The article gives an understanding of what territories are part of the UK, and answers the question of what is the reason for this. The material contains Interesting Facts about the historical formation of the state. It becomes clear what historical period became a turning point in the development of the country, and Great Britain took shape in a world power known to everyone.

What parts does the United Kingdom consist of?

Great Britain is a Western European power, localized in the British Isles and separated from Europe (mainland) by the North Sea and two straits.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain consists of:

• England;
• Scotland;
• Wales;
• Northern Ireland.

The latter occupies only the northern part of the island of Ireland.

The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea.

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The total area of ​​the state is 244 thousand square meters. km.

Briefly, the country is called the United Kingdom, as well as Great Britain or Britain. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who acts as the reigning monarch.

Rice. 1. Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

The United Kingdom was formed for quite a long time. In the Middle Ages, only a number of small states-principalities were located on the territory of the present state. In the 11th century, a feudal state with sole control was already formed on the site of present-day Great Britain.

Rice. 2. Division of Great Britain on the map.

If we disassemble the United Kingdom of Great Britain into its "component" parts, we get the following picture: England is the historical basis of the whole kingdom; Scotland is a territory over which the English fought for a long time; the Principality of Wales - the original territory of residence of the Welsh; Northern Ireland is a region that is characterized by separatist initiative.

In Northern Ireland, there is an "Irish Republican Army", which has as its main goal isolation from the United Kingdom.

This gives short introduction about how many countries are in the UK.

crown lands

Today, almost a dozen small territories are under British sovereignty (14). The Queen of England is now the official ruler in 16 Commonwealth states.

The structure of Britain includes the "crown lands" - the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Crown lands are the property of the British Crown, which is not included in the United Kingdom, but is not a foreign territory. Crown lands have not had colonial status throughout their history.

Each such territory has individual car license plates and a personal postal code.

For example, the Isle of Man postal service issues its own stamps, which are bought with great pleasure by collectors and amateur philatelists.

Rice. 3. Isle of Man, postage stamps.

Some Crown Territories mint their own coins and issue paper money. They are not recognized as an official means of payment in the UK, but are often accepted as payment in many establishments in the country. Evaluation of the report

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Characteristic

Great Britain (United Kingdom) is an island state, most of whose territory is located on two large islands separated by the waters of the Irish Sea. The total area of ​​the UK is 244,017 sq. km. The population of Great Britain is 58,395 thousand people.

The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It consists of four countries: England, Scotland and Wales, located on the island of Britain, and Northern Ireland. The latter is located on the same island as the Independent Republic of Ireland. Thus, Great Britain has a common land border only with Ireland.

The British Isles lie off the northwest coast of Europe.
The British Isles are surrounded by many small islands. To the southwest of the Isle 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.

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

From the south, Great Britain borders on France - the closest and most developed neighbor, which has common water borders with it. The shortest distance to the northern coast of France is 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 high-speed rail tunnel was built at the end of the twentieth century. Prior to 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, Norway are located much further.

Thus, the EGP of Great Britain is both neighboring and seaside, which is extremely beneficial for the economic development of the country, although, undoubtedly, it has certain disadvantages in strategic and military terms.

The administrative map of Great Britain has changed several times, because. the accession of the countries that make up the United Kingdom lasted for centuries. Each once independent state has its own capital or administrative center. The official capital of the UK is
London, as the unification of the lands took place around England.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Great Britain, being in first place in the world in terms of economic development, created a colossal colonial power that occupied almost a quarter of the planet's territory. The British colonies included India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and much of Africa. In the twentieth century, the English colonies became independent states, but many of them are part of the British Commonwealth, headed by the British monarch. In 1921, the southern part of Ireland seceded from Great Britain and became an independent state.

Modern administrative divisions of Great Britain

Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy

The UK form of government is a constitutional monarchy. Monarchy is the oldest form of government in existence today. Moreover, in the UK, the succession of royal power was violated only once in ten centuries of the existence of the state. The current Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain
The second comes from the family of the Saxon king Egbert, who united England in 892, and Malcolm II, who ruled in Scotland from 1005 to 1034.

The monarch in Great Britain is the main person of the state. Legally, the monarch leads the executive branch, is the supreme commander of the British Army. But in fact, as a result of the changes that have taken place over many centuries, the monarchs have lost absolute power. The Queen rules the state with the consent of the Cabinet of Ministers, i.e. "reigns, does not rule."

The legislature is a bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Upper House - the House of Lords and the Lower House - the House of Commons. Meetings are held in the Houses of Parliament, which is one of the sights of London. The 650 members of the House of Commons are elected by British citizens once every five years, while membership in the House of Lords is hereditary in the families of hereditary nobles.

Thus, the queen represents the state in the international arena and is a symbol of power. Executive power belongs to the Cabinet of Ministers, which is formed by a parliamentary majority.

Among the variety of political parties in the UK, the leading role belongs to the two largest parties. These are the Conservatives (Tory) and the Labor Party (Whigs).

UK population

The population of the UK is over 58 million people. National composition: English - more than 80%, Scots - 10%, Welsh (indigenous people of Wales) - 2%, Irish - 2.5%.

