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18th October
Snowdonia National Park was established on 18th October 1951
It covers 827 square miles in area and may be divided into four areas:
* The northernmost area is the most popular with tourists and includes (from west to east) Moel Hebog, Mynydd Mawr and the Nantlle Ridge; the Snowdon Massif; the Glyderau; and the Carneddau. These last three groups include all Wales' 3000-foot mountains.
* The second area includes the mountains around Blaenau Ffestiniog.
* The third area includes the Rhinogydd in the west as well as the Arenig and the Migneint (an area of bog).
* The southernmost area includes Cadair Idris, the Tarren range, the Dyfi hills, and the Aran group,
Other facts of interest;
* Over 6 million visitors visit the park, every year.
* The Welsh name for the area Eryri, probably derives from eryr ("eagle"),
* In the Middle Ages the title Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdonia (Tywysog Cymru ac Arglwydd Eryri) was used by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd; his grandfather Llywelyn Fawr used the title Prince of North Wales and Lord of Snowdonia.
* Unusually, Snowdonia National Park has a hole in the middle, around the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. This was deliberately excluded from the Park in order to allow the development of new light industry to replace the decimated slate industry.
* The Park's entire 37 miles of coastline is a Special Area of Conservation, as it contains valuable sand dune systems.
* Northern Snowdonia is the only place in Britain where the Snowdon Lily and the rainbow-coloured Snowdon beetle are found, and the only place in the world where the Snowdonia hawkweed grows.
* Rare mammals in the park include otters, polecats and the feral goat.
* Rare birds include raven, peregrine, osprey, merlin and the red kite.
* Crib Goch is the wettest spot in the United Kingdom, with an average rainfall of 176" a year.
On 18th October 1884, Bangor University was founded as the "University College of North Wales”
At the time, there was a strong desire for a better standard of higher education in Wales and there was rivalry for the siting of the new college between the towns of North Wales. One of the reasons that Bangor was chosen was due to the financial support its campaign received from the quarrymen from Penrhyn Quarry and other nearby quarries
The university received its Royal charter in 1885, but its degrees were issued by the University of London until 1893 when it became a founding Member of the University of Wales.
During the Second World War, the university was used to protect paintings from national art galleries from enemy bombing and also as a safer environment for students from University College, London.
Born this day 1946 in Carmarthen
Dafydd Elis-Thomas - former Plaid Cymru MP and leader, who was the Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales from its inception in 1999 to 2011. He is a member of the House of Lords and a privy counsellor.
Born on this day 1968 in Carmarthen
Rhod Gilbert - Perrier Award nominated comedian, who appears regularly on television and radio shows and hosts a weekly show on BBC Radio Wales. In 2009, Gilbert became the official Voice Of Wales for the tourist board's Visit Wales advertising campaign.
Born on this day 1974 in Wrexham
Robbie Savage - former Wales soccer international, whose all-action and energetic style of play, resulted in him being awarded 89 yellow cards, which was a Premiership record at the time.
After his retirement from playing, Savage has worked as a TV pundit and radio presenter. In 2011 he competed in Strictly Come Dancing, unfortunately breaking his nose whilst performing a knee-slide.
