Cardigan Bay facts for kids
Cardigan Bay (which is Bae Ceredigion in Welsh) is a really big inlet of the Irish Sea. It curves into the west coast of Wales. You can find it between Bardsey Island in the north (part of Gwynedd) and Strumble Head in the south (part of Pembrokeshire). It's the largest bay in all of Wales!
Contents
What is Cardigan Bay Like?
Cardigan Bay has many beautiful beaches and is full of amazing sea creatures. The land around the bay is very green and good for farming. You'll also find lots of towns and seaside resorts along the coast. Some of these include Fishguard, New Quay, Aberaeron, Llanon, Aberystwyth, Borth, Aberdyfi, Tywyn, Barmouth, Porthmadog, Criccieth, and Pwllheli. These towns are often called the Cambrian Coast. There are also smaller villages like Cwmtydu, Nanternis, and Llangrannog.
Rivers Flowing into the Bay
Many important rivers flow into Cardigan Bay. These include the Glaslyn, Mawddach, Dysynni, Dyfi, Rheidol, Ystwyth, Aeron, and Teifi.
A Look Back at Cardigan Bay's History
Cardigan Bay was once a very busy place for ships and trade. This was especially true until the early 1900s. The town of Cardigan is located where the River Teifi meets the sea. That's why its Welsh name, Aberteifi, means "Mouth of the Teifi."
Cardigan: A Busy Port Long Ago
Around the year 1800, Cardigan was an even more important port than Cardiff! At that time, more than 300 ships were officially registered in Cardigan. That's seven times more than Cardiff and three times more than Swansea had.
The Legend of a Lost Land
The middle and northern parts of Cardigan Bay are famous for a legend. People say that a lost land called Cantre'r Gwaelod (the "Lowland Hundred" or "Hundred under the Sea") is hidden beneath the waves.
Ancient Forest Reappears
During strong winter storms in 2014, something amazing happened. Parts of an ancient forest, about 4,500 years old, reappeared on the shoreline near Borth. This forest used to stretch across boggy land to Ynyslas. Over time, because of rising sea levels and changes in climate, the forest got buried under layers of peat, sand, and saltwater. The storms uncovered the preserved tree stumps.
Wildlife and Fun in Cardigan Bay
The Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation was created to protect the amazing wildlife here. This includes animals both in the sea and along the coast.
Spotting Marine Animals
If you walk along the Ceredigion Coast Path, you might see the bay's "Big Three" marine animals. These are harbour porpoises, grey seals, and bottlenose dolphins. Cardigan Bay has the largest group of bottlenose dolphins in the whole UK!
You might also spot other sea mammals like minke whales, Risso's dolphins, and common dolphins. Many types of seabirds, such as puffins, also live here. Even some sharks, including large basking sharks, can be seen in the bay.
Spider Crabs in the Bay
Since the late 1990s and early 2000s, many spider crabs have started living in the bay. Even though British people don't usually eat them, local fishermen began supplying these crabs to fancy Michelin-starred restaurants, like those run by Raymond Blanc, starting in 2010.
Military Testing in the Bay
A special area for military testing was first set up in Cardigan Bay during the Second World War. This testing area is managed from a main base near Aberporth, called MoD Aberporth. In the past, this area was very important for developing and testing many different military weapons.
What Happens There Today?
Today, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses this area in Cardigan Bay. It provides a large, safe space to test weapons launched from the air and unmanned aerial systems (drones). This testing range is a big employer in West Wales, with about 200 people working directly to support its operations.
The "Range Danger Area" covers about 6,500 square kilometers (about 2,500 square miles) of Cardigan Bay. It goes from the sea surface all the way up into the sky. To help with safe testing, there are smaller outposts on the edges of Cardigan Bay and the Llŷn Peninsula. These outposts have special equipment to check how well the weapons perform.
Qinetiq is a company that runs the Cardigan Bay/Aberporth Range for the MOD. They work together to test and train with air-launched weapon systems and drones. This makes sure these systems are safe and ready for use.
See also
In Spanish: Bahía de Cardigan para niños
