Geographical location of Great Britain.

GREAT BRITAIN (Great britain), Britain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland(United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), a state in northwestern Europe, in the British Isles (the largest is UK island), the northeastern part of the island of Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands and other small islands. It is separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Pas-de-Calais. The area is 244.11 thousand km2. Population 60.1 million (2003). Capital London.

Major cities and metropolitan areas: Greater London, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Bradford, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol.

Great Britain nature. 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. Coastline strongly dissected by bays (fjords in the north and estuaries in the south), forms the significant peninsulas of Wales and Cornwall. There are also significant geographic differences between the four historical regions. Scotland and Northern England mountainous and geographically represents High Britain - the Scottish Highlands (Ben Nevis, 1343 m, the highest point of Great Britain), the South Scottish Uplands, the Pennine and Cambrian Mountains, the Lake District in the northwest of England. Smoothed plateau-like peaks, gentle turf slopes are characteristic, glacial relief forms are preserved in the north. From High Britain, Low is separated by a conditional line that runs southwestward from Newcastle at the mouth of the river. Tyne to Exeter at the mouth of the river. Aix in the south of Devon. In the south and southeast of Low Britain there are hilly 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 summers (influenced by the Gulf Stream). Average temperatures in January are 3-7 ° С, in July 11-17 ° С. 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 one. A dense network of deep rivers (Thames, Severn, etc.), many of which are connected by channels, often outdated. There are many lakes in Scotland and Ireland (Loch Ness, Loch Lomond in Scotland, etc., Loch Ney in Northern Ireland). The mountains are dominated by peat bogs, moorlands, used as pastures 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.).

Economy of Great Britain. 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 British economy: the public sector has been reduced; 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 the total volume of industrial production, Great Britain occupied the 5th place in the world (after the USA, Japan, Germany, and France). GNP per capita $ 24,500 (2000). In terms of energy reserves, it ranks 1st in Europe, being a major producer of oil and gas (production is carried out on the shelf of the North Sea using the most advanced methods on platforms; about 1/3 of the proven reserves in Europe are concentrated in the British sector) and coal. Oil production 124 million tons in 1996 (the main fields Brent, Fortis), gas 89.9 billion m3 (17 fields are exploited, the largest are Lehman-Benk, Brent, Morcam). British Petroleum and the Anglo-Dutch company Royal Dutch / Shell are among the leaders in their market segment. Historically very important coal mining has been steadily declining. In the manufacturing industry, priority is given to such industries as transport engineering (12.4% of total industrial production), including the automotive industry (national companies and branches of foreign companies Rover, Ford, Jaguar, Vauxhall, Pegeout-Talbot, Honda, Nissan, Toyota); shipbuilding; aerospace industry - the third 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 mechanical engineering: production of agricultural machinery and machine tools, including the production of textile machinery (Great Britain is the world's 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; telecommunication facilities (fiber optics, radars, etc.); medical equipment; Appliances. The chemical industry provides 11% of the total production. These are: pharmaceuticals (Great Britain is the fourth largest drug manufacturer in the world); agrochemistry; perfumery; new materials and biotechnology. The development of modern industry in Great Britain is determined by the level of development of high technologies. Great Britain has the highest scientific and technological potential in Europe. Research expenditures account for over 2% of GDP per year, including over 35% of all research projects funded by the state. Textile engineering was traditionally important (confined to the old textile regions - Lancashire, Yorkshire). The oldest branch of the British industry - textile - has now lost its former importance (the main areas of production of the cotton industry - Lancashire, wool - Yorkshire, knitwear - East Midlands, linen - Northern Ireland). Large food flavoring industry (production of food concentrates, confectionery and tobacco products, beverages (about 1/5 of world exports of alcoholic beverages, mainly Scotch whiskey and English gin).

