Geography

Wales is on the west of the island called Great Britain, and is a member of the United Kingdom. It's to the west of England. Wales is just over 20,000 square kilometres in size. At its widest it's 200 kilometres east to west, and 250 Kilometres north to south. Wales has a varied geography with strong contrasts. In the south, flat coastal plains gives way to valleys, then to ranges of hills and mountains in mid and north Wales.There are three national parks and five areas of outstanding natural beauty, which cover a quarter of the land mass of Wales. 80% of the land is dedicated to agriculture, ranging from crops to livestock.

The largest mountains in the north are part of the Snowdonia range, with the largest mountain being Snowdon at 1,085 metres. There are over 1300 kilometres of coastline ranging from long flat sandy beaches to towering cliffs.

Climate

Wales has a mild climate, tempered by the ocean, and the weather is rarely very hot or very cold. Average temperatures generally vary from about 40° F. (4° C.) in January to 60° F. (16° C.) in July. Rain, drizzle, mist, and long periods of overcast are common in Wales, where precipitation is abundant. Annual rainfall ranges from 40 to 60 inches (1,020 to 1,530 mm) in most places; Snowdon receives more than 150 inches (3,810 mm).

Water

The Severn River, the longest in Great Britain, begins in west-central Wales, flows into England, and then curves south and west, emptying into the Bristol Channel along Wales's southeastern border. Other Welsh rivers include the Dee, Dyfi, Teifi, Tywi, Taff, Usk, and Wye, which flow from the uplands to the coast. Numerous small lakes and reservoirs dot the Cambrian Mountains. Cardigan Bay, an arm of St. George's Channel, is the largest of several bays and inlets that indent the Welsh coast.