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Llanberis is a town in Gwynedd, north Wales, lying beside the Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia. It takes its name from Saint Peris, a Welsh saint.
According to the 2001 census, the population of Llanberis was 1,954. The census also revealed that 81% of the population speak Welsh fluently, with all of those aged 10-15 able to speak the language.
The town originally grew around the slate quarrying industry, but since the closure of the quarries the main employers have been tourism and the Dinorwig power station, a pumped storage hydroelectric station. The ruins of Dolbadarn Castle, built by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth in the 13th century, stand above the town, famously painted by Richard Wilson[1] and J.M.W. Turner[2] [3].
Llanberis is a popular base for ascents of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh), the highest mountain in Wales. The Llanberis Path begins in the town, and although one of the longest routes, it it therefore the shallowest and hence the easiest, it is the most popular[4] walking route to the summit, largely following the line of the Snowdon Mountain Railway.
Other attractions in the town include the mountain railway, the National Slate Museum, the Llanberis Lake Railway and a country park. Tours of Dinorwig power station are available from a purpose built visitor centre.
Llanberis is also a centre for outdoor activities including walking, mountaineering, mountain biking, pony trekking and water sports. The Snowdon Race (Ras Yr Wyddfa), takes place during July, an international fell race to the summit of Snowdon returning to the town.
LLAMFF, the Llanberis Mountain Film Festival began in 2004. A biennial event, the most recent festival ran 7th - 9th March 2008
Llanberis is twinned with the Italian town of Morbegno in Lombardy.
The town used to be served by Llanberis railway station on a branch line of the Carnarvonshire Railway until it closed in 1964.
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(Source: Wikipedia) |