Abstract: Geography of Great Britain. Geographic details of the United Kingdom

Traditionally called (by the name of the largest island) Great Britain, and by the name of its main part of England. Officially, it is called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It actually includes three historical and geographical regions: 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.

British islands is the largest archipelago in Europe. It includes two large islands - Great Britain and, separated by the Irish Sea, and another 5 thousand small, among which three groups of islands stand out in particular.
North: Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and the Isles of Man, England, etc. Great Britain is an irregular 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 the lowlands, which are now the bottom and the strait. Northern Ireland, which politically complements the United Kingdom, sits on the second largest, Ireland, and is the western extension of the Scottish Mountains. These mountainous areas are separated by a narrow Northern Channel. The western shores of the island of Great Britain are rocky and steep, the eastern ones are more gentle.

The area of ​​Great Britain is about 240,842 km2. Most of it is land, and the rest is lakes. England is 129,634 km2, Wales 20,637 km2, Scotland 77,179 km2 and Northern Ireland 13,438 km2 Thus, England is much larger than other countries in the United Kingdom, and has the largest population. These factors explain the dominance of England in British history. The southern tip of the island of Great Britain, the Cornwall Peninsula, is located at 50 ° N, and the northernmost part of the Shetland Islands archipelago is at 60 ° N.

Historically, Britain's geography has influenced human settlement, military conquest, and political alliance. They also determined the location and operation of industry, transport systems, fishing, energy 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 areas, diluted with several mountain zones in the north and southeast. But low hills stretch across most of the country, interspersed with low-lying lands and. The population is concentrated mainly around large 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 people) is a mountainous country with mountains stretching across the entire territory and
hills, often dropping into deep valleys created by riverbeds. These mountains gradually decline and turn into high hills in the east of England. The tallest mountains in Wales are located in the northwest, where Mount Snowdon reaches
1085 m. In height.

Lowlands are bounded by narrow coastal belts and river valleys in southern Wales, where two-thirds of the Welsh population live. In the past, the highlands of Wales made war, agriculture and human settlement difficult.

(population - 5.1 million people) can be divided into three main parts. The first part is the north-western and central mountains, together with a large number of islands on the western and northern coasts. These lands are sparsely populated, and account for half of the entire territory of Scotland. The second part is the central lowland lands, which make up one
a fifth of the entire Scottish territory and three quarters of the total population of Scotland, most of the industrial and commercial centers and arable land. The third part is the southern highlands, which includes a series of hills extending to the border with England.

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

Northern Ireland(population - 1.6 million people) is located only 21 km from the Scottish coast, which was the cause of peoples in the distant past. Since the division 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.

GEOGRAPHY OF UK

1. BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT THE UK

The full official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Territory - 242.5 thousand sq. Km. Population - 57 826 000: British (80%), Scots, Irish, Welsh. Capital - London (with suburbs 6.9 million people). The largest cities: Birmingham (993 thousand people), Leeds (712 thousand people), Glasgow (689 thousand people). Administrative divisions: England (Area - 130 420 sq. Km. Capital - London - 6 680 000), Wales (Area - 20 770 sq. Km. Capital - Cardiff - 279 000), Northern Ireland (Area - 14 120 sq. Km. . km. Capital - Belfast - 284 000), Scotland (Area - 77 170 sq. km. Capital - Edinburgh - 438 000), Greater London, Isle of Man and Channel Islands.

The national holiday is the Queen's birthday, the date of celebration of which is determined annually by a government decision: in 2000 - June 18. The state language is English. The state religion is Anglican in England and Wales (the head of the church is the monarch), Presbyterian in Scotland (headed by the general assembly, which includes representatives of both priests and laity).

Since 1931, the Commonwealth of historically connected countries has developed around the United Kingdom, which now includes 54 independent states. 13 "dependent territories" remain under the direct control of London - mostly small islands with a total population of less than 200 thousand people.

The United Kingdom includes England, Scotland and Wales, located on the island of Great Britain, as well as the province of Northern Ireland, which consists of six counties and is located on the island of Ireland. In addition, the United Kingdom has close political and economic ties with self-governing territories such as the Isle of Maine in the Irish Sea and the Channel Islands off the northwest coast of France in the English Channel. The United Kingdom is an industrial country with a large population for its size. However, in addition to populous cities, you can also see beautiful rural landscapes: the Scots valleys overgrown with heather, the valleys and mountains of Wales, the hills and green meadows of England and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the mild, humid climate, the lands here are fertile.

The sea has always played an important role in the history of this people. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the British navy was the most powerful in the world. Through her dominance of the sea, Britain created a huge empire and became a great trading power. Today, the United Kingdom is still a highly industrialized country, but today it does not have as much influence on world politics as it used to. Although the United Kingdom is a monarchy, the real political power is in the hands of parliament. In recent years, many people in Scotland and Wales have advocated the creation of independent parliaments. Part of the Irish population is demanding the annexation of Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. This led to a brutal civil war that began in 1961, but the 1994 ceasefire agreement gives hope for a peaceful solution.

Geography

The United Kingdom occupies most of the British Isles, some distance from the northwest coast of Europe. Among the many smaller islands, the two main islands are Great Britain and Ireland. The unstable but mild climate of the British Isles is determined by the currents of the Atlantic Ocean. On the western coasts of the country, sea winds bring frequent and abundant rains, while in the east the climate is drier.

The highlands in northern Scotland are scenic and wild. Here are the highest mountain peaks of the country and long narrow lakes. In the Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of Scotland, there is a double chain of the Hebrides. To the south, the highlands descend to the large river Clyde. This hilly area is a wonderful agricultural area. Higher rolling hills and moorlands mark Scotland's border with England. Separated from Scotland by sea, Northern Ireland has deeply indented coasts. On its territory is the largest lake in the British Isles - Lough Ney. The granite ridge of the Peninsky Mountains stretches across the whole of Northern England. Glittering lakes stretch across the mountainous northwest of the country. Wales is a picturesque land of green valleys and meadows, winding rivers and rugged cliffs. A significant part of Wales is occupied by the Cambrian mountains with a huge number of small lakes and waterfalls.

