Great Britain geographical location population attractions. Great Britain. Geographical location Great Britain is located in northwestern Europe and includes four countries: England, Scotland, and Wales. Geographical location Vel

Geographical location of Great Britain.

GREAT BRITAIN(Great Britain), Britain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a state in northwestern Europe, in British Isles(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). Isle of Man and Channel Islands - 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. Not a large number of There are also Catholics and adherents of the High Church close to Catholicism among the British. Central and South-East England are the most densely populated areas, the least populated areas 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. There are also significant geographical differences between the four historical regions. 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 hilly plains (London Basin, etc.), framed by cuesta ridges, a typical landscape of the “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 automotive industry (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.
The monetary unit is 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. 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; Vast possessions were seized in India and North America, and 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 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).

geographical uk rural resource

Features of the geographical location

Great Britain is an irregularly shaped archipelago with a very diverse landscape and nature. The latter is a consequence of the fact that the British Isles were once part of Europe, but were cut off from the mainland after the flooding of low-lying lands that now form the floor of the North Sea and the English Channel. Northern Ireland, which is politically complementary to the United Kingdom, is located on the second largest island, Ireland, and is the western extension of the Scottish Highlands. These mountainous areas are separated from each other by the narrow Nord Canal. The western shores of the island of Great Britain are rocky and steep, the eastern shores are flatter.

The area of ​​Great Britain is approximately 240,842 sq. km. Most of it is land, and the rest is rivers and lakes. The area of ​​England is 129,634 square meters. km., Wales - 20637 sq. km., Scotland - 77179 sq. km. and Northern Ireland - 13438 sq. km. Thus, England is much larger than the other countries of the United Kingdom and has the largest population. These factors explain England's dominance in British history.

The southern tip of the island of Great Britain, the Cornwall peninsula, is located at 50 N latitude, and the most Northern part archipelago of the Shetland Islands - at 60 N latitude.

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.

Historically, Britain's geographic features have influenced human settlement, population migrations, armed conquest, and political union. They also determined the location and operation of industry, transport systems, agriculture, fishing industry, forests, energy resources and communications. They continue to shape British life today and are closely linked to public concerns about the environment and wildlife.

England (population 48.2 million) consists mainly of hilly or flat lowland terrain, with a few mountainous areas in the north and southeast. But low hills extend across most of the country, interspersed with lowlands and plains.

The population is concentrated mainly around major cities: London and generally in the southeast of England, western Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield, northwestern industrial Liverpool and Manchester and northeastern Newcastle and Sunderland.

Wales (population 2.9 million) is a mountainous country with mountains and hills stretching across the entire territory, often falling into deep valleys created by river beds. These mountains gradually decline into the high hills of eastern England. The highest mountains in Wales are located in the north-west, where Mount Snowdon reaches 1085 m in height.

The Lowlands are limited to narrow coastal belts and river valleys in south Wales, where two thirds of the Welsh population live. In the past, Wales' mountainous terrain made warfare, farming and human settlement difficult.

Scotland

Scotland (population 5.1 million) can be divided into three main parts. The first part is the northwestern and central mountains along with big amount islands on the western and northern coasts. These lands are sparsely populated and make up half of the entire territory of Scotland. The second part is the central lowlands, which make up one fifth of the entire Scottish territory and three quarters of the total population of Scotland, the majority of industrial and shopping centers and cultivated land. The third part is the southern uplands, which includes a series of hills extending to the border with England.

The most high mountain in Scotland - Ben Nevis (1342 m), which is also the most high mountain Great Britain.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland (population 1.6 million) is located just 21 km from the Scottish coast, which caused migrations of peoples in the distant past. Since the partition of Ireland in 1921, it has bordered the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. In the north there is a mountainous coast, in the center, closer to the south, a fertile valley, and mountains in the west, northeast and southeast.

The British Isles lie off the north west coast Europe. The British Isles are surrounded by many small islands. To the southwest of the island of Britain are the Isles of Scilly, and to the north of Wales is the Isle of Anglesey. On the western and northern coasts of Scotland there are numerous small islands that are part of Great Britain. The most important of these are the Orkney Shetland Islands.

Great Britain is washed from the west by waters Atlantic Ocean, and from the east - by the waters of the North Sea.

From the south, Great Britain borders on France - its closest and most developed neighbor, which shares water borders with it. Shortest distance before north coast France - the Strait of Dover, but the main communication between the states is through the English Channel, called the English Channel by the British, along the bottom of which a tunnel for high-speed rail transport was built at the end of the twentieth century. Before this, communication between the two countries was carried out by water or air.

Also, the closest neighbors of Great Britain are Belgium and the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Norway are located much further away.

