Geographical location and nature of Great Britain. England. Geography, description and characteristics of the country. Geographical location of Great Britain

This country often used as UK identities. Today there are several more synonyms for the name of this country, such as the United Kingdom and Britain. Interestingly, the motto of this hitherto existing kingdom is “God and its right,” putting God first, because the official religion here is Anglicanism.

Imagine, kings and queens, parliament and ministries rule here, and there is no supposedly inviolable constitution. And the British, by the way, live no worse, and maybe better than people, in whose countries there is a constitution rewritten many times.

Also worth noting , that England's geographical position is favorable, and it is spread over more than 133 km². Foggy Albion was able to unite at the beginning of the 10th century, the once conflicting counties and took the name from the Germanic tribe - the Angles, who settled on these lands from the 5th to the 6th centuries. And London is the most big city not only in the UK, but among all EU countries.

History of England

I wonder what exactly thanks to English legislation, the foundation of legal systems was formed in many powers . In addition, London (read our article:) is the heart of Britain, and the state is the founder of the Industrial Revolution. England holds the palm in industrial development throughout the world, being a power in which parliamentary democracy operates. The Principality of Wales, together with the Kingdom of England, was a sovereign country before uniting with Scotland in early May 1707 to become a stronger power - the Kingdom of Great Britain.

England inherited its name from the man who lived on the territory of Britain from the 5th to the 6th centuries. n. e. The largest Germanic people are the Angles, migrating from the Angeln Peninsula, which is divided between northern Germany and Denmark.

Interesting, that already the ancient Roman scientist Tacitus, living at the end of the 1st century AD. in a book called "Germany" the English are mentioned. And in the Oxford English Dictionary you can find a later mention of the word “England”, which dates back to the end of the 9th century.

Features of the geographical location of England

The country is distinguished by its geographical location, it is located on two-thirds of the island called Great Britain. From the north it connects with Scotland , but on the western side - from Principality of Wales .

The English landscape is made up northern mountains and hills. Mountains and plains are divided along a border, as if drawn by the invisible hand of God, from the beginning of the Teese River or, as the Tizsaid aborigines call it, located on the eastern side and the lower reaches of the Ex River, otherwise known as Divon, flowing to the south-west side. On the eastern side of England there is a low-lying marsh that is being drained by local farmers.

The largest city in the country in terms of population density is London, and the smallest of the six English metropolitan cities is Manchester.

At the time of its capture by Julius Caesar in the second half of the first century BC, and a century later, during an unexpected visit by Emperor Claudius, the lands of present-day England were inhabited by Celts, nicknamed Britons. After they took the entire south of the island (today's Wales and Great Britain) it became subject to the Romans, falling under its yoke for four and a half centuries. However, without the help of Roman soldiers, Britain could not resist the barbarian Germans, whom in the V-VI centuries. invited the Britons, relying on the fact that they would protect them from the raids of the Scots and Picts - Celtic northern tribes. The mercenaries, who were Angles, Saxons and Jutes, having settled in the lands of the Britons, began to push them out to the lands of Cornwall.

After some time, kingdoms appeared in the territories captured by Germanic foreigners, which formed the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy, which included 7 kingdoms. Sometimes one of the Anglo-Saxon kings, who was called the “Ruler of Britain,” ruled over a larger territory of Foggy Albion. England was united by the raid of the Danish Vikings, who annexed the east of England. Egbert became the first ruler of England, but only Alfred the Great, who reigned from 871 to 899, was titled "King of England".

William I the Conqueror imposed a Franco-Norman leadership in England. Later in the XIII century. The Welsh principality was finally crushed by England. During the Renaissance, during the reign of James I, who had previously ruled Scotland, he began to connect Scotland with England. But only at the beginning of VIII the final unification of Scotland with England took place, which turned into the Kingdom of Great Britain

England now

England today consists of counties that arose even before the reunification of England: Sussex, Essex, Yorkshire, Cornwall, Lancashire, Berkshire. Until the second half of the nineteenth century, these counties were divided into hundreds. Today England is made up of 9 regions, as well as 48 official counties. Sports play a major role in the English economy, ahead of other sectors of the country's economy.

Area - 244.1 thousand km2.

Population: 59.1 million people.

Capital London.

The political system is a constitutional monarchy.

The official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Administratively divided into counties. Legislative power belongs to the monarch (king) and parliament, which consists of the House of Commons and the Burning Lords. Actual power belongs to the Cabinet of Ministers, which is formed by the ruling party. Great Britain heads the British Commonwealth of Nations, a political and economic entity that consists of 50 of its former colonies and dominions.

Great Britain has the oldest industrial region. Nowadays it belongs to the seven major economically developed countries of the world and is a member of NATO and the EU. Characteristic features of the country's economy are wide diversification of production, extremely high qualifications of the workforce and quality of products.

Geographical location of Great Britain

Economic-geographical location and natural resource potential. Great Britain is an island country located in northwestern Europe. It includes: the island of Great Britain, part of the island of Ireland and surrounding islands. The closest neighbors on the Eurasian mainland are France and Belgium.

The country is divided into four historical and geographical regions. England is the main core of the country. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Ulster) were annexed by conquest and today have only vague elements of autonomy.

The most important feature of Great Britain's geographical position is its separation from the continent. This circumstance was helpful because the country for nine centuries (since 1066) had never experienced a foreign invasion, although it constantly took part in European wars. At the same time, the country enjoyed all the benefits that stem from its location next to the most developed countries of Western Europe and on the routes to the World Ocean. The transport value and resources of the latter will play an important role in modern development countries. The coastline of the islands is very dissected. Even in the southern part of the main island, the distance from the sea does not exceed 100-120 km. The dense network of rivers and canals in England has played a decisive role in the country's economy since ancient times.

The location in the zone of broad-leaved forests of the temperate zone, a humid (oceanic) climate with an almost uniform distribution of precipitation throughout the year, mild winters with rare frosts, and cool summers contribute to the year-round cultivation of herbs and the retention of animals, the cultivation of new plants using biotechnology.

Natural resource potential of Great Britain

The modern mineral resource base is showing signs of depletion. There are significant reserves of oil and gas on the Northern shelf, construction materials, potassium and rock salts. Coal, iron ore, tin and lead-zinc ores played important roles in the past.

UK population

Population, cities. 4/5 of all residents of Great Britain are now British. English belongs to the Germanic group of the Indo-European language family. The ancestors of the modern population of Great Britain were the Britons - Celtic tribes who appeared on the island more than 2500 years ago. The Angles, Saxons and Jutes - Germanic tribes - moved to this territory in the V-VII centuries. AD, French Normans - in the 11th century. Among the English, Ulstermen are classified into a separate group - descendants of mixed marriages of the English and Irish. About 15% of the total population are Scots, Welsh (or Welsh), and the Irish - descendants of Celtic tribes. Because of their religion, the English, Ulsterians, Welsh and Scots are mostly Protestants different directions. The Irish are Catholics.

In the XVI-XIX and the first half of the XX century. Great Britain was a classic country of emigration. In the second half of the XX century. The situation changed and immigration of foreign workers to Britain began. Mostly immigrants come from Commonwealth countries. Nowadays, national and ethnic minorities make up 6% of the country's population and almost 20% of them live in London.

As in other industrialized countries, Great Britain experiences a low birth rate against the backdrop of a significant life expectancy, an aging population, and smaller families.