Most of Central England is hilly plain, and the North Sea coast is flat lowland. In the densely populated southeastern regions of the country, lime hills rise above fertile lands. In the southwest, there are wide moorlands. The waves of the Atlantic crash against the rocky shores of a peninsula in the southwest of England.

The mountains

Ben Nevis is the tallest mountain in Great Britain.

The ten tallest mountains in Great Britain are found in Scotland. Highest points in each part of the country

Scotland - Ben Nevis (altitude 1344 m)

Wales - Snowdon (altitude 1085 m)

England - Skyfel Pike (in the Cumberland Mountains, altitude 977 m)

Northern Ireland - Slieve Donard (Mount Murne, 852 m)

List of the most significant mountain ranges and hills:

Scotland - Grampian Mountains, Cairgorm, Scottish Highlands, South Scottish Highlands

Wales - Cambrian Mountains, Snowdonia

England - Brecon Beacons, Exmoor, Lake District, Pennines

Northern Ireland - Moorn, Antrim Plateau

Economy

The United Kingdom was the first country in the world to make the transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy. This process began at the end of the 1860s and was named the Industrial Revolution. During the 19th century, industries such as textiles, steelmaking, shipbuilding and mechanical engineering developed in England. The fuel used was bituminous coal, the deposits of which at that time were the main natural resources of the United Kingdom. Until the 80s of our century, these industries were leading in the country's economy. The United Kingdom is still a highly industrialized country, but now specializes in the manufacture of products of a different kind. On the nerve are new industries such as electronics, chemicals and food. Most of the population works in the service sector - in the system of management, financing, health care, education and tourism. Today, the main natural resources of the United Kingdom are the rich oil and gas fields in the North Sea.Only two percent of the country's inhabitants are engaged in agriculture, but it successfully produces agricultural products for both the domestic and foreign markets. Large areas of fertile land in the South and East of England are grown for crops, fruits and vegetables. Dairy cattle feed on the rich pastures of West England, and sheep graze in the highlands of Scotland and Wales. Many of England's ancient forests were destroyed long ago, but vast plantations of conifers today provide raw materials for the construction and paper industry. Fishing vessels navigate the seas off the coast of the British Isles, and the United Kingdom's fishing fleet is one of the five largest states in the European Union.

Population

The United Kingdom is a small country, but historically it has become home to many peoples, cultures and religions. The largest group of the population is the British. It is followed by the Welsh, Scots, Irish, Jews. The country is home to numerous descendants of immigrants from the colonies of the former British Empire - India, Pakistan, Bengal, Hong Kong, Africa and the Caribbean. More than four fifths of the United Kingdom's total population lives in cities. On weekends and during holidays, all the main roads of the country are crowded with cars: it is the townspeople who go on vacation to the countryside or to the coast. Another favorite leisure activity is gardening and participating in sports as players or spectators. Although the United Kingdom is a modern land of airports, highways and new suburbs, many old traditions are still honored. Performers of comic folk dances in medieval costumes give performances on holidays such as May 1st. The Welsh Bard Festival brings together poets and musicians from all over the country every year. Stormy festivities with Scottish dances are held in Scotland on New Year's Eve.

The literary and artistic heritage of the United Kingdom is extraordinarily rich. At all times, this country has been home to many great poets, playwrights, prose writers, artists, architects and musicians. English has spread all over the world - from North America to Australia. It is accepted everywhere and in the British Isles, but in the form of numerous local dialects. In addition, Welsh, Scottish and Irish are spoken here.

Story

The United Kingdom was formed in 1801. It included England, Scotland, Wales and all of Ireland. In 1921, Southern Ireland seceded from the union. The union of England, Scotland and Wales is known as "Great Britain". The documented history of Great Britain begins in 55 BC, when it was invaded by the Romans. They conquered all of Great Britain, except for its northernmost regions. Roman traders and soldiers contributed to the spread of Christianity here and also the construction of many cities. In the 5th century A.D. e. The Roman Empire fell, and the Germanic tribes of the Angles and Saxons took over the country, which became known as England. The Scandinavian Vikings ravaged the northern and eastern regions of England, while Wales and Scotland remained under Celtic rule. In 1066, England was captured by the Normans (the Vikings who conquered Northern France). In the Middle Ages, England often waged wars with neighboring countries. However, in the middle of the 16th century, it united with Wales, and in 1707 Scotland entered this union, as a result of which the state of Great Britain was formed. Beginning in the 16th century, Great Britain began to develop into a powerful maritime empire. In the 18th century, thanks to the efforts of scientists and engineers, the country made a transition from agricultural to industrial production. In the 20th century, Britain's political influence waned, although it played an important role in two world wars. By the 1960s, most of the English colonies had gained independence. In 1973, the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community (now the European Union).

The area is 245 thousand km2.

Population - 59.4 million people.

The capital is London (7.6 million people).

Geographical position. The country is located on the island of Great Britain, the northeastern part of the island of Ireland and a group of neighboring small islands. The official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It includes four main historical and geographical regions: England as the main nucleus of the state and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Ulster) are also annexed to it.

Please note that the names United Kingdom Great Britain and England are not synonymous. England is only one of the historical and geographical regions of the Kingdom of Great Britain (Great Britain), which includes England, Wales and Scotland, while the United Kingdom, the name of the state, unites Northern Ireland in addition to Great Britain.

