National park in Wales
| Coordinates: | 52.91, -3.89 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SH 72 36 |
Snowdonia National Park sits in north-west Wales and is one of the country’s most dramatic landscapes. Dominated by the massif of Snowdon (Welsh: Yr Wyddfa), which rises to 1,085 metres, the park contains rugged peaks, glacial cwms, fast-flowing rivers and a long, indented coastline that gives a real sense of variety in a relatively compact area.
The park includes several distinct mountain groups such as the Glyderau, Carneddau and Rhinogydd, with lakes like Llyn Padarn and Llyn Gwynant tucked among the valleys. Former glaciers have carved the scenery, producing iconic features popular with walkers and climbers, while narrow-gauge railways and harbours on the coast add an industrial and maritime edge to the scenery.
Snowdonia has a strong cultural identity: much of the area is Welsh-speaking and the park is increasingly referred to by its Welsh name, Eryri. Its industrial history is important too - the slate quarries around Blaenau Ffestiniog and the historic Ffestiniog Railway and Snowdon Mountain Railway are reminders of 19th-century industry and Victorian tourism, and parts of this slate landscape are recognised for their world heritage value.
Today the local economy mixes tourism, outdoor recreation, and traditional farming, with villages such as Llanberis serving as hubs for visitors. The park, created in 1951 and largely within the county of Gwynedd, faces ongoing tensions between conserving fragile habitats and supporting local communities whose livelihoods depend on visitors, crafts and agriculture.