South Wales Valleys

View of the Cynon Valley from Penrhiwceiber. There is some beautiful scenery in the Valleys but sadly the area has been in decline for decades.

The South Wales Valleys is a region made up of many valleys that run north to south, located in south Wales. The Rhondda is particularly famous for its impact on industry and Welsh culture.

The valleys were sparsely populated until the mid-19th century, when ironmaking and coal mining drew people to the area for work. Within just 50 years from 1851 to 1901, the Rhondda Valley had went from having less than 1,000 people, to over 150,000.

After World War II mining reduced, and in the 1980s they were mostly closed. The last coal mine in the region was the Tower Colliery in the Cynon Valley, which closed in 2008.

The valleys still contain about 30% of Welsh people, though there has been many problems in recent years, including unemployment and crime. Many towns in the valleys are struggling, and their decline has made them depressing places to be. A survey in 2008 said it was the second most miserable place in all of the UK.

In sport the area has always been closely associated with rugby union. Most rugby teams in Wales are based in the area.