Among the islands of Great Britain, the largest are White and Maine, and from the island groups - the Hebrides, Orkney and Scottish Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the Channel Islands in the English Channel. British ownership: in Europe - Gibraltar, West Indies - Montserrat, Virgin Islands, Cayman, Turks and Caicos Islands; in the Atlantic Ocean - Bermuda, Falkland Islands, Ascension, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha, South (George, Orkney, Scottish) in the Indian Ocean - the Chagos Islands; in the Pacific Ocean - Pitcairn Island. Between Great Britain and Argentina, they go for the possession of the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands off the coast of South America. The island state is separated from the mainland by the English Channel and the Pas-de-Calais.

On land, Great Britain is only bordered by the Republic of Ireland. The rest of the borders are maritime: the western shores of Wales and Central England are washed by the Irish Sea; western Scotland and the northern shores of Ulster - the Atlantic Ocean, in the south of England (between the United Kingdom and France), the border passes through the English Channel (English Channel), the Pas-de-Calais (Strait of Dover), in the east, Great Britain is washed by the waters of the North Sea.

The development of interstate relations led to the fact that Great Britain was at a busy crossroads of sea routes, and after the discovery of America - on the main highway of intercontinental shipping and trade.

In the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, Great Britain seized vast overseas territories and became the metropolis of the vast British Empire, where in the 19th century. lived about 40% of the world's population. The collapse of the colonial system in the XX century. led to new forms of political and economic unification of the former colonial territories. They became the British Commonwealth, which on a civilized basis now includes about 50 countries and territories that once belonged to the British Empire. Dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other territories independent and dependent on Great Britain are also members of the commonwealth.

In the second half of the XX century. the economic and geographical position of Great Britain has changed. The formation of the Common Market has strengthened the geographic advantage of continental Europe. Great Britain found itself, to a certain extent, on the outskirts of the common European interests of the European Community.

The maximum length of the island of Great Britain from north to south extends for almost a thousand kilometers, and from east to west - less than 500 km. Northern Ireland has a maximum length of 120 km. - From north to south and about 200 km. - From east to west.

Natural resource potential. The UK climate is characterized by mild, humid winters and cool and humid summers. Only the south and southeast are suitable for growing all temperate crops.

Mineral resources in the country are very limited - there are deposits of coal, iron ores, as well as non-ferrous metal ores. In the 60s of the XX century. Large new oil and gas fields have been discovered on the continental shelf of the North Sea, which have propelled the United Kingdom to the first place in Western Europe for the availability of energy resources. The country has significant reserves of limestone.

About 20% of the territory of Great Britain is occupied by forests, mountainous areas, swamps. The rest of the surface is developed and used for agricultural land and under settlements, industrial zones, communications.

Population. The backbone of the modern English nation is made up of the tribes of the Anglo-Saxons, who came from Europe and conquered the British Isles in the 5th-6th centuries, displacing the local population - the Celts. The British today - 80%, Scots - 10%, Irish - 4%, Welsh (Welsh) - 2%, Indians - 1%, other peoples (mainly from the Commonwealth states) - 3%. More than 30 thousand Ukrainians live in England.

Christianity prevails among religions. The British are Anglican, the Irish are Catholic, and the Scots are Presbyterian. Islam is quite widespread, as well as other beliefs.

The Anglican Protestant Church is the official religion in the country. In Northern Ireland, confrontation continues on confessional grounds - Protestants with Roman Catholics, which often causes bloody clashes.

The UK has a long history of low population growth. So, in the first decades after the Second World War, it was 15.0 - 17.0% per year. In our time - 0.18%. The nation is aging. The population over 60 years old is 21.0% (2000). The average life expectancy is 10 years longer than in the world as a whole, but slightly lower than in other Western European countries - 74.5 years for men and 79.8 years for women.

The urban type of settlement prevails: 89% are urban residents, and almost half of them live in large cities and urban agglomerations. The most urbanized is the southeastern and central parts of the country - between the cities of London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds. Outside of these metropolitan areas, there are three other major settlement centers: Newcastle, Glasgow and Belfast. In terms of population, the largest cities in Great Britain are London (7.6 million), Birmingham (2271 thousand), Manchester (2252 thousand), Leeds (1456 million), Liverpool (877 thousand).

Agricultural settlements in the UK are very diverse. Villages and individual farms are typical for South-East and South-West England, while small villages are typical for Scotland. Wales and Ulster are dominated by populous villages.

The average population density is 242 osib / km2. It is the second largest Western European country after Belgium (330 osib / km2).

Political structure. Great Britain is a unitary parliamentary monarchy. Formally, legislative power belongs to the monarch and parliament, which consists of the House of Commons (650 people), the House of Lords (about 1200 people). In fact - the Cabinet of Ministers, which is formed by the Prime Minister.

The main political parties are Conservative and Labor. The Conservative Party was founded in 1867 and expresses the interests of monopoly capital, the landed aristocracy and part of the management personnel. The Labor Party was formed in 1890 and is influenced by social reformist and trade union leaders.

In Great Britain, there is also the Liberal Party, organizationally formed in 1877. It defends the interests of medium and small property owners and the intelligentsia. Currently, her influence on the political life of the country is insignificant. There are other less influential political parties.

Traditionally, trade unions are of great importance in state building. The British Congress of Trade Unions unites more than 10 million people.

The UK is part of the European Union and is a member of the North Atlantic Bloc (NATO).

The modern structure of the economic complex. Great Britain belongs to the highly developed post-industrial countries of the world. Over the past two centuries, it has gone through a difficult path of development: from a wealthy colonial power in the world, the homeland of an industrial society (a "world workshop" and a "world banker") with huge super profits, to the crisis of the 30s of the XX century, post-war economic recovery, to a gradual lagging behind its main competitors - the USA, Japan, Germany and even France.

In the economic structure in terms of GNP, the non-production sphere dominates - 71.0%, industry accounts for 28.0%, in agriculture - 2.0% (1999).

By the level of the gross national product - 1257 billion dollars (1999) Great Britain has moved to the fifth place in the world. But in the financial sector, London continues to securely occupy the second place in the world, second only to New York.

