|
(Welsh:Caerdydd) is the capital city of Wales. It is located on the south-east coast
of the country it is administered as a unitary authority. It serves as a major centre
of culture, sport and history and became the capital of Wales in 1955. It is the
10th largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of around 320,000. The
number of Welsh speakers in Cardiff rose by 14,500 between 1991 and 2001 and Welsh
is now spoken by 11% of Cardiffians. The highest percentage of Welsh speakers is
in Creigiau, where over 20% of the population are able to speak the language..
Industry
Cardiff grew to a city due to the demand for Iron and coal which were transported
by canal and later railway to the new port of Cardiff and massive marshalling yards
sprang up prompted by the soaring world-wide demand for South Wales coal. The port,
known as Tiger Bay, became the busiest port in the world. Cardiff Bay s now being
regenerated as a popular area for arts, entertainment and night-life. Cardiff is
the principal centre of finance and business services in Wales. Retail plays a strong
role in the city's economy. The city is also host to S A Brain, a brewery with premises
in Cardiff since 1882. There is a wide range of accomodation available including
bed and breakfast, hotel accommodation, self catering, guest house, cottage, camping
and caravan sites.
Geography
Cardiff is a relatively flat city and its geographic features were influential in
its development as one of the world's largest coal ports. The city is built on reclaimed
marshland on a bed of Triassic stones. This reclaimed marshland stretches from Chepstow
to the Ely estuary, which is the natural boundary of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Cardiff is bordered to the west by the rural district known as the Vale of Glamorgan,
to the east by the city of Newport, to the north by the South Wales Valleys and
to the south by the Bristol Channel. The River Taff winds through the centre of
the city and together with the River Ely flows into the freshwater lake of Cardiff
Bay. A third river, the Rhymney flows through the east of the city entering directly
into the Bristol Channel. A fourth river, the Lleucu has been culverted.
History
The name Cardiff is an Anglicisation of the Welsh name "Caerdydd” meaning "the fort
on the river Taff". The Romans established a fort in Cardiff and a later Norman
castle still exists, within the site of the earlier Roman fort. The original Roman
work can, still be distinguished in the wall facings. There is a second castle north
of the city, called Castell Coch ("the Red Castle"). The current castle is an elaborately
decorated Victorian folly however; the Victorian castle stands on the footings of
a much older medieval castle. Situated on the narrowest part of the south Wales
coastal plain, Cardiff had a crucially strategic importance in the wars between
the Normans, who held the coastal lowlands and the Welsh who maintained their hold
on the Uplands. As a result Cardiff claims to have the largest concentration of
Castles of any city in Europe. It was proclaimed capital city of Wales on 20th December
1955.
|
