Editing Ceredigion (section)

==Geography==
{{See also|List of places in Ceredigion}} {{See also|Geology of Ceredigion}}
[[File:Aberaeron Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 792088.jpg|thumb|Aberaeron Harbour]]

[[File:Cors Caron in July, near Tregaron, Ceredigion - geograph.org.uk - 1415618.jpg|thumb|[[Cors Caron]], near Tregaron]]

Ceredigion is a coastal county, bordered by [[Cardigan Bay]] to the west, [[Gwynedd]] to the north, [[Powys]] to the east, [[Carmarthenshire]] to the south and [[Pembrokeshire]] to the south-west. Its area is {{convert|1795|km2|mi2}}.<ref name=Nienaber/> In 2010 the population was 76,938, making it the second most sparsely populated county in Wales.<ref name=Nienaber/>

The main settlements are [[Aberaeron]], [[Aberporth]], [[Aberystwyth]], [[Borth]], [[Cardigan, Ceredigion|Cardigan]], [[Lampeter]], [[Llanarth, Ceredigion|Llanarth]], [[Llanddewi Brefi]], [[Llandysul]], [[Llanilar]], [[Llanrhystud]], [[Llanon]], [[New Quay]], and [[Tregaron]]. The largest of these are Aberystwyth and Cardigan.<ref name=Atlas>{{cite book |title=Atlas of the World |last=Philip's |year=1994 |publisher=Reed International |isbn=0-540-05831-9 |pages=16–17 }}</ref>

The [[Cambrian Mountains]] cover much of the east of the county; this large area forms part of the [[desert of Wales]].  In the south and west, the surface is less elevated. The highest point is [[Plynlimon]] (Pumlumon) at {{convert|2467|ft|m}}, other [[Marilyn (geography)|Marilyn]]s include [[Pen y Garn]] and [[Llan Ddu Fawr]]. On the slopes of Pumlumon five rivers have their sources: the [[River Severn|Severn]], the [[River Wye|Wye]], the [[River Dulas|Dulas]], the [[River Llyfnant|Llyfnant]] and the [[River Rheidol|Rheidol]], the last of which meets the [[Afon Mynach]] in a {{convert|300|ft|m}} plunge at the [[Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion|Devil's Bridge]] chasm. The largest river is the [[River Teifi]] which forms the border with Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire for part of its length. The towns of Lampeter, Llandysul, Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan are all in the Teifi Valley, and each has communities on each side of the river, in different counties. Other significant rivers include the [[River Aeron]] which has its estuary at [[Aberaeron]], and the [[River Ystwyth]] and the [[River Rheidol]] both of which reach the sea in Aberystwyth [[Harbor|harbour]].<ref name=Atlas/>

Ceredigion's {{convert|50|mi|km}} of coastline has sandy beaches. In 2011 Ceredigion's beaches were awarded five [[Blue flag beach|Blue Flag Awards]], four [[Green Coast Award]]s, and fourteen [[Seaside Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tourism.ceredigion.gov.uk/saesneg/beaches.htm|title=Ceredigion tourism - Beaches|access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> Ceredigion is one of only two places in the United Kingdom with a permanent presence of [[bottlenose dolphin]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiganshirecoastandcountry.com/dolphins-cardigan-bay.php|title=Cardiganshire Coast & Country|access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> Another member of the fauna is the [[red kite]]; these may be seen in various localities in the county, but at the Red Kite Feeding Centre near Tregaron, they are fed each day, and large numbers congregate along with hungry crows and other birds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gigrin.co.uk/red-kite-feeding/ |title=Red Kite Feeding |publisher=Gigrin |access-date=11 April 2016}}</ref>

Between 1991 and 2003 Ceredigion had the largest population growth of any county in Wales, with a 19.5% increase.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2755217.stm|title=Census shows Welsh language rise Friday, 14 February, 2003 extracted 12-04-07|date=14 February 2003 |access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> Tourism and agriculture, chiefly hill farming, are the most important industries. In addition, two [[university|universities]] are within the county boundaries: [[Aberystwyth University]] and the Lampeter campus of the [[University of Wales, Trinity Saint David]]. The [[Welsh Plant Breeding Station]] is near Aberystwyth and linked to the University. The [[National Library of Wales]], founded in 1907, is also in Aberystwyth. Ceredigion is an extremely rural county; the largest town, Aberystwyth, has fewer than 15,000 permanent residents and the remainder of the population of the county is scattered over 150 small towns, villages and hamlets.<ref name=Hall>{{cite book|author1=Hall, Derek R.|author2=Kirkpatrick, Irene|title=Rural Tourism and Sustainable Business |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y0kO0JKI9soC&pg=PA236 |year=2005 |publisher=Channel View Publications |isbn=978-1-84541-335-4 |pages=236–237}}</ref> According to the [[2011 UK census]] the population of Ceredigion was around 75,900.  By the time the [[2021 UK census]] was taken this had fallen by 5.8% to 71,500. 

The county has no large commercial areas. The nearest substantial settlements are located at least 1 hour 45 minutes drive away. Approximate road distances from Ceredigion's largest town, Aberystwyth, are: [[Swansea]], {{convert|75|mi|km}} to the south; [[Shrewsbury]], {{convert|76|mi|km}} to the east, in the [[England|English]] county of [[Shropshire]]; and [[Wrexham]], {{convert|82|mi|km}} to the northeast. The capital, [[Cardiff]], is over {{convert|100|mi|km}} from most parts of the county. Although Ceredigion and Gwynedd share a boundary, it is not possible to travel directly between the two by land as all road and rail links avoid the Dyfi estuary and pass through Dyfi Junction or [[Machynlleth]] in Powys.<ref name=Atlas/>