Great Britain is a densely populated country. Only in the mountains of Scotland is there a small population. The strip, which stretches from Manchester to London, is one of the most crowded not only in Europe, but also in the whole world. 80% of the population lives in cities. The level of urbanization in the country is one of the highest in the world, which is facilitated by the urban lifestyle in rural counties (Fig. 63), 1/3 of the population lives in huge urban formations, which consist of the main city and its surroundings - conurbation. their centers are London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds-Bradford, Sheffield, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Glasgow, where the main economic capacities of the country are concentrated. Most cities also have powerful port systems.

UK economy

Farming. The UK has a structure of employment and GNP typical of industrialized countries. Only 1% of the working population is employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing, which creates 2% of GNP; in industry and construction - 28% and 31%, respectively. The non-material sphere employs 71% of the population and produces 67% of GNP.

All areas of modern industry are developing in the country. Throughout the XX century. Great Britain went through all stages of industrial development, although very slowly. Only accession to the EU (1973) led to the intensification of structural changes. To a large extent, under government pressure, the process of “deindustrialization” took place, i.e. changes in industrial structure. As in other highly developed countries, traditional, old industries (labor-, energy- and material-intensive, as well as those that pollute the environment) were reduced. These, in addition to coal mining, included metallurgy, the manufacture of traditional equipment, shipbuilding, textile and footwear industries, etc. At the same time, the share of mechanical engineering increased (2/5 of those employed), new and scientific (high-tech) industries expanded or were created: aerospace, fiber optic, electronic; chemical industry (chemicals, synthetic fibers, plastics, fertilizers and pesticides, paints, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics). Nowadays, the UK is second only to the USA in terms of high-tech production.

Among current trends, the movement of industry from the inner zones of central cities to the periphery of conurbations or even to rural counties is important. A characteristic feature is the emergence of numerous industrial “parks”, which combine research laboratories and scientific industry. Most of them are around London, as well as along the road from London to Bristol and to Cambridge.

Over 4/5 of industrial production is geographically located in Central and Southern England, in particular the 350 km long strip from Liverpool to London stands out. In EU countries, this industrial complex is extended in Belgium and the Netherlands all the way to Central Italy. This is a typical illustration of modern world economic development - integration into the global and regional economy.

In agriculture, livestock products (cattle breeding, pig farming, poultry farming) account for 70% and prevail over crop production (growing high-yielding varieties of wheat, barley, sugar beets, potatoes). Agriculture provides 75% of the country's population with food and is one of the leading areas. Its peculiarity is the use of work not by peasants, but by agricultural workers, a small number of workers and very high intensity.

Great Britain has modern transport both in size and structure. All its types are developed. The state's maritime fleet, which has not known competition for over two centuries, remains today one of the largest in the world (86% of the country's cargo turnover). At the same time, many ships, as in other developed countries, sail under “cheap flags.” All modern requirements are met by railway (Great Britain was a pioneer in the construction of railways) and road transport, the directions of which coincide. The center is London. From it there are routes to Dover, Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester - Glasgow and Newcastle - Edinburgh. Of decisive importance is the system of ferry, rail and rail links between Great Britain and the continent, which has been operating since 1994, after the opening of the 50-kilometer tunnel under the English Channel. Air transport ranks first in Western Europe for domestic transportation, and second only to the United States for international transportation.

Foreign economic activity. Great Britain was at one time the first to go down in history as a country importing raw materials and exporting finished products. It is the only one of the seven major economically developed countries that now exports more services than goods, and is the largest supplier of services to the world market (banking and insurance operations, tourism, business, telecommunications, scientific information and cultural services, as well as maritime and air fleet).

One of the most developed forms of foreign economic relations is activity in the capital market. If previously investments were directed to colonial countries, now they are directed to other economically developed countries of the world. The main exporters of capital are powerful monopolies and transnational companies. At the same time, the UK economy largely depends on foreign investment, among which capital flows from rural areas and Western European countries predominate.

Dependence on foreign trade is a specific feature of the country's economy. Through poverty of own raw materials, its import will still play an important role. But now finished industrial products account for 3/4 of both exports and imports. In imports, in addition to industrial raw materials, machinery and equipment, light and food products, chemical products, timber and paper will play an important role. The main exports are aerospace equipment, electronics, scientific and medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, heavy engineering and metallurgy products. Great Britain has the closest economic ties with Western Europe, primarily with EU countries: almost 2/3 of foreign trade volumes. About 1/10 of Great Britain's foreign trade is with the United States, and the same with Commonwealth countries.

Geographical position Great Britain

State in northwestern Europe, on British Isles. It occupies the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and part of the island of Ireland, as well as independent administrative units - the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and west, the North Sea in the east and the Irish Sea in the west, and is separated from the mainland in the south by the English Channel and Pas-de-Calais. In the west and north of the country, mountainous, highly dissected terrain predominates, in the southeast and in the center there are elevated plains and wastelands. The highest point is Ben Nevis in Scotland (1343 m). total area countries 244.1 thousand sq. km.

Capital

Geography of Great Britain. Map, geographical location, population, climate of Great Britain.
Industry and economy of Great Britain, resources, symbols and anthem of Great Britain.

GREAT BRITAIN(Great Britain), Britain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a state in northwestern Europe, on the British Isles (the largest UK island), the northeastern part of the island of Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Isle of White, the Channel Islands and other small islands. Separated from the continent by the English Channel and Pas de Calais. Area 244.11 thousand km2. Population 60.1 million people (2003). Capital London.

Large cities and agglomerations: Greater London, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Bradford, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol.

Government structure of Great Britain.
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy (but there is no formal constitution; there are a number of basic legislative acts). The head of state is the queen. Legislative power is exercised by the Queen and a bicameral parliament (House of Lords and House of Commons). The executive branch is headed by the Prime Minister - the leader of the party that received the majority of votes in the elections to the House of Commons and forms the government. Great Britain heads the Commonwealth, which includes 53 countries.

Administrative and governmental structure of Great Britain.
Consists of 4 administrative and political parts (historical national regions): England (39 counties, 6 metropolitan counties and a special administrative unit - Greater London), Wales (8 counties), Scotland (12 regions: 9 districts and 3 island territories) and Northern Ireland (26 counties). The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are independent administrative units. Possessions of Great Britain: in Europe - Gibraltar, in America - Anguilla, Bermuda, Virgin Islands(British), Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, in Africa - St. Helena Island, in Oceania - Pitcairn Island.

Population of Great Britain.
About 80% of the population is English, 15% are Scots, Welsh (Welsh), Cornish and Irish; OK. 5% of the population are immigrants from Commonwealth countries. The English are descendants of the Anglo-Saxons and Normans; The Scots, Irish, Welsh and Cornish are descendants of the Celts.

The official language is English. The English are adherents of the Anglican state church, the Scots are mostly Presbyterians, the Irish are mostly Catholics. There are also a small number of Catholics and adherents of the High Church close to Catholicism among the British. The most densely populated areas are Central and South-East England, the least populated areas are northern Scotland and Central Wales. High degree of urbanization; 89.4% of the population lives in cities. Almost 1/2 of the population lives in major cities(with a population of over 100 thousand). On the territory of the country, 8 large urban conurbations with a population of over 1 million people were formed, in which St. 1/3 of the country's population. The average population density is 245.5 people/km2.

