The size and geographical location of England. England geographical location. Collapse of the colonial system
The islands where Great Britain is located are located to the north-west of mainland Europe. Today, the country occupies one of the most important places in the structure of the world economy, and the engine of its economic development is the service sector and the financial sector.
Where is Great Britain located? Geography of the country
The state is located on the British Isles and several other smaller island groups, which include the Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland, Anglesey, Arran and Wight.
The climate itself and where the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is located means that the sea has a significant influence on all aspects of people's lives. The islands are washed by the North, Celtic, Hebridean and Irish seas, as well as by the waters Atlantic Ocean.
The islands where Great Britain is located are separated from the mainland of Europe by the English Channel, or as the British themselves call it, the English Channel. At its narrowest point, the width of the strait barely exceeds thirty-five kilometers, and along its bottom in this place there is a Eurotunnel, through which there is rail communication between the United Kingdom and France.
Geography and administrative divisions
The region where the country of Great Britain is located was inhabited by people in the early Paleolithic. However, the written history of Britain begins in 43, when the Romans conquered the islands. Of course, written sources indicated the existence of culture in the country even before the arrival of the Romans, but this information was extremely scarce and fragmentary.
Modern Administrative division the country is due to historical factors, which include the formation of the Norman kingdoms in the west of the country. Administratively, the kingdom is divided into England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
More than half of the country's territory is occupied by England, which is predominantly a flat territory; highlands in the territory are found only in the north, where the Pennines are located, and in the northwest, where the Cambridge Mountains lie.
England is the historical core of the formation of the kingdom and the region where the capital of Great Britain, London, is located.
Geography of Scotland
Both historically and geographically, Scotland is completely special region countries. It occupies just under a third of the UK's territory and has a complex history of becoming part of the country.
In addition, the territory of Scotland includes more than eight hundred islands of various sizes, among which the Hebrides and Shetland archipelagos stand out.
Geologically, Scotland is divided into two large and very different regions, bordered by the Highland Rift, which runs from the Isle of Arran in the west to Stonehaven in the east. To the northwest of the rift are the Scottish Highlands, and to the southeast is a region known as the Lowlands.
The North Scottish Highlands are characterized by a harsh climate and the presence of almost all the mountains found in the region. Here is the most high point country - Mount Ben Nevis with a height of 1343 meters above sea level.
Lowland, in turn, has a flatter landscape and a temperate climate, which has led to a significantly larger population of the region. On its territory are the most significant cities of Scotland, including its capital - Edinburgh.
Geography and history of Wales
Wales is one of the historical provinces of Great Britain, with its own history of relations with the British Crown. Despite the fact that the region occupies less than ten percent of the kingdom's territory, it is of great importance for the state's economy. The main branch of the economy is grazing and the production of high-quality wool, as well as dairy products.
Unlike Scotland, Wales never enjoyed sovereignty within its current borders, and its final merger with England occurred in the 16th century. Despite significant industrial growth in the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century, the vast majority of Wales' population lives in small communities.
An interesting fact is that until the mid-twentieth century the region did not have official capital. It was not until 1955 that the Queen declared Cardiff the capital of the region. In addition, Wales is a sparsely populated region, with a population of barely more than three million people.
Collapse of the colonial system
After the Second World War, significant changes occurred in the world associated with the construction of a new world order, the division of the planet into two opposing economic camps and the decomposition of the colonial system of government.
By that time, Great Britain was the largest colonial empire in terms of territory with many overseas possessions. However, the serious social and economic upheavals caused by the war no longer allowed such vast territories as India to be kept under control. The colonial empire ended with the granting of sovereignty to the British possessions in Asia and Africa.
However, with some sovereign countries, the Commonwealth of Nations was formed, which included Canada, Australia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Namibia, Cameroon and New Zealand. From a formal point of view, the head of all these states is the British monarch.
UK economy
The region where Great Britain is located occupies a key position in the global financial system, but in terms of production potential it is extremely important not only for Europe, but for the whole world.
For a long time, Great Britain was the main center of industrial and scientific innovation that followed the first industrial revolution, which began in this kingdom.
But even today, in terms of economic, industrial, technological and scientific development, the country is approximately on a par with the USA and Japan, and London’s GDP is the largest in Europe compared to other cities.
A key part of the country's industrial sector is the automotive industry, which employs more than eight hundred thousand people and generates a total turnover of more than £52 billion.
Current state of affairs in the country
Answering the question about where Great Britain is located and in which hemisphere, it is worth answering right away that the country is entirely located in the Western and Northern Hemispheres, and therefore belongs to the region in which the main wealth, industrial technologies and scientific knowledge are concentrated.
In 2016, a referendum was held in the country, according to the results of which Great Britain should leave the European Union, which will create completely new conditions in the European and global economy.
