Dinorwic Slate Quarry

Slate, once commonly used for roof tiles, has been mined in Wales since ancient times. However, the Industrial Revolution is what really made the industry take off, leading to the proliferation of massive mines such as Dinorwic Quarry near Llanberis. It originally consisted of several smaller sites; however, the introduction of railways enabled larger production and created what became the second largest slate quarry in both Wales and the world.

In the 20th century, however, the Welsh slate industry declined due to competition from other materials and imports as well as the World Wars. The final nail in the coffin for Dinorwic was that slate removal had become difficult and landslides had begun to occur. The quarry shut down for good in 1969.

Its workshop at Gilfach Ddu became the National Slate Museum, documenting Wales's history with the rock. Llyn Peris, the lake at the bottom, is part of a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station. The mine itself has become an open space popular for rock climbing and hiking, although some areas remain off limits due to landslides. The landscape seen today is largely the same as it has been since the First World War, giving a unique glimpse into what the industry looked like for so long.