A significant part of the population professes Protestantism. The exception is Northern Ireland, the majority of whose inhabitants are Catholics. Northern Ireland is a place of constant conflicts on religious and national grounds.

Since 1921, about 40% of the population has lived in the seven largest urban agglomerations centered on London (Greater London), Manchester (South East Lankshire), Birmingham and Wolverhampton (West Midlands), Glasgow (Central Clydeside), Leeds and Bradford (West Yorkshire). ), Liverpool (Merseyside) and Newcas-on-Tyne (Tyneside). The rate of urbanization in the UK is 91%. The proportion of the rural population is very small.

IN last years there is a noticeable influx of population from developing countries, mainly from countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Industry

Great Britain is one of the four countries that determine the economic power of Europe. UK industry includes many industries, some of which have global importance. Midland is the main industrial region of Great Britain.

Metallurgy

Metallurgy in the UK is one of the most developed industries. It employs more than 582 thousand people. Moreover, the first place in terms of the number of employment belongs to the ferrous metallurgy (332 thousand people). The rest falls on non-ferrous metallurgy. The main centers of steel and iron production are Cardiff and Swansea (Wales), Leeds (England). Annual steel production is more than 15 million tons. Aluminum smelters are located mainly in Scotland and Wales.

The consumers of ferrous metallurgy products are mainly machine-building plants.

mechanical engineering

Engineering is one of the leading industries in the UK. It includes many directions, each of which is characterized by its location. So high-tech engineering (aeronautics, electronics) are located mainly around London. The machine tool industry is concentrated in the Birmingham area. Shipbuilding is a specialization of the Glasgow region, and textile engineering is developed mainly in the Manchester region.

Fuel and energy complex.

The main energy sources are coal and oil, and to a lesser extent natural gas. The coal mining industry is one of the oldest industries in the UK. At the beginning of the century, British coal dominated the world market, but now more than 80 million tons of coal are mined annually in the UK. The main areas of coal mining are Cardiff, South Wales and Central England (Sheffield). Oil is produced on the shelf of the North Sea off the east coast of England and Scotland. The annual production is more than 94 million tons. The main oil refineries are located in Southampton, Cheshire, Yorkshire. Income from oil exports reaches 150 million pounds. Gas production is 55 billion cubic meters. m. per year and grows annually. The electric power industry is based on thermal and hydroelectric power stations. Numerous hydroelectric power plants are located in the mountainous regions of Scotland and Wales, and thermal power plants are located in coal mining areas. The share of nuclear power plants is small, although in recent years there has been an increase in their construction.

Chemical industry

The chemical industry is concentrated mainly in Birmingham and Middlesbrough. This is mainly the production of plastics, detergents and disinfectants, dyes, fertilizers. The UK is one of the largest dye exporters in the world. The pharmaceutical industry has reached a high level of development. Demand for medicines manufactured in the UK is growing every year

Light industry

Light industry is one of the oldest industries in the UK. About 690 thousand people are employed in this area, more than half of them are women. The main areas for the development of light industry are Lancashire, Yorkshire, Liverpool, Manchester. On the Isle of Lewis, the production of woolen fabrics is concentrated, mainly the world-famous "plaid". The UK is one of the world leaders in the production of woolen fabrics. Knitwear production is developed mainly in Scotland and the Midlands. The production of linen fabrics is concentrated mainly in Northern Ireland. The UK has a long history of leather dressing and is a global exporter of leather products. Factories engaged in leather production are located everywhere, but a significant part of them are concentrated in Lancashire, Yorkshire, the Midlands, and around London. The UK is the world's third largest pop shoe manufacturer. More than 200 million pairs of shoes are sold annually. The UK clothing industry is the largest in Europe. The UK is a major clothing exporter. The main centers of the clothing industry are London, Leeds and Manchester.

These names are often heard in speech, used in newspaper publications, pronounced on radio and television. By them is meant an island country in the north-west of Europe. But how identical are these concepts, is there a difference and in what? For starters, it's all about the UK.

Geographic realities

It is important to distinguish between common geographical name region and its state structure. Intuitively, most people understand that behind the concept of "Great Britain" lies a much more extensive territorial and public education than behind the term "England". And this is fair.

In geographical terminology, "Great Britain" refers to only one island of the archipelago.

• Footprint at 229946 sq. km makes it the 9th largest in the world.
• Population in 30 million people puts in the world table in third place.
• From a meridional angle reaches 966 km, in parallel - 2 times less. Separated from mainland countries by the Pas de Calais and the English Channel. The largest peninsulas are Cornwall and Wales.

Historical excursus of toponymy

In the 5th century AD e. some of the islanders migrated across the English Channel to the mainland modern France, where the so-called "Little Britain" was formed, today it is the French province of "Brittany".

In the 6th century A.D. e. to distinguish between the places of settlement of the ethnic group, the island part of the land was called "Big Britain", which in Russian was transformed into "Great Britain".