In addition, this event significantly influenced European politics, causing a wave of doubts and hesitations about the need to continue building a united Europe.
Geographical location of Great Britain
A state in northwestern Europe, on the British Isles. Occupies the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and part of the island of Ireland, as well as independent administrative units- Isle of Man and 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). The total area of the country is 244.1 thousand square meters. km.
Capital
Geography of Great Britain. Map, geographical position, 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 is the island of Great Britain), the northeastern part of the island of Ireland, Isle of Man, Isle of White, 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 Islands (Malvinas), 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.
Official language- 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 large cities (with a population of over 100 people). 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. Coastline strongly dissected by bays (fjords in the north and estuaries in the south), it forms large peninsulas of Wales and Cornwall. Between four historical areas There are also significant geographical differences. Scotland and Northern England are mountainous and geographically represent 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 summers (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 have been reduced; 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 $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; about 1/3 is concentrated in the British sector 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 UK industry is determined by the level of development 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 - textiles - 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 (approx. 1/5 of world exports alcoholic drinks, predominantly Scotch whiskey and English gin).
Agricultural production is highly intensive and meets half of the country's food needs. 24.8% of the country's territory is used in agriculture (1994) (including over 60% under arable land, 35% under cultivated meadows), pastures occupy 45.9%, under forests 10.4%. The main branch of agriculture is animal husbandry. 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 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. 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 in Burma were captured and South Africa, the conquest 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. The Labor Party gained great influence in domestic politics. After World War II, Britain, devastated by bombing, took a back seat to the United States on the international stage. In the 1940s-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 (not celebrated 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 countries 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 conditions are 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 from the 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. The average temperature of 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 there grow 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 in winter time falls throughout the country, 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.
In spring there are cold northerly winds that significantly retard the growth of crops in the east of Scotland, and sometimes dry easterly winds. 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: average temperature 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 +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. She is at the intersection sea routes and occupies a central position on the most important lines of shipping and world trade 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.
Geographical location Great Britain is located on northwest Europe and includes four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea and includes the island of Great Britain, northeastern part of the island of Ireland and several small islands. Area: km² Capital: London Official language: English
Form of government: constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The functions of the executive branch belong to the Government. The highest authority of the Government is the Cabinet, appointed by the monarch. The head of the Cabinet is the Prime Minister. Then the Prime Minister selects the remaining ministers, who make up the Government and are the political heads of the Departments. Approximately 20 senior ministers make up the Cabinet of Ministers. The British monarch (Sovereign) is the head of state. Palace of Westminster(the building where the British Parliament meets) Elizabeth II (since 1952)
The official London residence of the British monarchs - Buckingham Palace. Westminster Abbey The official London residence of British monarchs is Buckingham Palace. The traditional place of coronation of British monarchs and burial places of English monarchs is Westminster Abbey Buckingham Palace Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westminster (Westminster Abbey)
Population: The dominant and largest group of the population is the British. (83.6%). Next come the Scots and Irish. More than 60 million people Official language: English Religion: predominantly Christian country. Catholicism and Anglicanism are practiced. Westminster Cathedral is the main Catholic church in England and Wales. St. Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral dedicated to the Apostle Paul.
Climatic conditions: Unstable weather prevails with gusty winds and dense fogs throughout the year. Winters are very wet and unusually mild, with sharp temperature anomalies. Here the grass is green all year round. In the eastern regions, winter is colder and less humid. Heavy rainfall adversely affects the growth of many crops, especially wheat and barley. Cereal crops in the British Isles produce good results in drier years, but then grasses often burn out. Natural resources, relief, climatic conditions, inland waters Resources: The lowland areas of England have long been widely used for settlement and agricultural development. Later, mountainous areas began to be developed, where rich pasture lands were an important incentive, and later, mineral resources. Almost all known minerals, except diamonds, have been found in the depths of the islands. There are rich coal deposits in the Penines, in the Mid-Scottish Lowlands, in the foothills of south Wales. The largest iron ore deposit is in the East Midlands (60% of all reserves). Significant reserves of rock and potash salts have been discovered in Cheshire and Durham.