Agricultural production is highly intensive, half of the country's food needs. Agriculture uses (1994) 24.8% of the country's territory (including over 60% - under arable land, 35% - cultivated meadows), pastures occupy 45.9%, under forest 10.4%. The main branch of agriculture is animal husbandry. It suffered significant damage in the late 1990s. epidemics of cow rabies (spongiform encephalitis) and foot and mouth disease. OK. 1/3 of the arable land is occupied by grain, mainly. wheat and barley. The main agricultural regions are East and South-East England.
25% of the country's GDP is created by the financial services sector. It employs 12% of the country's labor reserves, and London is the world's financial center, the financial capital of the planet. Among financial services, banking activities should be highlighted (except for British banks, the 50 largest banks in the world are represented in London), insurance, the market for financial derivatives (futures, options, global depository receipts), the bond market (Eurobonds), the foreign exchange market (operations with Euro currencies), financial leasing, trust operations with foreign shares, operations with precious metals. Besides London, major financial centers are Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool, Edinburgh. Tourism employs 7% of the working-age population, and the annual income exceeds $ 8 billion. London is the largest tourist centre the world. A significant part of the GDP comes from education in world renowned schools and universities.
The monetary unit is the pound sterling.

History of Great Britain.

Traces of settlements of primitive people are found almost everywhere in 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. By the name of one of the tribes, the Britons, the country was named Britain. The first of the Romans to land here was Julius Caesar, but soon left the island. His successors founded Roman settlements here, but they could not conquer the entire territory and did not try to advance north. With the weakening of Rome, the Britons formed their own kingdoms. In the 5-6 centuries. during 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 tribute to them - Danegeld. One of the Viking kings, Knud I the Mighty, incorporated England into 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 barons, supported by all estates, forced King John Lackland 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 possessions of the English kings on the continent. In Scotland, an independent kingdom arose approx. 9 c. and often came into confrontation with England. The conquest of Ireland by the British began in the 12th century.

During the War of the Scarlet and White Rose (1455-1485) in England, the old nobility was largely destroyed. The new nobility (gentry) increased their holdings by fencing (driving the peasants from the land), willingly participated in all sorts of trade 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 dynasty of the Stuarts, Scotland united with England in a personal union (and from 1707 it was officially united and deprived of independence). English Revolution of the 17th century. ended with the establishment of a parliamentary monarchy. The long struggle for trade and colonial hegemony with France ended in the 18th century. victory for Great Britain; huge possessions in India were seized and North America, colonization of Australia and New Zealand began. In the 1760s. an 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. Large areas of Burma were captured and South Africa, the seizure of India, Cyprus, Egypt was completed, wars were fought against China. In 1867, the colonies in Canada were transformed into the 1st dominion, then Australia and some other colonies became 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. led by two parties - the Tories and the Whigs. From the middle of the 19th century. the Tories became the Conservative Party, and the Whigs the Liberals.

After World War I, Great Britain gained a significant portion of the former Germanic possession in Africa and b. including territories taken from Turkey. Big influence in domestic politics was acquired by the Labor (workers') party. After World War II, bombed-out Britain in the international arena faded into the background compared to the United States. In the 1940-1970s. almost all British colonies gained independence. The Labor Party pushed aside the Liberal Party, and after World War II, 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. As one of the leading members of the EU since its inception, the UK has been pursuing an independent policy in relation to other European countries, focusing more on the United States. Traditional British 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.

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

England is not an independent state. It is a large administrative and political part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The largest cities in England are Sheffield, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. Also, its territory includes the capital of Great Britain, London.

Geographic characteristics

England is located on the island of Great Britain and occupies 2/3 of its territory. Its area is 130 395 square kilometers. The neighbors of the administrative part of the country are Scotland and Wales.

The total population of England is 53 million. This is 84% ​​of all UK residents. Of all ethnic composition England 76% are native Englishmen.

Nature

Rivers and lakes

The Severin River is considered the largest river in England. The length of its channel on the territory of the administrative part of Great Britain is 350 km. The source of the river is located in Wales. There are several beautiful waterfalls which are tourist attractions.

