Scotland is a country of great variety with its own unique character and strong tradition. Its cities offer a mixture of designer lifestyle and age old tradition, while the countryside ranges from Britain’s highest mountains and waterfalls to the most stunning gorges and glens.
Scotland’s national tradition is rather intense and much alive even now and is rather rare in the modern world. Scotland is part of Britain. But it is not England. The Scottishness is a real thing, not an imaginary feeling, kind of picturesque survival of the past. It is based on Scot’s law which is different from the English. Scotland has its own national heroes fought in endless battles against the English ( William Wallace, Sir John the Grahame, Robert Bruce and others).1.'A wee dram' Scots have their own national drink, and you need only ask for Scotch, and that’s quite enough, you get what you wanted. More than half of Scotland's malt whisky distilleries are in the Grampian Highlands, and thus a third of the world's malt whisky is distilled here. A combination of fertile agricultural land, a sheltered, wet climate and the unpolluted waters of the River Spey and its tributaries, combined with the obvious enthusiasm of the locals for the work (and the product!) mean it is an ideal place to produce malt whisky. Many distilleries are open to visitors, and often offer samples!
The Scots are fond of the following joke about scotch:
A young man arrives in a small village situated near Loch Ness. There he meets an old man and asks him:
- When does the Loch Ness Monster usually appear?
- Usually it appears after the third glass of Scotch, — answered the
man.2.Scottish national dress. There is also a distinctive national dress, the kilt. Strictly speaking it should be warn only by men; it is made of wool and looks like a pleated skirt. The kilt is a relic of the time when the clan system existed in the Highlands. But its origin is very ancient. The Celtic tribes who fought Ceasar wore kilts. When the Celts moved north up through Cornwall, and Wales, and Ireland, and eventually to Scotland, they brought the kilt with them. A thousand years ago, there was nothing specially Scottish about it. Now it has become the Highland’s national dress and is worn in many parts of Scotland. It is probably the best walking-dress yet invented by man: there is up to 5 metres of material in it; it is thickly pleated st the back and sides; it is warm, it is airly, leaves the legs free for climbing; it stands the rain for hours before it gets wet through; it hangs well above the mud and the wet grass; briefly it is warm for a cold day, and cool for a warm one. And, what is more, if a Highlander is caught in the mountains by the night, he has but to unfasten his kilt and wrap it around him – 5 metres of warm wool – he’ll sleep comfortably enough the night through.3.A few words about tartan. Every Scottish clan had its own tartan.[19] People in Highlands were very good weavers. They died their wool before weaving it; the dyes were made from various roots and plants which grew in this or that bit of land. Therefore one clan dyed its wool in reddish colours, another in green, and so on. And they decorated them differently so as to distinguish the clansmen in battle (especially between neighboring clans which happened rather often).
On the subject of shopping for tartan, the choice is wide. Some designs are associated with particular clans and retailers will be happy to help you find “your” own pattern. By no means all tartans belong to specific clans – several are “district” tartans, representing particular areas. The fascinating story of the tartan itself is told at the Museum of Scottish Tartans.
The museum possesses lots of rare exhibits. One of them is the remarkable woman’s Plaid or Arisaid, the oldest dated in the world: 1726. The Arisaid, worn only by women, reached from head to heels, belted at the waist and pinned at the breast.
The oldest piece of Tartan found in Scotland dates back from about 325 AD. The cloth was found in a pot near Falkirk[20], a simple check in two shades of brown, a long way from the checked and coloured tartans that came to be worn in the Highlands of Scotland in the 1550s. There are now over 2,500 tartan designs, many of them are no more than 20 years old.
4.The national musical instrument of the Scots. Scotland has its own typical musical instrument, the pipes (sometimes called the bagpipes). The bagpipe was known to the ancient civilizations of the Near East. It was probably introduced into Britain by the Romans. Carvings of bagpipe players on churches and a few words about them in the works of Chaucer and other writers show that it was popular all over the country in the Middle Ages.
In Scotland the bagpipe was first recorded in the 16th century during the reign of James I, who was a very good player, and probably did much to make it popular. For long it has been considered a national Scottish instrument. Even now it is still associated with Scotland.
