Gwynedd (; ) is an area in north-west
Wales, named after the old
Kingdom of Gwynedd. As a
local government area it is the second biggest in terms of geographical area and also one of the most sparsely populated. Most of the population is
Welsh-speaking. The name Gwynedd is also used for a
preserved county, covering the two local government areas of Gwynedd and the
Isle of Anglesey. Culturally and historically, the name can also be used for most of
North Wales (for instance, the area covered by the Gwynedd Constabulary), corresponding to the approximate territory of the
Kingdom of Gwynedd at its greatest extent. The current area is 2,548 square km (983.78 sq miles, slightly smaller than
Luxembourg) with a population as measured in the
2011 Census of 121,874.