In the northern part of England, the Tees River flows into the North Sea. It separates the historic counties of Yorkshire and Sarin in England. Another large river in England is the Aix. It has several large tributaries and flows into the English Channel. At one time, the river was of great economic importance.

The lakes of England are especially picturesque. Alswater is formed by the movement of a glacier. Lake Windermere is one of the largest. On its territory of 15 square kilometers, there are several groups of islands ...

Seas washing England

The shores of England are washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the seas belonging to its basin, namely, the Irish and North Seas. The distance from England to mainland Europe is 34 km. It is separated from France by a couple of straits: the Pas-de-Calais and the English Channel.

This situation causes direct access to any world routes and has a direct impact on the country's economy. In the coastal regions of England, passenger and cargo ports are equipped ...

Plants and animals of England

The flora of England is represented mainly by shrubs: wild rose, hawthorn, honeysuckle, heather and many others. Common herbs include clover, foxglove, buttercup, geranium. Cereals grow in England, and in swampy areas you can find ferns, reeds, sedges, and more.

As a result of human activity, many animals on the territory of modern England became extinct. In the present, you can find squirrels, rabbits, hares, etc.

The population of waterfowl, due to the draining of wetlands, is decreasing, and in the northern English counties you can find pheasants and partridges ...

Climate of England

The close location of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream has a significant impact on the climate of England. It is softened by sea winds blowing from the west and southwest sides. In the southern part, due to this influence, there is a slight fluctuation in summer and winter temperatures, and on west coast England has more precipitation than the eastern part. One more interesting feature England is the saturation of air currents with moisture.

In general, the weather is highly variable. Cold and warm fronts are rapidly replacing each other. During one day, there can be heavy cold rain and hot, sunny weather ...

Resources

Industry and agriculture UK

The main industrial industry in England is the mining and subsequent export of coal. Also, on the territory of the administrative part of the UK, mineral deposits are being developed that serve as building materials: sandstone, limestone, etc.

The sports industry generates a significant portion of England's income. Its indicators exceed the income item of the sphere of jurisprudence, communication services, advertising and marketing, and others.

About 40% of the territory of England is occupied by fields with grain crops. Another quarter of the land is high-quality pastures, which contributes to the breeding of livestock, supplying the region with milk and meat.

Most of the electricity in England is produced by thermal power plants ...

The culture

Peoples of Great Britain

Most of the population of England are members of the Anglican Church. The British are often conservative but carefully respect their traditions. Despite the fact that the majority of the population of England communicates in their native English language, there are many dialects and, at times, difficulties arise in communication between people within the region ...

The state is located on the British Isles (the island of Great Britain, the northeastern part of the island of Ireland, as well as a large number of smaller islands and archipelagos, including the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands, Anglesey, Arran, White) in the Atlantic Ocean. It is washed by the North, Irish, Celtic and Hebrides seas. The southeast coast is located just 35 km from the northern coast of France, which are separated by the English Channel.

Major cities of Great Britain

The area of ​​Great Britain is 243 809 km², of which land - 240 579 km², inland waters - 3230 km². The coastline is 17,820 km long. South coast connected to continental Europe through a 50 km long Eurotunnel (of which 38 km are under water). It is the longest underwater tunnel in the world. Northern Ireland shares a 360 km land border with the Republic of Ireland and is the UK's only land border.

England occupies a little more than half of the entire territory of Great Britain, covering 130 395 km². Most of it consists of lowlands. Uplands are concentrated in the north (Pennine Mountains) and northwest (Cumberland Mountains). Among the latter, the highest peak in England is Skofel Pike (978 m). The longest rivers are the Thames, Severn and Humber. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest point in the British Isles.

Scotland covers just under a third of the entire UK, covering 78,772 km². It includes about eight hundred islands, mainly in the west and north of the main territory.

