The Geography of Cornwall

  Cornwall is a peninsula situated at the south-western most tip of Britain, opposite the peninsula of Brittany in France. It forms part of the 'Atlantic Arc' of six Celtic countries - Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Isle of Man, Eire and Scotland. Its landscape bears a greater resemblance to that of its Celtic neighbours than to the rolling hills of Devon and the rest of England. This is largely due to similarities in the geology of these areas.

The climate is mild due to the warming effects of the Gulf Stream - indeed palm trees are relatively common in the gardens of south and west Cornwall and sub-tropical plants can be seen growing quite happily at the Abbey Gardens of the Scillonian island of Tresco. The moderating influence of the sea also means that Cornish winters are rarely severe and hot summer days are often cooled by gentle sea breezes.

Famed for its beaches and rugged coastline, stretching for almost 300 miles, Cornwall has an area of about 3,550 sq. km. (1,370 sq. miles) of which over 25% (958 sq. km.) are designated as areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has a population of about 500,000 (2001 Census data) - of which only about 10% would deem themselves as 'Cornish', the remainder largely made up of visitors settling here to take advantage of the climate and slower pace of living. Chief holiday resorts are Newquay; St. Ives; Falmouth; Mevagissey; Padstow; Fowey; Looe; Polperro and Bude.

Major industries are farming; fishing; and until recently mining for copper and tin. There is currently a concerted drive by the people; local government officers and local Members of Parliament of Cornwall to attract new industries and technologies to replace the loss of mining and the drastic reductions in fishing 'quotas'. Truro is the capital and only city of Cornwall and is situated at the head of the River Fal. The main towns are Penzance; Camborne; Redruth; Falmouth; St. Austell; Bodmin; Liskeard and Launceston.