Nature of Great Britain. UK climate.
It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and its seas - the North and Irish, the English Channel, Pas-de-Calais, North and St. George straits. The coastline is heavily dissected by bays (fjords in the north and estuaries in the south), forming large peninsulas of Wales and Cornwall. There are also significant geographical differences between the four historical regions. Scotland and Northern England are mountainous and geographically represents High Britain - the North Scottish Highlands (Ben Nevis, 1343 m, the highest point in Great Britain), the South Scottish Highlands, the Pennine and Cambrian Mountains, the Lake District in the north-west of England. The area is characterized by smoothed plateau-like peaks and gentle turfed slopes; in the north, glacial landforms have been preserved. Low Britain is separated from High Britain by a conventional line that runs in southwest direction from Newcastle to the mouth of the river. Tyne to Exeter at the mouth of the river. Aix in south Devon. In the south and southeast of Low Britain there are rolling plains (London Basin, etc.), framed by cuesta ridges, a typical landscape of “good old England”. The climate is temperate oceanic, humid, with mild winters and cool summer(influence of the Gulf Stream). Average temperatures in January are 3-7 °C, in July 11-17 °C. Precipitation on the plains is 600-750 mm, in the mountains 1000-3000 mm per year, drizzling rains and fogs are frequent. The western part of the country receives slightly more rainfall than the eastern part. A dense network of deep rivers (Thames, Severn, etc.), many of which are connected by canals, often outdated. There are many lakes in Scotland and Ireland (Loch Ness, Loch Lomond in Scotland, etc., Loch Neagh in Northern Ireland). The mountains are dominated by peat bogs and heathland, used as pasture for sheep. Forests (oak, beech, birch) occupy 9% of the country's territory. The plains are occupied by arable land and meadows and are densely populated. There are numerous national nature reserves and parks for recreational use (Peak District, Snowdonia, etc.).

UK economy. Industry and economy of Great Britain.
Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. Over the past 20 years, the following transformations have been carried out in the English economy: the public sector has been reduced; tax rates for individuals and legal entities; deregulation of the economy was carried out (with a simultaneous reduction in government spending). In 1995, in terms of total industrial production, Great Britain ranked 5th in the world (after the USA, Japan, Germany, and France). GNP per capita is $24,500 (2000). It ranks first in Europe in terms of energy reserves, being a major producer of oil and gas (production is carried out on the North Sea shelf using the most advanced methods on platforms; the British sector contains about 1/3 of the reliable reserves in Europe) and coal. Oil production was 124 million tons in 1996 (the main fields are Brent and Fortis), gas production was 89.9 billion m3 (17 fields are exploited, the largest are Leman Bank, Brent, Morekham). British Petroleum and the Anglo-Dutch company Royal Dutch/Shell are among the leaders in their market segment. Historically very important coal production is constantly declining. In the manufacturing industry, priority is given to such sectors as transport engineering (12.4% of total industrial production), including automobile manufacturing (national companies and branches of foreign companies Rover, Ford, Jaguar, Vauxhall, Pegeout-Talbot, Honda, Nissan, Toyota); shipbuilding; the aerospace industry is the third largest in the world after the USA and France, producing civil and military aircraft (British Aerospace, Harrier, Tornado, Eurofighter), Rolls-Royce aircraft engines, equipment for the European concern Airbus Industry; food industry (12.5% of total production); general engineering: production of agricultural machinery and machine tools, including the production of textile machinery (Great Britain is the seventh largest manufacturer of machine tools in the world); electronics and electrical engineering; computers, processors and supercomputers (including manufacturers such as IBM and Compaq); software; telecommunications means (fiber optics, radars, etc.); medical equipment; Appliances. The chemical industry accounts for 11% of total production. These are: pharmaceuticals (Great Britain is the fourth largest drug manufacturer in the world); agrochemistry; perfumery; new materials and biotechnologies. The development of modern industry in Great Britain is determined by the level of development of high technology. Great Britain has the highest scientific and technical potential in Europe. Expenditures on research work amount to over 2% of GDP per year, including over 35% of all research work being financed by the state. Traditionally, textile engineering was important (confined to the old textile regions - Lancashire, Yorkshire). The oldest branch of English industry - textile - has now lost its former importance (the main areas of production of the cotton industry are Lancashire, wool - Yorkshire, knitting - the East Midlands, linen - Northern Ireland). Large food-flavoring industry (production of food concentrates, confectionery and tobacco products, drinks (about 1/5 of the world export of alcoholic beverages, mainly Scotch whiskey and English gin).

Agricultural production is highly intensive and meets half of the country's food needs. In agriculture (1994) 24.8% of the country's territory is used (including over 60% under arable land, 35% under cultivated meadows), pastures occupy 45.9%, under forests 10.4%. Home industry Agriculture- livestock farming. It suffered significant damage in the late 1990s. epidemics of mad cows (sponge encephalitis) and foot and mouth disease. OK. 1/3 of the arable land is occupied by cereals, mainly. wheat and barley. The main agricultural regions are East and South-East England.
The financial services sector generates 25% of the country's GDP. It employs 12% of the country's labor reserves, and London is a global financial center, the financial capital of the planet. Among the financial services, banking activities should be highlighted (in addition to British banks, the 50 largest banks in the world are represented in London), insurance, derivatives market (futures, options, global depositary receipts), bond market (Eurobonds), foreign exchange market (operations with Eurocurrencies), financial leasing, trust transactions with foreign shares, transactions with precious metals. In addition to London, major financial centers are Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Edinburgh. Tourism employs 7% of the working population, and annual income exceeds $8 billion. London is the largest tourist centre peace. A significant portion of GDP comes from education at world-renowned schools and universities.
Currency unit- GBP.

History of Great Britain.
Traces of settlements primitive people found almost everywhere on the British Isles.
Of the pre-Celtic population, the most famous is the Pictish tribe who lived in Scotland. In the 1st millennium BC. e. the Celts came here. The country was named Britain after one of the tribes, the Britons. The first Roman to land here was Julius Caesar, but soon left the island. His successors founded Roman settlements here, but were unable to conquer the entire territory and did not attempt to move north. With the weakening of Rome, the Britons formed their own kingdoms. In the 5th-6th centuries. During the period of the Great Migration, England was conquered by the Anglo-Saxons, who formed several kingdoms here: Mercia, Wessex, Sussex, Kent, Northumbria. They were united by King Alfred the Great (late 9th century). He compiled the first set of general English laws. The Anglo-Saxons faced attacks from the Vikings and, starting from the 9th century, paid them tribute - danegeld. One of the Viking kings, Canute I the Mighty, included England in his empire (2nd half of the 11th century), but after his death the Anglo-Saxons regained their independence. Their last king, Harold II, fell in battle with Duke William of Normandy in 1066. The Norman Conquest united the country, and the formation of the English nation began. In 1212, a revolt of the barons, supported by all classes, forced King John the Landless to sign the Magna Carta. This marked the beginning of the development of the English monarchy as a class monarchy, that is, based on all classes of the country. From the end of the 13th century. Wales passed to the English crown. The Hundred Years' War of 1337–1453 with France led to the loss of the English kings' possessions on the continent. In Scotland, an independent kingdom arose ca. 9th century and often came into confrontation with England. The conquest of Ireland by the English began in the 12th century.