The diversity of Britain's geographical features is the result of long geological and climatic changes. Over time, thanks to the movements of the earth's crust, they rose from the bottom of the sea mountain ranges, which formed the oldest territories of Great Britain. Periods of warm subtropical weather were followed by new movements of the earth's crust, and huge swampy forests covered all the low-lying lands. The forests in turn were buried under sand, soil and mud, so that the petrified forests became the coal of modern Britain. Later the climate changed from subtropical to arctic. During the Ice Age, almost the entire island was buried under ice, with the exception of southern England.

The mountains gradually eroded due to ice, water and winds. This process rounded Mountain peaks and moved rocks to lowlands, where they were compressed into new mountains, resulting in a smoother and softer landscape. Geological and weather changes determined the present appearance of the valleys and plains, and also “determined the location of the main rivers of Great Britain, such as the Clyde, Forth and Tweed in Scotland, the Tyne, Trent, Humber, Severn and Thames in England and Wales, the Bann and Logan in Northern Ireland."

The forces of nature also affected the coastlines, as the sea retreated and returned again. Parts of the coastal zone went under water, while others were exposed. These processes continue today, particularly on the east and south coasts of England. Where the sea receded, chalk and limestone mountains were formed, as well as sandy beaches along the entire coast, while soil destruction has caused the loss of some land in some places.

Britain was originally part of the European mainland, but melting glaciers after the end of the Ice Age led to rising sea levels, and the country was separated from the continent by the North Sea at its widest point and the English Channel at its narrowest. The distance between Dover in England and Calais in France is minimal (32 km).

The entire coastline is crisscrossed with bays, bays, deltas and peninsulas, so most of Great Britain is located no more than 120 km from the sea. The sea offshore is no deeper than 90 meters because most of the British Isles lies on the continental shelf, which is a raised seabed connected to the mainland. The warm Gulf Stream heats the sea and air as it travels across the shelf. Therefore, the climate on the islands is much milder than it could be, given their northern location. The current also affects coastal waters, which are important for the fishing industry.

Note 1

Official name countries – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital of the kingdom is London. The country occupies the British Isles northwest of continental Europe. Often the country is simply called England– by the name of the historical part or by the name largest islandGreat Britain.

The British Isles include, separated by the Irish Sea, Great Britain and Ireland, as well as about $5,000 smaller islands. Among them are the Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland. From north to south, the island of Great Britain stretches for $966$ km, and the width, even at its greatest, is $2$ times less. The British archipelago is separated from Sweden and Denmark by the shallow North Sea. The islands are separated from France by two narrow straits - the English Channel and Pas de Calais. A tunnel with a length of $49$ km has been operating under the English Channel since 1993. Traveling from London to Paris by train takes $3$ hours. The Atlantic Ocean washes the northern and western shores of the British Isles. In the coastal zone there are many bays, bays, deltas, and peninsulas.

The borders of the United Kingdom, with the exception of Ireland, are maritime. The heavily indented coastline extends for more than $100 km. The British archipelago was once part of Europe, but, as a result of the flooding of low-lying lands, it was cut off from the mainland. The prime meridian passes through the London Greenwich Observatory, which marks the geographical position of the country.

The total area of ​​Great Britain is $240,842 sq km. Of the countries of the United Kingdom, the largest, both in area and in population, is England, which explains its dominance in British history. The short distances between the countries of the United Kingdom contributed to the creation of a political union and close ties.

Great Britain stands at the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations. This Commonwealth is a political and economic entity consisting of former colonies and dominions. The kingdom is separated from the continent, which is important geographical feature. This feature contributed to the fact that for many centuries it did not experience foreign invasion, although it itself took part in European wars. Being on the routes to the World Ocean, Great Britain has always taken advantage of this. The island position has always contributed to the development of shipbuilding, and was a guarantee of a secure strategic position, making it possible to remain independent.

Sea and air transport routes passing through the United Kingdom link Europe with North America.

Composition of the territory

The United Kingdom includes $4$ previously independent regions - Wales, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland. Each area has its own Administrative division. Great Britain also has dependent territories. These include $3$ dependent lands and $11$ dependent territories - a total of $14$. In addition to these dependent territories, there are so-called crown possessions. They are not part of the United Kingdom and are not considered overseas territories. They are located in the coastal waters of the island of Great Britain. The crown possessions are the $2$ Channel Islands - Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea. Their residents are citizens of the United Kingdom.

England is the largest region of the kingdom by area and occupies more than half of its territory. Scotland, which ranks second, accounts for a third of the territory and Wales occupies one tenth. The area of ​​Northern Ireland is only $14 thousand sq km.

England is the largest administrative and political part of the kingdom. In the north it borders with Scotland, in the west with Wales. Of the total population of the country, 84% live in England. The area of ​​this region is $133.4 thousand sq. km, and the population is $53 million people. Here is the capital of the entire country - London. The largest cities, besides the capital, are:

  • Lester,
  • Manchester,
  • Birmingham,
  • Sheffield,
  • Leeds,
  • Liverpool,
  • Coventry.

