Otázka: Over the map of Great Britain
Jazyk: Angličtina
Přidal(a): I. P.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (patří sem i kousek šedého území)
Location
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a state, situated in the North-West Europe. The UK consists of 4 countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK consists of 2 islands. The main island includes England with the capital London, Wales with the capital Cardiff and Scotland with Edinburg. The another one island consists of the Northern Ireland and its capital Belfast and from the neighbour state of the UK, which is Ireland.
Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the North Sea in the east. And on the south, England and France are devided by the English Channel (La Manche).
A member of NATO, EU
Landscape
The north of the land is mountainous, there are situated Highlands and Grampian Mountains with the highest peak of whole country, Ben Nevis. In the South-West we can find another mountainous area: Cambrian Mountains in Wales. In the rest of the country there are primarily situated lowlands and uplands. Such as Southern Uplands or The Pennines in the north. Britain has an indented coastline and to Britain belong many islands too, like the Hebrides, the Orkney Islands or the Shetland Islands.
Waters
The most famous river is the Thames that flows through the capital London.
To another great rivers belong the Severn, the Wash, the Humber, the Trent or the Avon that flows through the native city of popular writer William Shakespeare.
The lake, which is connected with many myths is definitely Loch Ness in the north of Scotland. The greatest lake of whole Great Britain is Loch Fyne, which lies in Northern Ireland.
Climate
The climate in the UK is influenced by the Gulf Stream, so it´s quite warm but it rains often. The climate is mild and humid.
Population
In the UK live about 65 million inhabitants. They are concentrated especially in the south of the land, where we can find a lot of great cities.
Religion
The British are mostly protestant. It was Henry VIII who split from the Roman Catholic Church and established the Church of England.
Government
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen Elizabeth II. As the head of state. The British parliament is one of the oldest in the world. It includes the ruler, the House of Lords (which is the Upper House) and the Lower House.
The National flag
The British national flag is called Unoin Jack and it´s a combination of St George´s Cross (symbolizing England), St Andrew´s Cross (Scotland) and St Patrick´s Cross (Ireland).
History
The country was occupied about 3000 years ago by the Celts. In 55 BC the Romans came to Britain. They built roads and forts in the land, for example Hadrian´s Wall against the invasion of Celtic tribes.
One of the most important kings was William the Conqueror, duke of Normandy, who defeated King Harold in the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
In 1215 King john signed the Magna Carta. Beween 1338 and 1453 there was the Hundred Year´s War against France. And between 1455 and 1485 The War of roses, civil war between the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose) was fought.
The other famous ruler is Henry VIII, who split from the Roman Catholic Church and established the Church of England.
After Marry I. ruled Elizabeth I., known as the Virgin Queen and after her ruled King James.
Another Queen who had he whole period of rule named after her was Victoria.
Today´s Queen Elizabeth II has been ruled already for 65 years.
Agriculture
The British grow mainly cereals, fruit and vegetable.
Mineral resources
Britain hasn´t got a lot of mineral resources, only: coal, petroleum, gas.
Industry
– steel and iron manufacturing
In the UK is made a car MINI, which is world-famous thanks to sitcom with Mr. Bean.
Sights
London:
Westmister Abbey – the place, where British Kings and Queens are crowned
Prince William and Kate Middleton have been married there:
- St Paul´s Cathedral – Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married there
- The Tower of London – now it is a museum
- Tower Bridge – it can be opened in the middle and let large ships go through
- Buckingham Palace – the Queen´s residence
- Trafalgar Square
- Piccadilly Circus
- Museum Maddame Toussand
- London Eye
- Stonehenge
- Oxford (university)
- Bad (spa)
- Cambridge (university)
- Windsor Castle
