Caernarfonshire
| Caernarfonshire | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Wales |
| Borders | Denbighshire Merionethshire |
| Population | 139,065 |
| Area (sq mi) | 563 square miles |
Caernarfonshire (Welsh: Sir Gaernarfon) is a traditional county of north-west Wales. It is one of the most sparsely populated counties in the United Kingdom; its land is dominated by the rugged mountains of Snowdonia; the tallest mountain in Wales Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is in the county. The county town is Caernarfon, which has Roman roots and its the most Welsh-speaking place in the world. The cathedral city Bangor is also located in the county, and is well-known for its university. Other notable settlements include Betws-y-coed, Conwy, Porthmadog, Llandudno and Pwllheli. The village of Beddgelert is notable for the legend of Gelert, a Welsh folk tale about a loyal dog belonging to Llywelyn the Great (1173-1240), who protects a baby from a wolf.