Government of Great Britain

England

• Its territory is the largest historical and administrative unit"United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". It occupies 2/3 of the island of "Great Britain", borders in the north with Scotland, in the west - with Wales.
• England Square- the largest in the state of Great Britain and is 130395 km.
• England is separated from Europe only 34 km in the area of ​​the English Channel, which made it possible to lay the Eurotunnel connecting the UK with continental Europe by a high-speed railway line.
• England does not have its own Parliament. The county councils are the link of the regional level of government.

Thus, the term "Great Britain" in the sense of the abbreviated designation of the state "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland" in geographical and socio-political aspects is much wider than the term "England", denoting only one, albeit the dominant, region of the country.

Details Category: Western European countries Posted on 06/06/2014 19:11 Views: 13983

The UK is one of the largest countries in Europe. It consists of four "historical provinces": England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The state is located in the British Isles, which include the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, a large number of smaller islands and archipelagos, including the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands, Anglesey, Arran, White in the Atlantic Ocean. Great Britain is washed by the North, Irish, Celtic and Hebrides seas. The southeast coast is separated by the English Channel from the northern coast of France.
England occupies more than half of the entire territory of Great Britain. The United Kingdom has sovereignty over 17 territories that are not part of the UK: 14 British Overseas Territories and three Crown Lands.

Dependencies

Anguilla (capital of the Valley), Bermuda (capital of Hamilton), British Antarctic Territory (capital of Rothera), British Indian Ocean Territory (capital of Diego Garcia), British Virgin Islands (capital of Road Town), Gibraltar (capital of Gibraltar), Cayman Islands (capital Georgetown), Montserrat Island (capital Plymouth), Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (capital Jamestown), Pitcairn Island (capital Adamstown), Turks and Caicos Islands (capital Coburn Town), Falkland Islands (capital Stanley), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (the capital is Grytviken) and Sovereign Military Bases in Cyprus (the capital is Episkopi).
The total area of ​​the overseas territories is 1,727,527 km² (excluding the British Antarctic Territory 18,127 km²) and their population is 260,000 people. These territories are the remnants of the British Empire that have voted to remain British territories.

Note:British claims to Antarctica are not universally recognized, the presence of military bases in Cyprus is disputed by the Republic of Cyprus, and the rights to the Falkland Islands are disputed by Argentina.

crown lands are Crown possessions, as opposed to overseas territories. This includes the Balleys of the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey in the English Channel and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. The area of ​​all three Crown lands is 766 km², and the population is 235,000 people. They are not part of the UK or the European Union, although the UK government manages foreign relations and security, and the British Parliament has the power to make laws on behalf of the territories.
ABOUT dependent territories United Kingdom on our website is described in the relevant sections.

State symbols of Great Britain

Flag- is a blue rectangular panel with an image of a red straight cross in a white border, superimposed on a white and red oblique crosses. The flag was approved on January 1, 1801.

Coat of arms is the official coat of arms of the British monarch. Other members of the royal family and the country's government use other coats of arms. The royal coat of arms occurs in two versions, one of which is used only in Scotland.
On the usual version of the coat of arms there are 2 lions and 7 heraldic leopards: 6 golden leopards with azure weapons on the shield, three each in the 1st and 4th fields of the four-part divided shield (they correspond to England). The scarlet lion with azure weapons in the second field represents Scotland. Crowned leopard in a crest. A golden crowned lion as a shield holder supports the shield on the right. On the other side, the shield is supported by a chained unicorn.

Government of Great Britain

Scotland

Scotland- the most autonomous (having its own parliament, legal system and state church, etc.) of all the countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The country occupies the north of the island of Great Britain and borders on land with England.

State symbols of Scotland

Flag- is a blue rectangular panel with a white oblique (St. Andrew's) cross. In some sources, the Scottish flag is referred to as the St. Andrew's Cross. According to legend, the Christian apostle and martyr Andrew the First-Called, the patron saint of Scotland, was crucified on an oblique cross (read more on the website). Unlike the royal standard, the oblique cross flag is available for public use. The flag is used by departments of the Scottish government as one of the official symbols. During the daytime, the flag adorns almost all government buildings. The flag was approved in the 16th century.

Coat of arms- is a golden heraldic shield with a scarlet double inner border, sprouted with lilies. On the shield is an image of a rising lion of the same color with azure weapons. Above the shield is a golden helmet topped with a royal crown. In the crest is a rearing-seated scarlet crowned lion holding a sword with a golden hilt and a silver blade and a golden scepter. Above the lion is a silver ribbon with the motto "In Defens", inscribed in scarlet letters. Around the shield is the collar of the Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Thistle. The shield is supported by rising crowned silver unicorns with golden weapons (manes, horns and hooves), chained in golden chains and standing on green soil overgrown with thistles.