The sound of the bagpipes is very stirring. The old Highland clans and later the Highland regiments used to go into battle to the sound of the bagpipes.
The bagpipe consists of a reed pipe, the “chanter”, and a wind bag which provides a regular supply of air to the pipe. The wind pipe is filled either from the mouth or by a bellows which the player works with his arm. The chanter has a number of holes or keys by means of which the tune is played.5.Highland’s dances and games. You can also find in Scotland its own national dances, Highland dances and Scottish country dances; its own songs (some of which are very popular all aver Britain), its poetry (some of which is famous throughout the English-speaking world), traditions, food and sports, even education, and manners.
Speaking about sports I can’t but mention Highland Gatherings or Games held in Braemar. They have been held there since 1832, and since Queen Victoria visited them in 1848 the games have enjoyed royal patronage. The Games consist of piping competitions, tugs-of-war (a test of strength in which two teams pull against other on a rope, each trying to pull the other over the winning line), highland wrestling and dancing, and tossing the caber.[21] 6.The famous Loch Ness. Fact or fiction, the Loch Ness monster is part of Loch Ness’s magnetic appeal to visitors. But there is much more to do and see around the shores of this famous waterway than just monster-spotting, and a pleasant day, or even longer, can be spent exploring the many activities. 24 miles long, a mile wide and up to 700 feet deep Loch Ness is a land-locked fresh water lake lying at the eastern end of the Great Glen[22], a natural geological fault which stretches across the width of Scotland. The loch forms part of the Caledonian Canal completed by the celebrated civil engineer Thomas Telford (1757 – 1841), in 1822. Telford took 19 years to build the canal, which spared coastal shipping and fishing vessels a voyage through the waters of the Pentland Firth[23].
The story of Nessiterras Rhombopteryx or Nessie for short in Loch Ness has persistent down the centuries. The monster was first mentioned in AD 565 when St Columba allegedly persuaded it not to eat someone. Since records began, in 1933, more than 3000 people have claimed to have seen it, but others are skeptical. They point out that no good photographs exist of the monster, that there have been no eggs found, no dead monsters (can it really be 2563 years old?) nor any other compelling evidence. Believers think the monster is a plesiosaur, an otherwise extinct sea-dwelling reptile. Anyone who did prove conclusively the monster's existence would be hailed as a pioneer, so it is no surprise to learn that monster-spotting is a popular pastime!
The Official Loch Ness Monster Centre is opened all year round and has exhibits showing geology, prehistory and history of Scotland, along with SONAR records and underwater photography relating to the monster.
The Original Visitor Centre offers a half hour video of the monster detailing the research that has taken place, along with a video about Bonnie Prince Charlie.
The loch has been surveyed for decades, by the RAF[24], eminent scientists, cranks, crackpots, mini-submarines and millions of pounds worth of high technology, including NASA[25] computers. And still there is no proof…
7. Saint Andrew’s cross. The Church of Scotland, a Presbyterian[26] denomination, is the official state church. The Roman Catholic church is second in importance. Other leading denominations are the Episcopal Church in Scotland, Congregationalist, Baptist, Methodist, and Unitarian. Jews are a small minority.
St. Andrew’s cross is the national flag of Scotland. It consists of two diagonal white stripes crossing on a blue background. The flag forms part of the British national flag (Union Jack).
The flag of Presbyterian Church differs a little bit from that of Scotland. It is also St. Andrew’s cross but with a little addition: it has a burning bush centered, which signifies presbyterianism.
The symbol comes from the motto of the Presbyterian Church, nec tamen consumebatur (neither was it consumed) referring the bush that burnt, but was not consumed, so will be the church that will last for ever.
St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. He was a New Testament apostle who was martyred on an X-shaped cross. He was said to have given the Pictish army a vision of this cross at the battle of Athenstoneford between King Angus of the Picts and King Authelstan of the Angles. St. Andrew was foisted upon Scotland as its patron when the old Celtic and Culdee centres were superseded by the new bishopric of St. Andrew’s. His feast-day is 30 November. On this day some Scotsmen wear a thistle[27] in the buttonhole.
