, Caerphilly, Cowbridge, Maesteg, Merthyr Tydfil, Mountain Ash, Neath, Penarth, Pontypridd, Porthcawl, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea.

Attractions

• Aberdulais Falls
• Barry Iceland
• Caerphilly Castle
• Cardiff Castle
• Castell Coch, Tongwynlais
• Dare Valley Country Park,
• Dunraven Park, Southerndown
• Ewenny Priory
• Gower Peninsula
• Llandaff Cathedral
• Llantwit Major
• Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans
• National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
• National Waterfront Museum, Swansea
• Neath Abbey
• Old Beaupre Castle
• Ogmore Castle
• Oxwich Castle
• Margam Country Park,
• Penscynor Wildlife Park, Cilfrew
• Tinkinswood, Cotswold -Severn tomb
• Vale of Glamorgan Railway
• Weobley Castle, Gower Peninsula

History

Glamorgan was originally an independent kingdom called Morgannwg, named after King Morgan, its founder. Later, it was united with the neighboring kingdoms of Gwent and Ergyng. Due to its location Glamorgan Gwent was after the second region in Wales, which was conquered by the Normans and beyond often the scene of clashes the Marcher Lords ( see Welsh Marches ) and the Welsh princes was.

Management

The County of Glamorgan is divided into industrialized valleys, Farming Vale of Glamorgan and the picturesque Gower Peninsula on.

The administrative county of Glamorgan County was created by the Local Government Act 1888. Swansea and Cardiff became independent county boroughs, later also followed Merthyr Tydfil.

The Local Government Act 1972 raised the County of Glamorgan on April 1, 1974, made ​​with West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan, three new counties.

In 1996, the area of Glamorgan mainly due to the unitary authorities of Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and Vale of Glamorgan was divided. The South Wales Police, however, still covers a territory corresponding to that of the old Glamorgan.

Glamorgan Cattle

In the county there is also a separate breed of cattle, the Glamorgan beef.