Government of Scotland

Form of government- a constitutional monarchy.
head of state- Monarch of Great Britain.
Head of the government- British Prime Minister. First Minister of the Regional Government of Scotland.
Capital- Edinburgh.
The largest city— Glasgow.
official languages– English, Scottish Gaelic, Anglo-Scottish.
Territory- 78,772 km².
Administrative division– 32 regions (municipalities). There are 6 cities in Scotland: Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Inverness.
Population– 5 295 400 people Scots make up 88%, British - 7%, Irish and Poles - 50 thousand people each, Pakistanis - 40 thousand people. and etc.
Religion- the majority are adherents of the national church of Scotland, organized according to the Presbyterian type. About 16% of the population are adherents of the Roman Catholic Church. Approximately 28% of the inhabitants are atheists.
Currency- GBP.
Economy- production and export of oil on the shelf of the North Sea. Scotland is the world's most developed market for electricity generated by waves and tides. The country has the largest tidal turbines.
Sport Rugby, motorsport, chess, curling, golf, football, cricket are popular. National sports: stone pushing, throwing weight at a distance, throwing a hammer, tossing a pole (the participant takes the pole by the light end in a vertical position. After that, the throw itself begins. The athlete runs up and throws the pole up and forward so that the heavy end hits the ground , and the light fell to the ground in the direction of the player's run.)

Hammer throwing
Education- includes pre-school, general secondary, special vocational and higher education. Preschool education. There are no usual kindergartens in Scotland, there are preparatory classes, an analogue of our kindergartens, which are attended by children from the age of 4 and where they are taught to draw, sing, dance, the basics of mathematics, reading and spelling. General secondary education. From 5 to 12 years old children attend primary school. Knowledge is tested with tests in reading, writing and mathematics. Grades range from A (the highest score, similar to our five) to E. At 12, students move to secondary school. At the age of 15, students take exams for a general certificate of secondary education. After that, the student can either go to a college of further education, or continue his studies at school in order to receive a certificate higher level. To do this, you need to study from 16 to 18 years old and pass exams in 5 or 6 subjects. This certificate is enough to enter Scottish universities. To study in other parts of the UK or get into one of the top universities in Scotland, one must complete the "sixth year" of school and receive a certificate.
Special professional education can be obtained after leaving school at the age of 16. There are 43 colleges in Scotland for special or further education (similar to Russian technical schools). In colleges you can get a specialty: information Technology, learning the basics of business, electronics, design, sports, tourism, interior and exterior design, healthcare, media, finance. Higher education. Foundation preparatory programs can serve as an alternative to studying in colleges of further education. There is also a single Scottish International Preparatory Program SIFP, the successful completion of which gives graduates the opportunity to enter almost any university in Scotland. Basic course higher education at a Scottish university lasts 4 years. Upon graduation, a bachelor's degree is awarded.

National symbols of Scotland

Bagpipes- a national musical instrument, an unofficial symbol of Scotland.

Domenichino "Virgin with a Unicorn" (fragment of a fresco, 1602)
The unicorn has traditionally been included in many historical Scottish coats of arms (often in the form of a shield holder). Unicorn- a mythical creature, symbolizes chastity. They usually represent him in the form of a horse with one horn coming out of his forehead.

tartan- fabric with an ornament of horizontal and vertical stripes. The national clothes of Scotland, including kilts, are sewn from fabric with such an ornament; in Russia, this fabric is called “plaid”.

thistle flower is the national symbol of Scotland and is depicted on banknotes. According to legend, in the XIII century. coastal settlements of the Scots suffered from Viking raids. Once, an unexpected night attack was avoided due to the fact that the Vikings went barefoot into the thickets of Scottish thistle, which gave themselves away.

Nature

Loch Ness lake

The territory of Scotland includes the northern third of the island of Great Britain and the adjacent islands: the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. The west coast of Scotland is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the east by the North Sea. The western and eastern sea coasts of Scotland are connected by the Caledonian Canal, part of which is the famous Loch Ness. On the shore of the lake is the Loch Ness Monster Museum.

Sculpture Nessie
Research looking for this mythical character belongs to para- and pseudoscience - cryptozoology.
Climate moderate oceanic.

Fauna

The fauna of Scotland is typical of the northwestern Palearctic ecozone, with some exceptions.

Long-faced seal
In the temperate climate of Scotland, 62 species of wild mammals are found: the population of wild forest cats, long-nosed seals and common seals, northern colony bottlenose dolphins, about 250 species of birds (black grouse, white (Scottish) partridge, northern gannet, golden eagle, Scottish crossbilly, sea eagles and ospreys).

black grouse
The seas of Scotland are the most biologically productive in the world, total number marine species in them reaches 40,000. In the waters of Scottish rivers, there are about 400 genetically distinct populations of Atlantic salmon. IN fresh waters 42 species of fish are noted, half of which appeared as a result of natural colonization, and half as a result of introduction.
For Scotland, 4 species of reptiles and 6 species of amphibians, 14,000 species of invertebrates (including rare species of bees and butterflies) are indigenous.

Flora

The country has a very diverse landscape - the harsh treeless Shetland and Orkney Islands, the picturesque forests and lakes of the Trossachs region. On the quiet idyllic islands, which are connected to the mainland by crossings, you can get acquainted with rare species of wild flowers.
On the west coast, a chain of islets is a miniature replica of the Scottish landscape: deserted beaches, rare flowers, mountains, rivers.

Culture of Scotland

Scotland is famous for its national men's clothing - the kilt, which has many colors (tartans). Needlework is developed in the country.

Kilt- an item of men's national Scottish clothing, the traditional clothing of the Highlanders of Scotland. It is a piece of fabric wrapped around the waist, pleated (gathered) at the back and secured with 2-3 buckles and straps; usually a kilt is worn with a special bag for small items.