During the War of the Scarlet and White Roses (1455-1485), the old family nobility was largely destroyed in England. The new nobility (gentry) increased their holdings through enclosures (driving peasants off the land) and willingly participated in various types of commercial and industrial enterprises. During the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603), England, having defeated the Spanish fleet, achieved dominance at sea. Elizabeth was replaced by kings from the Scottish Stuart dynasty, Scotland united with England in a personal union (and since 1707 it has been officially united and deprived of independence). English revolution of the 17th century. ended with the establishment of a parliamentary monarchy. The long struggle with France for trade and colonial hegemony ended in the 18th century. British victory; huge possessions were captured in India and North America, the colonization of Australia and New Zealand began. In the 1760s. The industrial revolution began in England. By the middle of the 19th century. it accounted for 1/2 of world production. Scotland and Ireland (the union of 1801 eliminated the remnants of autonomy) developed much more slowly. Throughout the 19th century. Britain expanded its empire, although it lost the United States of America. Vast territories were captured in Burma and South Africa, the capture of India, Cyprus, and Egypt was completed, and wars were waged against China. In 1867, the colonies in Canada were transformed into the 1st Dominion, then Australia and some other colonies became a dominion. Throughout the 19th century. The system “the king reigns but does not rule” finally took shape. The struggle for power since the 17th century. There were two parties - the Tories and the Whigs. From the middle of the 19th century. The Tories became the Conservative Party, and the Whigs became the Liberal Party.

After the First World War, Great Britain received a significant part of the former German possessions in Africa and b. including territories taken from Turkey. Big influence in domestic politics acquired by the Labor (Labor) Party. After World War II, Britain, devastated by bombing, took a back seat to the United States on the international stage. In the 1940-1970s. Almost all British colonies gained independence. The Labor Party pushed aside the Liberal Party and after the Second World War the government was alternately formed by Labor and Conservatives. Under the Conservative government of M. Thatcher, most public sector enterprises were privatized, and a course was taken to reorient the traditional coal-mining regions. Being one of the leading members of the EU since its inception, the UK has pursued an independent policy in relation to other European countries, focusing more on the United States. Traditional English conservatism does not yet allow T. Blair's government to switch to a common European currency, although the country's business circles are striving for this.

A national holiday is the Queen's Birthday (celebrated not on Her Majesty's actual birthday, but by government decision, usually on one of the Saturdays in the first half of June).

The country, located on the British Isles off the northwestern coast of continental Europe, is traditionally called Great Britain, and by the name of its main part, England. Officially, it is called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The UK proper includes three historical and geographical regions: England, Wales and Scotland. The United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland, which occupies the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland. The Irish Republic was proclaimed in 1949.

The British Isles are the largest archipelago in Europe. It includes two big islands- Great Britain and Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, and another 5 thousand small ones, among which three groups of islands in the North stand out: the Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and the Isles of Man, Anglesey and others.

The southern tip of the island of Great Britain is the Cornish peninsula, and the most Northern part archipelago - Shetland Islands. The length of the island of Great Britain from north to south is 966 km, and its greatest width is half that. Situated on the continental shelf, the British Archipelago is separated by the shallow North Sea from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Germany and by the narrow English Channel (the British call it the English Channel) and the Pas de Calais from France.

Since 1993, the tunnel under the English Channel has been in operation. The construction of this tunnel can be considered grandiose for the development of international relations. Suffice it to say that the total length of the tunnel is 49 kilometers, and the length of the galleries laid under the bottom of the strait is 38 kilometers. It takes only three hours to get from London to Paris by train. “Finally, Europe has joined England,” this is what the British say about the Eurotunnel.

All national borders of the United Kingdom are maritime, with the exception of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The coastline, with a total length of more than 10 thousand km, is highly indented. Thanks to the numerous bays and fiords, there is no place on the island that is more than 120 km from the coast.

In terms of area (244 thousand sq. km), Great Britain is 2 times smaller than the largest states in Foreign Europe- France and Spain.

The climate of the British Isles is influenced by the proximity of the ocean and especially the Gulf Stream. Traditional English weather is rain and damp: winter temperatures very rarely drop below zero (average 3-5C). The most severe weather in the mountains of Scotland, Wales and Northern Scotland; in the western part of Great Britain the climate is wetter than in the eastern part due to the prevailing westerly winds Atlantic Ocean. The oceanic nature of the UK climate is reflected in the prevalence of unstable weather with gusty winds and dense fog throughout the year. Winters are very wet and unusually mild, with a sharp temperature anomaly (about 12-15 degrees) compared to mid-latitude values. average temperature the coldest month - January - does not fall below +3.5 degrees even in the extreme northeast of Great Britain, and in the southwest it reaches +5.5 degrees, and plants grow there all year round. Masses of warm sea air coming from the southwest raise winter temperatures, but at the same time bring cloudy and rainy weather with strong winds and storms. When cold air invades from the east and northeast, frosty weather sets in for a long time. Snow falls throughout the country in winter, but very unevenly. In the mountainous regions of Scotland, snow cover lasts at least 1-1.5 months, but in the south of England and especially the southwest, snow falls very rarely and lasts no more than a week. Here the grass is green all year round. The west of Britain typically receives twice as much rainfall in winter as in summer. In the eastern regions, winter is colder and less humid.

Cold air blows in spring north winds, significantly retard the growth of crops in the east of Scotland, and sometimes dry eastern. This time of year is usually the least rainy. Spring in the British Isles is cooler and longer than at the same latitudes on the continent.

In Great Britain, as in other countries with a maritime climate, summers are relatively cool: the average temperature of the warmest month - July - is 1-2 degrees lower than at the same latitudes of the mainland. In the summer months, cyclonic activity decreases, and the distribution of average July temperatures corresponds to the latitudinal zonality: in the southeast of the country +16 degrees, and in the extreme northwest of +12 degrees.

In autumn, cyclonic activity intensifies, the weather becomes cloudy and rainy, sometimes with strong storms, especially in September and October. When warm air is carried to the cooled surface of the islands, fog often occurs on the coasts.

Warm and humid winds blowing from the Atlantic are responsible for the abundance of rain in the western regions of Great Britain. On average, 2000 mm of precipitation falls there annually, while in eastern England, located in the “rainy shadow,” it is only about 600 mm, and in summer in some places even 500 mm. The mountains thus act as a natural barrier, trapping moist air on the western side. Abundant rainfall has a beneficial effect on the growth of many crops, especially wheat and barley. In general, grain crops in the British Isles perform well in drier years, but grasses often burn out then.

Based on this characteristic, Great Britain occupies a rather advantageous economic and geographical position. It is located at the crossroads of shipping routes and occupies a central position on the most important shipping and world trade lines passing through the English Channel and Pas de Calais. This provides England with connections with the whole world and provides great prospects for the development and expansion of markets for its products.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles and lies to the north-west of continental Europe. It is separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover in the south and the North Sea in the east. In everyday speech the term “Great Britain” is often applied to the United Kingdom as a whole.

The British Isles consist of two main islands (Great Britain and Ireland) and a large group of smaller islands. Great Britain is separated from Ireland by the Irish Sea. Historically the territory of Great Britain is divided into 3 parts: England, Scotland and Wales. It doesn't include Northern Ireland. The population of Great Britain is over 60 million people. The total area is 209,000 km 2 (two hundred and nine thousand square kilometers).

The British landscape is very varied. Geographically the island of Great Britain is made up of three main regions: Lowland, Midland and Highland Britain. The Midlands occupy central counties of England. This is a region of valleys and low hills. Lowland Britain covers the territory of eastern and southern England. Highland Britain comprises Scotland, most of Wales, the Pennine Chain and the Lake District in England. Scotland and Wales are the most mountainous parts of Great Britain. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest point (1343 meters). Along the western coast runs the mountain range of Cumberland. The Cheviot Hills mark the boundary between England and Scotland.

The rivers in Great Britain are quite short and most of them flow in the eastward direction. The rivers (the Thames, the Severn, the Tweed, the Trent, the Tyne) never freeze in winter and allow all-year navigation.

Translation

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is located in the British Isles and lies northwest of continental Europe. It is separated from the continent by the English Channel and Pas de Calais in the south and the North Sea in the east. In everyday life, the term "Great Britain" is often applied to the United Kingdom as a whole.

