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Ceredigion

Unitary authority in southwest Wales, created in 1996 from part of the former county of Dyfed, of which it was a district.

Area

1,793 sq km/ 692 sq mi

Towns Aberaeron (administrative headquarters), Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter, Llandyssul, Tregaron

Physical

part of the Cambrian Mountains, including Plynlimon Fawr (752 m/2,468 ft); rivers Teifi, Rheidol, Ystwyth, Aeron, and Tywi

Features

remains of Roman camps, roads, and military stations, and inscribed stones; ruins of Strata Florida Abbey (1164) southeast of Aberystwyth; Devil's Bridge (spanning the Rheidol Falls); two of the University Colleges of Wales are located in Ceredigion, one in Aberystwyth and the other in Lampeter; there are three art centres, in Aberystwyth, Felin-fach, and Cardigan; Aberystwyth is the home of the National Library of Wales, the Welsh Books Council, and Britain's longest cliff railway.

Industries

tourism, woollens production, milling (in decline), fishing

Agriculture

sheep-rearing, dairy production

Population

(2001) 74,900

Topography Washed on the west by Cardigan Bay, Ceredigion extends from the mouth of the Dovey to the mouth of the Teifi, and has an extensive eastern boundary with Powys. The surface of the district is comprised of Cambrian and Silurian rocks, and the interior is mountainous.

Commerce The main occupation is agriculture. In the north and northeast there are large sheep farms, while in the lower parts of the district, milk production plays the main part in farming activity. There is a large milk-collecting and processing factory at Felinfach. There are a number of small woollen mills, and a considerable amount of tourist traffic at the coastal resorts of Borth, Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, New Quay, Tresaith, Llangranog, and Aberporth. The rivers and lakes are noted for freshwater fishing, while coracle fishing still survives on the River Teifi. Formerly, mineral deposits of lead, copper, and zinc were mined here.

Aberaeron Cardigan (town)

Cardigan Bay Cardiganshire

Dyfed Lampeter

Teifi Towy

Tregaron