Wales shares a border with England to its east, and the Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean to its west. It is part of the United Kingdom. Wales has over 746 miles of coastline, including its over 50 offshore islands. Two-thirds of the population of Wales lives in the south, primarily in and around the capital city of Cardiff, and the major Welsh cities of Swansea and Newport.
Wales is one of the wettest countries in Europe due to its changeable maritime climate. Wales lies within the north temperate zone, and has warm summers and mild winters. Temperatures in Wales are higher than you would expect at its latitude due to the North Atlantic Drift.
Wales, while sharing close social and political ties with Great Britain as a whole, has managed to retain a very distinct and rich cultural individuality. Wales is formally a bilingual nation, with both the English and Welsh languages having identical status. Since the 19th Century, Wales has often been referred to as ?the land of song? and is noted for is harpists and choirs. A number of notable singing artists have also come from Wales, including Duffy, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Meic Stevens and Charlotte Church. Several bands who sing in both English and Welsh have achieved Internationalfame, such as Catatonia, Super Furry Animals and Gorky?s Zygotic Mynci.
Wales has a number of areas that have been designated as ?Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty? which provide great views of unspoiled scenery. One of the most popular ways to see Wales is by a driving tour. Car hire Wales ensures that you will easily be able to see all of the natural beauty Wales has to offer. If you are planning on car hire Wales, be sure to check tripindicator.com for the best rates and availability.