Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a historic mining town in Wales, in the historical county of Merionethshire, although currently part of the unitary authority of Gwynedd. The population of the area of Ffestiniog was 4,875 according to the 2011 census, consisting of the nearby town of Llan Ffestiniog, that makes it the fourth most populous community in Gwynedd, after Bangor, Caernarfon, and also Llandeiniolen. Llan Ffestiniog's population of 864 puts 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 sector, the population dropped with the decline in the need for its slate. Today the community relies greatly on vacationers, that come for destinations that consist of the nearby Ffestiniog Railway and Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate industry declined, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has actually also decreased, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourism market has become the town's biggest employer. The revitalized Ffestiniog Railway as well as the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are popular traveler destinations, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill mountain biking centre. Current attractions consist of the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which also now features the Bounce Below slate mine activity centre.