One of the greatest treasures of Huntly House Museum (Edinburgh) is the national Covenant, signed by Scotland’s Presbyterian leadership in 1638. Covenanters are 17th-century Scottish Presbyterians who bound themselves by covenants to maintain Presbyterianism as the sole religion of Scotland and helped to establish the supremacy of Parliament over the monarch in Scotland and England. Early covenants supporting Protestantism were signed in 1557 and in 1581. In 1638 the covenant of 1581 was revived, and its signatories added a vow to establish Presbyterianism as the state religion of Scotland.
II.Scotland for every season.
If you hunt for the real Scotland, there will be many times when you know you have found it: when you hear your first Highland Piper with the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle; on some late, late evening on a far northern beach as the sun sets into a midsummer sea; or with your first taste of a malt whisky, peat-smoked and tangy; or when you sit in a café with the real Scots. By the way, the Scots are very sociable people. They like to spend their free time together, drinking coffee or scotch and talking. Scottish people are fond of singing at the national music festivals in chorus, at the fairs and in the parks. Most of Scotsmen are optimists. They don’t lose their heart and smile in spite of all difficulties.
The real Scotland is not found in a single moment – nor is it contained in a single season. Though the moorlands turn purple in summer, Scotland in spring is famed for its clear light and distant horizons, while autumn’s colours transform the woodlands… and what could be more picturesque than snow-capped hills seen from the warmth of your hotel room?
Scenery, history, hospitality, humour, climate, traditions are offered throughout the year.
Even if you can feel it now you should visit Scotland all the same, and see and enjoy this magic country with your own eyes!
AppendicesScotland: its early peoples.
The chronology of the main events in the history of Scotland. 1st century Picts prevented Romans from penetrating far into Scotland. 5th – 6th centuries Christianity was introduced into Scotland from Ireland. 9th century Kenneth MacAlpin united kingdoms of Scotland. 1263 Haakon, King of Norway, was defeated by Scots at Battle of Largs. 1292 – 1306 English domination:
in 1292 – 1296 Scotland was ruled by John Baliol;
in 1296 – 1306 Scotland was annexedto England. 1314 Robert Bruce defeated English at Bannockburn. 1328 England recognized Scottish independence. 1603 James VI became James I of England. 1638 Scottish rebellion against England. 1651 Cromwell conquered Scotland. 1689 Jacobites were defeated at Killiecrankie. 1707 Act of Union with England. 1715, 1745 Failed Jacobites risings against Britain. 1945 First Scottish nationalist member of British Parliament was elected
Practical part: 1. Who in Scotland consider themselves of purer Celtic blood?
2. When was a new Scottish Parliament elected?
3. What was the Beaker civilization famous for?
4. Why was it so difficult to control the Highlands and islands?
5. To whom does Scotland owe its clan system?
6. Why did Edward I stole the Stone of Destiny?
7. What do the words written on Edward’s grave mean?
8. Can you explain the name of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh?
9. What giant thing can Edinburgh Castle boast?
10.What did the Military Tattoo originally mean?
11.Who brought St. Giles’ Cathedral into great prominence?
12.What is the emblem of Scotland? Where can it be seen?
13.Why are the Royal Museum and the Museum of Scotland worth visiting?
14.Which museum in Scotland is the “noisiest” in the world? Why?
15.Why do they call Edinburgh “the Athens of the North”?
16.What is Edinburgh’s answer to London’s Oxford Street?
17.Where did the national Scottish dress come from?
18.Why was it so important to decorate wool differently?
19.What is the real origin of the bagpipe?
20.What does the motto of the Presbyterian Church mean?
Literature 1. “Discovering Britain” Pavlozky V. M., St Petersburg, 2000. 2. “Britain in brief” Oshepkova V. V., Shustilova I. I., Moscow, 1997. 3. “Across England to Scotland” Markova N. N., Moscow, 1971. 4. “Pages of Britain’s history” Kaufman K. I., Kaufman M. U., Obninsk,
1998. 5. “An illustrated history of Britain” McDowall D., Edinburgh, 1996. 6. “Robert Burns country” Swinglehurst E., Edinburgh, 1996. 7. “English for intermediate level” Part I, Moscow, 1995. 8. “Welcome to Edinburgh”, guide-book 1998/99.
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Today Scotland is considered to be one of the most beautiful mountainous countries in the world. It is one of the four parts of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders only with England. Its capital and cultural center is Edinburgh.
