Rhondda

The Rhondda is a former coal mining area and valley in South Wales, comprising two valleys: the Rhondda Fawr (Big Rhondda) and the Rhondda Fach (Little Rhondda). Historically, it was a major industrial area during the 19th and early 20th centuries, known for its deep coal mines that fueled the industrial revolution and a significant population boom associated with the mining industry.

The Rhondda valleys are geographically defined by the rivers that run through them. The Rhondda Fawr is the larger valley, and the river of the same name flows through it. The Rhondda Fach is the smaller valley with the river also named Rhondda Fach. The valleys converge near Porth, where the combined river forms the River Rhondda which flows into the River Taff.

The principal towns and villages within the Rhondda Fawr include Treherbert, Treorchy, Pentre, Ystrad, Llwynypia, Tonypandy and Porth. The main settlements in the Rhondda Fach are Maerdy, Ferndale, Tylorstown, Pontygwaith and Pontypridd (although Pontypridd is generally considered to be at the southern end, where the Rhondda meets the Taff).

Following the decline of the coal industry in the latter half of the 20th century, the Rhondda experienced significant economic and social changes. Today, it is largely a post-industrial area with a focus on regeneration and diversification, although the legacy of its mining past remains a defining characteristic of the region.