The National Trust has raised £1m to buy a farm encompassing a lake considered one of the most beautiful and emblematic in Wales.
Llyn Dinas and the farm, Llyndy Isaf, are considered special partly because they are home to a wealth of wildlife but also because the area is the setting for the mythical battle between a red and white dragon. Legend says the red dragon won, and thus it became the country's beloved national symbol.
The National Trust launched its biggest countryside appeal for more than a decade and raised the money needed in seven months with donations from 20,000 people.
The campaign to acquire the 250 hectares of land was backed by Welsh actors Matthew Rhys and Catherine Zeta Jones.
Rhys, who played Dylan Thomas in the film The Edge of Love, said: "We've made it. Thank you so much to so many of you who dug so deep and supported our campaign to save Llyndy Isaf, this very special farm in the heart of Snowdonia."
Rhys Evans, the National Trust's Snowdonia manager, said he had been "bowled over" by the "extraordinary" response.
"Despite these tough financial times people have really backed the appeal, which really does show how much they care about protecting special places like Llyndy Isaf."
The farm lies in the beautiful Nant Gwynant valley, near Beddgelert. It is regarded as one of the most environmentally important stretches of countryside in Snowdonia because it is untouched by intensive farming and is home to many wildlife species of international importance such as kingfishers, otters and the chough.
Evans said: "The challenge was always to raise the money by the end of the year to secure the future of Llyndy Isaf. Thanks to the generosity of so many we can begin consulting with the local community and the farming unions to decide on the next step for this special part of Wales."
