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Snowdon
The highest mountain in Wales, UK - 1,085 m (3,560 ft)
Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales and the highest British mountain south of the Scottish Highlands, is perhaps the busiest mountain in Britain. It is located in Snowdonia National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri). The summit is known as Yr Wyddfa, Welsh for "the tumulus"), and lies at an altitude of 1,085 m (3,560 ft) above sea level. As the highest peak in Wales, Snowdon is one of three mountains climbed as part of the National Three Peaks Challenge. The English name Snowdon comes from the Saxon "Snow Dun", meaning "snow hill", although the amount of snow on Snowdon in winter has been decreasing recently, having dropped by more than 55% since 1994. Snowdon has one of the wettest climates in Great Britain, receiving an annual average of more than 4,500 mm (180 in) of precipitation.
Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryriin) lies in Gwynedd county and Conwy county borough, northern Wales. It has an area of 838 square miles (2,171 square km). It is best known for its mountains, composed largely of volcanic rock and cut by valleys that show the influence of Ice Age glaciers. Snowdon has a rack-and-pinion railway (opened 1896) that runs from Llanberis to the summit. Farther south Cader Idris ("Chair of Idris"), a long mountain ridge, reaches a height of 2,927 feet (892 metres) at Pen-y-Gader.
The first recorded ascent of Snowdon was by the botanist Thomas Johnson in 1639. However, the 18th-century Welsh historian Thomas Pennant mentions a "triumphal fair upon this our chief of mountains" following Edward I's conquest of Wales in 1284, which, if true, indicates the possibility of earlier ascents.
The many steep cliffs in the Snowdon range are significant in the history of British rock climbing. The first recorded climb in the area was the 1798 ascent of the Eastern Terrace of Clogwyn Du'r Arddu (Welsh: the black cliff of the dark(ness)) by the Reverends Peter Williams and W. Bingley, botanists looking for alpine plants. The north face of Y Lliwedd was explored in the late 19th century and in 1909 was the subject of the first British climbing guide, The climbs on Lliwedd by J. M. A. Thompson and A. W. Andrews. Also, Edmund Hillary trained here for his climb up Mount Everest.
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Snippets
Marked footpaths lead to Snowdon's summit from all sides, and can be combined in various ways. The circular walk starting and ending at Pen-y-Pass and using the Crib Goch route and the route over Y Lliwedd is called the Snowdon Horseshoe. Snowdon links
- The Snowdon Mountain Railway - The Majestic Mountain Adventure Railway Providing Family Holiday Activity
- Travel by train up Snowdon.
- Snowdon
- Snowdon Yr Wyddfa a guide to the highest mountain in England and Wales.
- BBC - North West Wales Webcams - Snowdon
- What's the weather like on Snowdon right now? Check this webcam to see the current situation.
- Snowdon Summit - Copa'r Wyddfa
- This site is aimed at informing the public as to the progress of the redevelopment of the snowdon summit building and appeal fund
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Topography
Snowdon has six ridges: these are steep and rocky to the north and east, shallower and grassy, but more remote to the south and west. There are many cwms formed by glaciation in the ice age, some filled with tarns (meltwater lakes). Subsidiary summits include Garnedd Ugain (1,065 m), the knife-edge summit of Crib Goch (923 m), Y Lliwedd (898 m) and Yr Aran (747 m).Snowdon offers some of the most extensive views in the British Isles; on exceptionally clear days, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales are all visible, as well as 24 counties, 29 lakes and 17 islands. It is also possible to view the newly built Beetham Tower in Manchester from here. The view between Snowdon and Merrick (southern Scotland) is the longest theoretical line of sight in the British Isles at 144 miles (232 km).
Snowdon news
Updated every 30 minutes
- sby's likely win welcomed by Indonesian business sector
- SNOWDON: Indonesia's economy is not doing too badly considering the global financial crisis hit it later and with less impact than some. ...
- Running: International flavour at Snowdon Race
- THIS year's Snowdon Race will focus on revitalising the international aura it has become famous for. Organisers of the event, taking place on Saturday, ...
- Fresh protests and mob reaction in China's Xinjiang
- SNOWDON: Uighur protesters took to the streets for a third day in several cities in Xinjiang province. Hundreds turned out in the regional capital Urumqi to ...
- Wedding party leaves Lisa Snowdon cold
- Although she is the face of Living TV Lisa Snowdon was somewhat off-message when she attended the channel's party at Somerset House. ...
Summit buildings
When the Snowdon Mountain Railway was opened in 1896, a hotel was built at the terminus, a short distance from the summit. In the 1930s, this was replaced by a restaurant designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. By the end of the twentieth century, this was run as a café and shop complex (selling, amongst other things, "I Climbed Snowdon" T-shirts). However it was becoming increasingly dilapidated and was described by Prince Charles as "the highest slum in Wales". Its state led to a campaign to replace the building. In April 2006, Snowdonia National Park Authority agreed a deal to start work on a new café and visitor centre complex costing £8 million. By mid-October 2006 the old building had been largely demolished. The new visitor centre will be erected during 2007 and formally opened in Spring 2008, and will be named Hafod Eryri.The old building displayed a slate plaque with the following couplet - "Grwydryn, aros ennyd; ystyra ryfeddol waith Duw a'th daith fer ar y ddaear hon." (Wanderer, wait a moment; consider God's wonderous work and your short journey on this earth.) The Welsh National Poet Gwyn Thomas has composed a new couplet for the new building - to be displayed at its entrance, and on the windows - and this will read "Copa'r Wyddfa : yr ydych chwi yma, yn nes at y nefoedd." (The summit of Snowdon : you are here, nearer to Heaven.)
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Comments
Snowdon
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