CAERNAR'VONSHIRE, a IT aritime co. in North Wales, bounded n. by the Irish sea; e. by Denbigh, with the Conway between; s. by Merioneth and Cardigan bay; and w. by Caernarvon and the Menai strait, the latter separating it from Anglesea. It is 51 in. long; greatest breadth, 22 m.; average, 9; area, 544 sq.m., of which is in pasture, and only *th in tillage. The surface is mountainous, and is traversed by the grandest and highest ranges in South Britain, and it is the highest and most mountainous county in North Wales. The Snowdonian or chief range runs through the middle of the great est length of the county, from s.w. to n.e., and is very bold and rocky. It attains the greatest elevation in Snowdon (q.v.), 3571 ft., in the center of the county, and the high est mountain in South Britain. Caernarvon bay is 30 m. across, 15 long, with 2 to 30 fathoms water, and communicates with the Irish sea through the Menai strait, which is 17 m. long, and to 4 m. broad. The rivers of C. are numerous, but small, from the nearness of all parts of the county to the sea. The Conway, navigable for 10 m., which runs along the e. border, is the chief. Almost all the streams flow through small lakes or tarns—of which there are 50 or 60 in the county—around the central or Snowdonian group of mountains. There are many fine cataracts on these streams. The mineral products of C. are copper, lead, zinc, coal, roofing and writing slates, slabs, chimney
piers, honestone. The slate quarries employ many thousands of workmen. The climate is mild in the peninsular part of C., but severe among the hills. The chief branch of rural industry in C. is the rearing of black cattle for the dairy, and of small sheep. Wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes are raised in the valleys. Pop. '71, 106,121. The chief towns are Caernarvon (the county town), Bangor, Pwllheli, Conway, Nevin, and Criccieth. In addition to the above boroughs, several flourishing towns have recently sprung into existence in the county—Llandudno, Tremadoc, and Bethesda being the principal. • It returns two members to parliament—one for the county, and one for the six chief towns. Connected with C. is the Chester and Holyhead railway, on the great route from London to Dublin, which crosses into Anglesea by the Britannia tubular bridge over the Menai strait. C. contains the remains of British or Celtic camps and hill-forts, especially around Snowdon, several dolmens and stone circles, and some ancient castles. The Snowdonian mountains were long the stronghold of the Welsh against the Romans, Saxons, and Normans in their efforts to subjugate Wales, and here the Welsh were at last defeated in 1283 by Edward I.