Wales covers only less than one tenth of the entire UK, covering 20,779 km². Wales is mostly mountainous, although South Wales is less mountainous than the rest. The main population and industrial zones are located in South Wales, including the coastal cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. The highest mountains in Wales are located in Snowdonia (including Mount Snowdon 1085 m high). The coastline of Wales is 1200 km long. the largest island is Anglesey in the northwest.

Northern Ireland covers only 13,843 km² and is mostly hilly. Here is Loch Ney Lake, the largest lake in area British isles(388 km²). The highest point in Northern Ireland is Slieve Donard in the Mourne Mountains with an altitude of 852 m.

Great Britain has a temperate oceanic climate with a lot of rainfall throughout the year. Temperatures vary with the seasons, but rarely drop below -11 ° C or rise above 35 ° C. The main winds come from the southwest and often bring cold and wet weather from the Atlantic Ocean, however, the eastern parts of the country are mostly sheltered from these winds, and since most of the rainfall occurs in the western regions, the eastern parts are the driest. The Atlantic currents, warmed by the Gulf Stream, bring mild winters, sometimes snowfalls in winter and early spring, although the snow usually does not last long.

ESSAY

"United Kingdom

Great Britain and Northern Ireland "

GREAT BRITAIN

1 Geographical location

The country located on the British Isles off the northwestern coasts of continental Europe is traditionally called (after the name of the largest island) Great Britain, and according to the name of the historical part - England. Officially, it is called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The UK includes three historical and geographical areas: England, Wales and Scotland. The United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland, which occupies the northeastern part of the island of Ireland. This is the fourth region of the country.

Geographical position Great Britain is marked by the prime meridian, which runs through the International Time Zone at Greenwich, east of London. The British Isles are the largest archipelago in Europe. It includes two large islands - Great Britain and Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, and another 5 thousand. small islands.

The length of the island of Great Britain from north to south is 966 km, and its largest width is half that. Located on the continental shelf. The British archipelago is separated by the shallow North Sea from Sweden, Denmark and the narrow English Channel and Pas-de-Calais from France. Since 1993, a tunnel has been operating under the English Channel.

All state borders of the United Kingdom are maritime, with the exception of the border with Ireland. The coastline, with a total length of more than 100 km, is heavily indented; thanks to the numerous bays and freeodes on the island, there is no place that would be more than 120 km away from the coast.

The capital of Great Britain and the center of the southeastern part of England - London is one of the most ancient cities in the country.

2 Population

The population of Great Britain is about 60 million people. Approximately 78% of the population considers themselves British, the rest are Scots, Welsh (Welsh) and Irish. In addition, the country is home to a large number of people from the countries of Central and South-East Asia(Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese), Arabs, Africans, etc.

The overwhelming majority of the population belongs to the Church of England, one of the largest branches of Protestant Christianity, and the Catholic and Presbyterian churches are also widespread. A large number of Muslims also live - one of the largest diasporas in Western Europe.

The state language is English, the use of "national" languages ​​is preserved in the province.

Great Britain is one of the most densely populated and highly urbanized countries in the world. On average, 1 sq. km. its area accounts for 230 people.

There are about a thousand cities in Great Britain.

3 Climate

Moderate oceanic, mild and humid (more humid in Northern Ireland, colder and drier in Scotland).

The weather is mainly formed by the warm oceanic current of the Gulf Stream.

The coldest month is January (from +3 degrees C to +7), the warmest is July (from +11 to +17). Annual precipitation is 600-750 mm, most of it falls from September to January in the form of rains, fogs are frequent.

The northeast of the island is the coldest region, while the London area, the southeast and Westland are the warmest regions of the country.

4 Natural resources

Nature

People uprooted forests, drained swamps, changed the species composition of flora and fauna, and introduced a large amount of fertilizer into the soil. Nowadays afforestation is being carried out in the country. Exotic tree species (Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, thin-scaled larch) were imported from other countries and widespread. Currently, forests cover only 10% of the UK area. Basically, they survived along river valleys and in the lower parts of mountain slopes.

