Otázka: Geography of the United Kingdom
Jazyk: Angličtina
Přidal(a): denisa
The United Kingdom comprises four geographical and historical parts-Scotland, England,Wales and Northern Ireland.
An island country located off the north-western coast of mainland Europe .Together England, Wales and Scotland constitute Great Britain, the larger of the two principal islands, while Nortern Ireland and the republic of Ireland constitute the second largest island, Ireland.
England occupying most of southern Great Britain, includes the Isles of Scilly off the southwest coast and the Isle of Wight off the southern coast. Scotland occupying northern Great Britain, includes the Orkney and Shetland islands and Hebrides. Wales lies west of England and includes the island of Anglesey.
Apart from the land border with the Irish Republic the United Kingdom is surrounded by sea.Between UK and France there is the English Channel.The North Sea lies to the east.The Irish sea separates Great Britain from Ireland. And in the west there is Atlantic Ocean.
Largest cities: London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester in ENGLAND. Belfast and Londonderry in NORTHERN IRELAND, Edinburgh and Glasgow in SCOTLAND, Swansea and Cardiff in WALES.
The largest rivers are the Thames, the Severn and the Trent.
Lakes are numerous in the Lake District, the largest being Windermere and in the Highlands of Scotland. The lakes „lochs“ in Scotland, e.g. Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, are very attractive to tourists.
The country can be divaded into two regions- Highland and Lowland.
The highland zone consists of:
- the Highlands of Scotland-with the highest peak Ben Nevis
- the Cheviot Hills
- the Pennines- which is “ the backbone of the country“
- the Cumbrian Mountains =also known as the Lake District
- the Cambrian Mountains
- Exmoor- in Cornwall is also known as “ the English Riviera“
- Dartmoor
The lowland zone is generally flat or rolling with limestone or chalk hills. The best known of these hills are Cotswolds and the chalk cliffs.
PLACES OF INTEREST
- Canterbury: The spiritual centre of the Church of England
- Brighton: A beach resort, the Royal Pavilion here was built as a residence for the prince Regent.
- Stonehenge: Prehistoric monuments- circles of huge stones- erected more than 3 500 years ago.
- Plymouth: A historic seaport. Departure point of the Mayflower.
ECONOMY
Important products:
- Agriculture- wool, beef cattle, horse breeding, potatoes, barley, sugar beet, wheat, oats
- Manufacturing– food and beverages, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, electronic goods, clothing, motor vehicles
- Mining– oil, coal, natural gas
- Major exported goods- machinery, petroleum, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
- Major imported goods- food( tea, coffee, fruit, vegetables), metals, paper
ATTRACTIONS IN LONDON
- Buckingham palace- is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch.
- Tower Bridge- The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London.
- Big Ben- is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London
- London Eye- is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London.
