Map of Great Britain with rivers and mountains. Map of Great Britain in Russian

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is an island state located in northwestern Europe. The country is washed by the waters of the North Sea from the east, the Norwegian Sea from the north and the Atlantic Ocean from the west and south. It occupies the entire island of Great Britain, as well as the northeastern part of the island of Ireland and small nearby islands and archipelagos.

The detailed map of Great Britain shows that the country also extends its sovereignty to a number of island territories in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Great Britain on the world map: geography, nature and climate

Great Britain occupies 243,809 km2 on the world map, of which 229,946 km2 is on the island of Great Britain. Despite its relatively small size, the country has an extremely long coastline - 17,820 km.

The length of the land border is only 360 km. The only land neighbor of Great Britain is Ireland, which occupies most of the island of the same name. However, the country's overseas territories border with Spain (in a small area near the city of Gibraltar) and Cyprus (in the area where sovereign British military bases are located). Great Britain recognizes more than two dozen states as its maritime neighbors, but its main territory borders only with France across the English Channel and Pas-de-Calais.

Geographical location of Great Britain

The country's topography is very diverse. The northern regions of Great Britain are represented by the Scottish Highlands. It is here that on maps of Great Britain in Russian you can find the highest point in the country - Mount Ben Nevis (1344 m). To the south, the Lowlands of Scotland begin, abutting the Pennine Range, which stretches 350 km from north to south. Behind it begins the Midland - a plain that occupies most of the island. Another small mountain range, Snowdonia, is located in Central Wales in the west of the country.

The country's Northern Irish enclave, despite its small size, is also distinguished by its varied topography. This is where the country's largest lake, Lough Neagh, is located, with an area of ​​396 km². There are a sufficient number of large deep rivers in Great Britain, but the length of the longest, the Severn, does not exceed 354 km.

Animal and plant life

The country's nature has been subject to significant human intervention since ancient times. Up to 70% of the UK is used for agricultural purposes. And only 10% of the land is occupied by forests. In the northern mountainous regions, mixed oak-pine forests are common. To the south, elms, hornbeams, birches, beeches and ash trees are more common. A significant part of animal species was exterminated. Today there are only 53 species of mammals in the UK. The most common species are red deer, wild goats, roe deer, badgers, foxes, otters and weasels. Gray and common seals are often found on the coasts. Coastal waters are rich in commercial fish species - mackerel, herring, sprat, cod and sardines.

Climate

Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, the country's climate is milder than in countries of the same latitude. Most of Great Britain lies in a temperate oceanic climate. The average winter temperature ranges from 2-4 0 C, and the summer temperature rarely exceeds 15-16 0 C.

It is worth noting that in the mountainous and most northern regions these indicators will be 2-3 degrees lower. The number of rainy and cloudy days in the country is high, so the amount of precipitation in the most humid western regions can reach 3000 mm per year. However, in most areas of the UK the average rainfall does not exceed 800mm.

Map of Great Britain with cities. Administrative division of the country

Great Britain has a very confusing structure. Not counting the overseas territories, the country is divided into 4 main parts, which are actually autonomous states. These are England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Moreover, each of the parts has its own internal administrative division, different from the others. So Northern Ireland is divided into 6 counties and 11 districts, Scotland into 32 counties, and Wales into 9 counties, 10 shire towns and 3 cities. England has the most complex division: 28 counties, 6 city-counties, 9 regions, 55 unitary units, Greater London and the Scilly Archipelago, which has a special legal status. A map of Great Britain with cities in Russian makes it clear that the majority of the country's population (up to 85%) lives in England, which occupies about 53% of the area of ​​Great Britain.

London is the capital of Great Britain and the third most populous city in Europe. Located in the southeast of the country on the banks of the Thames River. It is one of the key economic and financial centers of the world.

150 km north-west of London is Birmingham is the second largest city in Great Britain. Historical center of British industry and engineering. It is also one of the leading European scientific and educational centers.

City of Leeds located closer to the geographical center of the country in the county of Yorkshire and is the third largest city in the UK. After the capital, it is the country's second most important financial center.

If you are well versed in geography, then it will not be difficult for you to easily describe the position of Great Britain on the map in English. And if not, then you can always use our topic, which will guide you around the country from south to north, and from east to west.

When studying a map of England in English, the only thing you have to do is remember a lot of names. Seas, mountains, cities, capitals and rivers can be challenging. But don't worry, you can do it! In our article you will find the most significant objects.

Look at the map. You can see that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on 1the Isles 2. They are called the British Isles 3 There are more than 5000 small islands there. Two of them are the biggest: Great Britain and Ireland. We know that the UK consists of 4 countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are located on the largest island which is called Great Britain. Northern Ireland is situated on the smaller one which is called Ireland and occupies the northern part of it.

You can see that the UK is washed by water 4 from all sides. It is separated from 5 Europe by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. It is washed by the Atlantic ocean in the west, by the North sea in the east. The UK is separated from the Ireland by the Irish sea. The geographical position flavored the development of the country as a great sea country.

England occupies 6 the southern part of Great Britain. Scotland is in the north of the island and Wales is in the west of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is in the north-east of Ireland.

The central and the most beautiful part of the county is England. The landscape is diverse 7. In the north and in the west of the country you can see mountains 8, but the other area is plain 9. England has more fertile soil 10 than others. Also there are many lakes in the north-western district 11 which is known as Lake District.