Many large mammals such as bear, wild boar and Irish red deer have long been exterminated in the British Isles as a result of intense hunting, and the wolf has been destroyed as a pest. Now there are only 56 species of mammals left.

The British Isles are home to 130 species of birds, including many songbirds. The national symbol of England is the red-breasted robin. Millions of birds migrate along the coast of Great Britain from south to north and vice versa.

The waters off the British Isles contain different kinds fish. The most important commercial fish in far and near waters are cod, haddock and marlans.

Water resources

Great Britain is rich in water resources. Practically throughout the country, except for some southeastern regions, the amount of precipitation exceeds evaporation, and therefore a dense network of deep rivers is developed. The largest of them are the Severn, which has a length of 354 km, and the Thames (338 km), the basins of which border each other. The Thames is of the greatest importance for the UK economy. Its basin is home to 1/5 of the total population of the country.

The most large lakes Great Britain - Loch Ney (about 400 sq. Km) in northern Ireland, as well as Loch Lomond and Loch Ness in Scotland.

Underground reservoirs have long been the main source of high quality water for the people of the lowlands of England.

Soil

The most fertile soils in Great Britain are found in its warm and relatively dry southeastern part, where they formed mainly on calcareous rocks. Relatively high summer temperatures here contribute to increased biological activity and the accumulation of humus in the upper soil layer. Currently, the soils are highly cultivated as a result of long-term use under the pseudo barley, wheat and sahaon beets, as well as herbs. On the boggy coastal lowlands - marshes and in some other plain areas of England that have been reclaimed, podzolized brown forest soils have been preserved under natural and perennial pastures.

V mountainous areas Cornwall, Penin, the Lake Circle and Scotland, where humid and cool climates are developed soddy-podzolic soils that are easily waterlogged, leading to the formation of peatlands. It is dominated by pastures with coarse grass.

Relief

Great Britain is clearly divided into two parts in terms of surface arrangement. A line through Newcastle, Sheffield and Bristol to Lyme Bay separates the mountainous northwest from the flat and ridge-hilly southeast. In general, mountainous areas occupy a slightly larger area and have a rather complex geological structure.

The most elevated part of Great Britain is occupied by the Scottish Highlands, which rises steeply to the west. To the east, the highlands gradually decrease and are replaced by coastal lowlands. The deep and narrow rectilinear depression of Glen More serves as the border of large parts of the Scottish Highlands - the Northwest Highlands and the Gramnian Mountains with the majestic Ben Nevis (1343 m) peak of the entire country.

Most of England is characterized by an alternation of flat plains with hilly ridges.

Minerals

Almost all known minerals have been found in suitable areas, except for diamonds. Coal deposits are especially rich in the Penins, in the Mid-Scotland lowlands, in the foothills of South Wales, with industrial reserves of 4 billion dollars. T.

There are also deposits of iron ore, reserves of rock and potash salts, lead-zinc and hematite ores. Much hopes are pinned on the oil and gas of the North Sea.

5 Economy

Political system

Nominally, the supreme power belongs to the monarch. In fact, the queen reigns, but does not rule. Executive power is exercised by the government headed by the prime minister.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country.

Industry

The industry of Great Britain gives 1/3 of the gross national product, it accounts for 1/3 of all employed. It mainly uses imported raw materials and is increasingly oriented towards the external market.

The main mining industry in the UK is bituminous coal. Crude oil is brought in from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and Libya, petroleum products - from Italy, the Netherlands and Venezuela.

The UK is the world's second largest supplier and exporter of kaolin (the white clay from which porcelain is made).

Great Britain is fully self-sufficient in electricity. 86% of electricity is produced by thermal power plants, 12% by nuclear and 2% by hydroelectric power plants.

The largest branch of the British industry - mechanical engineering, employs 1/4 of all people employed in the manufacturing industry. Transport engineering prevails.

The UK is the world's largest exporter of trucks. One of the fastest growing branches of mechanical engineering is aircraft construction.