Literature

Scottish literature has a rich history. Classics in their genres are the works of Robert Burns and Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and James Hogg.
Scottish literature is written in English, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Breton, French, Latin and many other languages ​​ever written within the borders of modern Scotland. The earliest literary monuments date back to the 6th century. 18th century became a "golden age" for all the literatures of Scotland, especially for poetry.

Robert Burns
Poet and songwriter Robert Burns wrote in Scots, but much of his writing is in English.

Arthur Conan Doyle
Some famous Scottish writers: Sir Walter Scott ("Ivanhoe", "Quentin Dorward", "Rob Roy", etc.), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ("Sherlock Holmes", " lost World”), Robert Louis Stevenson (“Treasure Island”, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”), Kenneth Graham (“The Wind in the Willows”), William McGonagall (“Bridge Collapse on the River Tay”, “Burns Statue”, “Poetic Pearls ”, “The execution of James Graham, the Marquis of Montrose”, etc.), Irvine Welsh (“Trainspotting”, “Nightmares of the Marabou Stork”, etc.), James Barry (“Peter Pan”).
Irwin Welsh (b. 1959)

music and dancing

Of the folk instruments, the most famous is the bagpipe.
Scottish ballroom dancing and highland solo dances are popular. The dance is built mainly on high toe jumps and footwork; the body is always kept straight; hands participate little and are mostly in one of the few positions.
Mark Knopfler, founder and leader of the rock band Dire Straits, is a well-known contemporary musician and composer of Scottish descent, who is now engaged in solo projects.

Mark Knopfler
Nazareth, Alestorm, Mogwai, The FRATELLIS, Simple Minds, Franz Ferdinand also come from Scotland. The famous band "The Exploited" comes from Scotland. The most famous Scottish alternative punk band is Primal Scream. The musicians of the legendary Australian band AC / DC Angus and Malcolm Young, as well as Bon Scott are Scots by nationality and natives of Scotland.
Folk music festivals are held annually, the Celtic Connections in Glasgow and the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland

St Kilda

An isolated archipelago 64 kilometers northwest of North Uist Island in the North Atlantic Ocean. Among the cultural heritage of the islands are numerous unique architectural monuments of the historical and prehistoric periods, although the earliest written references to life on the islands date back to the late Middle Ages. The archipelago is both natural, maritime and cultural value. The medieval settlement on Hirta was restored in the 19th century, but the influence of religion, tourism and the First World War led to the evacuation of the island in 1930.
The islands are breeding grounds for many important seabird species (Northern Gannet, Atlantic Puffin and Fulmar).

Silly you
St. Kilda's common wren and St. Kilda's field mouse are endemic. Volunteer teams work on the islands in summer months over the restoration of many destroyed buildings left by the inhabitants of St. Kilda. The island also hosts a small military base established in 1957.

Old Town and New Town (Edinburgh)

The Old Town in Edinburgh is the historic center of the Scottish capital, together with the New Town in the classicist style and part of the West End with Georgian buildings, is a World Heritage Site. The old town has preserved many medieval buildings and buildings from the Reformation period.
The Royal Mile is made up of medieval buildings
Despite the name, most of the buildings in the New Town date back to the 18th-19th centuries. and made in neoclassical style.

Neolithic monuments in the Orkney Islands

A group of monuments located on the island of Mainland in the Orkney archipelago in the north of Scotland and dated 3000-2000 years. BC e. These Neolithic monuments give an idea of ​​the cultural achievements of that time.

New Lanark factory town

A small 18th century village where philanthropist and utopian Robert Owen early XIX V. tried to create an ideal example of an industrial commune. The impressive buildings of the weaving factory, spacious and comfortable houses for workers, a general education and vocational school - all this has been preserved as a monument to Owen's humanism.

Scotland in the XIX-XXI centuries

Scotland in many ways occupies a unique position in the United Kingdom, which is associated with the history of its unification with England and participation in the work of the national parliament while maintaining its administrative and judicial system.
After the Second World War, Scotland experienced a sharp decline in manufacturing, but in recent decades there has been a cultural and economic revival of the region due to the development of the financial transactions and electronics manufacturing.
Since the beginning of 2000, the influence of nationalists has increased in Scotland. In 2007, the National Party won elections to the Scottish Parliament, and its leader announced that he would seek a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014.

Principality of Wales (Wallis)

Wales- one of four main administrative and political parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Wales is located in the southwest of the UK. In the east it borders on the English counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, with three parties surrounded by the sea: in the south it is the Bristol Channel, in the southwest - the Strait of St. George, in the north and west - the Irish Sea, in the northeast - the mouth of the River Dee.

State symbols of Wales

Flag- is an image of a red dragon on a white and green background. Legislated in 1959, although the red dragon has been a symbol of Wales since Roman times. During the Middle Ages (under the Tudor dynasty), white and green were also associated with Wales. It is the only one of the flags of parts of the United Kingdom not included in its flag, which causes some criticism.