Scotland can be called the country of mountains. The region of the mountains which is known as Highlands is the oldest in the world. The Grampians is the chain 12 of the mountains there. Ben Nevis is the highest peak 13 . There are some other chains: the Pennine in England and the Cumbrian Mountains in Wales.

You will find a lot of forests along the county. But none of them can be called great. The biggest one is Sherwood Forest. It occupies the area in the eastern part of England. Of course, you have heard the legends about it. The most famous is about Robin Hood.

There are many rivers in the UK. But they are not long. The longest one is the Severn which flows in England. The Thames, the Mersey and the Clyde are the most important rivers. They play a great role in British trade and commerce.You can travel by water along the whole country because many of the rivers are connected 14 by channels.

London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh are the largest cities in the UK. The total area 15 of the UK is 224,000 sq km. And the population 16 is about 60 million. It's advantageous 17 positions has made the UK one of the powerful country in the world.

Vocabulary:

1. to be situated on — is located
2. the Isles — islands
3. the British Isles — British Isles
4. to be washed by water - washed with water
5. to be separated from — separated from
6. occupy - takes
7. diverse diverse
8. mountains - mountains
9. plain - flat
10. fertile soil - fertile soil
11. district — area
12. chain - mountain ranges
13. peak - peak
14. to be connected — connected
15. total area — general territory
16. population - population
17. advantageous - advantageous position

Great Britain and Ireland - islands of Great Britain and Ireland

England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

the English Channel and the Strait of Dover — English Channel and La de Calais (Straits of Dover)

the Atlantic ocean, the Irish sea Atlantic Ocean, Irish Sea

Highlands— Highlands (mountainous areas)

Ben Nevis— Ben Nevis

The Grampians, the Pennine, the Cumbrian Mountains in Wales - Grampian Mountains, Pennines, Cumbrian Mountains

The Thames, the Mersey and the Clyde, the Severn — Thames, Mersey (Mersey), Clyde, Severn

London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh - London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh

Well, have you read it? Translated? Have you figured it out? The map of England in English will look less scary if you look at and analyze the text again. Try to name only the rivers, where they are and what they are. Capitals, mountains, what separates them and where they are located. It will be easier to learn in parts. Go for it!

You will learn from this article how England differs from Great Britain, the lords' fees from the House of Commons, and Prince Harry from Princess Beatrice.

Most of us use the words “England” and “Great Britain” as identical concepts, without going particularly into the legal meaning of these concepts. Meanwhile, as they say in Odessa, these are “two big differences,” two completely different territories.

England- a territory on the island of Great Britain, its largest administrative unit. The name “England” goes back to the name of one of the Germanic tribes (the Angles) that once inhabited this historical region.

Scottish man in traditional costume

During the era of medieval fragmentation of Europe, England was an independent kingdom, whose possessions either increased or decreased depending on the military successes of local rulers.

Great Britain- this is the name of the largest island of the British archipelago, on which, in addition to England, there are two more independent territories that were previously independent states: Wales and Scotland.

Henry VIII - one of the most famous rulers of medieval England

Country England or Great Britain?

The country that we call either England or Great Britain is officially called “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. Therefore, strictly speaking, both names are wrong.

The United Kingdom's possessions include the island of Great Britain, the north of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands and archipelagos around the world, such as Gibraltar, Bermuda, the Falkland Islands and the Cayman Islands.

Tower Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in Great Britain

In Russia, this cumbersome name is often shortened to “Great Britain”. In Europe, the abbreviation UK (from “united kingdom”) is almost always used for abbreviation.

British Royal Guards dress uniform

United Kingdom of Great Britain: general information

What part of the continent is Great Britain located on?

Great Britain, not counting small islands, is located in the British Archipelago, in the North-Western part of Europe. This region is often called Foggy Albion due to the abundance of rain, dampness and endless fog that cyclones bring from the Atlantic.

The warm waters of the Gulf Stream slightly soften the climate: there are no very cold winters here (with the exception of the mountainous areas of Scotland and Wales), and in summer the average temperature is around 20 Celsius.

Rain and fog are common in England

Capital of England and Great Britain

London is the capital of Great Britain and is also the capital of the administrative region of England. This is the largest city in the kingdom, its cultural and economic center. London is also one of the global financial centers of the world.

Economic institutions of global scale are concentrated here; the main financial flows of the largest transnational corporations and currency centers of smaller states pass through London.

London is the capital of England and Great Britain

London was founded by the Romans as the capital of the Roman province of Britannia, located in the British Isles. The first mention of London is found in 117 by the Roman historian Tacitus - at that time the city had existed for more than 50 years.

London has occupied its leading position among other capitals since the Middle Ages. In terms of influence on world politics, few cities in the Old World can compete with the center of the British Empire.

In the 20th century, London also gained fame as one of the world's main centers of fashion and youth subculture. It is to London that we owe the appearance of “dandy” and “casual” styles, rock musicians and the Beatles group.

The Beatles are Britain's most famous rock band

Great Britain on the world map

Today, Great Britain ranks modestly 78th in the world in terms of territory size. It accounts for only 2% of the earth's surface. We can say that Great Britain is just a small spot on the world map. But it was not always so.

At its height, the British Empire literally controlled a quarter of the world. At the beginning of the 20th century, Great Britain was the largest state that has ever existed on the planet (its record has not yet been broken).

Former British colonies on the world map

In addition to the crown territories in the British Isles, Great Britain owned: Canada, Australia, half of the African continent, India, Oman, Iraq, Honduras, Bermuda and the Bahamas, Malaysia, Burma, New Zealand, New Guinea, Cyprus and other smaller territories. The USA was also territory of the British Crown until its War of Independence in 1776.

