Great Britain on the physical map of the world. Other representatives of the royal house of Great Britain

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

detailed map Great Britain demonstrates 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 on the world map occupies 243,809 km 2, of which 229,946 km² falls on the island of Great Britain. Despite its relatively small size, the country has an extremely large extent coastline- 17,820 km.

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

Geographic location of Great Britain

The relief of the country is very diverse. The northern regions of Great Britain are represented by the North Scottish Highlands. It is here that on the maps of Great Britain in Russian you can find the highest point of the country - Mount Ben Nevis (1344 m). To the south, the Mid-Scottish Lowland begins, resting on the Pennine Range, which stretches for 350 km from north to south. Behind him 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 Northern Irish enclave of the country, despite its small size, is also distinguished by a variety of relief. It is here that the largest lake in the country, Loch Neagh, is located, whose area is 396 km². There are a sufficient number of large full-flowing rivers in the UK, but the length of the longest - the Severn - does not exceed 354 km.

Animal and plant world

The nature of the country has been subjected to significant human interference 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 of the bowl there are elms, hornbeams, birches, beeches and ash trees. A significant part of animal species was exterminated. To date, only 53 species of mammals live in the UK. The most common 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 sardine.

Climate

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

It should be noted that in the mountainous and most northern regions these figures will be 2-3 degrees lower. The number of rainy and cloudy days in the country is high, so the rainfall 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 800 mm.

UK map with cities. Administrative division of the country

The UK has a very confusing structure. Not to mention 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 others. So Northern Ireland is divided into 6 counties and 11 districts, Scotland - into 32 districts, and Wales - into 9 counties, 10 city-counties 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 most of the country's population (up to 85%) lives in England, which occupies about 53% of the area of ​​Great Britain.

London- 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 River Thames. It is one of the key economic and financial centers of the world.

150 km northwest of London is Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK. Historical Center 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 Yorkshire and is the third largest city in the UK. After the capital, it is the second most important financial center of the country.

Everyone is used to thinking that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is one country. But this is not a completely correct statement. The kingdom includes four historical and geographical regions. The United Kingdom includes such territories as England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Thus, the kingdom occupies most of the area of ​​the British Isles. It is also important that since 1922 Ireland has been an absolutely autonomous country within the United Kingdom.

It is impossible not to mention the Isle of Man and True, these territories are administratively independent parts of the kingdom.

Description

Each territory that is part of the UK has its own culture, traditions, sights that have accumulated over the centuries. The official language is English, but there are peculiar exceptions for each administrative and political part. So, today the population of the Welsh villages communicates in the ancient

The heritage of the territories that make up the Kingdom of Great Britain is practically nothing like each other. They differ not only in history, composition of the population and the structure of government, but also in religion and even climate.

A few main points that characterize the UK as a whole:

  • The monetary unit is the pound sterling.
  • Religions - Anglicanism, Catholicism and Presbyterianism.
  • Great Britain is famous for talented actors, musicians, singers, writers, sportsmen, scientists.
  • The Kingdom is considered one of the most popular places for shopping. The country is very rich in brands such as Burberry, which are known all over the world, shops, boutiques and street markets where you can find vintage clothes and match them with accessories.

England

The largest administrative and political part that is part of the UK is England. In turn, it consists of nine separate regions, each with its own unique traditions and culture, bewitching bustling metropolitan areas such as London, and beautiful peaceful villages such as Cornwall. The official language is English. There are thirty-nine counties, six metropolitan counties and an administrative unit called Greater London.

Every year, millions of tourists from all over the world come to England, because it is suitable for a noisy and fun holiday, as well as for romantic walks. There are more than 20 attractions that are listed world heritage UNESCO.

Scotland

There are few places on our planet that can compete with Scotland. Here are large cities such as Glasgow, deep lakes and picturesque mountains. This country is divided into nine regions, which contain about eight hundred islands, three hundred of which are unsuitable for human life.

During the celebration of Burns Night, which falls on January 25, and St. Andrew's Day (November 30), live music is heard throughout the streets.

Scotland is part of the UK to this day. In 2014, they held a referendum on secession from the state. But 55.3% of the population opposed the declaration of independence.

