Thailand has beaten challenges from New Zealand and Wales for the world's longest place name. Internet websites in all three countries claim that odd tourist magnet. Let's examine their claims.
WALES boasts a village called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (58 letters), which in English means "Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio near the red cave." The locals call it Llanfairpwll (pronounced thlan vire puth). We'll call it L56h.
"The name of this world-famous station and village was created in the early 19th century by a local humourist," says Tourists to Wales.
"The name of this world-famous station and village was created in the early 19th century by a local humourist," says Tourists to Wales.
"The station of Llanfair PG (the usual abbreviation) was the first on Anglesey, and opened in 1848. After a 20-year closure in 1973 to 1993, it re-opened in 1994 having been restored... During your visit you could also have lunch in the 'Sidings Restaurant.'"
An English website, Go! Britannia, says: "Thousands of visitors are attracted yearly to photograph its famous 15-ft long sign found on the railway station platform... (A little secret: as many double letters in English are regarded as single letters in Welsh, the name has only 51 letters)."Internet sites normally have a maximum of 28 letters but the rules were bent for L56h. Its website says the village was known until the 19th century as Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll - St Mary's church near the pool by the white hazels. To encourage train travellers to stop off, a cobbler suggested stretching the name. Local author John Williams believes that a tailor coined the tongue-twisting name to confuse the English.
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