Contemporaries said that the sun never sets on the British Empire. In fairness, it should be noted that the colonial policy of Great Britain did not promise anything good for the conquered territories. In the history of the British Empire there were many bloody wars and the most severe punitive operations in the territories under its control.

Modern territory of Great Britain on the map of Europe

Map of Great Britain in Russian

You can see detailed maps of Great Britain, including a map of attractions, roads and railways, administrative divisions and many others. All maps are available for download.

Political structure of Great Britain

Who is the head of state in Great Britain?

The UK has a rather complex and confusing system of government. In addition to the monarch, there are such bodies governing the country as the House of Lords, the House of Commons, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Prime Minister.

British Parliament House in London

UK House of Commons

The main task of the House of Commons is to represent the interests of all classes of the population when passing laws in the state. Members of the House of Commons are elected by voting in the administrative districts of Great Britain for a term of 5 years. This is the lowest level of the UK legislature.

UK House of Lords

The House of Lords represents the interests of the highest aristocracy and clergy in Great Britain. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the House of Lords had the right to reject any bill proposed by the House of Commons if it considered that this law infringed on the interests of the nobility.

UK House of Commons

Currently, the Lords can only delay such laws by between one month and a year. The duties of members of the House of Lords also include the consideration of judicial appeals.

A seat in the House of Lords is hereditary (except for representatives of the church, where members of the House of Lords are appointed by the Council of Bishops), and it is one of the most archaic bodies of government in Europe. Members of the House of Lords, unlike the House of Commons, do not receive a permanent salary for attending meetings and are not required to attend every meeting.

UK House of Lords

UK Parliament

The Commons and the House of Lords are collectively called the Parliament of Great Britain. If necessary, the monarch can dissolve parliament and announce early elections, or, conversely, extend its powers.

Cabinet of Ministers

The Cabinet of Ministers is the highest governing body of the country. Cabinet members head various government structures (departments or ministries). Ministers are appointed from among the representatives of Parliament, their responsibilities include the leadership of ministries, as well as consultations with the monarch on important decisions. The UK Cabinet reports to Parliament.

UK Cabinet Office, 2012

Prime Minister of Great Britain

The Prime Minister of Great Britain is the main official in the country after the monarch. He heads the government and can act on behalf of the monarch in certain matters. The candidacy for the post of prime minister is approved by the king or queen from among the most influential members of Parliament.

Kings and Queens of Great Britain

Great Britain is one of the oldest monarchies in the world. The highest head in the country is the monarch (king or queen), the throne is passed on by majority inheritance (that is, the eldest in the family).

Throne Room of Buckingham Palace in the UK

Despite the fact that outwardly members of the British royal house perform purely representative and ceremonial functions, the monarch in Great Britain has very real power.

The King or Queen of Great Britain can dissolve the government, grant the title of Lord to non-noble citizens to enter the House of Lords, approve bills, appoint ministers and pardon criminals.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain on the throne

UK Conservative Party

The Conservative Party of Great Britain (Tory Party) is the oldest political party in Europe, which dates back to the 17th century. The party traditionally represents the interests of the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie.

Historically, it is the most powerful political force in the kingdom, consistently holding the majority of seats in Parliament. The most prominent prime ministers in recent British history belonged to the Conservatives: Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron.

The current British Prime Minister Theresa May is also a member of the Conservative Party.

Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister during World War II

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is one of the oldest reigning monarchs in the world. She took the throne from her father George VI in 1952 and has been in power for more than 60 years (Elizabeth II turned 90 in 2016). According to most Britons, Elizabeth is an example of an impeccable ruler who has not tarnished her royal title in any way.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain

Despite belonging to the weaker sex, Elizabeth II is famous for her iron character, and will give odds to many men. Some interesting facts from her biography:

At the age of 18, Elizabeth persuaded her father to let her join the active army and in 1944 she took a driver-mechanics course, after which she entered military service in the women's self-defense unit and served for about six months until the end of World War II. She is the only lady in the royal family who took part in military operations.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain as a child

Elizabeth fell in love with her future husband, Prince Philip, as a child. Philip is the heir to the impoverished Greek monarchy, whose representatives were forced to flee their own country after being exiled. Philip's candidacy did not suit Elizabeth's parents and the ruling elite of Great Britain at all, but the princess managed to obtain consent to the marriage. Moreover, she herself offered him her hand and heart, without waiting for reciprocal signs of attention.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain with her future husband Prince Philip

Elizabeth bought the fabric for her wedding dress using discount coupon cards. In 1947, the British economy had not yet recovered from the war, and Elizabeth considered it indecent to spend the kingdom’s treasury on lavish celebrations.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain after her coronation

Even at 90 years old, Elizabeth still personally conducts all the most important meetings in the state and, as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, inspects all military installations of the kingdom. She does not trust the heir apparent, Prince Charles, with any of these issues.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain with her son

The queen's steely character does not prevent her from having small human weaknesses.

Elizabeth II is considered a trendsetter and a big fan of hats. She wears bright colors regardless of her age, but never goes beyond the boundaries of strict classics.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and one of her hats

According to protocol, the Queen cannot appear at official events in the same outfit twice. Each of her clothes is entered into a huge catalog, has its own serial number and is accompanied by a record of where, when and under what circumstances she wore it - this allows her to avoid repetition and embarrassment.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her outfits

The Queen is obliged to be the standard of politeness, but the number of meetings and audiences is so great that it takes too much energy. Elizabeth II has several secret signs by which the courtiers must understand that it is time to end the event. For example, if Elizabeth is spinning a ring on her finger, the conversation must be ended within the next 5 minutes.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her handbag

In her busy schedule, Elizabeth II makes sure to set aside time to watch her favorite series and television shows. It is known that she is a fan of the English version of “X-Factor”, as well as several TV series, including “Game of Thrones”.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. Something went wrong.