The official languages ​​are English, Anglo-Scots and Scottish Gaelic.

Northern Ireland

The smallest autonomous territory, which is part of the UK, is Ireland. It consists of twenty-six districts. Despite its small size, it has a very rich nature. Here are located high mountains, flat valleys, forests and even the inland sea. In addition, the country is famous for its history, culture, mythology and vibrant musical life. At venues, clubs and concert halls at any time of the year you can enjoy the music of both Irish performers and visitors from all over the world.

Northern Ireland as part of the UK has three official Ulster-Scots and, of course, English.

Wales

There is no place on Earth that would be even slightly similar to the island nation of Great Britain. The composition of the countries includes a rather unusual administrative and political part - Wales. The peculiarity lies in the fact that its inhabitants still communicate with each other in one of the oldest languages ​​in the world - Welsh. Second official language is English. Wales is the third largest country in the UK in terms of land area.

Five districts with unique nature are registered here, as well as three. The locals call them "castles" because of the impressive number of ancient fortresses (about 600 castles).

Great Britain - small but incredible attractive kingdom, where tourists from all over the world come to get to know the architectural, cultural and natural attractions of this country, which has left its bright mark on world history.

Once upon a time, Shakespeare was born here, the Beatles arose, the legendary Baker Street appeared and the best universities in the world – Cambridge and Oxford – were opened.

Great Britain on the map of the world and Europe

Great Britain occupies a very vast territory of the British archipelago, and the full name of this country sounds like United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The Commonwealth includes several regions located close to each other.

Where is?

If you look at the map of Europe large, then on it the UK can be found northwest of the continent. The country is divided into two major islands with a total length of 244,100 sq. km. Most big Island is called Great Britain, and on it are:

  1. England;
  2. Wales;
  3. Scotland.

Relief

Traveling around the kingdom, many note that Great Britain has diverse landscape, which replaces each other along the way. In just an hour, the plain can be replaced by high hills, and they will be followed by picturesque ones. At the same time, the relief of all countries that make up the UK is very diverse and dissimilar.

The southern half of England is located on the plains, but in places there are hills and uplands. In this part of the country are the famous Dartmoor Hills, towering at an altitude of about 610 meters above sea level. In the eastern part of the island there is a swampy lowland, which was drained for agriculture.

In the north of England revenge is mountainous. Here are the Pennines, which stretch for 350 kilometers.

The "Backbone of England", as the people of the country affectionately call it, separates the northwestern part of the kingdom from Yorkshire.

The highest point of the ridge is Mount Scafell Pike, whose height reaches 2,178 meters.

Scotland considered the most mountainous region, since more than half of its terrain is indented by the Grampian Mountains, located in the Highlands region. Only a tenth of the country is occupied by flat terrain, where the largest part of the population lives.

Landscape Wales similar to the relief of Scotland - it is also mountainous. The Cambrian Mountains are located in the center of the country, and the Snowdon Massif is in the northwest.

Northern Ireland has a flat relief, and in the very center of the country is located deep lake Loch Knee. The most high point this region - Slieve Donard (862 meters).

Nature

The coast of Great Britain is washed by two seas - Irish in the West, Northern in the east, and Atlantic Ocean in the South-West. There are many rivers and lakes on the territory of the country, among which the most famous Thames in London. She is the most long river country, and its length is 338 km.

In addition to it, in the country the most important navigable water channels are:

  • severn;
  • Yew;
  • Secrets;
  • Tweed.

Many lakes are located in Scotland, for example, famous lake Loch Ness and Loch Lomond.

In prehistoric times, Great Britain could boast of luxurious nature. Here were incredibly dense forests, which were dominated by oaks, lindens, birches and beech. But by the end of the 20th century, due to economic activity human, most of the forests were destroyed, and the swamps were drained. Larch, fir and spruce were brought here and this greatly influenced the change in the flora and fauna of the country.

Today, the forest in Great Britain occupies only a tenth of the kingdom, and most of the trees have survived on the mountain slopes, in river valleys or in the south of the country. But, despite this, one gets the impression that when you get to the UK, you find yourself in green region. This is happening as places that have been hit hard by industrialization are being reforested, green fencing is found everywhere, and sanctuaries are being formed.