The British Isles consist of two main islands (Great Britain and Ireland) and large group small islands. Great Britain is separated from Ireland by the Irish Sea. Historically, the territory of Great Britain is divided into three parts: England, Scotland and Wales. It does not include Northern Ireland. The population of Great Britain exceeds 60 million people. The total territory is 209,000 sq. km.

The British landscape is very diverse. Geographically, the island of Great Britain consists of three main areas: lowlands, midlands and highlands of Britain. The middle zone occupies the central counties of England. This is an area with valleys and low hills. The British Lowlands cover eastern and southern England. The British Highlands consist of Scotland, most of Wales, the Pennines and the Lake District in England. Scotland and Wales are the most mountainous parts of the UK. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the most high point(1343 meters). Along the western coast lies Mountain chain Cumberland. The Cheviot Hills mark the border between England and Scotland.

In everyday speech the term “Great Britain” is often applied to the United Kingdom as a whole.

The total area is 209,000 km2 (two hundred and nine thousand square kilometers).

The British landscape is very varied. Geographically the island of Great Britain is made up of three main regions: Lowland, Midland and Highland Britain.

The Midlands occupy central counties of England. This is a region of valleys and low hills. Lowland Britain covers the territory of eastern and southern England. Highland Britain comprises Scotland, most of Wales, the Pennine Chain and the Lake District in England.

Scotland and Wales are the most mountainous parts of Great Britain. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest point (1343 meters). Along the western coast runs the mountain range of Cumberland. The Cheviot Hills mark the boundary between England and Scotland.

Translation

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is located in the British Isles and lies northwest of continental Europe.

It is separated from the continent by the English Channel and Pas de Calais in the south and the North Sea in the east. In everyday life, the term "Great Britain" is often applied to the United Kingdom as a whole.

The British Isles consist of two main islands (Great Britain and Ireland) and a large group of small islands. Great Britain is separated from Ireland by the Irish Sea. Historically, the territory of Great Britain is divided into three parts: England, Scotland and Wales.

It does not include Northern Ireland. The population of Great Britain exceeds 60 million people. The total territory is 209,000 sq. km.

Scotland and Wales are the most mountainous parts of the UK. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest point (1343 meters). The Cumberland Mountain range runs along the western coast. The Cheviot Hills mark the border between England and Scotland.

The rivers of Great Britain are quite short, and most of them flow in an easterly direction.

The rivers (Thames, Severn, Tweed, Trent, Tyne) never freeze in winter and allow year-round navigation.

Topic “Geographical position of Great Britain” - 5.0 out of 5 based on 9 votes

Great Britain- This Island state in northwestern Europe. It occupies the island of Great Britain, part of the island of Ireland and a number of smaller islands (Man, White, Channel, Orkney, Hebrides, Shetland and others). Great Britain consists of 4 historical and geographical regions: England, Scotland and Wales, located on the island of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland.

The total area of the country is 244.9 thousand square meters. km. Great Britain shares a land border with only one country: Ireland. In the north and west the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the east and south by the North Sea and the narrow straits of the English Channel and Pas de Calais.

The entire coast is dotted with bays, bays, deltas and peninsulas, so most of Great Britain is located no more than 120 km from the sea.

Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Northern England are dominated by medium-height mountains and hills with deeply incised river valleys. The highest point of the country is in Scotland - Mount Ben Nevis with a height of 1343 m. The south-eastern and central parts of Great Britain are occupied by elevated plains and heaths.

In these areas, only a few places reach 300 m above sea level.

Great Britain has a dense network of rivers. In England and Wales the main rivers are the Tyne, Trent, Humber, Severn and Thames, in Scotland the Clyde, Forth and Tweed, in Northern Ireland the Bann and Logan. All of them are short, deep and non-freezing in winter. There are many lakes in the mountains, mostly of glacial origin.

ENGLAND FEATURES OF GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION England occupies two

The largest of them are Loch Neagh, Loch Lomond and Loch Ness.

Nature conservation in Great Britain is carried out by a system national parks, national natural and forest reserves and reserves for the protection of waterfowl, occupying about 7% of the country's territory. The uniqueness of British national parks is that these are not “wilderness” areas, but areas quite close to large cities, more like huge city parks or botanical gardens.

The largest national parks are the Lake District and Snowdonia, Dartmoor and Brecon Beacons.

UK photo gallery

Official name of the country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital of Great Britain- G.

The geographical position of Great Britain

London. Great Britain is located in the northwestern part of Europe, occupying the island of Great Britain, the northern part of the island of Ireland, and many small islands.

The island of Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales. UK area is 244,100 km2, of which 241,590 km2 is occupied by land. Almost the entire coastline of the Island of Great Britain is heavily indented, forming natural harbors for ships.

In the north and west, Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, in the east by the North Sea, in the west by the Irish Sea, and in the south by the English Channel.

The bulk of Great Britain consists of plains and lowlands.

The relief of the northern and western parts of the island consists mainly of mountains. The middle part of England is occupied by the Pennines, separating the Yorkshire and Lancashire lowlands. Highest mountain in Great Britain– Mount Ben Nevis with a height of 1343 meters, located in Scotland.

The most long river Great Britain is the Severn, 338 km long, it rises in the Welsh mountains and flows into Bristol Bay.

The River Thames, which flows through densely populated areas, is just a couple of kilometers behind in length.

Great Britain is divided into 4 administrative and political parts:

England (39 counties). Capital London;
Wales (8 counties). Capital: Cardiff;
Scotland (9 districts). Capital: Edinburgh;
Northern Ireland (26 counties). The capital is Belfast.

Country: UK

Topics: Geographical location

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description

Scotland is integral part United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Although Scotland was never an autonomous or federal unit of the United Kingdom and is no longer a kingdom, it is not only a geographical or administrative territory.

Scotland can be considered as a separate state. The Scots protect their national identity and maintain many institutions that are not found in England and other English-speaking countries.
Scotland was founded in 843, uniting the cattle kingdom of Dal Riyadh and the Kingdom of the Picts.

The first king of Scotland, Kenneth, reigned from 844 to 859. In 1707, according to Akt Unije, Scotland and England became the United Kingdom of Great Britain, with one parliament and central government.
In 1999, the Scottish Parliament was restored.

Geographical position

The territory of the Scottish Scottish Territory includes the northern third of the island of Great Britain and neighboring islands- Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands.

Scotland has an area of 78,772 km² and a coastline of 9,911 km. In the south it borders with England. The length of the border from the River Tweed in the west to the Solway Firth in the east is approximately 96 km. 30 km southwest of the coast is the island of Ireland, 400 km northeast - Norway, north of Scotland - Faroe islands and Iceland.
The west coast of Scotland is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and East Coast- The North Sea.

Western and eastern sea in Scotland connect the Caledonian Canal, of which Loch Ness

climate

The Scottish climate is characterized by the sea. The average temperature in January is approx.

4°C, July - 14°C. Between open west coast and the more sheltered east there are differences, characterized by colder winters and warmer summers. There is still a lot of rain in the west. The average annual rate for all of Scotland is 1300 mm per annum, rising to 3800 mm on some exposed western slopes.

equity

Edinburgh

population

Although the occupied territory (78,772 sq. km.

km). Scotland is more than half the area of England and Wales (151,126,000 sq km) and its population in 1991 was only 4,989,000. people in 49,890 thousand people. in England and Wales. In the 20th century. Scotland has seen a significant change in population distribution, with increased immigration into towns and cities, where 9 in 10 of Scotland now live.