The post-war economic development of Great Britain was characterized by low rates of production in comparison with other highly developed countries. If in Western European countries the average annual growth rate of industry in 1961-1979 was 5.9%, then in Great Britain - 2.9%. This trend continued in the 80s and improved somewhat in the 90s of the XX century.

The structure of the economy has changed significantly. The most dynamically expanding sphere of services, especially banking. The share of processing industries, energy, agriculture has decreased. Small business expanded. In the 1980s, about 350 thousand jobs were created in this sector every year. The development of small business has stimulated the growth of the venture (risky) industry. The efficiency of the economy was facilitated by the improvement of the level of qualifications of management personnel.

The growth of business activity in the early 90s of the XX century. contributed to the increase in the world demand for British goods, and if in 1994 the growth rate of imports amounted to 3.9% compared to 1990, the growth of exports exceeded 8%. According to the deficit of the trade balance decreased. The current structure of employment of the working-age population in Great Britain is as follows: the share in the service sector is 71.5%, in industry and construction 26.4% and in agriculture - 2.1%.

According to forecasts, economic growth in the UK will continue thanks to an increase in personal incomes of the British, employment growth, and a gradual increase in wages of the main segments of the population.

Industry. Characterizing the industry as a whole, it should be said about the change in both its sectoral and territorial structure. For example, the coal industry has been curtailing the entire post-war period, despite state support, and the oil and gas industry has been intensively developing for more than 20 years. The crisis has engulfed the ferrous metallurgy, shipbuilding, heavy machine building, and the textile industry. At the same time, the importance of high-tech industries is increasing, namely: electrical engineering and telecommunications, aviation and aerospace, chemical industries (new materials, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals). New and emerging industries are characterized by high mobility. They are shifting from the central and southern regions of the country to the periphery. For example, the oil and gas industry, initially concentrated in East Anglia, has shifted sharply to the north due to the discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea.

In general, the distribution of industry in the post-war period has become more even.

Energy. In the development of the UK energy sector, tangible changes took place in the 70s, when the intensive exploitation of oil and gas fields on the North Sea shelf began. Great Britain, starting in 1975, began to use energy resources from its own fields. In the early 90s, it entered the ten largest oil-producing countries in the world (more than 120 million tons are produced annually, or 2,735 thousand barrels of oil daily).

The UK refining industry was largely established after the war. Powerful factories are located at the mouth of the Thames (Shelhaven, Coriton), near Southampton, off the coast of Wales (Mildford Haven, Pembroke, Mandarsy and Baghlan Bay), along the Manchester Canal (Stanlow), in Teesside (Teesport), in Scotland (Grangemouth) , near Immingham (Kimingholm).

The use of oil in the fuel and energy balance of Great Britain led to a decrease in coal production. Over the past 25 years (1970-1995), production has decreased by almost 2.9 times and in 1995 amounted to 51 million tons, and in 1997 - 48 million tons. It is interesting that Great Britain was producing there is much more coal than it is now. In 1913, for example, 292 million tons of it were mined. Labor productivity in modern mines in Great Britain is four times lower than in the highly developed countries of the world, in particular in the United States, from where part of the much cheaper coal is imported.

The largest reserves of thermal coal are concentrated in the Yorkshire coalfield. 60% of all coal is mined here, and its production is three times cheaper than in other basins of the country.

Northumberland - Durham Basin, providing no more than 10% of production, is distinguished by high quality coking coal. However, the working conditions here are difficult due to the low thickness of the coal seams. Another coal basin, the South Wales Basin, is known for its anthracites.

Other basins - the Middle Scots, Northeastern, Lancashire, West Midlands - are of secondary importance.

The main part of coal is used for thermal power plants, up to 10% - in ferrous metallurgy.

Natural gas is used not only as a fuel, but also as an important raw material for the chemical industry. In 1996, more than 90 billion m3 were produced.

Great Britain has been exploiting coastal gas fields in the North Sea since 1964. In terms of natural gas production, it is one of the four largest countries in the world. Gas pipelines from offshore fields have been laid in East England, and from there to the London-Lancashire gas pipeline and further to other parts of the country.

Great Britain has a powerful electric power industry on the basis of its own and imported energy carriers. In 1997, it produced 345 billion kWh of electricity and took the eighth place in the world for this indicator. The backbone of the energy industry is thermal power plants. The share of nuclear power plants is 10%.

Iron and steel plays an important role in the UK steel industry and remains an important industry, although iron and steel production is declining. If in 1990 12.8 million tons of pig iron and 18.8 million tons of steel were smelted, then in 1997 - 8.5 and 16.6 million tons, respectively. electric melting methods. Like most of the developed countries of the world, Great Britain now specializes in the production of high-quality steel and complex types of rolled products.

The region is provided with its own coke, but in addition to manganese and alloying metals, it imports almost all the necessary iron ore.

In Great Britain, metal is traditionally smelted near coal basins (South Wales, North-East, Scottish, Lancashire) in the West Midlands and near iron ore deposits (Comberland, Linkolshirsky, Northamptonshirsky). In recent decades, metallurgy has shifted to the sea coast in connection with the delivery of imported raw materials through the ports of the country.

In the structure of the industry, the importance of processing metallurgy, which is based on scrap metal, has significantly increased. Suffice it to say that steel production is almost 1.5 times higher than pig iron production.

Among European countries, Great Britain closes the five largest producers of ferrous metals (after the Russian Federation, Germany, Italy, Ukraine), in the world it ranks eleventh (1996).

The main form of placement of ferrous metallurgy in Great Britain is not isolated metallurgical centers, but metallurgical regions. The largest area is South Wales. The combination of coal from the South Wales coalfield with the iron ores of Central England, and the proximity of seaports (Port Talbot and Manvern near Newport) make the local iron and steel industry competitive in today's structural materials market.