Animal world Great Britain is rich and varied. It is difficult to name birds and animals that are not here. In the forests there are hares, foxes, wolves and wild boars, as well as otters, raccoons and ermines.

Climate

The UK has a strong name "Foggy Albion", which perfectly characterizes the country's climate - humid and temperate. The weather here is changeable: the morning may turn out to be clear and warm, and in the evening the sky will be covered with clouds and prolonged rain will fall. This climate contributes to the occurrence of fog, which is not uncommon here.

In general, the UK climate is characterized by warm and wet summer And mild winter.

These features are associated with the warm Pacific Gulf Stream, as well as proximity to the sea and high-altitude jet air currents.

Scotland

This country is second major region Great Britain located on the British Isle. She takes northern part islands, and its territory accounts for about a third of all land.

The country also includes the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands.

Scotland has land borders with England in the south of Great Britain, and water borders with a number of European countries:

  1. In the West with Ireland;
  2. In the north with and Ireland;
  3. in the east with Norway.

The coast of Scotland is washed North Sea in the east and Atlantic Ocean in the west of the country.

Scotland harsh climate, so not many people live here - about 5.2 million people who speak Scottish and English.

There are 9 regions and 32 regions in Scotland. The capital of country - Edinburgh, and other major cities are Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee.

The country is known throughout the world for its traditions, luxurious nature, especially mountains and lakes, as well as the stunning architecture of local ancient castles, which are more than one thousand years old.

Wales

Wales - the smallest region Great Britain, located on the British Isle and occupying its eastern part. Only about 2.9 million people live in this country in an area of ​​​​20,776 square meters. km divided into 22 regions. It also includes the island of Anglesey, located in the southwest of England.

Wales has land borders with England in the east, and water - through the Bristol Bay on South. Also, the water borders across the Strait of St. George separate Wales and Ireland. The north of the country is washed by the Irish Sea.

The capital of Wales, Cardiff, is a city inhabited by the ancestors of the Celts, so you can often hear the Welsh language here.

Other major cities in the region include Swansea And newport.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is located apart from England, Scotland and Wales, since this country is located on a separate island in the northwest of the UK. The country is divided into 6 counties and 26 districts. Belfast is considered the largest city and, accordingly, the capital.

Scotland is closest to Ireland - it is located in the east, or rather on the other side of the North Channel.

The country also borders on the south and west with Ireland. The water borders of the country are in the southeast with by the Irish Sea, and in the southwest with Atlantic Ocean.

This country is home to about 1.9 million people, among which the indigenous inhabitants of the island are only 500 thousand people, and the rest are Anglo-Irish and Scotch-Irish - people belonging to different religions. On the basis of this, conflicts constantly flared up in Northern Ireland, but in the last ten years they have almost subsided.

Detailed UK map with cities

Great Britain is interesting not only for its sights, but also for the many large and small cities scattered across its territory. The largest cities are marked with the status "City", which grants no privileges other than prestige.

London

London is not only the capital of England, but also of the whole of Great Britain, and it has been fulfilling this role for two thousand years. From a small settlement, it has become largest metropolis (by the standards of Europe), first being the main city of Roman Britain, then England and finally Great Britain.

It plays an important role in the politics, economy and culture of Great Britain and is the most important financial and political center of Europe.

Here are the headquarters of such leading companies as HSBS, Barclay and Reuters, as well as the London Stock Exchange.

During a walk around the city, sights come across at every corner:

  • Tower;
  • Big Ben;
  • Trafalgar Square;
  • Buckingham Palace;
  • Westminster Abbey.

Of great interest to the guests of the British capital are ancient streets located in the Westminster area, and squares that keep the history of the country.

There are two main airports in the United Kingdom near London - Heathrow And Gatwick where planes arrive from all over the world.

Belfast

Belfast is famous capital of Northern Ireland located in County Antrim. The city is located on the coast of the Irish Sea at the mouth of the Lagan River. Such a convenient location is very good for the country, since here is the largest sea ​​port and numerous shipbuilding enterprises, one of which built the infamous Titanic. The city has a well-developed oil refining and electrical industry, as well as instrument making.

