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	County Town: Merthyr Tydfil County Population: 60,000 (estimate)
	Merthyr Tydfil used to be part of the much larger county of Glamorganshire, and now covers an area of 111 sq km (43 sq miles). Characterised by high moorlands with deep valleys running northwest to southeast, the county lies in the mountainous area of the South Wales coalfield, many of the peaks being well over 450 m (1,475 feet) in height. 25 sq km (10 sq miles) of the northern area of Merthyr Tydfil is within the Brecon Beacons National Park.
	First settled in prehistoric times, Glamorganshire was later occupied by the Romans, then invaded by the Normans in the 11th century, when many castles were built throughout South Wales to subdue local inhabitants. The area began to prosper during the 19th century when coalfields in the area were extensively mined, but mining has declined rapidly and is now slowly being replaced by light manufacturing and engineering.
	The Taf Fawr and Taf Fechan valleys both offer beautiful scenery with reservoirs and man-made lakes set among forests. In Merthyr Tydfil itself is the 65 hectare (160 acre) Cyfartha Park, which surrounds Cyfartha Castle. The castle was formerly the home of a family of ironmasters, but it now houses a museum depicting Merthyr Tydfil's history.
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