Special qualities in Snowdonia
10 reasons why Snowdonia is a special place...
From spectacular mountain peaks to its culture and language, Snowdonia National Park has many special qualities including:
- Snowdonia's landscape is unique. Its nine mountain ranges cover approximately 52% of the Park and include many peaks that are more than 3,000 feet (915m).
- Snowdonia is a delightfully varied landscape of steep river gorges, waterfalls and green valleys. Oak, ash, rowan and hazel woodlands are found scattered throughout the Park - and the beautiful Dyfi, Mawddach and Dwyryd estuaries plus 23 miles of coastline and sandy beaches contribute to the overall diversity of the landscape.
- The range of habitats in the Park is recognised nationally and internationally - from Local Conservation Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest to Special Areas of Conservation and the Dyfi Estuary which is a proposed World Biosphere Site.
- ·Snowdonia is in the ancient Kingdom of Gwynedd and a stronghold of 'Cymraeg', the Welsh Language. The Welsh name for the National Park is Eryri (The Highland).
- ·There are more than a hundred lakes which are bigger than an acre in size in Snowdonia, from Llyn Ogwen in the north to Tal y Llyn in the south.
- ·Approximately 20% of the Snowdonia National Park is specially designated by UK and European law to protect its distinctive wildlife. Amongst the arctic alpine plants found in the high peaks, the Snowdon Lily is unique to Snowdon. So too is the Snowdon or Rainbow Beetle.
- ·There are 17 National Nature Reserves in Snowdonia; more than in any other National Park in England and Wales; and 56 Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
- ·In Llyn Tegid, the largest natural lake in the Park, lives another Snowdonia rarity, the Gwyniad, a unique sub-species of the European white fish, trapped in the lake at the end of the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago.
- ·History and culture is everywhere in Snowdonia and the Welsh language is the mother tongue of 65% of the population. You're sure to see and hear the Welsh language in use when you visit.
- ·Snowdonia’s landscape illustrates the history of the area through Stone Age burial chambers, Roman forts, churches, castles, slate quarries and other industrial works.
- ·Ice Age activity has done much to shape the landscape in Snowdonia. The glaciers that were at their peak 18,000 years ago in Snowdonia scoured out great U-shaped valleys including Llanberis and Nant Gwynant in the north and Tal-y-Llyn in the south.
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