England occupies the southern part of the island of Great Britain and refers to the place where great amount attractions. In this historical area originated English language and the Anglican Church. London was the center of the British Empire. This is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, which is why England became the first industrialized country in the world. The English economy is represented by industry, agriculture, the high technology industry, and the sports industry.

The second administrative and political part of the United Kingdom is Wales, located in the southwest part of Great Britain. It is washed by the sea on three sides, and only the eastern border of Wales passes with the English counties - Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire. The coastline stretches for $1200$ km. The area of ​​Wales is $20.8 thousand sq km. The terrain of the territory is mainly mountainous, turning into high hills, and a significant part of the territory is covered national parks– Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast. According to the 2011 census, Wales had just over $3 million inhabitants, and the main peoples are Welsh and English.

Scotland- another administrative and political part of the kingdom, located in the northern part of the island of Great Britain and having a land border with England. On other sides it is washed by the seas of the Atlantic Ocean. The area of ​​the territory is $78.7 thousand sq. km, on which $5.3 million people live. The capital is the city of Edinburgh, and in addition to it major cities include Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee. Scotland owns a large number of small islands, much of which are uninhabited. Large oil fields in the Atlantic Ocean and parts of the North Sea belong to Scotland, and the city of Aberdeen bears the nickname of the oil and energy capital of Europe.

Northern Ireland. The territory is located just $21 km from the Scottish coast. It is the fourth administrative and political part of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland occupies the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland. The capital is the city of Belfast. Northern Ireland is administratively divided into 6 counties and 26 districts. The island of Ireland itself is divided into $4$ historical areas– Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht. Ulster, in turn, is divided into another $9 counties, $6 of which belong to Northern Ireland. The three remaining counties - Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan - belong to the Republic of Ireland.

There are 3 population groups in Northern Ireland:

  1. The east of Northern Ireland is populated Presbyterians– these are immigrants from Scotland;
  2. The northern and central territories were inhabited English related to the Church of England;
  3. The remnants of the indigenous population - Catholics - remained in the extreme western regions and areas bordering Ireland.

All $3$ groups not only differ in religion and culture, but also treat each other very warily. The population is $1.6 million and lives mainly in rural areas because Northern Ireland is an agricultural region of the United Kingdom.

UK economy

The UK is one of those Western European countries whose GDP exceeds a trillion dollars. It is a world trade and financial center. In the international division of labor, the country acts as a supplier of industrial products. It must be said that in the modern world the role of the kingdom is also determined by banking, insurance, and shipping and freight activities. Gross national product increases by $45$% due to the service sector, which includes transport and communications, retail trade, insurance, banking system, financial institutions, healthcare, education. The share of the service sector is increasing faster than the share of the manufacturing industry. The share of agriculture and the share of the mining industry is declining. The export of capital remains the most important source of income for Britain's international monopolies.

Note 2

Today is characterized by the fact that Great Britain has lost many economic advantages. Among them are the following:

  1. Undivided control over the world's deposits of non-ferrous metals, oil, natural rubber;
  2. Lost control over cheap agricultural products;
  3. Control over guaranteed markets for industrial goods;
  4. It has lost the unlimited possibilities for exporting capital to all continents.

IN industry a country that produces $1/3$ of the gross national product employs $1/3$ of the economically active population. Imported raw materials are used for its work and the focus is on the foreign market. Traditional industries today lag behind modern industries that use advanced technology and labor organization, the latest equipment and modern management methods. The concentration of production led to the formation of the largest associations of industrialists, for example, Imperial Chemical Industries. Unilever, British Leyland, General Electric Company. These associations employ $200,000 people.

Industrial enterprises are concentrated in a densely populated belt from London to Lancashire and from West Yorkshire to Gloucestershire. Other major industrial areas are in South Wales, north-east England and central Scotland

IN agriculture The kingdom employs only $2$% of the country's economically active population. It is efficient, intensive and highly mechanized by European standards. The country fully meets its needs for barley, oats, potatoes, poultry, pork, eggs and fresh milk. But, nevertheless, the kingdom imports many food products. Imports include $4/5$ of butter, $2/3$ of sugar, half of the wheat, bacon, $1/4$ of the consumed beef and veal. The leading branch of agriculture is livestock farming, and the conditions for it are more favorable. The livestock area is located in the western, wet part of the island of Great Britain.

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. 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 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, England's highest peak is Scaffell Pike (978 m). Longest rivers are the Thames, Severn and Humber. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the most high point 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.

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 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.

The British landscape is very diverse. Geographically, the island of Great Britain consists of three main areas: lowlands, midlands and highlands of Britain. Middle lane 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 highest point (1343 meters). Along the western coast lies Mountain chain Cumberland. The Cheviot Hills mark the border between England and Scotland.