Wales: 'The Big Country' Trivia Quiz

Answer: Gower

Gower Peninsula, known locally as just Gower, was awarded this distinction in 1956 and for anyone who has visited the area the reason for categorising the locality as such is self-evident. Clear waters and golden sand dunes adorned with the subtle beauty of the local flora is just the beginning of what this relaxing yet intriguing peninsula has to offer.

The scenery and wildlife are treasured by the local communities and for an area that is not far from the urbanised and industrial city of Swansea, Gower maintains an elegant rural charm.

Answer: Oakwood Park

The pièce de résistance of Oakwood Park was the wooden behemoth that was 'Megafobia', an encroaching roller coaster that was built in 1996. I only went on this ride once (I am prone to motion sickness...honestly!) and it really was exhilarating. The slow rise to the top of the colossus which builds up the tension before you begin to feel the carriage tip over the edge as it plummets back to Earth.

As it was a wooden roller coaster the creaking just added to that authenticity and perhaps pushed the adrenaline levels that little bit further.

Answer: Ben Nevis

Modest in comparison to the likes of Mt Everest and K2, Snowdon which is situated in the heart of north west Wales, really is a splendid geographical feature. The locals know the summit of the mountain by the name 'Yr Wyddfa' which translates into 'The Tumulus' which really does understate the magnitude of the geological disturbance.

The only British peaks that are higher than Snowdon are the mountains of Scotland such as Ben Nevis and others located in the Highlands.

Answer: Holyhead

The Welsh language is more commonly heard in this area than most other places in Wales and the modest population masks what is essentially a very busy port. The island houses a port for ferries which transports people across to the Republic of Ireland. Holyhead, the birthplace of the brilliant comedienne Dawn French, isn't actually on the island of Anglesey but is situated just four miles away on a separate and smaller isle, Holy Island.

The distance of four miles was used to unimaginatively name a bridge connecting Holy Island to Anglesey, the Four Mile Bridge.

Answer: Mold

Mold, a very attractive name for a town I'm sure you'll agree! Mold is a town found in Flintshire, a county which is on the Welsh border with neighbouring England. The actor Rhys Ifans of 'Notting Hill' fame and yes, OK 'Kevin & Perry Go Large' attended a Welsh language school in Mold and Rhodri Meilir, actor in British sitcom 'My Family', hailed from the town.

Some of the more difficult to pronounce towns of Wales include Llanfairfechan and Machynlleth. Also, Wales is home to the small village with the big name Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. I have always wanted to drop that into a quiz!

Answer: Skomer

Skomer is one of a few islands found off the Pembrokeshire coast with others including Skokholm and Grassholm. As well as the Manx Shearwater, a species of seabird, breeding on the island of Skomer, the local population of the Atlantic Puffin is thriving.

Tresco, Bryher and St Agnes are all constituents of an archipelago that make up the Isles of Scilly. This beautiful archipelago can be found off the coast of Cornwall, a county in the south west of England.

Answer: St David's

The 2001 census of the United Kingdom shows that the population of the city of St David's, which is located on the peninsula of the same name, was 1,797. To put this into perspective, my home town of Neath in south Wales had a population of 47,020 at the same census. St David's is the settlement where the patron saint of Wales, St David, came to rest. Truro, Wells and Ripon are all cities that can be found in various parts of England.

Answer: Eutrophication

Eutrophication is the process whereby excess nutrients are leached from the soil and enter a body of water such as a lake. The nutrient in question is usually a nitrate which is often applied in the form of ammonium nitrate fertiliser. The blue-green algae bloom in the presence of the nitrates and form a blanket on the top of the lake which blocks light energy from penetrating the lake's surface.

The plants in the body of water do not get the required light energy to photosynthesise and die. Bacteria and other decomposers use the nutrients from the dead plants and respire, depleting the oxygen supply. With decreased levels of oxygen, fish and other organisms die as they are unable to respire. Essentially, the entire ecosystem is destroyed and this concerned the Environmental Agency when this was occurring in Bala Lake!

Answer: Irish Sea

The Irish Sea, known as Muir Éireann in Irish and Môr Iwerddon in Welsh, is a hydrological barrier between Great Britain and Ireland. Another island, the Isle of Man is found in the Irish Sea. The ocean in question is the Atlantic Ocean.

Answer: Caerleon

Caerleon is also nearby the resort of Celtic Manor, an establishment that was at one time run by the first billionaire from Wales, Sir Terry Matthews. The resort had the great honour of being named the venue of a Ryder Cup competition (2010), one of the great golfing tournaments.