Snowdonia
Snowdonia or Eryri is a mountainous region and national park in northwestern Wales.
Variants
- Snowdonia
- Eryri (pronounced:ɛrəri)
Toponymy
The name "Snowdon" means "snow hill" and is derived from the Old English elements "snāw" and "dūn", the latter meaning 'hill'.[1] "Snowdonia" is simply taken from the name of the mountain.[2]
The origins of Eryri are less clear. Two popular interpretations are that the name is related to eryr, "eagle", and that it means "highlands" and is related to the Latin oriri (to rise). Although 'eryri' is not any direct form of eryr (eagle), it is a plural form of eryr (upland).[3]
Geography
Snowdonia contains every mountain in Wales over 3000 feet high, including the country's highest mountain, Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa, 1,085 metres). These peaks are all part of the Snowdon, Glyderau, and Carneddau ranges in the north of the region. South of them are the Moelwynion and Moel Hebog ranges.
The national park covers most of Gwynedd and the western part of Conwy County Borough, with an area of 2,130 km2. This is much larger than the area traditionally considered Snowdonia, and in addition to the mountains above includes the Rhinogydd, Cadair Idris, and Aran ranges as well as the Dyfi Hills. It also includes most of the coast between Porthmadog and Aberdyfi. The park was the first of the three national parks of Wales to be designated, in October 1951, and the third in the UK after the Peak District and Lake District, which were established in April and May 1951 respectively.
National park
Snowdonia National Park, also known as Eryri National Park in English and Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri in Welsh, was established in October 1951. It was the third national park in the United Kingdom, following the Peak District and Lake District in April and May of the same year. It covers 2,140 km2 in the counties of Gwynedd and Conwy, and has 60 km of coastline.[4]
References
- ↑ Mills, A. D. (1 January 2011), "Snowdon", A Dictionary of British Place Names, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780199609086.001.0001/acref-9780199609086-e-12092, ISBN 978-0-19-960908-6,
- ↑ Mills, A. D. (1 January 2011), "Snowdonia", A Dictionary of British Place Names, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780199609086.001.0001/acref-9780199609086-e-12093?rskey=0srrbo&result=1, ISBN 978-0-19-960908-6,
- ↑ "Snowdon Wales' Highest Mountain". snowdonwales.co.uk.
- ↑ Culliford, Alison (24 July 1999). "National Parks – The complete guide to Britain's national parks". The Independent.