In the mountains and islands, the population density does not exceed 12 people per 1 sq. km. However, the current centers of population growth are not large cities, but also suburban areas.

time

The time difference with Moscow is 2 hours

language

Currently, the United Kingdom has no official national language, and Scotland uses three languages: English (actually the primary language), Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish (Scots).

The languages of Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish were officially recognized in 1992 by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which the United Kingdom government ratified in 2001.

religion

Most members of the National Church of Scotland, called the Church of Scotland, are organized according to a type of presbytery.

About 16% of Scotland's population is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

nature

The character of the Scottish people and their way of life were largely determined by the influence of the environment: for the dominance of the mountains and hills, only 1/5 of the territory was suitable for cultivation. In the south the southern Scottish Highland border is found on almost all sides by the coastal valley and river valleys.
Rocky hills and moors are widespread in Scotland, and in the mountain and central regions mountains dominate.

The highest point - Mount Ben Nevis in the Grampian Mountains - reaches only 1343 m, some other peaks rise above 1200 m. However, this is approx. 300 peaks exceeding 900 m and many mountains create an impressive impression that rises almost from the seashore.
The Scottish coast is highly fragmented. In the west, bays with a similar fjord are deeply immersed in the central part mountainous country. Just off the coast of Scotland there is approx. 500 islands grouped in an archipelago.

The most important of these is the Hebrides, which includes large islands such as Lewis and Nebo, along with grassy cliffs suitable for some sheep grazing (1,990 sq km) (1,417 sq km). The northern archipelagos are Orkney and Shetland - fourteen islands of varying sizes.

Transport services

Currently, vehicular traffic is of paramount importance. Many railways were dismantled and steamships were cancelled.

Air traffic plays a lesser role, being maintained only between the UK and some islands, but its development is hampered by fog and strong winds.

money
GBP

economy

Most of Scotland's industries and commerce are concentrated in a few large towns along the rivers of the central Lowlands.

Edinburgh, in the Firth of Forth, is a cultural center, the administrative capital of Scotland and a center of paper production. Glasgow, one of largest cities United Kingdom, located on the River Clyde; it is Scotland's leading port and shipbuilding centre, with many light industrial activities in the city. Tourism is also a very important component of Scotland's economy.
The value of the coal industry, which had been the backbone of Scotland's century, diminished.

However, in the 1970s oil played an important role in Scotland's economy with the rise of oil companies in the North Sea. There are many natural gas reserves in the North Sea. Aberdeen is the center of the oil industry. Other important industries are textile production (wool, silk and linen), distillation and fishing. Textiles, beer and whiskey are the mainstay of Scottish exports, produced in many cities.

Only about a quarter of Scotland's soil is used for agricultural purposes (mainly grains and vegetables), and sheep farming is an important activity in the Highlands.

kitchen

The tradition of Scottish cuisine has been constantly changing over time. In addition, changes in Scottish cuisine were affected in Europe and Scandinavia.

Geographical location and climatic conditions greatly influenced the development of local cookery and the definition of staple foods and their place in the Scottish diet. The state is divided into two regions: Highlands in the north and west, lowlands in the south and east. Each of these regions has its own language and culture. Highlanders in Scotland have long been involved in livestock farming, which has influenced the cuisines of the region.

At the same time, the Lowland is the main agricultural region of the country. Since the agricultural revolution in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, specialized agricultural areas have emerged in the region.

The eastern region is predominantly grain.
Cereals were central to Scottish cuisine, especially rural areas. Barley, or barley, was a traditional grain crop. By the end of the seventeenth century, this cereal was rapidly being boosted by oats.
The traditional Scottish drink was beer, especially in the Lowlands; IN high mountains whiskey was distilled and illegally.

Hot drinks were the privilege of rich people; Chai tea became an increasingly common ritual before 1790, although after some time it became a drink for special occasions among lower social classes.

culture

In Scotland, education has long been under the control of the church.

In the Middle Ages, cathedrals or other places of worship were created by schools led by city councils.

The church then established three universities in Scotland - St. Andrews (1410), Glasgow (1451) and Aberdeen (1494). The University of Edinburgh was founded shortly after the Reformation (1583); Four universities were added in the sixties - Strathclyde in Glasgow, Heriot-Watt in Edinburgh, Dundee and Stirling. Several Acts of Parliament from the 17th century. he called for the establishment of schools in every parish, but in remote areas this idea was carried out without much precision.

In the 18th - early 19th centuries. In addition to the parish system, schools were established by voluntary societies until educational institutions were covered throughout the country. In 1872, the old order replaced the state system, and school education has become mandatory. Scottish tradition did not favor the establishment of private schools under the direction of school boards, but schools in the country were very diverse by the end of the nineteenth century.

Cities in Scotland:

Black Citadel of Douglas
Thrave Island may have been home to the ancient rulers of Gelowea, but the modern castle was built in the late 1300s by a strong local aristocracy, Archibald Douglas, known as "Archibald the Dark",

Archibald's father, Sir James Douglas, was ordered to create the heart of Robert the Bruce in Jerusalem, but he was killed in Spain fighting the Moors (and Bruce's heart returned to Scotland and was buried in Melorus Abbey).

He also defeated the unruly leaders of the Galloway clans when they joined the British. His cousin, William Douglas, did the same in 1353. For Scotland's faithful service to Robert the Bruce's son, King David II, the earldom became the heritage of the Douglas family, and the heart became the main coat of arms of Douglas. Threave became Archibald's fort in his new position as third Earl of Douglas, Lord of Galloway and the Borderers (that is, the western frontier).
Archibald died in Trivia in 1400.

He was followed by his sons, including Archibald, who married Princess Margaret, daughter of Robert III. Her husband was killed in a loyal battle fought against the French side against the English in 1424. She died in 1450 and was buried in Lynchwood Church Cathedral near Dumfries.
King James II was six years old when he was crowned in 1437.

Archibald, 5. Earl of Douglas, was named regent. When he died two years later, two aristocrats, Sir Alexander Livingstone and Sir William Crichton, were fighting for the city of Douglas.

United Kingdom

They invited the new Earl of Douglas, who was only 16 years old, to eat with his brother and friend at Edinburgh Castle. At the end of the meal, the heads of black bulls were brought to the table, which was a sign of murderers, and all three were killed.
James was outraged by Douglas's power. In 1452 he invited William, 8th Earl, to Stirling to discuss his relationship.

During the meeting, twelve-year-old James pulled the bar and hit William. His castles were annexed and William was killed. Immediately Earl took up the weapon, which declared the king a murderer and a criminal. He was ruled by James of Parliament "The earl was to blame for his death, who resisted the king's faith"
Douglas was defeated at Orkinholm near Langholm and the ninth earl was expelled. James began to systematically destroy all of Douglas's Pogues, which ended with a two-month siege of Threave Castle in the summer of 1455.

James was personally present at the Coast Trive. Although his main residence was at nearby Tongland Abbey, he was given a local tent near Thrive Castle. But despite heavy bombardment, including shots from the new cannon, it was handed over to the great armies of the James's armies only after he had promised the garrison commander various payments and immunities.

Cheese Alexander Boyd Drumcoll was named in charge and the castle remained in the crown until the lord of Kirlewick Castle was given the place and then the town of Thrive was abandoned in 1640.

At that time, the dock on the coast was raised to accommodate huge guns, which were probably being prepared for a siege of obligations.

