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Rhondda Cynon Taff

Unitary authority in south Wales, created in 1996 from part of the former county of Mid Glamorgan.

Area

440 sq km/170 sq mi

Towns

Clydach Vale (administrative headquarters), Pontypridd

Physical

rivers Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach; highest point, Craig y Llyn (590 m/1935 ft)

Features

University of Glamorgan at Pontypridd; Rhondda Heritage Park collliery museum at Trehafod; Llancaiach Fawr Manor (1530) at Abercynon; Dare Valley Country Park at Aberdare

Industries

light industries (including paper manufacture, developing tourism and e-commerce; coal mining in severe decline

Population

(2001) 231,950

It consists of a series of linear settlements following the two rivers, Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach. A variety of new light industries have been attracted here, and there are two major industrial estates, one at Treforest near Pontypridd and the other at Hirwaun near Aberdare. To the south is the lowland plateau, or Bro Morgannwg, a rich agricultural area of mixed farming and large villages which is traversed by the M4 motorway. This was formerly an important coal mining area. The Royal Mint is at Llantrisant.

Glamorgan

Mid Glamorgan

mountain ash