Once a year, Elizabeth takes a long vacation and retires to a castle in Scotland, where she spends most of her time reading books and walking. There, Elizabeth takes a warm bath for several hours every day, in which, according to the assurances of the courtiers, she cannot do without a small rubber duck, given to her as a child.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain on vacation

Other representatives of the British royal house

Elizabeth II belongs to the royal branch of the Windsors, of which there are quite a lot of descendants in modern Britain. The British are very sensitive to the institution of the monarchy; among the members of the royal family they have their favorites and scandalous persons, whose name is well known to everyone.

Members of the British Royal Family

Princess Diana

Diana Spencer (or Lady Di) is consistently ranked in the TOP 10 greatest Britons according to national polls. The first wife of Prince Charles (son of Elizabeth II) won the true, sincere love of her subjects and millions of people around the world.

She is often called the “Queen of Hearts” for her many contributions to charity, as well as her boundless personal charm, modesty and simplicity.

Princess Diana with her sons

According to rumors, Elizabeth II very much disliked her daughter-in-law for her popularity among the people (at times she overshadowed the queen herself).

In 1997, Lady Di suddenly died in a car accident, which still causes a lot of rumors and suspicions: there is a version that the accident was staged by members of the ruling family. But even after her death, Princess Diana remains the queen of people's hearts.

Princess Diana (Lady Di)

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Prince William is the grandson of Elizabeth II, the son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. William inherited many traits from his mother (he is also charming, does a lot of charity work), and in terms of the degree of adoration of his loyal subjects, he has recently rapidly overtaken his grandmother. He serves as a helicopter pilot for the English Medical Service and takes part in rescue operations.

Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton comes from a simple family. She met her future husband, Prince William, while studying at university. Shy Kate's demeanor very much reminds the British of Diana. They are delighted with her attitude towards children and impeccable manners, but most of all the audience is touched by the romantic story of Kate and William, which is very reminiscent of the fairy tale about Cinderella.

William and Kate with children

Prince Harry

The youngest son of Diana and Prince Charles evokes mixed feelings among the British. On the one hand, he is not distinguished by impeccable behavior, but on the other hand, he is such a sweetheart that British citizens forgive him everything. In addition, his antics are caused more by curiosity and youthful carelessness than by a spoiled disposition.

Prince Harry

The most notorious “exploits” of Prince Harry: boundless amorousness (photos of Harry with cute young ladies regularly appear in the press), hussar antics and cheerful parties. But there are also serious achievements: Prince Harry took part in combat operations in Afghanistan as an ordinary pilot, and put his life in danger along with others without any concessions.

Prince Harry with his partner while serving in Afghanistan

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Sisters Beatrice and Eugenie are granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II, daughters of her second son, Prince Andrew. Unlike William and Harry, girls cannot boast of an ideal reputation in the eyes of others, or at least relative charm.

Princess Beatrice

The eldest Beatrice is often criticized by residents of Great Britain for her too extravagant outfits, which do not always comply with the protocol. She also gets punished for being too curvaceous and having an idle lifestyle (in Great Britain, belonging to the royal house does not at all mean the right to idleness). Otherwise, Beatrice manages to stay within the bounds of decency.

Princess Eugenie

The youngest Evgenia is a real headache for her family. The girl regularly excites the British public with her antics and the next batch of paparazzi photographs: drunken dancing, cigarettes and indecent antics - this is the main thing that Evgenia is famous for.

Video. Interesting facts about Great Britain

Great Britain or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is an island country located in western Europe. A map of Great Britain shows that the country occupies the British Isles and borders continental Europe along the English Channel. The country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, Celtic and North Seas. The country is connected to Europe by a 50-kilometer Eurotunnel, 38 km of which are underwater. The UK consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Great Britain is a state that is the successor to the Great British Empire. Today, the country's own territory is 243,809 km 2. A detailed political map of Great Britain shows that the country has sovereignty over 17 territories: 14 British Overseas Territories and 3 Crown Lands.

The country's largest cities are London (the capital), Glasgow, Birmingham, Belfast, Edinburgh and Manchester.

Foggy Albion is one of the main world powers. The country is a member of the EU, NATO, the UN Security Council, G8, WTO and OSCE. Britain has a developed economy (6th in the world). More than 73% of GDP comes from the service sector.

Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy, where kings are more symbols than real rulers. The country is ruled by parliament.

Historical reference

BC. Tribes of Britons lived in the British Isles. In 43 AD the Roman conquest of Britain began. After 400 years, the British Isles were captured by the Anglo-Saxons, who formed the Kingdom of England. The Pictish tribes united to form the Kingdom of Scotland. In 1066, England and Wales were conquered by the Normans.

1337-1453 - Hundred Years' War with France

16th century - Reformation and creation of the Church of England

17th century - civil wars and the creation of the English Republic

18th century - colonial policy

1801 - creation of the state of Great Britain

XIX-XX centuries - The British Empire, participation in world wars and the policy of decolonization.

Must Visit

The map of Great Britain is literally replete with attractions. The capitals of 4 countries that make up the United Kingdom are a must-visit: London (England), Edinburgh (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales) and Belfast (Northern Ireland).

