Wales, waylz, a principality in the southwest of the island of Great Britain, forming a peninsula between Bristol Channel, on the south, and the Irish Sea, on the north, and having an area of 7446 sq. mi., or a little less than that of the State of New Jersey. The surface of the country is very mountainous, particularly in the north, where the ranges of England enter it. These run in nearly a north and south or north-east and southwest direction and are parallel to each other. They are low mountains, the highest peak having an altitude of only 3571 feet. The country is rich in minerals, particularly coal, iron, copper and slate, and to these Wales owes its chief wealth. The coal trade is the most important and extensive, and Cardiff is one of the largest coal ports in the world. The presence of coal and iron ore has given rise to large iron and steel plants, and there are also quite extensive copper works. The other manufactures include woolen goods, especially flannel, coarse cloth and hosiery. Previous to the Roman occupation, Wales appears to have been chiefly inhabited by three British tribes, called the Silures, the Dimetae and the Ordovices. During the latter part of the Roman occupation one of the four provinces into which the island was divided included Wales and was called Britannia Secunda. After the invasion of the Saxons the country acquired a distinctly national character, because it became the refuge of the conquered Britons, who were gradually driven to the west and who for a long time maintained their independence. However, the country was finally conquered by Edward I, who established the title of prince of Wales for his son, whom he made ruler, and that title has ever since been conferred upon the heir to the British crown. The inhabitants are mostly of Celtic origin and are descendants of the early Britons. The language is Welsh, which is a branch of the Celtic, different from that used by the Irish and the Scotch Highlanders. See CELTS.