Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a historic mining town in Wales, in the historical region of Merionethshire, although currently part of the unitary authority of Gwynedd. The population of the community of Ffestiniog was 4,875 according to the 2011 demographics, including the nearby town of Llan Ffestiniog, which makes it the fourth 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 only Wrexham. After reaching 12,000 at the peak development of the slate industry, the population fell with the decrease in the need for its slate. Today the community depends greatly on tourists, that come for tourist attractions that include the neighboring Ffestiniog Railway as well as Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate industry decreased, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has also decreased, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourism market has actually come to be the town's biggest company. The revived Ffestiniog Railway and also the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are prominent visitor destinations, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill mountain biking centre. Current destinations include the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which additionally now features the Bounce Below slate mine task centre.
