The natural resources of Wales have contributed substantially to the economic wealth of the United Kingdom from pre-Roman times to the present. Wales has a complex and varied geology with a wealth of natural minerals. Although Wales has been strongly associated with the coal industry, it has also been the world's leading supplier of Slate and of Copper at different times. The country lies along the western side of Great Britain and is buffeted by the prevailing South-Westerly trade winds which bring year round rain and wind but also maintain an equable temperate climate. The combination of climate and physical geography and geology have given rise to many different types of landscape and biomes rich in species variety Wind Wind is another resource that Wales has in abundance. The Gwynt y Môr is one of several offshore wind farms off the coast of North Wales and Anglesey, and is the second largest such wind farm in the world. Other wind farms are found on inland, mostly upland sites, but there are none in the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons national parks. Coal The South Wales Coalfield extends from parts of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire in the west, to Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen in the east, and the rather smaller North Wales Coalfield underlies parts of Flintshire and Denbighshire. Vast quantities of coal were mined in Wales during the Industrial Revolution and the earlier part of the twentieth century, after which coal stocks dwindled and the remaining pits became uneconomical as foreign coal became available at low prices. The last deep pit in Wales closed in 2008. Lead, Silver and to a lesser extent Zinc were mined in the upland areas of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol and in the headwaters of the River Severn for centuries and smaller deposits were also mined at Pentre Halkyn in Flintshire during the Roman occupation of Britain. There were also ore-bearing sites in Clwyd where lead, silver and sometimes zinc were mined.. Manganese, titanium and numerous other minerals occur in various parts of Wales. Gold is found in southern Snowdonia and at Dolaucothi. Natural environment Partly because of its relatively sparse population in Mid and North Wales, its unusually equable climate and its complex geology, Wales sustains a great variety of notable landscape forms, unusual biomes and areas enjoying special protection because of their natural environmental value. It is home to a number of National Nature Reserves ( ( NNRs), sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), five areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) and three national parks Sea and coast Because of its location facing into a very energetic ocean, Wales has numerous sandy beaches, a coastline rich in sea-cliffs and a relatively high tidal range in many areas. As of 2020, the coastline of Wales has 40 Blue Flag beaches, three Blue Flag marinas and one Blue Flag boat operator . . A significant tourism industry has developed to advantage of these coastal resources including substantial caravan parks along the north-east coast at Rhyl, Prestatyn and Kimnel Bay in parts of Pembrokeshire and along the south coast at Porthcawl and Barry
The natural resources of Wales have contributed substantially to the economic wealth of the United Kingdom from pre-Roman times to the present. Wales has a complex and varied geology with a wealth of natural minerals. Although Wales has been strongly associated with the coal industry, it has also been the world's leading supplier of slate and of copper at different times. The country lies along the western side of Great Britain and is buffeted by the prevailing South-Westerly trade winds which bring year round rain and wind but also maintain an equable temperate climate. The combination of climate and physical geography and geology have given rise to many different types of landscape and biomes rich in species variety Wind Wind is another resource that Wales has in abundance. The Gwynt y Môr is one of several offshore wind farms off the coast of North Wales and Anglesey, and is the second largest such wind farm in the world. Other wind farms are found on inland, mostly upland sites, but there are none in the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons national parks. Coal The South Wales Coalfield extends from parts of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire in the west, to Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen in the east, and the rather smaller North Wales Coalfield underlies parts of Flintshire and Denbighshire. Vast quantities of coal were mined in Wales during the Industrial Revolution and the earlier part of the twentieth century, after which coal stocks dwindled and the remaining pits became uneconomical as foreign coal became available at low prices. The last deep pit in Wales closed in 2008. Lead, silver and to a lesser extent zinc were mined in the upland areas of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol and in the headwaters of the River Severn for centuries and smaller deposits were also mined at Pentre Halkyn in Flintshire during the Roman occupation of Britain. There were also ore-bearing sites in Clwyd where lead, silver and sometimes zinc were mined.. Manganese, titanium and numerous other minerals occur in various parts of Wales. Gold is found in southern Snowdonia and at Dolaucothi. Natural environment Partly because of its relatively sparse population in Mid and North Wales, its unusually equable climate and its complex geology, Wales sustains a great variety of notable landscape forms, unusual biomes and areas enjoying special protection because of their natural environmental value. It is home to a number of National Nature Reserves ( NNRs), sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), five areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) and three national parks Sea and coast Because of its location facing into a very energetic ocean, Wales has numerous sandy beaches, a coastline rich in sea-cliffs and a relatively high tidal range in many areas. As of 2020, the coastline of Wales has 40 Blue Flag beaches, three Blue Flag marinas and one Blue Flag boat operator . A significant tourism industry has developed to advantage of these coastal resources including substantial caravan parks along the north-east coast at Rhyl, Prestatyn and Kimnel Bay in parts of Pembrokeshire and along the south coast at Porthcawl and Barry
R
Slate and of Copper
slate and of copper
R
Silver
silver
R
Zinc
zinc
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D
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