Inland waters: The largest lakes in Great Britain are Loch Neagh (about 400 sq. km) in northern Ireland, as well as Loch Lomond and Loch Ness in Scotland. Loch Ness and Loch Lochy, located in the Great Glen and connected by a canal, form a direct waterway between the eastern and west coast Scotland. Underground reservoirs have long been the main source of high-quality water for the people of lowland England. The largest underground pool is located under the Cretaceous limestones in the southeast of England. The famous resident of Loch Ness is the Loch Ness Monster! Terrain: The United Kingdom can be divided into two main areas. High Britain, located in the north and west of the country, is underlain by ancient bedrock and presents 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. Ben Nevis (highest point in the British Isles, 1344 m)
Economy, large industrial cities, ports Great Britain ranks 8th in the world in terms of GDP (as of 2011). Engineering and transport, industrial goods and chemicals are the UK's main exports. Since the 70s, oil production has not only reduced the import of petroleum products, but also brought significant profits in trade. British Petroleum is the largest industrial corporation in the UK and ranks second in Europe. Britain accounts for 10% of global exports of banking, insurance, brokerage, advisory and computer programming services. Currency: pound sterling Bank of England (London)
UK industry uses mainly imported raw materials and is more oriented towards the foreign market. On the one hand, Great Britain is characterized by the rapid growth of modern industries using advanced production technology and labor organization, the latest equipment and advanced management methods, on the other hand, the lag of old traditional industries. The bulk of Britain's industrial enterprises are located in the densely populated industrial belt, which includes counties from London to Lancashire and from West Yorkshire to Gloucestershire. The largest industrial areas outside this belt are South Wales, north-east England and central Scotland. The oldest traditional industry in Britain is the textile industry. Woolen fabrics are produced mainly in West Yorkshire, rayon production predominates in the Yorkshire town of Silsden, and cotton fabrics are produced in Lancashire, in the small textile towns north-east of Manchester. The production of woolen fabrics, products, and yarn is the oldest in the British Isles. Woolen products from British textile manufacturers are still highly valued in foreign markets. Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Since Great Britain is an island state, all its external transport and trade are related to maritime and by air. About 9/10 of the total cargo turnover is carried out by sea transport, including 1/4 by cabotage. All areas of Great Britain, except the West Midlands, are, to one degree or another, directly connected with seaports, which serve as the main transport hubs. The largest of them are London, Southampton, Liverpool, Hull and Harwich. The UK is connected to the continent by a Channel Tunnel, two railway ferries (Dover - Dunkirk and Harwich Ostend), and numerous sea car and passenger ferries - with Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland and France. In domestic freight transport, road transport plays the largest role. At the same time, the road network is expanding and being reconstructed. High-speed line "LGV Nord Europe" with the Channel Tunnel
Agglomerations Urban agglomerationPopulationRegion Greater London 8,278,251 Greater London, East Anglia, South East England West Midlands2,284,093 West Midlands Greater Manchester 2,240,230 North West England West Yorkshire 1,499,465 Yorkshire and the Humber Tyneside879,996 North East England Liverpool81 6.216 North-West England Nottingham666,358East Midlands Sheffield640,720 Yorkshire and Humber Bristol551,066 South West England Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton461,181 South East England
British culture Sherlock Holmes Museum in London. In London, of course, there is a Sherlock Holmes Museum. It is located on Baker Street, however, contrary to popular belief, not in house number 221b, but in house number 239. The museum was opened in 1990 in a house built in 1815. Theoretically, of course, this house could have seen Sherlock Holmes. But the street on which the museum is located was not called Baker Street in Holmes’ time, but Upper Baker Street. Above the museum door you can see the proud number 221b. And this is an excellent example of how naive tourists are deceived. Since the Holmes House Museum is numbered 239, the number 221b could not be placed on it. The solution was found simply - the museum officially registered a company called 221b Ltd. Thus, 221b on the Holmes House Museum does not mean the house number, but simply the name of the company.
The state is located on the British Isles (the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern 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 Hebridean seas. The southeast coast is located just 35 km from the northern coast of France, which are separated by the English Channel.
Main UK cities
The area of Great Britain is 243,809 km², of which land is 240,579 km² and inland waters are 3,230 km². The coastline is 17,820 km long. South coast connected to continental Europe through a 50 km long Eurotunnel (of which 38 km is under water). This is the longest underwater tunnel in the world. Northern Ireland has a 360 km land border with the Republic of Ireland, and it is the UK's only land border.
England occupies just over half of the entire UK territory, covering 130,395 km². Most of it consists of lowlands. Highlands are concentrated in the north (Pennines) and north-west (Cumberland Mountains). Among the latter, the highest peak in England is Scafell 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 occupies 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 occupies just less than one tenth of the entire UK, covering 20,779 km². Wales is a largely mountainous country, although South Wales is less mountainous than the rest. The main population and industrial areas 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 just 13,843 km² and is mostly hilly. Here is Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the 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 plenty of rain throughout the year. Temperatures vary depending on the season, but rarely fall 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 protected from these winds and since most of the rainfall falls in the western regions, the eastern ones are the driest. Atlantic currents, heated by the Gulf Stream, bring mild winters, sometimes snowfall in winter and early spring, although the snow usually does not last long.
This country is 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 the once conflicting counties at the beginning of the 10th century and took its 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 Dictionary in English One can find a later reference to 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 of 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 Tees River or, as the Teesaid aborigines call it, located on east side and the lower reaches of the river Ex, which has another name: 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