Coat of arms- Royal Badge of Wales. It is a shield dissected and crossed into gold and scarlet with four marching lions with azure weapons (claws and tongue). The shield is bordered by a green ribbon with the motto: "I am true to my country", a line from the Welsh anthem. The sign is crowned with the crown of St. Edward. Around the sign there is a wreath of heraldic plants of the constituent parts of the United Kingdom: Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England: leek, thistle, shamrock and double Tudor rose.
The main national symbols of Wales are the Welsh dragon, the leek and the daffodil.

Government of Wales

Form of government- a constitutional monarchy.
head of state- Monarch of Great Britain.
Head of the government- British Prime Minister. First Minister of Wales.
Capital and The largest city — Carfdiff.
Territory- 20,779 km².
Official languages- English, Welsh.
Population– 3,063,456 people The main peoples are the Welsh and the British. Of the total population of Wales, 29% of the Welsh retain their language to some extent.

Church of the 13th century in Ceredigion
Religion The most common religion is Christianity (72%). Adherents of various religions live in Wales.
Currency- GBP.
Administrative division– 22 unitary administrative units. They include 9 counties, 3 cities and 10 city-counties. Unitary units, despite the difference in the name of the status, have equal rights.
Economy- mining and industry, agriculture and cattle breeding (19% under arable land, 10% under meadows, 3% under pasture, 31% under forest). Coal mining. Ferrous metallurgy. Non-ferrous metallurgy. Oil refining. Petrochemical and chemical industry. Agriculture, sheep breeding, meat and dairy farming.

Sport- national sport - rugby. The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is the most beautiful rugby stadium in the world. Football is the most popular sport in Mid and North Wales. Boxing and equestrian sports are also popular.
Education- is mandatory for all citizens aged 5 to 16 years. There are two sectors of education: public ( free education) and private (paid educational establishments). Education in schools is conducted in both English and Welsh. The language of instruction is chosen by parents or children. If you choose to study in English, Welsh is studied as a second language foreign language. Pre-school education: from 0 to 5 years in kindergartens and preparatory groups. For children aged 0 to 3 years - preschool education paid and carried out mainly in private educational institutions.General secondary education is compulsory and free for children aged 5 to 16. Schools in Wales are divided into state (free) and independent (fee). Independent schools are not required to comply with state education policy, but in practice they follow the recommendations of the Department of Education for Wales.
Further education (after 16 years). Many can continue their education after completing compulsory secondary education. You can continue your academic education, get a certificate of advanced secondary education and go to university (after 18 years). You can continue your education in vocational colleges. There are 20 universities in Wales. Education is partly paid. The state does not control curriculum universities, but oversees university admissions and learning standards.

Nature

Wales is located on a peninsula. Most of the area of ​​Wales is occupied by mountains, especially in the north and in the center. They were formed during the last ice age, during the Devonian glaciation. The most high mountain- Snowden (1085 m).
Climate mostly marine. Wales is majestic mountain landscapes and wide sandy beaches, monasteries and ancient castles, dense forests and crystal clear lakes. Most of Wales is made up of national parks (Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast) and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty such as the Gower Peninsula.

Three Cliffs Bay
There are many small bays and beaches on the south coast. The Northern Cotswold Tombs have been found on the territory of the Park Coom barrow. In the caves of the peninsula, wall paintings of people who lived in the 12th millennium BC were found. e. A complex of nine menhirs was also investigated (one fell). On the peninsula are the ruins of six medieval castles.

Culture of Wales

Music

The most famous type of musical creativity is the choir, especially the male one. The oldest musical tradition in Wales is instrumental folk music. Traditional for Welsh folk music musical instrument is a harp (Welsh triple harp). Bowed rotta and pibgorn horn are traditional for Wales.

Welsh triple harp
In the 1990s there are new musical groups Super Furry Animals, Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Stereophonics, etc. In recent years, alternative rock and punk rock have become widespread.

art

The Welsh painter Richard Wilson was one of the first well-known British landscape painters, one of the first artists to depict the nature of Wales.

R. Wilson "Lake Averno" (circa 1765)
In 1865, the Cardiff School of Art opened, which gave impetus to the development visual arts Wales.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Wales

Castles of Edward I in Wales

Northeast tower of Caernarvon Castle
The castles and fortresses of King Edward I in the ancient Principality of Gwynedd are well-preserved fortifications from the reign of Edward I (1272-1307), located in north Wales on the territory of the kingdom of Gwynedd. The castles of Beaumaris and Harlech represent a unique architectural achievement of the late 13th century, consisting in the use of double walls and a concentric layout.

Mining landscape of Blanavon

The surroundings of Blanavon are reminiscent of the fact that in the 19th century. South Wales was the world's largest producer of iron and coal. It still has all the necessary components for this: coal and iron ore mines, quarries, a primitive railway system, smelting furnaces, workers' dwellings and social infrastructure facilities.

Pontkysillte aqueduct

A navigable aqueduct over the Dee valley in northeast Wales. The Llangollen Canal passes through it, the aqueduct is located between the villages of Cefn Mawr and Wronkisillte and is the longest and highest aqueduct in the UK. It fits perfectly into the complex landscape. More than 200 years after its opening, it is still in use and is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. The height of the canal on both sides of the Dee Valley is 38 m.