The head of Scotland is the English monarch – Queen Elizabeth II. It has been in political union with England since the beginning of the 18th century.
The official flag of the country consists of a white cross on a blue background and is known as St. Andrew’s Cross.
They say that Scottish towns differ from the English ones. Their distinct features are cobblestone streets, medieval style houses, green parks and plenty of historic architecture.The financial and industrial center of the country is Glasgow. Other major cities include Perth, Aberdeen, Livingstone and Dundee.
Scotland is well-known for its Loch Ness monster, delicious haggis and traditional festivals.
Perhaps, everyone in the world has heard of the famous writer and poet Robert Burns. He was the first person to write songs about the Scottish Highlands and their breathtaking views. It is significant that the highest mountain of the British Isles, Ben Nevis, is also situated in Scotland.
Scottish people like all kinds of celebrations. Their most favourite public holidays are Christmas and New Year. On the last day of the year they celebrate Hogmanay. It used to be a pagan holiday to welcome the winter solstice.
There are many special customs and rituals for this holiday, among them fireball swinging, street carnivals, singing and dancing, storytelling and eating tasty goodies.
Every year thousands of tourists visit Scotland to see its sights and to participate in local festivals. It’s a suitable country for students as well. Those, who study English, often participate in international exchange programs to learn more about the local peculiarities.
На сегодняшний день Шотландия считается одной из самых красивых горных стран в мире. Она является одной из четырех частей Соединенного Королевства. Шотландия разделяет сухопутные границы только с Англией. Ее столица и культурный центр – Эдинбург.
Главой Шотландии является английский монарх, то есть королева Елизавета II. Политический союз с Англией установлен еще в начале 18-го века.
Официальный флаг страны представлен белым крестом на синем фоне и известен как Андреевский крест.
Говорят, что шотландские города отличаются от английских. К их отличительным особенностям относятся мощеные улицы, дома в средневековом стиле, зеленые парки и обилие исторической архитектуры. Финансовым и промышленным центром страны является Глазго. Другие крупные города – это Перт, Абердин, Ливингстон и Данди.
Шотландия славится своим Лох-Несским чудовищем, вкусным хаггисом (национальное блюдо из бараньих потрохов) и традиционными праздниками.
Возможно, каждый человек в мире слышал о знаменитом писателе и поэте Роберте Бернсе. Он был первым, кто написал песни о Шотландских нагорьях и их потрясающих видах. Важно отметить, что самая высокая гора Британских островов, Бен-Невис, находится в Шотландии.
Шотландцы любят торжества. Их излюбленные праздники – это Рождество и Новый Год. В последний день года они празднуют Сочельник. Раньше это был языческий праздник в честь зимнего солнцестояния.
Этот праздник характеризуется множеством особых обычаев и ритуалов, например, файр-шоу (развлечения с огнём), уличные карнавалы, песни и пляски, рассказы и вкусные лакомства.
Ежегодно тысячи туристов посещают Шотландию, чтобы осмотреть её достопримечательности и принять участие в местных фестивалях. Эта страна отлично подходит для студентов. Те, кто изучает английский язык, часто принимают участие в международных программах обмена, чтобы поближе познакомиться с местными особенностями.
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Шотландия является неотъемлемой частью Соединенного Королевства. Она занимает северную треть острова Великобритании. Шотландия – очень маленькая страна. Ее протяженность составляет 274 мили. Река Твид и Чевиот Хиллс образуют южную границу Шотландии с Англией. Северо-западный канал отделяет Шотландию от Северной Ирландии на юго-востоке. На севере и западе страна ограничивается Атлантическим океаном. Восточное побережье омывается Северным морем, которое отделяет Шотландию от материковой Европы. Стоит также отметить, что Шотландия включает в себя свыше 790 островов. Население страны составляет около 5 миллионов человек.
Главные промышленные города страны – Глазго, крупнейший в Шотландии, и Эдинбург, являющийся столицей страны. Эдинбург – это также один из крупнейших финансовых центров Европы. Шотландские воды Северной Атлантики и Северного моря содержат крупнейшие запасы нефти в Европейском Союзе. Именно поэтому Абердин называется Европейской нефтяной столицей.
