The british isles

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Data:	12.02.2007
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THE BRITISH ISLES

• Geographical terms:
➢ Great Britain
➢ Ireland
➢ Over 5000 isles

• Political terms:
➢ Independent Republic of Ireland
➢ United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland

GREAT BRITAIN

England has an area of about 130,000 square kilometres and a population of nearly 48 million. It is the largest and most densely populated part of the United Kingdom.
It is separated from the continent of Europe by the English Channel and the North Sea and is bordered to the north by Scotland and to the west by Wales.
Northern England is mountainous; the highest points are in the Lake District, in the north-west. There are hills in southern and south-western England. Central England is a large plain and most of the eastern part of the country is flat.
The Lake District is famous because two poets, called W. Wordsworth and S.T: Coleridge, went there to compose “The Lyrical Ballads” in 1798. The 2nd edition in 1800 was “Preface; The Manifesto of British Romanticism”. This preface is considerate the summary of the Romanticism laws and it analyses the inspiration from the nature.
The longest rivers are the Thames and the Severn. The Thames is famous because it traversed London, the capital, the Severn is the longest of the Great Britain.
England has a temperate climate with quite cold winters (temperatures sometimes falling below zero) and fairly warm summers. Wet weather is common all through the year.
Scotland, political division of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1191 pop. 5,091,000), 30,414 sq mi (78,772 sq km), comprising the northern portion of the island of Great Britain and many surrounding islands, including Orkneys, Shetland, and Hebrides. It is bounded by England (S), the Atlantic Ocean (N and W), and the North Sea. Between England and Scotland there is the Adrian’s wall built by the Romans. Scotland has 2,300 mi (3,700 km) of deeply coastline.
Scotland may be divided into three main geographical regions: the southern uplands, the central lowlands, and the Highlands of the north, location of Great Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis (4,406 ft/1,343 m).
Edinburgh is the capital and Glasgow the chief port. Principal rivers are the Clyde, Forth, Dee, Tay, and Tweed.
In 1707 Scotland was united with England and Wales as the United Kingdom of Great Britain. They share one Parliament, but Scotland retains its own system of law (based on Roman law) and education.
The Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian, is legally established.
Wales, Welsh Cymru, political division of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1991 pop. 2,873,000), 8,316 sq mi (20,761 sq km), on the western peninsula of the island of Great Britain, bordered by the Irish Sea (N), the Bristol Channel (S), England (E), and Cardigan Bay and St. George’s Channel (W). Physically, it is dominated by the Cambrian Mts., which rise to 3,500 ft (1,085 m) at Mt. Snowdon. Principal cities are Cardiff, the capital, and Swansea. Rivers include the Severn, Wye, Teifi, and Dee. The great coalfields and major industries are concentrated in the south, as is most of the population. More than 40,000 inhabitants speak Celtic Welsh only, and a quarter of the population speak Welsh and English. Wales united politically with England in 1536.

IRELAND

Irish Eire, second largest island (32,598 sq mi/ 84,429 sq km) of the British Isles. It lies west of the island of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St. George’s Channel. It is divided politically into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; physically, it is composed of a large, fertile central plain roughly enclosed by highland rim. Heavy rains (over 80 in./ 203 cm annually in some areas) account for the brilliant green grass that makes Ireland the (emerald isle”. The interior is dotted with lakes and wide stretches of river. The longest river is the Shannon.
Northern Ireland, political division of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1991 pop. 1,583,000), 5,642 sq mi (14,147 sq km), comprising six countries of Ulster in NE Ireland.
The capital is Belfast, one of Britain’s chief ports. Farming is the principal occupation. Shipbuilding, food processing, and the manufacture of textiles are the leading industries; Northern Ireland’s fine linens are famous.
About three fifths of the population is Protestant and one third Catholic.
Republic of Ireland, independent republic (1991 pop. 3,540,000), 27,136 sq mi (70,282 sq km), occupying all but the north-eastern corner of the island of Ireland in the British Isles; formerly the Irish Free State (1922-37) and Eire (1937-49).
Dublin is the capital. Agriculture, primarily the raising of livestock and poultry, is the primary economic activity; crops include flax, oats, wheat, turnips, potatoes, sugar beets, and barley. Tourism in the second largest source of income. Industry produces linen and laces (for which Ireland is famous), food products, and textiles, particularly wool.
Gaelic and English are the official languages, but English is more widely spoken. About 95% of the population is Roman Catholic, but there is non established church.