Even the forces could not take Trivia by force, but nevertheless the castle was finally surrendered and then "neglected" by them, meaning that it became inadequate for habitation.
Today the castle is a reminder of four hundred years of turbulent times in Scottish history. It has probably not changed much since then around the marshy landscape, river and forest, although the water level in the river has decreased somewhat and the island now has a larger area than before.

In winter it is practically inaccessible. The town of Threave is responsible for the organization of Historic Scotland and is open to visitors in the summer.

It is located approximately 1 mile west of Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrighthir, in southwest Scotland.

City of Urquhart. Loch Ness
Urquhart Castle stands on the rocky northern coast of Loch Ness.

People lived on the shores of Loch Ness 4,000 years ago. At nearby Cornima there is a burial cairn that dates back to 2000 BC. N. No. Although some evidence of a fortress on this site has been discovered by archaeologists and dates back to the Iron Age, it remains from the time of the Picts.

The first written sources mentioning the castle date back to the beginning of the century.
Loch Ness is located next to what is known as the Glen Sea, a 60-mile-long crevasse that was lined by glaciers during the last Ice Age.

Loch Ness alone is over 700 feet deep, and the surrounding hills are about the same height. The north-eastern end of the area around Loch Ness is the flat and fertile Moray Valley.
In 1228, the people of Moray opposed the author, King Alexander II (1198 - 1249).

By 1230 he had rejected the rebellion and, like conquerors often, rose to the head of his nobles, who were loyal to him, to be in charge of the situation in the region.

She gave her son-in-law Alan Durwadd Castle Uquart, and there is no doubt that the modern castle dates back to the Middle Ages. On his death in 1275 the castle passed to John Comyn, named Edward I of England. After a series of defeats John Bolio (1250-1296) abandoned his position, most of Scotland and many of its castles, including Urquhart, were under British control. It was at this time that the stone of destiny was moved from Scone to London (the stone has now returned to Scotland) and also at the time that William Wallis began his campaign against the English government when he killed the English sheriff at Lanark.
In 1297, Andrew Moray attacked the castle, but Sir Alexander Forbes later won the castle in Scotland.

But in 1303 Edward took the castle again, but it was soon destroyed by Robert the Bruce, who reigned as King of Scotland in 1306.
By 1346 the cast property had passed from the County of the Seas back to the Scottish Crown and it appears that many of the buildings were built with Crown money and renovations were completed at this time.

In the late thirties and early 1400s the town of Urquhart fell again to Clan MacDonald, the House of Lords of the Isles returned the town and their lands back to the Crown.
The only consequence was suffering and destruction ordinary people, living in the Glen Sea. Finally, Macdonald's power was suspended, and for about 35 years the owners of Friuja took care of the castle on behalf of the Gordon clan.

Macdonald soon returned; in the 1500s he raised the castle twice and again left the ordinary people of the Glen in poverty and destroyed the farm. By the eighteenth century Grant had left it for the men of the Glen. Those walls that had been there for so long were the cause of people's suffering, now they became a symbol of comfort as people tore down the wall and removed the castle stones to build their own houses.
Finally, in 1689, when the last Stuart king was exiled, James II of England (James VII of Scotland), Captain Grant and 300 Highland leaders led a force of James's followers.

In 1692 the garrison left the ruins. The castle was not repaired and about 25 years later it was reported that "Wind storms destroyed the southwestern part of the castle and the main tower."

Hermitage Castle
Although a castle has existed on the site since at least the 13th century, the central part, probably built under master builder John Levine of Duram, dates back to the late 1300s.
One of her first castle owners, the Evil Baron de Solis, was convinced of the sanctity of the castle walls.

Fortunately for local residents, the clever wizard Thomas Ersildun developed a special dog with which the brutal baron was brutally killed. In the 15th century, the English and Scots fought over ownership of the castle, and an additional castle was built around the castle castle until 1540. By then the castle was in the hands of the Scottish crown, although its owner was Patrick Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, suspected of having secret business dealings with the English.
This cool and impressive fortress, located along the beautiful waters of the Hermitage and surrounded by open diversity, is controlled by historical Scotland and is open to visitors during the following periods:
from April 1 to September 30: on weekdays from 9.30 to 18.30 on Sundays, from 14.00 to 18.30.

If you decide to visit the castle outside of the season, that is; In winter, for example, the only thing you can't see is the interior of the ruined castle, but you can walk along the outer wall and enjoy the extraordinary atmosphere of the castle and its surroundings.

Great Britain located in northwestern Europe, in the British Isles. It occupies the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and part of the island of Ireland, as well as independent administrative units - the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

Total area of the country: 244.1 thousand km²
Length coastline : more than 10 thousand

km
Political system: a constitutional monarchy
Capital: London
Population: 60 million

Human
Language: Official language- English. The use of 'national' languages is preserved in the province.
Religion: About 70% of the population professes Anglicanism, 16% is Catholic, 2% is Muslim.
Currency unit: GBP/GBP (1 GBP = 100 pence)
Time: 3 hours behind Moscow

Geographical location and nature.

The territory of the United Kingdom is divided into two main areas based on relief features.

The Highlands of Britain (including Northern Ireland), located in the north and west of the country, are underlain by resistant ancient bedrock and consist mostly of highly dissected uplands and much less widespread lowlands. To the south and east lies Low Britain, characterized by rolling terrain, low elevations and several mountainous areas; younger sedimentary rocks lie at its base.

The border between High and Low Britain runs approximately in a south-westerly direction from Newcastle at the mouth of the Tyne to Exeter at the mouth of the Aix in south Devon.

This boundary is not always clearly defined, and often the transitions between High and Low Britain are smoothed out. In general, the country's topography is so diverse that, driving in one direction for more than an hour, you cross several different landscapes.

Climate.

The climate in Great Britain is temperate oceanic. The western part of Great Britain has a wetter climate than the eastern part due to the prevailing westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountains of Scotland, Wales and Northern Scotland experience harsher weather conditions.

The oceanic nature of the country's climate is reflected in the prevalence of unstable weather with gusty winds and dense fogs throughout the year.

It is no coincidence that Great Britain is called “Foggy Albion”. The warm Gulf Stream has a great influence, so British winters are very wet and mild, with temperatures rarely falling below zero.

The coldest month is January (from +2°C to +7°C), the warmest month is July (from +11°C to +17°C). The weather is very changeable, so even in summer it is necessary to carry light woolen clothes with you in case of cool weather.

Population.

The majority of residents are English (81.5%), Scots - 9.6%, Irish - 2.4%, Welsh - 1.9%, Indians, Pakistanis, Arabs, Chinese, and Africans also live in the country.

State structure.

Full name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (abbreviated Great Britain).

The political system is a constitutional monarchy. The United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland - a total of 47 counties, 7 capital districts, 26 districts, 9 regions and 3 islands. England consists of 39 counties, 7 capital districts, Scotland - of 9 regions and 3 islands, Wales - of 8 districts, Northern Ireland - of 26 districts. In addition, the country includes dependent territories: the island of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Territory Indian Ocean, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Montserrat Island, Pitcairn Islands, St.

Helena, Terke and Caicos Islands, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

The UK does not have a constitution; the fundamental law is replaced by parliamentary legislative acts adopted by a bicameral parliament, which consists of the House of Lords (upper house) and the House of Commons (lower house).

The national holiday (Queen's Birthday) is celebrated on the second Saturday of June. The head of state is the Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Real executive power belongs to the Prime Minister, who forms the Cabinet of Ministers.

Transport communications.

Public transport in London is quite well developed - you can get to any point in the city by underground, famous double-decker buses, express buses (green) or minibuses.