Шотландские города довольно отличаются от городов Англии. Столица страны – один из самых привлекательных городов в Шотландии. Несмотря на то, что это современный город, Эдинбург славится своей историей. В Эдинбурге 9 холмов. На самом большом можно увидеть Эдинбургский замок, который был домом шотландской королевской семьи до 1603. Дорога, которая начинается у замка и идет на восток, называется Королевская Миля, в конце которой расположен дворец Холирудхаус.
Что касается шотландской культуры, ее значимым аспектом является музыка. Знаменитый традиционный инструмент – это большая хайлендская волынка. Спорт – другой важный элемент шотландской культуры. Хайлендские игры, или, как их еще называют, Шотландские Олимпийские, проводятся в стране каждый год.
Последний интересный факт, который стоит отметить, касается национального флага Шотландии, известного как Андреевский крест или Крест Святого Андрея. Согласно легенде, его происхождение датируется 9 веком. Таким образом, он считается старейшим флагом, все еще находящимся в пользовании.
Шотландия действительно стоит того, чтобы ее посетили.
Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom. It occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland is a very small country. It’s about 274 miles long. The river Tweed and the Cheviot Hills form Scotland’s border with England. The Northwest Channel separates Scotland from Northern Ireland in the south-west. In the north and in the west the country is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The eastern coast is washed by the North Sea, which separates Scotland from the mainland of Europe. It should also be mentioned that Scotland includes over 790 islands. The population of the country is about 5 million people.
The country’s main industrial cities are Glasgow, which is the largest one in Scotland, and Edinburgh, the capital of the country. Edinburgh is also one of the largest financial centres of Europe. Scottish waters of the North Atlantic and the North Sea contain the largest oil reserves in the European Union. That is why Aberdeen has been given the title of Europe’s oil capital.
Scottish towns are quite different from English ones. The capital of the country is one of the most attractive cities in Scotland. In spite of being a busy modern city, Edinburgh is famous for its history. There are nine hills in Edinburgh. On the highest hill one can see Edinburgh Castle, which was the home of Scotland’s royal family until 1603. The road which begins at the castle and goes eastwards is called Royal Mile, at the end of which there is the Palace of Hollyroodhouse.
As for Scottish culture, music is its significant aspect. A famous traditional instrument is the Great Highland Bagpipe. Sport is another important element of Scottish culture. Highland games, or Scottish Olympics, as they are called, are held in the country every year.
http://www.activeenglish.ru/geo/topics/countries-to-visit/scotland/scotland/Шотландия топик по английскому с переводом2010-08-30T19:50:57+00:00adminScotlandтопик,шотландияТема по английскому языку 'Шотландия' с переводом: Шотландия является неотъемлемой частью Соединенного Королевства. Она занимает северную треть острова Великобритании. Шотландия – очень маленькая страна. Ее протяженность составляет 274 мили. Река Твид и Чевиот Хиллс образуют южную границу Шотландии с Англией. Северо-западный канал отделяет Шотландию от Северной Ирландии на юго-востоке. На...admin [email protected]Английский язык онлайн
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[19.05.2010] olga Посмотрели: 31742 Рейтинг: 19 Коментариев: 4
19 
If we travel all over Scotland, we can see that geographically it consists of three main parts: Lowlands, Uplands and Highlands with their Grampian Mountains, where the tallest mountain peak, Ben Nevis (1,342 metres), is located.
It is a vast territory of about 79,000 square kilometres, but the population of Scotland is only five million people. If we compare it with Moscow, it is just half of the population of our capital!
You are sure to enjoy the beauty of the Scottish varied landscape: the hills, covered with purple heather, its beautiful lakes (here they are called lochs), its green and narrow valleys (or glens) ...
The biggest and the most beautiful lake in Scotland is Loch Lomond, but the most famous one is Loch Ness with its mysterious monster Nessie. Nessie sometimes appears to scare the tourists but only in fine weather, which is a great rarity for Scotland!
But what can be more peculiar and attractive for tourists than a man in the kilt, playing the bagpipes? The Celts of Scotland made the chequered pattern of tartan the national dress of the country. The earliest Scots formed themselves into clans (family groups) and the tartan became a symbol of the sense of kinship.There are about 300 different clans in Scotland, and each has its own colour and pattern of tartan together with the motto.
