Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a historic mining community in Wales, in the historic county of Merionethshire, although now part of the unitary authority of Gwynedd. The population of the area of Ffestiniog was 4,875 according to the 2011 demographics, including the close-by town of Llan Ffestiniog, that makes it the 4th most populated area in Gwynedd, after Bangor, Caernarfon, and also Llandeiniolen. Llan Ffestiniog's population of 864 places the population of Blaenau itself at around 4,000. Blaenau Ffestiniog was at one time the 2nd biggest community in North Wales, behind only Wrexham. After getting to 12,000 at the peak growth of the slate market, the population dropped with the decline in the need for its slate. Today the town counts heavily on travelers, that come for attractions that include the nearby Ffestiniog Railway as well as Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate industry decreased, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has actually also declined, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourist industry has actually ended up being the town's largest company. The revived Ffestiniog Railway and also the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are prominent visitor attractions, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill hill biking centre. Current destinations include the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which additionally now includes the Bounce Below slate mine task centre.