We recommend visiting the castles of Great Britain, Stonehenge, abbeys and cathedrals, the Palace of Westminster, Edinburgh Castle, the Tower, the Lake District, the scientific towns of Oxford and Cambridge, the mountains of Scotland (Cape Ben Nevis), museums and other attractions of the country.

GREAT BRITAIN

(United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

General information

Geographical position. Great Britain is a country in northwestern Europe. Consists of the island of Great Britain, which contains England, Scotland and Wales, and Northern Ireland, which occupies part of the island of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are dominions of the United Kingdom, but are not part of it.

Square. The territory of Great Britain occupies 244,110 square meters. km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of the Great Britain is London. Largest cities: London (7,335 thousand people), Manchester (2,277 thousand people), Birmingham (935 thousand people), Glasgow (654 thousand people), Sheffield (500 thousand people), Liverpool (450 thousand people), Edinburgh (421 thousand people), Belfast (280 thousand people).

Great Britain consists of 4 administrative and political parts (historical provinces): England (39 counties, 6 metropolitan counties and Greater London), Wales (8 counties), Scotland (9 districts and an island territory) and Northern Ireland (26 counties). The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have a special status.

Political system

Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II (in power since 1952). The head of government is the prime minister. Legislative power belongs to Parliament, which consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Relief. On the territory of England there are the Pennine Mountains (in the north of the region) with the highest point - Mount Scafell Pike (2,178m). A vast plain stretches south from the Pennines and east from Wales, occupying most of central and southern England. In the far south are the Dartmoor Hills (about 610 m above sea level).

Scotland's largely mountainous region can in turn be divided into three regions: the Highlands in the north, the Central Lowlands in the center and the Sazen Uplands in the south. The first region occupies more than half of Scotland's territory. This is the most mountainous region of the British Isles, cut in many places by narrow lakes. The Grampian Mountains of this region contain the highest point in Scotland and the entire United Kingdom - Mount Ben Nevis (1,343 m). The central region is more or less flat with some hills. And although it occupies only a tenth of Scotland's territory, the majority of the country's population is concentrated here. The southernmost region is moorland, significantly lower than the Highlands. >

Wales, like Scotland, is a mountainous region, but the mountains here are not so high. The main mountain range is the Cambrian Mountains in central Wales, the Snowdon massif (up to 1,085 m high) is located in the north-west. Most of Northern Ireland is occupied by a plain, in the center of which is Lough Neagh. In the north-west are the Sperin Mountains, on the north-east coast are the Antrim Highlands and the Mourne Mountains in the south-east of the region, which also contains the highest point in Northern Ireland, Slieve Donard (852 m).

Geological structure and minerals. In Great Britain there are deposits of coal, oil, natural gas, iron ore, rock and potassium salts, tin, lead, and quartz.

Climate. The climate of the country varies depending on the region. In England, the climate is mild due to the relative warmth of the seas that wash it. 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 precipitation (the heaviest rain occurs in October) is about 760 mm. Scotland is the coldest region in the UK. 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 greatest amount of precipitation falls in the west of the Highlands region (about 3,810 mm per year), the least in some eastern areas (about 635 mm per year). The climate of Wales is mild and humid. The average January temperature is about +5°C. The average July temperature is about +15°C. Average annual rainfall is approximately 762 mm in the central coastal region and over 2,540 mm in the Snowdon massif. Northern Ireland's climate is mild and humid. The average annual temperature is about +10°C (about +14.5°C in July and about +4.5°C in January). Precipitation in the north often exceeds 1,016 mm per year, while in the south it is about 760 mm per year.

Inland waters. The main rivers of England are the Thames, Severn, Tyne, and the picturesque Lake District is located in the Mersinnines. The main rivers of Scotland are the Clyde, Tay, Force, Tweed, Dee and Spey. Among the many lakes, Loch Ness, Loch Tay and Loch Katrine stand out. The main rivers of Wales: Dee, Usk, Teifi. The largest lake is Bala. The main rivers of Northern Ireland are the Foyle, Upper Ban and Lower Ban. Lough Neagh (about 390 sq. km) is the largest lake in the British Isles.

Soils and vegetation. The vegetation of England is quite poor, forests occupy less than 4% of the region's territory, the most common are oak, birch, and pine. In Scotland, woodland is more common, although the region is dominated by moorland. The forests in the southern and eastern Highlands are primarily composed of oak and coniferous trees (spruce, pine and larch). In Wales the forests are mainly deciduous: ash, oak. Coniferous trees are common in mountainous areas.

Animal world. In England, deer, fox, rabbit, hare, and badger are common; among the birds - partridge, pigeon, raven. Reptiles, of which there are only four species in the entire British Isles, are rare in England. The rivers in the region are inhabited mainly by salmon and trout. The most typical species for Scotland are deer, roe deer, hare, rabbit, marten, otter, and wild cat. The most common birds are partridges and wild ducks. There are also plenty of salmon and trout in Scotland's rivers and lakes. Cod, herring, and haddock are caught in coastal waters. The fauna in Wales is almost the same as in England, with the exception of the black ferret and pine marten, which are not found in England.

Population and language

The population of the United Kingdom is approximately 58.97 million people, with an average population density of approximately 241 people per square meter. km. Ethnic groups: English - 81.5%, Scots - 9.6%, Irish - 2.4%, Welsh - 1.9%, Ulsters - 1.8%, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Arabs, Africans. The official language is English.