The British say that they have been shipbuilders almost since the formation of the British Isles. The largest shipbuilding center is the mouth of the river. Clyde in Scotland. Two other major centers are located on the Weir and Tyne rivers.

British non-ferrous metallurgy is one of the largest in Europe. It works almost entirely on imported raw materials, so the smelting of non-ferrous metals tends to be in port cities.

The oldest traditional industry in the UK is the textile industry. The production of woolen fabrics, products, yarns is the oldest in the British Isles. Woolen products of British testers are still highly valued in foreign markets today.

Agriculture

Agriculture in Great Britain employs only about 3% of the country's working population. Great Britain produces more than half of the agricultural products consumed by its population. The needs for barley, oats, potatoes, poultry, pork, eggs and fresh milk are fully met. However, many important UK products have to be imported from other countries. They imports 4/5 of butter, 2/3 of sugar, half of wheat and bacon, 1/4 of the country's beef and veal.

Transport

Since Great Britain is an island state, all of its external transportation and trade are associated with sea and by air... Great Britain is connected with the continent by a tunnel under the English Channel, two railway ferries (Dover - Dunkirk and Harwich - Ostend), and numerous sea car and passenger ferries - with Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland and France.

6 Sights of Great Britain

Natural attractions of Great Britain

The territory of Great Britain has been inhabited for a long time and thoroughly, transformed by industry and agriculture, however, there are still many corners of almost virgin nature that are of great interest to tourists, especially for those who can appreciate the discreet and harsh beauty of these places.

Loch Ness in Scotland is famous primarily as the abode of the famous Nessie - a semi-mythical monster that, according to legend and the testimony of rare and not too reliable eyewitnesses, lives in the depths of the lake, sometimes appearing on the surface.

Lovers of lakes and water recreation should definitely visit the Lake District (Lancashire and Cumbria counties), where the largest national park in England is located. Attractive steep coastal cliffs cut by fjords Hebrides, the most beautiful of them is the island of Iona.

Lovers of mountain tourism, skiing and climbing will be attracted by the mountains of Scotland: the Aylond Hills (Walter Scott's favorite walking area), the Cairngorms, the Pennines, especially the Peaks Land at their southern tip on the border of England and Wales.

The mountains and coasts of Wales are extraordinarily beautiful - especially in its northern part, where the highest mountain in England and Wales is located - Snowdon (1085 m), the surrounding Snowdonia National Park is filled with numerous mountain streams, waterfalls, wooded valleys. Sulfur, salt and other mineral springs are located in the southwest of Wales.

Lovers of paleontology will undoubtedly be interested in seeing Devon's limestone deposits, where ancient fossils have been found. The name of this county, thanks to the finds made in its depths, began to be called a whole geological era!

Cultural landmarks of Great Britain

L
ondon It is rightfully considered not only the capital of the United Kingdom, but also one of the capitals of the world - political, economic, cultural. In the 1st century BC, on the site of a Celtic settlement, the Romans created a city called Londinium. In 884, Alfred the Great made London the capital of his state, from 976 - the time of Anglo-Saxon rule - the city became the seat of royal power. Now London is home to 6.8 million people. Every year millions of tourists are added to their number, who are attracted by the sights of the city. The oldest part of London is the so-called inner city, or City of London. The mixture of old and new not only contrasts, but also emphasizes that the City is the business center of the world still living an active life.

Bath- one of the most beautiful cities in England, famous for the architecture of the Georgian era. UNESCO included the city in the list of monuments of cultural heritage of mankind. Bath became a resort in the Roman era (I-IV centuries AD).

York- it living history... Its ancient buildings, narrow streets, powerful fortress walls, magnificent city gates, majestic York Minster preserve the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. The river Uz flows through the city, giving the city a romantic look with its verdant banks. York is rightfully considered one of the the most beautiful cities Great Britain. The main attraction of York is the Cathedral, erected on the site of a Christian church. The cathedral was built over four centuries, which led to a mixture of various styles. The walls of the ancient fortress of Cliffords offer an unforgettable view of the city. Today there is a museum that tells about the history of the city. The Yorkshire Museum displays exhibits from the Roman and Anglo-Saxon eras.

