Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a historical mining community in Wales, in the historical 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, which makes it the fourth most populous area in Gwynedd, after Bangor, Caernarfon, and Llandeiniolen. Llan Ffestiniog's population of 864 places the population of Blaenau itself at around 4,000. Blaenau Ffestiniog went to one time the 2nd largest community in North Wales, behind just Wrexham. After getting to 12,000 at the peak advancement of the slate industry, the population fell with the decrease in the demand for its slate. Today the town relies greatly on vacationers, that come for attractions that consist of the nearby Ffestiniog Railway and Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate industry declined, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has likewise declined, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourism industry has actually come to be the community's largest company. The restored Ffestiniog Railway and the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are prominent traveler destinations, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill mountain biking centre. Recent destinations include the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which likewise currently features the Bounce Below slate mine activity centre.