Religion

Anglicans - 47%, Catholics - 16%, Muslims - 2%, Methodists, Baptists, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs.

Brief historical sketch

In 43 AD e. Britain became part of the Roman Empire and remained there until 410, when the Romans were driven out by the Celts, Saxons and other tribes.

In 1066, the small kingdoms of Great Britain were conquered by the Norman commander William and united into a single state.

In 1215, King John the Landless signed a guarantee of rights providing for the supremacy of the Magna Carta law (a document that remains one of the main parts of the country's constitution to this day).

In 1338, England entered into a war with France that lasted more than a hundred years (until 1.453). Almost immediately after its end, a war for the English throne broke out (the War of the Roses - the two rival dynasties of Lancaster and York, as a result of which both dynasties died), ending in 1485 with the victory of the Tudor dynasty.”

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603), England emerged as a great maritime power and conquered extensive colonies on several continents.

In 1603, when the Scottish king James VI ascended the English throne as King James I, Scotland and England were effectively united into one state. However, the Kingdom of Great Britain was proclaimed after the signing of the act of unification in 1707, from the same time London became the capital of a single state.

In 1642-1649. The conflict between the royal house of Stuart and Parliament led to a bloody civil war, which resulted in the proclamation of a republic led by Oliver Cromwell. The monarchy was soon restored, but the king's rights were significantly curtailed and parliament actually had full power.

At the end of the 18th century. Great Britain lost 13 American colonies, but significantly strengthened its position in Canada and India.

In 1801, Ireland was annexed to the kingdom. In 1815, Great Britain played a major role in the defeat of Napoleonic army, which strengthened its position as one of the most important European powers. After this, the country lived in peace for a whole century, expanding its colonial possessions, which especially grew during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901).

After the First World War, Great Britain was in a difficult economic situation, which partly played in favor of the Irish liberation movement, and in 1921 Ireland declared independence.

After the Second World War, national problems in Scotland and Northern Ireland worsened. The events in Northern Ireland, where a war had actually been waged since 1969, took on a particularly dramatic character.

In August 1994, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) declared a unilateral ceasefire, and the peace process, which began in the early 1990s with negotiations between the British and Irish governments, moved a little faster. However, dissatisfied with the progress of the negotiation process, IRA militants resumed terrorist activities in early 1996. An agreement was reached between England and Ireland to resolve differences by peaceful political means.

Brief Economic Sketch

Great Britain is an economically developed industrial country. Extraction of oil, natural gas, coal. The leading industry is mechanical engineering, including electrical and radio-electronic, transport (aircraft rocket, automobile and shipbuilding), tractor and machine tool manufacturing. The oil refining, chemical (production of plastics and synthetic resins, chemical fibers, synthetic rubber, sulfuric acid, mineral fertilizers), textile, and food industries are developed. Large shoe, clothing and other light industries. The main branch of agriculture is meat, dairy and dairy farming. Grain farming predominates in crop production; cultivation of sugar beets, potato growing. Fishing. Export: machinery and equipment, oil and petroleum products, chemical products. Great Britain is a major exporter of capital. Foreign tourism.

The monetary unit is pound sterling.

Brief sketch of culture

Art and architecture. In Great Britain, the largest megalithic complexes of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages (Stonehenge, Avebury), remains of Roman buildings of the 1st-5th centuries, stone carvings and metal products of the Celts, Picts, and Anglo-Saxons have been preserved. By the 7th - 10th centuries. include churches (at Earl Barton, 10th century), descending from vernacular frame buildings, and miniatures with complex curvilinear patterns. Anglo-Norman churches (in Norwich, Wickchester) with narrow, long nave, choir and transept and powerful square towers, tower-shaped castles (Tower of London, begun around 1078), colorful miniatures of the Winchester school are characteristic of the Romanesque style of the 11th-12th centuries . Developed from the 12th century. English Gothic (the first Gothic design in Europe - in the cathedral in Durham) is represented by the cathedrals in Canterbury, Lincoln, Salisbury, York, Westminster Abbey in London; They are characterized by a combination of simplicity and massiveness of elongated, squat volumes with an increasing abundance of decor, an increasingly complex pattern of wide facades; decorative elegance is distinguished

favors Gothic paintings, miniatures, sculpture, tombstones with figures in stone or engraved on copper sheets. Late Gothic (“Perpendicular style”, from the second half of the 14th century) is marked by the richness of the carved decoration of the light, spacious interiors of churches and secular buildings (St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, 1474-1528, Henry VII in Westminster in London, 1503-1519), the emergence of easel painting, including portraiture.

The Reformation (began in 1534) gave English culture a purely secular character, and after the English Revolution of the 17th century. In construction and everyday life, the desire for rationality and comfort has intensified.

In painting of the 16th-17th centuries. The portrait took the main place: the traditions of H. Holbein, who came to Great Britain, were developed by the English miniaturists N. Hilliard, A. Oliver, S. Cooper; The type of spectacular aristocratic portrait of the 17th century, introduced by foreigners who moved to Great Britain - L. van Dyck, P. Lely, G. Neller, acquired greater simplicity, rigor and objectivity from their English successors - W. Dobson and J. Riley.

The classically clear buildings of I. Jones (Banquet Hall in London, 1619-1622) served as the starting point for the development of English classicism of the 17th-18th centuries, which was distinguished by restrained, strict solemnity, a clear logic of the composition of urban ensembles (Greenwich Hospital, 1616-1728, architect K Wren et al., Fitzroy Square, circa 1790-1800, architects R. and J. Adam, - in London), churches (St. Paul's Cathedral, 1675-1710, and 52 churches in London built by C. Wren after fire of 1666).