Cambridge- the famous university city. For eight centuries, the University of Cambridge has been considered the standard of quality among all existing institutions of higher education. According to historians, the earliest written mention of this city dates back to 730.

Oxford- a famous university city, fabulously beautiful and lively, which is not surprising, because about 16,000 students study here. The university includes more than 40 colleges. A very special atmosphere reigns within the walls of venerable buildings, filled with the spirit of antiquity and high science.

Windsor located on the right bank of the Thames. Its name comes from the word Wyndleshora, which means "winding banks". The history of Windsor Castle is rooted in the distant past, it began 900 years ago - in the XI century, during the reign of William the Conqueror. The castle owes its current appearance mainly to Sir Geoffrey Whitewill.

Edinburgh- heart and ancient capital Scotland with a population of almost half a million. It is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and most picturesque cities in the United Kingdom. The city has been known since the 6th century.

Geographic areas: England, Wales and Scotland. Part Of the United Kingdoms ... position Great Britain closeness of warm North ... social spheres ...

Great Britain is an island state occupying the territory of the British Isles, located in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, in close proximity to the coast of continental Europe and separated from it by a small strait. Another official name for the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The largest number inhabitants - the British, including therefore, the country is also called England. The capital - the city of London, is considered one of the largest in Europe.

As part of the united country, there are two main and most famous and large islands- directly Great Britain and Ireland (the latter only northern part is part of the Kingdom), and there are almost 5 thousand small islets. The island of Great Britain is slightly elongated from north to south, its length is 966 km, the widest part is less than half this value. The British archipelago is located in Atlantic Ocean and is washed by the North, Irish, Celtic and Hebrides seas.

In the southeast of Britain, across the English Channel, it borders on mainland France. In the last decade of the last century, an overpass was laid under the strait for unimpeded rail and road communication between the island and the continent. The tunnel began functioning in 1993, its length is about 50 km, the duration of a train trip between London and the capital of France - Paris, takes about 3 hours.

Almost all the external borders of the Kingdom are maritime, only on the island of Ireland there is a land state border with a length of 360 km. This geographical feature predetermined the relatively safe existence and development of British society. Thanks to its maritime borders, which complicates the movement of enemy personnel, Britain for many hundreds of years did not happen to experience the "delights" of military operations on its territory, although it itself took part in many continental wars.

Through London, more precisely through its observatory in Greenwich, the so-called Prime Meridian, from it are counted geographical coordinates anywhere on the planet.

The country is located at the intersection of paths from European countries to the oceans and provides access to the North American continent and other maritime powers. This creates a favorable economic position for the state, making coastal cities large. shopping centers with a developed seaport economy.

UK area with view inland waters is 243 809 km2, the population according to the latest data is more than 62 million people. More than half of the entire territory is occupied by England, it also leads in population - more than 80%. Great Britain is the leader of the British Commonwealth of Nations, which includes almost all former colonies, dominions and protectorates, and there are about 50 of them. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent states, which allows you to maintain diplomatic relations, as well as political and economic ties.

Territory composition

The country combines several large historical and geographical, previously sovereign regions, namely England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The named areas have their own administrative territorial divisions... This association also includes 14 dependent lands and territories. In addition, there are the so-called crown lands, which are not formally part of it, but are not also overseas lands.

As part of the entire British commonwealth, England is the largest in area, occupying more than half of its territory - over 133 thousand km2. Scotland is in second place, with an area of ​​78,772 km2. Wales, in third place, accounts for only one tenth of the total area. The smallest area is Northern Ireland - less than 14 thousand km2.

The English part of the kingdom is located in the southern part of the island between Scotland and Wales, it is home to 53 million people. Here is the capital - London and the largest cities like Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester and others.