Belfast, as a city, was formed only to XIX century, A capital status received in 1921, although its territory was inhabited in the Bronze Age. Since the city received a new status, bloody skirmishes on the basis of religion began to take place in it. Here, Catholics and Protestants staged armed clashes between themselves, which were only completed in 1998.

Today Belfast is a large city with a population of about 600 thousand people and its number is growing every year.

Tourists come here for a vast number of attractions, such as, for example, Donegall Square or sculpture "Big fish" containing a capsule important information about the city.

Birmingham

Birmingham is another major city in central England, located in county of the West Midlands. During the war, the city was badly damaged, many residents died and houses were destroyed, but by 1990 it was returned to its former appearance, slightly improved. Today it is home to 1.2 million people, and in terms of population it is second only to London, the capital of Great Britain.

Birmingham was known throughout the world as a developed center for handicrafts and metal forging.

IN war time several strategically important factories producing military products appeared here. Unfortunately, all of them were destroyed due to the most severe bombardment by German aircraft.

Today, Birmingham is so famous that it attracts tourists with unusual contrasts: next to the industrial zones are the main sights of the city, and former factories are turned into art galleries. Because of this, the city incredibly in demand at tourists.

Going on a trip to British Isle, calculate your budget carefully. Will help you on how to fly to Europe and not be penniless.

Bristol

Bristol is one of the most important cities for the UK, as well as major port in central England, with an extensive maritime history.

In fact, Bristol is located on river avon, and not on the sea, and through it has access to Bristol Bay and the Atlantic.

Because of this, throughout its history locals actively cultivated their capital through trade with the United States and the West Indies.

Today Bristol is the capital of the county of the same name, as well as a major business, cultural and educational center in the southwestern part of England. Shipbuilding, sugar production, cotton fabrics and carpets flourish here.

Bristol is the fourth most popular city in the UK, where tourists go first thing to get to know the country better. This place has lots of attractions, some of which belong to the XI century - the century of the foundation of the city. Particularly attractive seems to be Georgian architecture, which is considered a rarity for the country.

Cardiff

This city is the capital of Wales, as well as one of the main cities in the UK, with the status of "city". This status was granted to him at the beginning of the last century for the rapid growth of industry in Wales.

In an instant, Cardiff was turned into the main port of the country, from where coal was transported to other British regions. This made it possible to quickly and noticeably increase the population.

Cardiff is located on the coast of Bristol Bay near Newport. On the west side it borders on the Vale of Glamorgan, and on the north it is surrounded by two other valleys of Wales - Caerphilly and Rhontha Cynon Taw.

The city itself was built on the bottom of a drained swamp - on a foundation of rock formations.

Today there are about 350 thousand people.

Despite the small size of Wales and Cardiff (by UK standards), this city has many attractions:

  1. Millennium Stadium;
  2. National Assembly for Wales;
  3. Llandaff Cathedral.

In the vicinity of Cardiff, there are also many attractions in Wales associated with culture And history countries.

Edinburgh

The capital of Scotland is the second most popular city that tourists prefer to visit when they are in the United Kingdom. This happens for several reasons. First of all, Edinburgh is home to many attractions, as well as a place where the biggest and most beautiful festivals countries.

Edinburgh is located on the east coast of Scotland and south coast the Firth of Forth.

About 470 thousand people live here, which is much less than in another major city this country - in Glasgow. The first mention of it appeared in 1170, and in the XII century Edinburgh became the capital of Scotland when King David I moved the royal court from Dunfermline to Edinburgh Castle.

Today the city is actively growing and developing. There is major university with a worldwide reputation (Edinburgh City University). There are also many government offices in the city.

Glasgow

The first largest city in Scotland and the third in the UK is located 32 km from the mouth of the river Clyde. Today there are about 1.8 million inhabitants, but their number is steadily growing, due to the fact that Glasgow is considered the largest industrial center of the country, where great achievements of the industry are constantly taking place.

In the Middle Ages, Glasgow was known as religious and educational center of Scotland, but after the Industrial Revolution, it turned into the most significant industrial region of the country, second only to London in this. The main direction of the city development program was shipbuilding.