Scotland is a land of many famous people: writers and poets, scientists and philosophers. Just imagine: you are reading about the far-away, rainy and foggy, mysterious and romantic Scotland and hear a telephone bell. You come up to the phone (by the way, invented by Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh) and answer it. This is your friend who wants you to keep him company and go for a walk, but it is raining outside. No problem: you put on your raincoat (patented by chemist Charles Macintosh from Glasgow) and are ready to leave the house, but your mother asks you to send a letter to your favourite auntie. So you put an adhesive stamp on it, invented by John Chalmers, bookseller and printer of Dundee. Be careful not to get pneumonia in such weather, or you will have to take injections of penicillin, discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming of Darvel, Scotland. Well, in the evening, after a walk, you are eager to sit in a comfortable armchair with a cup of hot coffee and read an adventurous novel by Sir Walter Scott from Edinburgh, or, maybe, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, or, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, born in Edinburgh, or, maybe, a book of poems by Robert Bums.
Если путешествовать по всей Шотландии, мы увидим, что географически она состоит из трех основных частей: низменности, возвышенности и нагорья с горами Грампиан, где находится самая высокая горная вершина, Бен-Невис (1342 м).
Это огромная территория площадью около 79000 квадратных километров, а население Шотландии лишь 5 миллионов человек. Если мы сравним его с Москвой, это только половина населения нашей столицы!
Вам точно понравится красота шотландского разнообразного ландшафта: горы, покрытые пурпурным вереском, красивые озера (здесь их называют "лохи"), зеленые и узкие долины (или "гленз") ...
Самое большое и самое красивое озеро в Шотландии - Лох-Ломонд, но наиболее известным является Лох-Несс, с его таинственным монстром Несси. Несси иногда появляется, чтобы напугать туристов, но только в хорошую погоду, которая является большой редкостью в Шотландии!
Но что может быть более своеобразным и привлекательным для туристов, чем человек в килте, играющий на волынке? Кельты Шотландии сделали шерстяную ткань в клетку национальным костюмом страны. Первые шотландцы жили кланами (семейные группы) и тартан стал символом родства. Есть около 300 различных кланов в Шотландии, и каждый имеет свой собственный цвет и рисунок тартана вместе с девизом.
Шотландия - родина многих известных людей, писателей и поэтов, ученых и философов. Только представьте себе: вы читаете о далекой, дождливой и туманной, загадочной и романтической Шотландии и слышите телефонный звонок. Вы подходите к телефону (кстати, его изобрел Александр Грэхем Белл, который родился в Эдинбурге) и отвечаете. Это ваш друг, который хочет, чтобы вы составили ему компанию и пошли погулять, но дождь на улице. Нет проблем, вы одеваете плащ (запатентованый химиком Чарльзом Макинтошем из Глазго) и готовы покинуть дом, но мама просит вас отослать письмо любимой тетушке. Таким образом, вы наклеиваете марку (ее придумал Джон Чалмерс, продавец из Данди). Будьте осторожны, чтобы не получить воспаление легких в такую погоду, или вам придется принять инъекции пенициллина открытого Сэром Александром Флемингом из Дарвела, Шотландия. Ну, а вечером после прогулки, вы хотите посидеть в удобном кресле с чашкой горячего кофе и почитать авантюрные романы Вальтера Скотта из Эдинбурга, или, может быть, "Остров сокровищ" Роберта Льюиса Стивенсона, или "Приключения Шерлока Холмса" сэра Артура Конан Дойла родившегося в Эдинбурге, или, может быть, сборник стихов Роберта Бернса.
engmaster.ru
Национальный технический университет Украины
Тема: « География и окружающая среда Англии, Уэльса, Северной Ирландии и Шотландии »
ЛА-82
Киев 2000
Geography of Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland is at its nearest point only 21km (13 miles) from Scotland. It has 488-km (303-mile) border in the south and vest with the Irish Republic. At its centre lies Lough Neagh, Britain’s largest freshwater lake (381sq km, 147sq miles). Many of the principal towns lie in valleys leading from the lough, including the capital, Belfast, which stands at the mouth of the river Lagan. The Mourne Mountains, rising sharply in the south-east, include Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak (852 m, 2,796 ft).