Among other metallurgical enterprises, coastal cities stand out: Scunthorpe (near Humberside), Teesside (Lakenby - Redcar), Scotland (Ravenscraig). In the central part, another metallurgical region stands out - Sheffield, based on the use of coal from the Middle English coal basin and local iron ores, producing high-quality steel for the engineering industry.

In general, the ferrous metallurgy industry is the most monopolized. Indeed, 90% of steel and 75% of rolled steel are produced by British Steel, which is the world's leading steel producer.

Non-ferrous metallurgy in Great Britain is mainly focused on the processing of imported raw metals and scrap. Only tin and tungsten are mined from their own raw materials in small quantities.

Great Britain satisfies almost entirely its own tin needs. A significant portion of it is used in tinplate production concentrated in the south of Wales.

Aluminum production has grown in recent decades. In 1998, it was smelted 500 thousand tons (90% of the demand). In terms of aluminum production, Great Britain opens the second ten largest producers.

There are not enough other non-ferrous metals for the country's economic complex. Thus, the country is provided with its own refined copper and zinc by only 40%. But it produces 350 thousand tons of lead (almost 6% of world production).

As in the ferrous metallurgy, the production of non-ferrous metals tends to the port cities where raw materials are supplied, in particular to Liverpool, the ports of South Wales, and the London port.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or Great Britain is a sovereign state located off the northeastern coast of continental Europe. It occupies the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), one-sixth of the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland), as well as many nearby small islands. The main territory of the country is located between 49 ° N latitude. and 59 ° N. (The Shetland Islands are located near 61 ° N) and 8 ° W. and 2 ° east longitude. The Greenwich Observatory, located in southeast London, is the origin of geographic longitudes, the prime meridian passes through it.

Great Britain is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The minimum distance to Europe is 35 km. The country is separated from France by the English Channel and the Pas-de-Calais. Northern Ireland shares a 360 km land border with the Republic of Ireland. A tunnel has been laid between the UK and France under the Pas-de-Calais. Great Britain, which includes the island of Great Britain, the northeastern part of the island of Ireland and a number of nearby small islands, has an area of ​​243 610 square meters. km. The area of ​​England - the largest country in the UK - 130 410 sq. km, the area of ​​Scotland is 78 772 sq. km. Wales and Northern Ireland are much smaller in area - 20,758 sq. km and 13 843 sq. km respectively.

Relief of Great Britain

According to the features of the relief, the territory of the United Kingdom can be divided into two main areas. High Britain (including Northern Ireland), located in the north and west of the country, is underlain by stable ancient bedrocks and is mostly highly dissected uplands and much less common lowlands. To the south and east lies Low Britain, characterized by hilly terrain, low elevations and several mountainous regions; younger sedimentary rocks lie at its base. Southwestward from Newcastle at the Tyne estuary to Exeter at the Aix estuary in the south of Devon is the border between High and Low Britain. This border is not clearly defined everywhere, and often the transitions between High and Low Britain are smoothed out.

At the base of the mountains throughout Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales lie the Lower Paleozoic folded structures, and in the south of Wales and in the south of Cornwall - Hercynian. These ancient mountain structures were subjected to intense erosion and destruction for a long time, which led to the leveling of their surface.

As a result, the newest uplifts, which took place in several stages and were accompanied by discontinuous movements, the mountains were fragmented into a number of massifs and acquired a mosaic structure. Level surfaces of different heights are very characteristic. The tops of the mountains are often flattened. The mountains of Great Britain are relatively easily accessible, with numerous roads running along low watersheds and wide passes.

UK statistics
(as of 2012)

Quaternary glaciation intensified the flattening of the mountains, as a result, in the most elevated regions, an alpine-type relief was formed with sharp jagged ridges and peaks, glacial cirques and typical valleys. A significant role in the modeling of the relief was played by erosion processes, which are actively taking place at the present time. In many lowland areas, erosion strongly, and in some places completely erased the glacial-accumulation forms of relief, formed in the era when ice sheets descended from the mountains to the plains. It is known that, for example, during the maximum glaciation, the ice approached the Thames Valley, but the extreme south of England was never covered with ice.

UK climate

The climate of Great Britain, thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream, is temperate oceanic, humid, with mild winters and cool summers, strong winds and fogs. Thanks to the North Atlantic Current and warm winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean, the UK generally enjoys mild winters.

But cloudy weather, frequent rains and fogs are explained by the same winds. The average annual temperature is about 11 ° C in the south and about 9 ° C in the northeast. The average July temperature in London is about 18 ° C, the average January temperature is about 4.5 ° C. The average annual rainfall (the heaviest rains are in October) is about 760 mm. The coldest region in the UK is Scotland, although the overall climate is quite mild. The average January temperature is about 3 ° C, and snow often falls in the mountains in the north. The average July temperature is about 15 ° C. The highest amount of precipitation falls in the west of the Highlands region (about 3810 mm per year), the least - in some eastern regions (about 635 mm per year).

Wales' climate is like England's, mild and humid. The average January temperature is about 5.5 ° C. The average July temperature is about 15.5 ° C. The average annual rainfall is about 762 mm in the central coastal region and more than 2540 mm in the Snowdon massif. Northern Ireland has a mild and humid climate. The average annual temperature is about 10 ° C (about 14.5 ° C in July and about 4.5 ° C in January). The amount of precipitation in the north often exceeds 1016 mm per year, while in the south it is about 760 mm per year.

The main reasons for the increased precipitation in the UK are the presence of a low pressure area that stretches across the Atlantic Ocean to the east; prevailing south-westerly winds throughout the year; and the fact that most of the mountains are in the west of the country. Frosty weather is established for a long time with the invasion of cold air from the east and northeast.

Snow falls throughout the country, but very unevenly. In the highlands of Scotland, the snow cover lasts at least 1-1.5 months. In the south of England and, especially in its south-west, snow falls very rarely and lasts no more than a week. Here the grass turns green all year round. Western Britain typically receives twice as much rainfall during the winter as in the summer. In the eastern regions, winters are colder and less humid.