Wales in the 20th and 21st centuries

Since the end of the First World War in Wales, as throughout the UK, there have been significant social changes, including those relating to the status of women.
During the Second World War, a number of cities in Wales suffered from German air raids.
After the war, the traditional heavy industry continues to decline, but in general, as throughout the UK, there is a significant increase in prosperity. In 1955 Cardiff officially becomes the capital of Wales.
Since the 1960s issues of nationalism are acute in society, which is connected, in particular, with the famous speech of Saunders Lewis “The Fate of the Language”, after which the Welsh Language Association is created. The partnership held a number of civil disobedience actions, demanding that road signs be duplicated in Welsh. Among the others important events one can name the protests against the flooding of the village of Kapel-Kelin, where all the inhabitants spoke Welsh, the reservoir that supplied English Liverpool with water, and the struggle for the creation of the Welsh TV channel (opened in 1982).
Plans of the government of Margaret Thatcher to privatize the coal industry in the mid-1980s. led to inconclusive strikes in South Wales.
In 1993, the Welsh language law was passed - Welsh receives equal status within Wales with English language. In 1999, the work of the Welsh Assembly began. The Assembly has the power to make laws in force in Wales. The building of the National Assembly is located in the capital Cardiff.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland- the administrative and political part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, located in the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland.

State symbols of Northern Ireland

Flag- Officially represented by the flag of Great Britain. From 1953 to 1972 a special flag known as the "Ulster Banner" was used by the government and government organizations of Northern Ireland. It consisted of a St. George's cross, inside which were located a white six-pointed star and a red hand (a symbol of ancient Ulster). Above the star was a crown.

Unofficially, the people of Northern Ireland fly for the holidays the flag that corresponds to their political preferences: the flag of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

Coat of arms received the approval of the Cabinet of Northern Ireland. A royal decree signed by George V and approved by the Home Office was signed on August 2, 1924. The coat of arms was registered in the Register of Arms in Dublin, as follows: “In a silver field there is a scarlet cross, on top of which is a silver six-pointed star surmounted by the imperial crown and burdened with a scarlet right palm, cut off at the wrist. In 1925, a red lion in a gold collar with the banner of Ireland (a golden harp on a blue field) and an Irish elk, also in a collar and with the banner of the Dukes of De Burgo, which is the base for the flag of Ulster, were adopted as shield holders. In 1971, the London College of Arms added a base on which the shield holders stand. Since 1972, this coat of arms has not been official.

Government of Northern Ireland

Form of government- a constitutional monarchy.
head of state- Monarch of Great Britain.
Head of the government- British Prime Minister. First Minister of Northern Ireland.
Capital- Belfast.
Largest cities Belfast, Derry.
official languages- English, Irish, Ulster-Scottish.
Territory- 13,843 km².
Administrative division– 6 counties and 26 districts.
Population– 1,810,863 people Ethnic composition The population of Northern Ireland is heterogeneous: about 500 thousand indigenous inhabitants of the island of Ireland live here - Catholic Irish and about 1 million Anglo-Irish and Scotch-Irish.
Religion- the majority are Protestants (53%), 44% are Catholics and 3% of the population are atheists or adhere to another religion.
Currency- GBP.
Economy Northern Ireland is the poorest part of the UK. 80% of the land is agricultural land. main products Agriculture are milk, meat, bacon, eggs, oats, potatoes and barley. Brown coal has been found in Northern Ireland, iron ore, bauxite, lead and copper ores, but it is unprofitable to mine them. Developments of limestone, sand, crushed stone are developed. The aerospace and electronic industries are developing. The branches of processing of agricultural products remain strong.
Industry is concentrated in the areas of large ports. One of the most famous ports in the entire United Kingdom is Belfast.
Education– The Education Act of 1947 gave Catholics equal access to education with Protestants. Primary and secondary education is compulsory for all children aged 5 to 16. The average level of education corresponds to classical, secondary and technical schools. For admission to classical and technical schools, you must pass qualifying exams. The higher education system includes technical colleges, universities and teacher training colleges. The Queen's University Belfast, founded in 1845, is renowned for its medical school and is a center for the study of the humanities and technical sciences. Ulster University at Coleraine was established in 1984.

Nature of Northern Ireland

Nature is very picturesque. The main feature is the amazingly beautiful landscapes with ancient castles, towers and houses. Between the lakes are hilly hills. Loch Neagh is the largest lake in Great Britain (392 sq. km). The second largest lake system is Upper and Lower Lough Erne in the southwest of Northern Ireland. Coastal areas are very picturesque.
Climate Northern Ireland is temperate, with mild winters and cool summers. The amount of precipitation is quite high, in the west they fall more than in the east.
6 national parks reflect the unique landscapes and landscapes of the country: national park Ballycroy created to protect the landscapes of mountains and lowland swamps on the Atlantic coast, the park Burren– to protect the unusual landscapes of this area, primarily limestone cliffs, Glenveh- forest and lake landscapes.

The main attraction of the reserve is the castle of the same name, built in 1870-1873. Captain John George Adair.

