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Wales (, Cymru; pronounced ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. As well as its mainland, Wales includes over fifty islands within its coastal waters; including Anglesey, the largest island in the Irish Sea. Much of Wales is dominated by a mountainous terrain, especially in the north and central areas, which contains Wales' highest peak, Snowdonia.

During the Iron Age and early medieval period, Wales was inhabited by the Celtic Britons. A distinct Welsh national identity emerged in the centuries after the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century and Wales is regarded as one of the modern Celtic nations today. Llywelyn the Great founded the Principality of Wales in 1216. Owain Glyndŵr briefly restored independence to what was to become modern Wales, in the early 15th century. Wales was subsequently annexed by England under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, creating the legal entity now known as England and Wales. Wales was an agricultural society for most of its early history, but in the 19th century the introduction of slate and metallurgical industries began to transform the country into an industrial nation. The exploitation of the South Wales coalfield in the Victorian period saw a rapid expansion of the Welsh population, and made South Wales an important factor in the growth of the British Empire. Distinctive Welsh politics developed in the 19th century and, in 1881, the Welsh Sunday Closing Act became the first legislation applied exclusively to Wales. In 1999, the National Assembly for Wales was created, which holds responsibility for a range of devolved matters.

Wales lies in a north temperate zone, and its changeable maritime weather makes it one of the wettest countries in Europe. This along with the country's rugged terrain has made arable farming secondary to pastoral farming which was the prime source of Wales' wealth before the Industrial Revolution. Wales has an estimated population of three million with the majority living in the southern areas of the country, mainly surrounding major conurbations such as Cardiff (Caerdydd), Swansea (Abertawe) and Newport. Two-thirds of the population of Wales live in South Wales, with another concentration in eastern North Wales. Cardiff, Wales' capital, is the country's most populous city with a population of 317,500, and for a period was the biggest coal port in the world. Today with the traditional heavy industries in decline, Wales' economy depends on light and service industries and tourism. Tourists visiting Wales have been drawn to Wales' "wild ... and picturesque" landscapes.

Although Wales has a close politicial and social history with the rest of Great Britain it has continued to retain a distinct cultural identity of its own. Wales is noted for being officially bilingual with the Welsh and English languages having equal status. The Welsh language is an important element of Welsh culture and its decline during the 20th century has reversed over recent years. Over 580,000 Welsh speakers live in Wales, more than 20% of the population. From the late 19th century onwards, Wales acquired its popular image as the "land of song," attributable in part to the revival of the eisteddfod tradition.