Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a historic mining town in Wales, in the historical area of Merionethshire, although now part of the unitary authority of Gwynedd. The population of the neighborhood of Ffestiniog was 4,875 according to the 2011 demographics, including the nearby town of Llan Ffestiniog, that makes it the 4th most populated area in Gwynedd, after Bangor, Caernarfon, as well as Llandeiniolen. Llan Ffestiniog's population of 864 puts the population of Blaenau itself at around 4,000. Blaenau Ffestiniog was at one-time the 2nd largest community in North Wales, behind just Wrexham. After getting to 12,000 at the peak growth of the slate market, the population dropped with the decrease in the demand for its slate. Today the community depends greatly on visitors, who come for destinations that consist of the neighboring Ffestiniog Railway and also Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate industry declined, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has additionally declined, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourism market has become the community's largest company. The revitalized Ffestiniog Railway and also the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are preferred visitor attractions, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill hill biking centre. Recent attractions include the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which also now features the Bounce Below slate mine activity centre.