England is rich in historical sights, is the center of education in English, its legislation forms the basis of legal systems different countries the world, here the Anglican Church was formed. Historically, London became the center of this country, the birth point of the industrial revolution and, as a result, England became the most industrially developed country in the world. Industrial production, agriculture, sports business and the development of new technologies play an important role in the economy.

Scotland. Located in the northern part of the island. It is washed by the North Seas in the east and the Irish Seas in the south-west. It is home to 5.2 million people. She owns many small islands, mostly uninhabited. The capital, Edinburgh, became the center of the Scottish Enlightenment. but largest city the country is Glasgow, a former industrial leader. Its third largest city, Aberdeen, has the status of the oil capital of Europe, since it contains large oil fields. The famous Loch Ness is also located here.

Wales - south-west of the country with a total area of ​​20,779 km2, the eastern border is adjacent to the counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire. The remaining three sides are washed by the sea. The population is just over 3 million people, most of whom are Welsh and British. The population and industry are concentrated in the cities of Cardive, Swansea, Newport. The coastline is over 1,000 km. Most of the territories are occupied by mountains formed during the Ice Age. The border between Wales and England is conditionally divided. Wales has many parks such as Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast, Brecon Beacons.

Northern Ireland. Located 21 km from the Scottish coast and occupies the northeast of the island of Ireland. The total area is almost 14 thousand km2, the population is 1.8 million people. The capital and the most Big city Ireland - Belfast. Historically, the island is divided into four zones, one of them is Ulster, part of which is under the rule of the British crown. Ulster consists of 35 administrative units, some of them - 6 counties and 26 districts - British, the other 3 counties are Irish.

The national composition of Northern Ireland is heterogeneous, there are several groups:

• Presbyterians - Scottish settlers, concentrated in the eastern part;
• The British - traditionally prefer the Anglican Church, live in the center and in the north;
• Irish - Catholics by religious preference, make up the remnants of the indigenous population. They live in the west and along the border with Ireland.

The heterogeneity of the population is expressed not only in culture and religion, but also in the character of nationalities, they treat each other with distrust. British Ulster is home to over one and a half million people, the vast majority in rural areas and engaged in agriculture.

United Kingdom economy

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country with a concentration on its own territory of world financial institutions and trade operations. The result of vigorous activity is a gross domestic product of up to a trillion dollars. The country has a developed banking system, insurance, transport - all modern industries included in the definition of a service. For a long time, the export of capital remains the most important source of income for international monopolies that have settled in Britain, although according to some reports, the country has lost control over this sector of the economy.

There are a number of problems currently facing the UK economy:

1. Unlimited control over the world's oil, natural rubber, and non-ferrous metals has been lost;
2. Lost influence in the sphere Agriculture;
3. Competitive countries flooded the world market for industrial goods;
4. Failed, the unlimited opportunities for capital expansion to other continents are lost.

A third of the country's population is employed in industry, which constitutes a significant part of the domestic product. And although imported raw materials are used for its work, the industry is oriented towards the external market. Some areas of production, traditional for island nation lag behind modern technologies that use the latest developments in technology, work organization and effective management methods. The development of production within specific industries has led to the formation of "sharks" of world business, such as Unilever, British Airspace, Rolls Royce, General Electric and others.

Most industrial companies are located in densely populated areas adjacent to the metropolitan conglomerate, so London and the suburbs are the focus of the financial and industrial economy of the entire state. To a lesser extent, but also noticeably some industrial areas are invested in the economy. South Wales, the center of Scotland and the north-east of the country.

British agriculture is efficient, widely uses automation according to European standards; in total, 2% of the working population is involved in the production of agricultural products. The country does not import barley, oats, poultry, potatoes, eggs and whole milk, but a large number of the food basket, for example, a quarter of the volume of beef, butter, sugar come from imported factories. The UK's most successful livestock production area is located on western territories, with a favorable climate for animal husbandry.