Wales on the Map: Location, Borders, and Geographic Context

Wales (Cymru) is a country on the island of Great Britain, forming the western peninsula of the United Kingdom.

Absolute Location

• Latitude: 51.5°–53.5° N
• Longitude: 3.0°–5.5° W
• Area: 20,779 km² (8,023 sq mi)

Borders

• East: England (political/administrative border – Offa's Dyke roughly follows)
• West: Irish Sea (separating from Ireland)
• Southwest: Celtic Sea / Bristol Channel
• North: Irish Sea / Liverpool Bay

Key Geographic Features

• Mountains: Snowdonia (Eryri) – Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) 1,085 m (3,560 ft) highest in England/Wales
• Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog): South Wales peaks
• Cambrian Mountains: Central spine
• Coastline: 1,680 km (1,044 mi) – cliffs, beaches, estuaries, islands (Anglesey/Ynys Môn)
• Rivers: Severn (longest UK), Wye, Dee, Taff, Teifi

Major Cities

• Cardiff (Caerdydd): Capital, south coast (350K metro)
• Swansea (Abertawe): Coastal, 2nd largest
• Newport (Casnewydd): East, M4 corridor
• Wrexham (Wrecsam): North, largest northern town
• Bangor: Northwest, university city

UK Context

West of London (~240 km / 150 mi). Connected by M4 motorway, Great Western Main Line rail. Holyhead ferry to Dublin (2h 15m).