Clwyd

ormer county of north Wales. created in 1974 and in 1996, divided between Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Powys and Wrexham unitary authorities. Conwy Unitary authority in north Wales Denbighshire Welsh Sir Ddinbych. Unitary authority in north Wales Flintshire Welsh Sir y Fflint. Unitary authority in north Wales Conwy County Borough Council - Denbighshire County Council - Flintshire County Council - Wrexham County Borough Council
Conway
owns and cities	The administrative centre is Conwy. Other principal towns are Abergele, Llandudno, and Llanrwst.
rea	1,107 sq km/427 sq mi.
opulation	113,000 (1996)
opography	The main rivers are the Conwy and Elwy. Bodnant Gardens are situated near Conwy on the east bank of the River Conwy.
ommerce	Tourism is important due to the Snowdonia National Park and a coastline of sandy beaches, including the seaside resort of Colwyn Bay.
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Denbighshire
owns and cities	The administrative centre is Ruthin. Other principal towns are Denbigh and Llangollen.
rea	844 sq km/326 sq mi.
opulation	91,000 (1996)
opography	The area is rugged and mountainous except for the fertile Vales of Llangollen and Clwyd. The rocks are chiefly Silurian clay and graywacke slates, with some granite and trap, and bands of Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian strata. Coal and limestone are found with minor quantities of mineral ores.The Clwydian range of mountains rises to a height of 555 m/ 1,820 ft, with Offa's Dyke along the main ridge. The main rivers are the Clwyd, Dee, and Elwy.
ommerce	The main industries are agriculture and tourism. The area yields excellent dairy produce, and is well timbered.
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ttractions	Denbigh and Rhuddlan castles and the seaside resorts of Rhyl and Prestatyn. The beautiful countryside around the vale of Llangollen, which hosts the International Musical Eisteddfod each summer. Situated on the banks of the River Dee. The village of Chirk, set among mountains and rivers, has an impressive country mansion which, in earlier days, served as a border fortress. St Asaph (Welsh Llanelwy) is a s small town midway between Rhyl and Denbigh, situated on high ground between the Clwyd and the Elwy rivers. There is an old bridge across the River Elwy. St Asaph cathedral is the smallest Cathedral in Britain, most of which dates from the 15th century, although a few parts from the 13th century still remain. A monument outside the Cathedral commemorates those that translated the Bible into Welsh. Llangollen on the River Dee, 15 km / 9 miles southwest of Wrexham is a summer resort. The annual international musical eisteddfod (festival) is held here. The Vale of Llangollen includes places of historic interest, such as the ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey. Other local features include the Llangollen Canal and the scenic Llangollen Railway. Rhyl is a Seaside holiday resort situated 50 km / 31 miles northwest of Chester near the mouth of the River Clwyd. The world's first scheduled hovercraft service began in 1962 between here and Wallasey near Birkenhead, England. Chirk is a small town in the county borough of Wrexham, 15 km / 9 miles south of the town of Wrexham. Chirk Castle, home of the Myddleton family, was originally built in the 11thcentury. The castle was rebuilt in the 14th century and restored in the 17th century. The Llangollen Canal goes over the striking Chirk Aqueduct nearby. Denbigh (Welsh Dinbych) Denbigh stands on a steep limestone hill, which is crowned by an ancient castle on the site of a fortress erected by William the Conqueror. The gatehouse is one of the finest in Britain. The newer part of the town was built at the bottom of the hill, after the destruction of much of the old town in about 1468. There are fine views of the valley and hills from the castle gatehouse. In 1645 Charles I took refuge in the castle after the Battle of Rowton Heath.
Flintshire
owns and cities	The administrative centre is Mold. Other principal towns are Flint, Holywell, Buckley, and Connah's Quay.
rea	437 sq km/167 sq mi.
opulation	144,000 (1996)
opography	Flintshire is bounded by the Irish Sea in the north, the Dee estuary in the east, and the Clwydian Range, which rises to 555 m/1,820 ft, in the southwest.The main rivers are the Dee and Alyn. There is an airport at Hawarden.
ommerce	The soil is fertile, giving rise to dairy farming and stock-raising. On the Dee estuary artificial silk, chemicals, and optical glass are produced. Greenfield Valley was in the forefront of the Industrial Revolution before the advent of steam, and now has a museum of industrial archaeology.
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