Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a historical mining community in Wales, in the historical region of Merionethshire, although now part of the unitary authority of Gwynedd. The population of the community of Ffestiniog was 4,875 according to the 2011 census, including the neighboring village of Llan Ffestiniog, which makes it the 4th most heavily populated neighborhood 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 was at one time the second largest community in North Wales, behind only Wrexham. After reaching 12,000 at the peak development of the slate market, the population fell with the decrease in the demand for its slate. Today the town depends heavily on vacationers, that come for destinations 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 decreased, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourism market has ended up being the town's largest employer. The restored Ffestiniog Railway and also the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are popular tourist destinations, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill hill biking centre. Recent attractions consist of the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which additionally currently includes the Bounce Below slate mine task centre.