When the growth of industry began in Glasgow, its population increased significantly. Local merchants who had made their fortune trading goods from America began equip the city. Beautiful buildings, impressive warehouses, as well as squares and lawns appeared here.

Glasgow's only problem was the most terrible slum in Europe - immoral settlements that existed here until the 20th century. The city managed to cope with this problem, in connection with which in 1990 it received the status « cultural capital Europe". Now here are the most beautiful sights, surrounded by picturesque nature.

Liverpool

The city made famous by the famous "Liverpool Four", was once just a small settlement in England in the county of Merseyside, formed in the west of the British Isle.

Due to its location, in one moment it turned from a small and dirty village into a major port, through which more than 40% of the world's trade flow was transported.

It was also convenient to trade with Ireland from here, since the island is located very close.

In 1715, the first in England opened in Liverpool. port dock, and already in 1880 it received the status of a city. Today, about 1.3 million people live here, and more more tourists come here to get acquainted with the numerous sights of the city, starting from ancient palace XIII century and ending with the famous bar where the famous Beatles performed.

Manchester

City with richest history industrialization is the third popularity tourist destination UK and England. Manchester has always been distinguished by a fairly developed handicraft and active trade, but during the Industrial Revolution it took a leading position, turning into the textile center of Britain.

A large role in such an active development of Manchester was played by spinning machines, steam engines, proximity to coal mines and the port of Liverpool.

All this allowed the city to quickly reach an unprecedented scale, and rich merchants to invest a lot of money in the cultural development of the city. Everywhere began to build galleries, public parks.

Manchester sprawled on the western slope Pennines on the banks of the River Erwell, and about 2.3 million people live on its territory. Today it is considered an important cultural, industrial and financial center of the country.

Newcastle upon Tyne

The largest city in the North East of England Greater Manchester, has long been known as a big trading, financial and industrial centre countries.

It first arose in the small county of Tyne and Wear. For a long time Newcastle was the capital of the notorious Northumberland, and after - a center for coal mining and an important city with a population of 300 thousand people.

The importance of the city in the UK is evidenced by the presence of its own subway.

Today Newcastle is known as student center. The city is home to two well-known prestigious universities - Northumbria and Newcastle, as well as State College No. 1. More than 40 thousand students of various specialties study within the walls of the college alone.

Newcastle has its own attractions:

  • Royal Theater;
  • Art galleries;
  • Millennium Bridge;
  • Roman Catholic cathedral Saint Mary;
  • St. Nicholas Anglican Cathedral.

There are also many in the city contemporary shopping centers , which are more here than in any other English city.

Oxford

The city, which is home to the world famous university, ranked first in the top 100 best educational institutions in the world, is located in southern England on the banks of the Thames and is the capital of Oxfordshire. About 160 thousand people live here, among which 10% are students.

The first mention of the city dates back to the 10th century, when it was taken over by King Edward I, who founded a fortress here to protect against Viking raids.

In the second half of the 12th century, a university appeared in Oxford, which gave the world 50 Nobel laureates. Few people know, but in addition to Oxford University, there are excellent colleges:

  1. Christ Church;
  2. Magdalen College.

All these ancient abode of knowledge are located in buildings with luxurious old architecture, therefore, in themselves are the main attractions of the city.

Cambridge

The city, located in the south of England near London, is the capital County of Cambridgeshire, but he received the status of "city" quite recently. To many, Cambridge is known as another place where the famous university is located, which is included in the top 5 best educational institutions in the world.

About 120 thousand people live here, some of which are students Cambridge and King's College.

The first mention of Cambridge dates back to the VIII century, and already in the Middle Ages the city became one of the centers of the concentration of forces supporting the Parliament. In the 15th century, Henry VI himself founded the famous King's College, which is considered not only an important educational institution, but also the most beautiful architectural monument Great Britain.

nottingham

Nottingham is located in the heart of England on the River Trent and is capital of Nottingshire with a population of about 300 thousand people. The city has a powerfully developed knitwear industry, engineering, food and flavor enterprises, as well as coal mining and pharmaceuticals, but popularity came to it thanks to the well-known good-natured robber Robin Hood.

Great Britain has played a significant role on the world map, showing itself as the strongest state, influencing the rest of the world, as well as creating excellent conditions for tourist trips.

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