The cost of travel on all types of transport depends on the distance. In the metro, tickets are checked at the exit. It is profitable to buy a daily or weekly ticket (a photograph is required for a weekly ticket). In addition to the main subway, there is another small private line - the Docklands Light Railway. Single tickets On this line there are your own, but citywide passes are valid everywhere.

Travel cards `travelcard` are valid for almost all buses, metro and trains within the city. `Travelcard` is not valid on buses that take passengers to Heathrow airport and on overnight services, but weekly passes are valid there. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the fact that some passes are valid only after 9.30 am. There are two types of taxis. The famous 'black cabs' are relatively expensive. They operate on a meter basis: $3 for landing and $1.2 for 1 kilometer of travel.

Cheaper cars are called `minicab` (they can take not 5 passengers, like real `cabs`, but only 4). They only accept orders by phone and operate without meters, so it’s worth inquiring about the tariff in advance.

Currency exchange.

Widely used credit cards and traveler's checks from the world's leading payment systems. Automated teller machines (ATMs) are very widespread, but the unreliability of street ATMs has already become a proverb - cases of erroneous blocking of credit cards are quite common, and the operation of unblocking an account is quite lengthy, so it is recommended to use ATMs in institutions.

You can change money at any bank branch (commission 0.5-1%), in the evening - at exchange offices of large department stores and at some travel agencies.

At airports, exchange offices operate 24 hours a day. A passport is required to exchange cash.

Banks are open from 9.00 to 15.30 without breaks on weekdays. Weekends are Saturday and Sunday. Large banks may be open an extra hour and are usually open on Saturday. The highest exchange rate is with American Express banks, which does not charge any foreign exchange fees.

Commission fees in other banks, as a rule, range from 0.5 to 1%; You must have your passport with you. There is also a good rate at street exchange offices, especially in places where they are concentrated (for example, near Padington station).

Story.

Inhabited by Celtic tribes, what is now Britain became the Roman colony of Britannia in 43 AD under Emperor Claudius. Started at the end of the 3rd century. raids on Britain by Scandinavian tribes, and then by Germanic ones - the Angles and Saxons - put an end to Roman rule in 411.

Having displaced the Celts to the west of the country, the Angles and Saxons formed during the 5th-9th centuries. seven kingdoms that adopted Christianity from the 6th to the 8th century.

In the 9th century Britain began to be subject to raids by the Vikings, who gradually subjugated all the Saxon kingdoms except Wessex, which became the first English kingdom.

The Saxon king Edward restored the influence of the Saxon dynasty, but the Saxon troops led by his son Harold were defeated at Hastings in 1066 by the Norman commander William the Conqueror.

The Normans had a huge impact on the life of English society, which underwent a serious reorganization - administrative, legal, financial, in addition, French, spoken by the Norman conquerors, left a serious imprint on Saxon culture.

William's descendant Henry I, who became king of England in 1154, founded the Plantagenet dynasty.

The dispute between the English and French kings over lands on the continent led to the Hundred Years' War between England and France (1330-1435). Defeat in the war and the weakness of King Henry VI led in 1455 to a civil war known as the War of the Roses, which ended in 1485 with the victory of Henry Tudor (Henry VII). During the reign of the last representative of the Tudor dynasty, Elizabeth I, England achieved unprecedented prosperity, becoming a powerful maritime power.

James VI of the Scottish Stuart dynasty became King of England. In 1649, a civil war broke out in England, dividing the country into supporters of the king and parliament and ending in 1649 with the proclamation of a republic led by Oliver Cromwell. The monarchy was restored in 1660, when the son of Charles I, Charles II, ascended the English throne.

In 1707, the Act of Union of England and Scotland was signed, which led to the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain with a common parliament, which played an increasingly important role in the life of the country.

At the end of the 17th century.

In England, political parties were formed - the Tories and the Whigs (which in the 19th century were transformed, respectively, into the Conservative and Labor parties). After the death of Anne Stuart, Elector of Hanover George (George I) was invited from Germany to the English throne. In 1783, Great Britain lost part of its colonies in North America (US War of Independence).

Ireland became part of the United Kingdom. After the defeat of Napoleon's army at the Battle of Waterloo, Great Britain became one of the leading European powers. The Victorian era, named after Queen Victoria (1837-1901), was characterized by the expansion of British colonial possessions (India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) and carrying out deep reforms (governance, law, education, army) within the country.

After the end of the First World War, the Irish question again became acute in the country. After Ireland declared independence in 1921, only the northern part of the island remained within the Kingdom. Great Britain entered the war against Nazi Germany in September 1939, becoming one of the main participants in the anti-Hitler coalition.

W. Churchill, who showed himself to be an outstanding politician during the Second World War, lost in the 1945 elections to the representative of the Labor Party, K. Attlee. IN

50s and 60s almost all of Great Britain's colonies became independent states, some of them remained in the British Commonwealth formed in 1931.

One of the most prominent politicians in Great Britain in the post-war years was M. Thatcher (Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1979-1990), who defeated the trade unions, which declared a general strike in 1979, and sent in 1982.

troops to Falkland Islands that Argentina intended to occupy. The conflict in Northern Ireland between Catholics and Protestants remains a serious political problem for the British government. After many years of armed clashes between warring parties in the 90s. The process of negotiations has begun, but the British and Irish governments are prevented from reaching an agreement by the periodic resumption of terrorist activities of the Irish Republican Army.

Attractions.

LONDON. Tower, Buckingham Palace, the world famous Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, the patron saint of London, the Gothic Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and the cathedral with the chapel of Henry VII, the National Gallery and the British Museum, the Transport Museum in Covent Garden, the Victoria and Albert Museum of Decorative Arts, the Tate Gallery and the Courtauld Institute - the largest collections of painting and sculpture.

London's parks are magnificent: the most famous of the royal parks is Hyde Park, the oldest is St. James's Park and one of the most elegant is Regent's Park, located next to Madame Tussauds.

LINCOLN. The city with the oldest fortress in England.

BAT. The city with the Roman baths located there.

CHESTER. A city founded by the Romans 2000 years ago.

YORK. One of the most beautiful medieval cities in England with a magnificent Minster Cathedral, mountainous region The Lake District with picturesque lakes and medieval villages, transformed into a colorful national park, the legendary Stonehenge (dated to approximately 3100 B.C.)

What is the difference between England and Great Britain?

Lake District in Lancashire, national parks and stalactite caves of Dun yr Igof, etc.

SCOTLAND. Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow, Snowdonia National Nature Museum with Bryn Bras Castle and a park with waterfalls.

The place called the Vale of Neath, near National Park Brecon Beacons. Loch Ness Monster Museum.

WALES. Harlech Castle, rising on a cliff in the center of Wales, Conwy Castle, Bowmaris Castle on the island.

Anglesey and the impressive Caernarfon Castle, Castell Coch Castle with a working drawbridge, the 12th century cathedral. in the town of St. David's, where the relics of St. David, the patron saint of Wales, are kept.

Kitchen.

English cuisine is characterized by fairly conservative cooking with virtually no use of sauces or hot spices.

Fish and vegetable dishes, as well as various types of fried meat, are very popular. The national drink is tea, usually drunk with milk and sugar. Welsh (Welsh) and Scottish cuisines are somewhat different from English - more “bright” and spicy. It is highly recommended to try lamb chops with lemon, coriander, yogurt and mint sauce, the famous British steaks and steaks, a variety of smoked fish, hot buttered pancakes and scones and, of course, countless types of puddings.

Muffins, biscuits, cookies and saffron buns are especially good.

Spirits are also quite traditional - beer, whiskey and gin of all kinds, as well as the famous ale and cider.

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