Great Britain was the birthplace of the romantic pseudo-Gothic movement and landscape “English” parks (W. Kent, W. Chambers).

The heyday of English art in the 18th century. opens with the work of W. Hogarth. A galaxy of brilliant portrait painters: A. Ramsey, J. Reynolds, H. Raeburn skillfully combined the ceremonial impressiveness of the composition with the naturalness and spirituality of the image. National schools of landscape painting (H. Gainsborough, R. Wilson, J. Crome; watercolorists J. R. Cozens, T. Gurtin) and genre painting (J. Moreland, J. Wright) emerged.

In the first half of the 19th century. Along with the romantic science fiction graphic artist W. Blake and the bold colorist landscape painter W. Turner, the founder of plein air realistic landscape J. Constable, the subtle landscape painter and historical painter R. P. Bonington, the masters of watercolor landscape J. S. are put forward. Cotman and D. Cox.

London. The British Museum (which houses world-famous archaeological finds, collections of drawings, coins, medals, and regularly hosts specialized exhibitions); Victoria and Albert Museum (which is one of the most interesting museums of applied art with the richest collections of objects from almost all countries of the world, all styles and eras, national collections of post-classical sculpture, photography, watercolors); Museum of Natural History with magnificent collections of animals, insects, fish, a specialized exhibition of dinosaurs; Museum of the History of London with a collection of exhibits from Roman times to the present day; Tate Gallery with magnificent collections of British and European paintings of the late 19th and 20th centuries; National Gallery with a collection of Western European paintings from the 13th century. to the 20th century; London Prison - a museum of medieval horrors with torture chambers; Madame Tussauds is a world-famous wax museum; Cathedral of St. Paul (XVII-XVIII centuries); The Tower of London is a museum complex that, in particular, houses the British Crown Jewels; Westminster Abbey (11th century) is the place of coronation of all British monarchs; The Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), the most famous part of which is the clock tower with the Beat Ben bell; Buckingham Palace is the royal residence. Trafalgar Square with Nelson's Column, erected in honor of the victory at Trafalgar; a large number of parks, among which Hyde Park with its “Speakers' Corner” stands out; Regent's Park with its magnificent zoo, Kew Gardens with its greenhouse, aquarium and Butterfly House, where tropical butterflies fly all year round. Edinburgh. Edinburgh castle; Church of St. Margaret (XI century); Castle Rock Castle, the royal residence in Scotland; the Palace of Holyrod; Church of St. Gilles (XV century); Scottish Parliament House (1639); house of a Protestant reformer of the 16th century. John Nonce; National Gallery of Scotland; National Portrait Gallery of Scotland; Royal Museum; Museum of Contemporary History; Scottish History Museum. Belfast. City hall; Protestant Cathedral of St. Anna; Ulster Museum. Glasgow. Cathedral of St. Mungo (1136 - mid-15th century); Glasgow Museum, one of Britain's best art galleries; Hunterian Museum; Botanical Garden; zoo. Cardiff. Cardaf Castle (XI century); Llandaff Cathedral; Church of St. John the Baptist (XV century); National Museum of Wales. Stratford-upon-Avon (England). William Shakespeare House-Museum; Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Inver Ness (Scotland). Castle of the 12th century; remains of the GUV fort; nearby is the famous Loch Ness, where a monster with the affectionate name Nessie supposedly lives.

The science. D. Priestley (1733-1804) - chemist who discovered oxygen; T. More (1478-1535) - one of the founders of utopian socialism; W. Gilbert (1544-1603) - physicist, geomagnetism researcher; F. Bacon (1561-1626) - philosopher, founder of English materialism; W. Harvey (1578-1657) - founder of modern physiology and embryology, who described the systemic and pulmonary circulation; R. Boyle (1627-1691) - chemist and physicist who laid the foundation for chemical analysis; J. Locke (1632-1704) - philosopher, founder of liberalism; I. Newton (1643-1727) - mathematician, mechanic, astronomer and physicist, creator of classical mechanics; E. Halley (1656-1742) - astronomer and geophysicist who calculated the orbits of more than 20 comets; J. Berkeley (1685-1753) - philosopher, subjective idealist; S. Johnson (1709-1784) - lexicographer who created the “Dictionary of the English Language” (1755); D. Hume (1711_1776) - philosopher, historian, economist; V. Herschel (1738-1822) - founder of stellar astronomy, who discovered Uranus; G. Cort (1740-1800) - inventor of the rolling mill; E. Cartwright (1743-1823) - inventor of the loom; T. Malthus (1766-1834) - economist, founder of Malthusianism; D. Ricardo (1772-1823) and A. Smith (1723-1790) are the largest representatives of classical political economy; J. Watt (1774-1784) - inventor of the steam engine; J. Stephenson (1781-1848) - inventor of the steam locomotive; M. Faraday (1791-1867) - physicist, founder of the doctrine of the electromagnetic field; J. Nesmith (1808-1890) - creator of the steam hammer; Charles Darwin (1809-1882) - natural scientist, creator of the theory of evolution; J. Joule (1818-1889) - physicist who experimentally substantiated the law of conservation of energy; J. Adams (1819-1892) - astronomer and mathematician who calculated the orbit and coordinates of Neptune; G. Spencer (1820-1903) - philosopher and sociologist, one of the founders of positivism; J. Maxwell (1831-1879) - physicist, creator of classical electrodynamics; W. Batson (1861-1926) - biologist, one of the founders of genetics; G. Rutherford (1871-1937) - physicist, one of the creators of the doctrine of radioactivity and the structure of the atom; A. Fleming (1881-1955) - microbiologist who discovered penicillin; J. Keynes (1883-1946) - economist, founder of Keynesianism; J. Chadwick (1891-1974) - physicist who discovered the neutron; P. Dirac (1902-1984) - physicist, one of the creators of quantum mechanics; F. Whittle (b. 1907) - inventor of the turbojet engine.