The weather in the British Isles has become known for its variability and insidiousness due to the climatic conditions listed. In these latitudes, summer days are long and winter days are very short. Even on long July days, the southern coast receives an average of only seven hours of sunshine, and the northern part of the country less than five hours a day. The lack of sunlight is due to increased cloudiness, and not due to fog, as is commonly believed. The famous London fogs of the past enveloped the city because of the thick smoke from burning coal to heat the premises, and not because of the meteorological conditions. However, wet wet fog is still recorded in London on average 45 days a year, mainly in January and February, and in most ports there are 15 to 30 foggy days each year, and the fog can paralyze all traffic for a couple or more days. ...

Meteorologists often make mistakes in their predictions, which is why the British often hear the vague "changeable" or "unstable" in their weather forecasts. Unpredictable weather has long become a national treasure of the British, a topic of daily conversation, and for some, a determining factor in the character of the nation. The British tend to think they live in milder climates than they actually do, but many flee overseas in both summer and winter.

UK 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, whose basins border each other. The Thames is of the greatest importance to the UK economy. Its basin is home to 1/5 of the total population of the country.

There are many rivers, they are short, but close to each other and with low watersheds they are easily connected by canals, which made it possible at one time to create on their basis a dense network of waterways, which were widely used before the development of railway transport, and now more for sports purposes. Of great importance are the estuaries of rivers that protrude far into the land, as well as the general large indentedness of the coastline. This allowed the creation of many ports; some have grown into large industrial hubs. For the island country, good accessibility for sea transport is especially important.

The rivers of the low-lying part of the country are calm. In the mountainous regions of Scotland and Wales, the sources of the rivers are at significant heights, so the flow of rivers is fast, they often overflow the banks, especially in the rainy season. The fast rivers of northwest Scotland and Wales are used to generate electricity. More than 60 hydroelectric power plants have been built here.

The estuaries of the largest rivers in Great Britain - the Thames, Severn, Humber, Mersey, Clyde and Forth - are wide, artificially deepened and straightened bays. The largest seaports and industrial hubs are located there. At high tide, salt water penetrates the estuaries far upstream, so the population of most seaports is supplied with drinking water from upper rivers, underground reservoirs and mountain lakes.

The largest lakes in Great Britain are Loch Tay (about 400 sq. Km) in northern Ireland, as well as Loch Lomond and Loch Ness in Scotland. The numerous lakes of the Highlands of Scotland and the Lake Circle are very picturesque and attract many tourists. They serve as a flow regulator and are used as transport routes for local purposes. Thus, Loch Ness and Loch Lomond, located in the Great Glen and connected by a canal, constitute a direct waterway between the east and west coasts of Scotland. The Lake Circle has long been a supplier of fresh water to Manchester, which receives it through two aqueducts over 100 km long. In the lowland part of the UK, there are many artificial reservoirs created on the site of former peat mines, sand and gravel pits.

The main source of high-quality water for the population of the low-lying part of England has long been underground reservoirs. Currently, underground reservoirs provide 2/5 of all water consumed in England and Wales. In addition to natural waterways, significant work has been done to improve access to seaports, in particular dredging in the lower Clyde and Mersey, and a wide network of canals has been built, especially in England between the northern Midlands and the Thames Valley. The Caledonian Canal connects Inverness and Fort William in the Great Glen Basin, and another channel connects the Firth of Clyde and Firth of Forth in Scotland. In England, canals have been built between the rivers Dee and Mersey, Mersey and Ayr, Trent and Mersey, Avon (tributary of the Severn) and Welland and Thames and Severn.

UK soils

In the soil cover of the country, podzolic and brown forest soils are widespread, and humus-carbonate soils are found on limestones. In terms of texture, clay and loamy soils prevail. Due to the abundance of precipitation, the soils are highly leached. In general, the soils of Great Britain have long been cultivated and give high yields.

On the swampy coastal lowlands - marshes - and in some other lowland areas of England that have undergone melioration, podzolized brown forest soils have been preserved under natural and perennial pastures. Fertile peaty alluvial soils are common in the drained Fenland sea lowlands, as well as in the Trent River valley.

Here, more than in other regions of the country, they sow wheat, plant orchards and berry fields, and are engaged in intensive gardening. On the hills and cuesta ridges, thin humus-calcareous and soddy-calcareous soils are developed. In the western and northwestern regions of Great Britain, acidic brown podzolic soils prevail, grasses grow better here, and oats, barley from cereals, which determines livestock specialization. In the highlands of Cornwall, Penin, the Lake Circle and Scotland, where a humid and cool climate, soddy-podzolic soils are developed, which are easily subject to waterlogging, leading to the formation of peat bogs. It is dominated by pastures with coarse grass.

Minerals of Great Britain

Great Britain possesses significant reserves of minerals. It is especially rich in coal, the total reserves of which are 189 billion tons, including recoverable 45 billion tons. Its deposits are found in all economic regions of the country, except for three southern and Northern Ireland. The largest are concentrated in three coal basins: Yorkshire and Northumberland-Durham, located in the Pennine foothills, and South Wales - on the southern slope of the Wales Mountains. Many coal basins came close to the sea coast and coal could be easily transported. At present, the role of coal is no longer so great, its production has decreased, the best seams have been worked out, and the use of deep mines has become unprofitable.

New large energy resources - oil and natural gas - were found on the shelf of the North Sea in the 60s and 70s. The deposits are located off the coast of the south-east of England and the north-east of Scotland. Oil reserves - 2 billion tons, natural gas - 2 trillion. m3. Their intensive development has changed the overall assessment of the UK's energy security and placed it in a better position than its EU partners. The largest offshore fields are Fortis and Brent, on the mainland - Witchpharm in Dorset. Major coal deposits (significantly depleted) - Yorkshire - Derby - Nottinghamshire Basin in the East Midland, Northumberland - Durham Basin in the North East of England.