Culture of Northern Ireland

Throughout much of Northern Ireland's history literature was the privilege of the Protestant population, the development of literature among the entire population began only in the 1960s.
Development graffiti the region has a long history. Back in the time of William of Orange, the drawings placed on the walls of the fortifications indicated the establishment of the British and Protestantism there. Catholics began to use this art form only during the campaigns for the provision of Home Rule in the early 20th century. By the middle of the XX century. graffiti has gained immense popularity among the population and has become a kind of field for ideological warfare.

Architecture Northern Ireland is a structure similar to most of the buildings of the British Isles. The main view is the "long house", similar in its main features of the internal layout to the Central European type of house common in Europe. In its original form, this house was a single-chamber building in which the living quarters and stalls were combined under one roof. Another common type is the "house - hall", in which the stalls began to be built separately from the house, and the huge room of the hall was used for housing. Such types of houses are inherent in other regions of Europe.

The main holiday St.Patrick 's Day(March 17). Saint Patrick, according to legend, brought Christianity to the pagan island and drove out all the snakes. In honor of St. Patrick, a parade is held with songs, dances and mass festivities, even though the holiday most often falls on Lent. Saint Patrick's Day has transcended national borders and has become Ireland's international day. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in different cities and countries of the world, including Russia. The symbols of the holiday are: green color, mythical creatures leprechauns and shamrock. The shamrock has become a symbol of the freedom-loving spirit of the Irish and a symbol of the struggle for self-determination. Saint Patrick's Day is also Ireland's national Independence Day.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Northern Ireland

"Road of Giants"

This is a unique coastal area, which is about 40,000 interconnected basalt (or andesite) columns, formed as a result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Located in the northeast of Northern Ireland. The tops of the columns form a springboard, which starts at the foot of the cliff and disappears under the surface of the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although some have four, five, seven or eight corners. The highest is about 12 m.

Today, the "Road of the Giants" belongs to the National Foundation, which organizes the access of tourists and is engaged in the protection of this object. Giant's Road is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland in the 20th and 21st centuries

In 1916, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, with the support of the Irish civil army and members of the trade union militia organized the "Easter Rising" in Dublin. During the mutiny, several buildings in the city center were captured, the "Proclamation establishing the Republic of Ireland" was issued, but the mutiny was crushed by British naval artillery. This uprising gave impetus to further large-scale struggle for Irish independence. In the general elections of 1918, the Irish Republicans won a majority of seats in parliament and declared Ireland an independent country, formed their own parliament (Dale) under the leadership of Eamon De Valer. These events sparked the Anglo-Irish War, which lasted from 1919 to 1921.

The war ended with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1921, according to which 26 Irish counties were granted independence, and 6 counties were granted the right to secede from Great Britain. Northern Ireland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom with its own parliament and government, which formed the basis of the Ulster Conflict. On the rest of the island, the creation of the Irish Free State, the predecessor of the modern Republic of Ireland, was proclaimed. In 1937, a new constitution was adopted there, according to which the former dominion became the sovereign state of Eire. And in relations with Northern Ireland, the most important clause of the constitution was the article on the need to reunite a single Irish state. In 1949, Ireland declared itself an independent republic and withdrew from the Commonwealth.
After the secession of the Republic of Ireland and throughout the century, there were numerous terrorist attacks carried out by the Irish Republican Army in order to prevent the Northern Irish government from exercising its authority in this territory. The most significant campaign against the northern counties was launched between 1956 and 1961.
The predominance of Protestant forces in the parliament led to a gradual increase in discontent on the part of the Catholics. In 1967, activists in the Catholic movement created the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, which demanded civil equality for Catholics and Protestants. Their rallies under the slogans of protecting the rights of the Catholic population led to the intensification of the activities of radical religious and political groups and to a new aggravation in interfaith relations. Thus began the conflict in Northern Ireland.
The clashes culminated in the events in Londonderry in August 1969, followed by armed riots in Belfast. Regular army units were introduced into the territory of Northern Ireland. But these measures did not help to improve the situation in this part of the country, and in 1972 a regime of direct rule was introduced in Northern Ireland. This led to the most severe riots and uprisings. Apogee - "Bloody Sunday" January 30, 1972, when British troops opened fire on the rebellious Catholics and killed 13 people. The rebels broke into the British embassy in Dublin and burned it to the ground. Total from 1972 to 1975. 475 people died in Northern Ireland. The British government decided to hold a referendum, but it was boycotted by the Catholic minority. In 1973, the leaders of Great Britain and Ireland signed the Sunningdale Agreement on the creation of the Council of Ireland, an interstate consultative body of ministers and members of parliament of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, but the ratification of the agreement was thwarted by protestant extremists. The attempt to recreate the assembly in 1974 and the elections to the convention in 1976 also ended.
The Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed in 1985. It confirmed the belonging of the territory of Northern Ireland to Great Britain as long as the majority of its inhabitants support it. As a result of these agreements, first the Irish Republican Army declared a ceasefire, and then the Protestant military organizations. A new terrorist attack by members of the Irish Republican Army in London on February 9, 1996 interrupted the truce.
Negotiations between all parties in Northern Ireland and the governments of Great Britain and Ireland ended on April 10, 1998 with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, or Belfast Agreement.