Literature. The epic poem “Beowulf” (7th century) has come down to us in copies of the 10th century. On British soil in the 8th-19th centuries. Anglo-Saxon religious lyrics, theological works, and chronicles arose. After the conquest of England by the Normans in the 11th-13th centuries. trilingual literature is developing: church works in Latin, knightly verses and poems in French, English legends in Anglo-Saxon. The synthesis of the culture of the era of mature feudalism and the anticipation of the early Renaissance are characteristic of The Canterbury Tales (XIV century) - a collection of poetic stories and short stories by J. Chaucer. The prologue to this work gives a description of people of all classes and professions going on pilgrimage to Canterbury. The medieval romance of chivalry is combined here with the prosaic humor of the townspeople, and the emergence of early humanism is felt in the assessments of life phenomena. The Hundred Years' War with France, then the War of the Scarlet and White Roses, slowed down the development of literature. Among the few monuments is a prose presentation of the legends about the knights of the Round Table - “The Death of Arthur” by Thomas Malory (XV century). At the beginning of the 16th century. Thomas More, the author of Utopia, which contained not only criticism of the feudal system, but also a picture of an ideal state, speaks.

At the beginning of the 17th century. the genre of essay (F. Bacon) and characterization (G. Overbury) appears. The dramaturgy of the mature English Renaissance reached its greatest artistic heights. In the 15th century The genres of morality plays and interludes appear in the theater. In the folk theater, which was experiencing rapid development in the 2nd half of the 16th century, an original national dramaturgy emerged: C. Marlowe (1564-1593), T. Kyd (1558-1594), etc. Their activities prepared the ground for the work of the great playwright W. Shakespeare (1564-1616). In his comedies he reflected the cheerful spirit of the Renaissance and the optimism of the humanists; among his works are chronicle plays from the history of England (“Richard III”, “Henry IV”, etc.). The pinnacle of Shakespeare's creativity were tragedies (Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, etc.).

During the Restoration, J. Milton (1608-1674) created an epic poem based on the biblical story, “Paradise Lost” (1667).

The leading ideological movement of the 18th century. becomes enlightenment. Primacy in literature moves from poetry to prose; A bourgeois novel arises, the creator of which was D. Defoe (1661-1731), famous for the novel “Robinson Crusoe” (1719). The satire of J. Swift (1667-1745) “Gulliver's Travels” (1726) brought the author worldwide fame. The sentimental novels of S. Richardson (1689-1761), written in epistolary form, became famous. The satirical line in social comedy continued to develop and reached its culmination in the work of R. B. Sheridan (1751-1816), author of the satirical comedy “The School for Scandal” (1777).

The revival of interest in folk poetry led to the popularity of the Scottish poet R. Burns (1759-1796). In the 90s of the XVIII century. The works of the romantics W. Wordsworth (1770-1850), S. T. Coleridge (1772-1834), R. Southey (1774-1843) appeared, sometimes united by the concept of the “lake school”. The second generation of English romantics - J. G. Byron (1788-1824), P. B. Shelley (1792-1822), J. Keathe (1795-1821). W. Scott (1771-1832) creates the genre of historical novel.

30-60s XIX - the heyday of critical realism: in the novels of Charles Dickens (1812-1870), W. M. Thackeray (1811-1863), S. Bronte (1816-1855), E. Haskell ( 1810-1865). Thackeray creates a “novel without a hero” “Vanity Fair” (1847-1848). At the end of the 19th century. in the English novel there is a sharp contrast between the neo-romanticism of R. L. Stevenson (1850-1894) and the harsh realism of T. Hard (1840-1928) and S. Butler (1835-1902). Representatives of English naturalism J. Moore (1852-1933) and J. Gissing (1857-1903) were followers of E. Zola.

In the 90s The period of modern English literature begins. At its threshold stands a brief period of decadence and symbolism, represented by O. Wilde (1854-1900). The luminary of English symbolism-Irish W. B. Yeats (1865-1939).

The last decade of the 19th century. and the years preceding the First World War were marked by the powerful development of critical realism, for example, the plays of B. Shaw (1856-1950, “Heartbreak House,” “Back to Methuselah,” etc.), the fantastic and philosophical novels of G. J. Wells (1866-1946, “The First Men in the Moon”, etc.), the trilogy “The Forsyte Saga” and “Modern Comedy” by J. Galsworthy (1867-1933), the works of W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965, “Burden” human passions”, “The Razor’s Edge”, “The Moon and a Penny”, “Theater”, etc.), E. M. Forster (1879-1970), Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923), etc. J. Conrad stands apart ( 1857-1924), who combined the romance of sea voyages and descriptions of exotic countries with subtle psychologism. Poetry is most originally represented by R. Kipling (1865-1936).

The main place in the literature of the pre-war period remains with the novel, in which modernist experimentation emerges. The Irishman J. Joyce (1882-1941) in the novel “Ulysses” (1922) used the “stream of consciousness” method in literature, noting the smallest details of the characters’ inner lives.