The UK also has significant reserves of iron ores (reliable and probable - 4.6 billion tons). The main deposit is in the east of Northamptonshire, but, with the exception of the rich Cumberland hematite ores that are now mined, most of the rest are of poor quality (22–33% of the metal). At present, the mining has been stopped, the industry uses rich imported ore. As for other minerals, there is a large kaolin deposit in Cornwell, rock salt in Cheshire and Durham, potash in Yorkshire and in very small quantities some non-ferrous metals (including tin in the west of Cornwell). Found uranium ores in Scotland.

The flora of Great Britain

Vegetation in England is rather poor, forests cover less than 10% of the region's territory. Basically, they survived along river valleys and in the lower parts of mountain slopes. In Scotland, forests are more common, although the region is dominated by moorlands. Most of the forests in the south and east of the Highlands are oak and conifers (spruce, pine and larch). In the lower belt of the mountains of England and Wales grow oak, elm, hornbeam, beech and ash. The upper border of the forest reaches 500-600 m, and broadleaf forests usually do not rise above 400 m.

In the perennial meadows of England and Wales grow wild pale yellow daffodils (the emblem of the Welsh), lilies, purple orchis and primrose, from which wine has long been made in English villages. Above the border of the forest in the mountains of England and Wales, cereal-forb meadows and moorlands with juniper, blueberry and crowberry prevail. In the south of the country, there are evergreen Mediterranean plant species. Plants grow all year round.

Fauna of Great Britain

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 red deer - the largest representative of mammals - lives in the hills of Cornwall, in the Scottish Highlands. There are quite a few roe deer that are found north of Yorkshire and in the south of England. Wild goats live in mountainous areas. Small mammals include hare, rabbit, marten, otter, wild cat, a large number of partridges and wild ducks. Of the small predators, the ermine and weasel are the most numerous, ferrets are found in Wales, and wild European cats and American martens are found in the Highlands of Scotland.

The rivers and lakes of Scotland are rich in salmon and trout. In coastal waters, cod, herring, haddock are caught. The fauna is practically the same as in England, with the exception of the black marten ferret, which is not found in England. Various species of fish are found in the waters off the British Isles: in the surface layers of sea waters - coal fish, herring, sprat feed in bays and estuaries of rivers, and sardines and mackerel appear off the coast of the Kirkwall Peninsula. The most important commercial fish in far and near waters are cod, haddock and marlans. Some cod specimens weigh up to 20 kilograms. Roach, chub, barbel are also found in rivers and lakes. The famous Loch Ness monster, which could be speculated to be a relict aquatic dinosaur, is most likely a fiction invented to attract tourists and a variety of businesses.

The islands and coastal cliffs of Cornwall and Wales are home to the gray seal, while the common seal prefers the coast of Scotland, the eastern shores of Northern Ireland and the islands adjacent to them.

More than 200 bird species can be seen in England, of which more than half come from other countries. The British Isles are home to 130 species of birds, including many songbirds. Many species are able to adapt to changing conditions, and it is believed that there are more birds in suburban gardens than in any forest. The most common are sparrows, finches, starlings, crows, kingfishers, robins, tits. 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 full official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Territory - 242.5 thousand sq. Km. Population - 57 826 000: British (80%), Scots, Irish, Welsh. Capital - London (with suburbs 6.9 million people). The largest cities: Birmingham (993 thousand people), Leeds (712 thousand people), Glasgow (689 thousand people). Administrative divisions: England (Area - 130 420 sq. Km. Capital - London - 6 680 000), Wales (Area - 20 770 sq. Km. Capital - Cardiff - 279 000), Northern Ireland (Area - 14 120 sq. Km. . km. Capital - Belfast - 284 000), Scotland (Area - 77 170 sq. km. Capital - Edinburgh - 438 000), Greater London, Isle of Man and Channel Islands.

The national holiday is the Queen's birthday, the date of celebration of which is determined annually by a government decision: in 2000 - June 18. The state language is English. The state religion is Anglican in England and Wales (the head of the church is the monarch), Presbyterian in Scotland (headed by the general assembly, which includes representatives of both priests and laity).

Since 1931, the Commonwealth of historically connected countries has developed around the United Kingdom, which now includes 54 independent states. 13 "dependent territories" remain under the direct control of London - mostly small islands with a total population of less than 200 thousand people.

The United Kingdom includes England, Scotland and Wales, located on the island of Great Britain, as well as the province of Northern Ireland, which consists of six counties and is located on the island of Ireland. In addition, the United Kingdom has close political and economic ties with self-governing territories such as the Isle of Maine in the Irish Sea and the Channel Islands off the northwest coast of France in the English Channel. The United Kingdom is an industrial country with a large population for its size. However, in addition to populous cities, you can also see beautiful rural landscapes: the Scots valleys overgrown with heather, the valleys and mountains of Wales, the hills and green meadows of England and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the mild, humid climate, the lands here are fertile.

The sea has always played an important role in the history of this people. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the British navy was the most powerful in the world. Through her dominance of the sea, Britain created a huge empire and became a great trading power. Today, the United Kingdom is still a highly industrialized country, but today it does not have as much influence on world politics as it used to. Although the United Kingdom is a monarchy, the real political power is in the hands of parliament. In recent years, many people in Scotland and Wales have advocated the creation of independent parliaments. Part of the Irish population is demanding the annexation of Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. This led to a brutal civil war that began in 1961, but the 1994 ceasefire agreement gives hope for a peaceful solution.

Geography

The United Kingdom occupies most of the British Isles, some distance from the northwest coast of Europe. Among the many smaller islands, the two main islands are Great Britain and Ireland. The unstable but mild climate of the British Isles is determined by the currents of the Atlantic Ocean. On the western coasts of the country, sea winds bring frequent and abundant rains, while in the east the climate is drier.