Environment of Scotland.
Scotland’s countryside contains rich variety of wildlife, with some species not found elsewhere in Britain. There are 71 national nature reserves and over 1,300 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Four regional parks and 40 national scenic areas have been designated, covering 13 per cent of the land surface. Four of the 11 forest parks in Great Britain are in Scotland, and a fifth spans the border between Scotland and England.
There are extensive areas of picturesque hill, lake and mountain country, and the countryside supports a variety of plants and wildlife. There are three National Parks (Snowdonia, the Brecon Becons and the Pembrokeshire Coast), five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and two national trails as well as 31 country parks and large stretches of heritage coast. There are about 50 National Nature Reserves and over 800 Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Nearly all of the rivers and canals are classified as having water of good or fair quality, and a significant improvement has been achieved in the quality of bathing waters.
Geographical Position of Great Britain.
The United Kingdom is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and a great number of small islands. Their total area is over 244,000 sq. km.
The British Isles are separated from the European continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea.
Northern Ireland occupies one third of the island of Ireland. It borders on the Irish Republic in the south. The island of Great Britain consists of three main parts: England (the southern and middle part of the island), Wales (a mountainous peninsula in the west) and Scotland (the northern part of the island).
There are no high mountains in Great Britain. In the north the Cheviots (the Cheviot Hills) separate England almost along its middle, the Cambrian mountains occupy the greater part of Wales and the Highlands of Scotland are the tallest of the British mountains. Ben Nevis, the tallest peak of the Highlands, is only 1,343 m high.
There is very little country except in the region known as East Anglia.
Most of the rivers flow into the North Sea. The Thames is the deepest and the longest of the British rivers, it is over 300 km long. Some of the British greatest ports are situated in the estuaries of the Thames, Mersey, Tyne, Clyde and Bristol Avon.
Great Britain is not very rich in mineral resources, it has some deposits of coal, and iron ore and vast deposits of oil and gas that were discovered in the North Sea. The warm currents in the Atlantic Ocean influence the climate of Great Britain.
Britain forms the greater part of the British Isles, which lie off the north-west coast of mainland Europe. Its weather is changeable, but there are few extremes of temperature. Britain is major world producer of oil, natural gas and coal. Since 1980 it has been self-sufficient in energy in net terms.
Woodland covers nearly 2-4 hectares in Britain: about 13 per cent of Scotland, 12 per cent of Wales, 73 per cent of England, and 52 per cent of Northern Ireland. British woodlands meet 12 per cent of the country’s consumption of wood and wood products.
Over three-quarters of Britain’s varied landscape is used for agriculture.
Environmental Protection.
Responsibility for pollution control rests with local and central government. Integrated pollution control restricts emissions to air, land and water from the most harmful processes. Recycling of waste will be a duty of local government.
The National Rivers Authority protects inland waters in England and Wales. In Scotland the river purification authorities are responsible for water pollution control.
Total emissions of smoke in the air have fallen by over 85 per cent since 1960. Sulphur dioxide emissions have fallen by about 40 per cent since 1970. Britain has adopted a phased programme of reductions in sulphur dioxide emissions form existing large combustion plants of up to 60 per cent by 2003. It has also agreed to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 30 per cent by 1998. Over 95 per cent of petrol stations in Britain stock unleaded petrol. Strict controls have reduced carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions.
The Government is committed to the elimination of chlorofluorocarbons, which damage the ozone layer. They also contribute to the greenhouse effect, which leads to global warming and rise in sea levels.
Britain stresses the need for improvement in understanding the science of climate change.
There are nearly 500,000 protected buildings, and 7,000 conservation areas of architectural or historical interest, in Britain. The Government supports the work of the voluntary sector in preserving the national heritage. Green belts are where land should be left open and free from urban sprawl. The Government attaches great importance to their protection. National parks cover 9 per cent of the total land area of England and Wales. Some 38 areas of outstanding natural beauty have been designed — 13 per cent of the same land area. Three regional parks and 40 national scenic areas cover 13 per cent of Scotland. Care is taken to control development on parts of the coastline.
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