The influence of Welsh people travels far beyond the boundaries of Wales. Everyone knows about the links Wales has with Patagonia on the continent of South America. But do you know that Welsh people have influenced place-names across the world? Why not investigate the locations below further?
Llandovery is a market town and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. But there is another Llandovery on an island in the Caribbean called Jamaica. The town is known for the 'One-Penny Stamp', and for a world-famous sugar mill. I wonder how the name of a Welsh town was given to the St Ann's area of Jamaica?
I wonder if you have been on holiday to Llandudno? No, not Llandudno in north Wales but Llandudno in South Africa? As part of the city of Cape Town 'Llandudno Beach' was named as a township in 1903. It is a very privileged area, and some of the most expensive houses in the whole of South Africa have been built there. It was probably named because of the similarities between the two seaside areas. Look at pictures of the two locations and compare the surrounding landscape.
We all know that Cardiff is the capital city of Wales. Did you know that there is a town called Cardiff in more than one country across the world? There is a town called Cardiff in Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand. You can find Cardiff in Alberta, Canada and Cardiff, Alabama, United States of America.
Cardiff-by-the-sea in California was probably named in 1911 by a lady who was a native of Cardiff in Wales.
Why not investigate names from your area. Is there a similar name in a different location in the world?
Image: Zip World
Zip over North Wales
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa… Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw… Cooooooooooooooooooooooooool… Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeat… Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick…!
Those are some of the exclamations you're likely to hear as people zip along a zipwire in North Wales, the "Big Zipper."
The new zipwire has been installed approximately 213 metres above the Penrhyn Quarry in Bethesda, Gwynedd, and extends for a mile. It is the longest zipwire in the northern hemisphere, and the longest and fastest in Europe.
Zipping along this zipwire is very fast - between 85 and 105 miles per hour!
The ride has been created for visitors to the area. They usually spend about two or three hours exploring the area, learning about its history, and then get a chance to go on the "Little Zipper" (just 500 metres!), before moving on to the "Big Zipper".
The ride was opened in 2013 and the first person to go on it was 72-year-old Robert Davies.
"That's one of the most amazing things I've ever done," he said. "The view is wonderful, and when you fly through the air, it's a fantastic experience. You could hear me screaming all the way down!"
Safety is paramount, of course, and people must wear a special flying suit, helmet and goggles and a special safety harness.
The ride is a challenge! The ride is increeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedible!
Forward... to space!
It usually takes two days to reach the international Space Station, which travels around the earth, about 200 miles away, at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour. In November, this year, however, Space X was able to reach the station in much less time.
Commander Mike Hopkins set off with Americans Shannon Walker and Victor Glover, and Soichi from Japan on the 16th of November at 00:27 in his rocket from the Kennedy Space Center and they arrived at the International Space Station 27 and a half hours later.
At the International Space Station
On arrival at the International Space Station, the astronauts will remain there until spring 2021. They do different experiments, improve the station and get to understand more about how people can live and work in space. In addition, they must do two hours of exercise each day as low gravity can have a bad effect on the skeleton and circulation.
Travelling into space
However, non-astronauts may soon be able to travel into space. One company hopes to be able to offer holidays to people to travel to the International Space Station for 30 days in 2021 at a price of £40,000,000. Better start saving then!
Did you know that there is a close link between a Welsh individual and the moon landing in 1969? The man’s name was Tecwyn Roberts.
Sleeping underground
Llandscape:
Dry, sandy land with lots of craters - quite similar to the moon's landscape. Parts of the Star Wars film were filmed here because the land looks like another planet. As you get close and look down - into one of the craters - you see there are homes and hotels underground.
Sleeping underground:
For tourists sleeping underground is 'interesting' and 'different'. For the people of the area it is a natural thing because it is very hot in summer - often over 50 degrees Celsius! The hotels are comfortable - and the experience of sleeping about 6 metres underground is very different
What is there to do:
Weather: Hot and dry
How to get there:
It is easy to reach Matmata. Follow the road south of Gabes.
Of interest:
If you ask yourself "How can people make these homes underground?" here's the answer: They dig a big hole in the ground, then they dig into the sides of the hole creating caves. Then they whitewash them.
Shakhtar… from Hughesovka
Have you heard of the Shakhtar football team? They are a very famous football team from Ukraine and they play in the main championships and have won the UEFA cup.
There is a relationship between this team and Wales because you could argue that Wales is responsible for the existence of FC Shakhtar...
In 1814, John Hughes was born in Merthyr Tydfil. His father was chief engineer at the Cyfarthfa ironworks.
John started working there, before moving to other plants in South Wales and England. He was an exceptional engineer and became very famous.
He was so famous that he was invited by the Russian Government to set up plants in Ukraine. Thus, in 1870 he sailed to Russia, with about a hundred ironworkers and miners, most from South Wales. He immediately set up the metalworks.
The works became very important and were very famous for producing parts for railways. The area where the works were set up soon developed into a very successful industrial area.
John Hughes himself was famous and the area was named after him: Hughesovka - or, in Ukrainian, Yuzovka.
The area was renamed Stalino in 1917, following the Russian Revolution, and was then named Donetsk in 1961. FC Shakhtar play at the Donbass Arena Stadium, in Donetsk.
So, if John Hughes had not gone to set up the ironworks in Ukraine, FC Shakhtar might not exist today. Who knows?
Something to do - a sense of community
24th July 2020
Summer holidays can be long – especially if you have nothing to do. How many times will you say, "I'm bored!", "I have nothing to do!" or "Oh, what can I do?"
The good news is that some areas across Wales are funding a number of diverse projects for children and young people.
In some areas, for example, there are free swimming schemes. In other areas, there are craft sessions that provide excellent opportunities to develop the creative skills of children and young people.
Some theatres organise workshops and special productions over the summer so that young people come together to learn new skills, meet others, work with others and, eventuallay, perform a play or musical. These provide very special opportunities for children and young people.
One of the projects last year was the project to create an allotment in south Wales.
Under this scheme, a group of 11-18-year olds came together to create a special garden. The land was divided into three sections - a small section for flowers, a larger section for vegetables, and another for a lawn where they were able to relax after their hard work.
This was an excellent opportunity to enjoy working outdoors and grow fresh food and thereby eat healthily. The young people who took part in the project had worthwhile and enjoyable experiences.
Let’s hope you get the chance to do something worthwhile and fun over the summer this year.