The highlands in northern Scotland are scenic and wild. Here are the highest mountain peaks of the country and long narrow lakes. In the Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of Scotland, there is a double chain of the Hebrides. To the south, the highlands descend to the large river Clyde. This hilly area is a wonderful agricultural area. Higher rolling hills and moorlands mark Scotland's border with England. Separated from Scotland by sea, Northern Ireland has deeply indented coasts. On its territory is the largest lake in the British Isles - Lough Ney. The granite ridge of the Peninsky Mountains stretches across the whole of Northern England. Glittering lakes stretch across the mountainous northwest of the country. Wales is a picturesque land of green valleys and meadows, winding rivers and rugged cliffs. A significant part of Wales is occupied by the Cambrian mountains with a huge number of small lakes and waterfalls.

Most of Central England is hilly plain, and the North Sea coast is flat lowland. In the densely populated southeastern regions of the country, lime hills rise above fertile lands. In the southwest, there are wide moorlands. The waves of the Atlantic crash against the rocky shores of a peninsula in the southwest of England.

The mountains

Ben nevis - the highest mountainGreat Britain .

Ten highest mountains Great Britain are situated in Scotland... Highest points in each part of the country

Scotland - Ben Nevis (altitude 1344 m)

Wales - Snowdon (altitude 1085 m)

England - Skyfel Pike (in the Cumberland Mountains, altitude 977 m)

Northern Ireland - Slieve Donard (Mount Murne, 852 m)

List of the most significant mountain ranges and hills:

Scotland - Grampian Mountains, Cairgorm, Scottish Highlands, South Scottish Highlands

Wales - Cambrian Mountains, Snowdonia

England - Brecon Beacons, Exmoor, Lake District, Pennines

Northern Ireland - Moorn, Antrim Plateau

Economy

The United Kingdom was the first country in the world to make the transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy. This process began at the end of the 1860s and was named the Industrial Revolution. During the 19th century, industries such as textiles, steelmaking, shipbuilding and mechanical engineering developed in England. The fuel used was bituminous coal, the deposits of which at that time were the main natural resources of the United Kingdom. Until the 80s of our century, these industries were leading in the country's economy. The United Kingdom is still a highly industrialized country, but now specializes in the manufacture of products of a different kind. On the nerve are new industries such as electronics, chemicals and food. Most of the population works in the service sector - in the system of management, financing, health care, education and tourism. Today, the main natural resources of the United Kingdom are the rich oil and gas fields in the North Sea.Only two percent of the country's inhabitants are engaged in agriculture, but it successfully produces agricultural products for both the domestic and foreign markets. Large areas of fertile land in the South and East of England are grown for crops, fruits and vegetables. Dairy cattle feed on the rich pastures of West England, and sheep graze in the highlands of Scotland and Wales. Many of England's ancient forests were destroyed long ago, but vast plantations of conifers today provide raw materials for the construction and paper industry. Fishing vessels navigate the seas off the coast of the British Isles, and the United Kingdom's fishing fleet is one of the five largest states in the European Union.

Population

The United Kingdom is a small country, but historically it has become home to many peoples, cultures and religions. The largest group of the population is the British. It is followed by the Welsh, Scots, Irish, Jews. The country is home to numerous descendants of immigrants from the colonies of the former British Empire - India, Pakistan, Bengal, Hong Kong, Africa and the Caribbean. More than four fifths of the United Kingdom's total population lives in cities. On weekends and during holidays, all the main roads of the country are crowded with cars: it is the townspeople who go on vacation to the countryside or to the coast. Another favorite leisure activity is gardening and participating in sports as players or spectators. Although the United Kingdom is a modern land of airports, highways and new suburbs, many old traditions are still honored. Performers of comic folk dances in medieval costumes give performances on holidays such as May 1st. The Welsh Bard Festival brings together poets and musicians from all over the country every year. Stormy festivities with Scottish dances are held in Scotland on New Year's Eve.

The literary and artistic heritage of the United Kingdom is extraordinarily rich. At all times, this country has been home to many great poets, playwrights, prose writers, artists, architects and musicians. English has spread all over the world - from North America to Australia. It is accepted everywhere and in the British Isles, but in the form of numerous local dialects. In addition, Welsh, Scottish and Irish are spoken here.

Story

The United Kingdom was formed in 1801. It included England, Scotland, Wales and all of Ireland. In 1921, Southern Ireland seceded from the union. The union of England, Scotland and Wales is known as "Great Britain". The documented history of Great Britain begins in 55 BC, when it was invaded by the Romans. They conquered all of Great Britain, except for its northernmost regions. Roman traders and soldiers contributed to the spread of Christianity here and also the construction of many cities. In the 5th century A.D. e. The Roman Empire fell, and the Germanic tribes of the Angles and Saxons took over the country, which became known as England. The Scandinavian Vikings ravaged the northern and eastern regions of England, while Wales and Scotland remained under Celtic rule. In 1066, England was captured by the Normans (the Vikings who conquered Northern France). In the Middle Ages, England often waged wars with neighboring countries. However, in the middle of the 16th century, it united with Wales, and in 1707 Scotland entered this union, as a result of which the state of Great Britain was formed. Beginning in the 16th century, Great Britain began to develop into a powerful maritime empire. In the 18th century, thanks to the efforts of scientists and engineers, the country made a transition from agricultural to industrial production. In the 20th century, Britain's political influence waned, although it played an important role in two world wars. By the 1960s, most of the English colonies had gained independence. In 1973, the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community (now the European Union).

Great Britain is a permanent member of the UN Security Council; member of the OSCE and the Council of Europe; is a member of NATO, WEU and ANZU; since 1973 - member of the EU. The political system is a parliamentary monarchy. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II (since February 6, 1952). Parliament is the legislature. Consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The government is formed by the leader of the party that won the majority of seats in the elections and / or enjoys the support of a majority of deputies in the House of Commons; consists of cabinet members, ministers who are not part of the cabinet, and junior ministers (about 100 people in total).