Countries of the world - Great Britain - general information about the country. Countries that make up Great Britain

Great Britain, which is surrounded on all sides by sea and ocean, still jealously guards its traditions and customs, which may seem eccentric to many foreigners. However, this is exactly what careful attitude to traditions have made Great Britain one of the most famous and influential countries in the world, which also has amazing nature and even seaside resorts. At the same time, Foggy Albion still remains a mystery to many of us...

Great Britain is located in northwestern Europe in the British Isles. In the north, Great Britain borders on Ireland; in the southeast, the English Channel (“English Channel”), whose width is 35 km, separates this country from France. The total area of ​​Great Britain is 244,820 km. sq. The country is being washed Atlantic Ocean, as well as the North Sea. The highest peak in Great Britain is Mount Ben Nevis in Scotland (its height is 1343 meters).

The capital of Great Britain is London, whose population now numbers more than 8.2 million people. London was founded by the Romans in 43 AD.

The official language of Great Britain is English, which is spoken by more than 95% of the population. Minority languages ​​include Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Gaelic and Cornish.

The state religion in Great Britain is the Anglican Christian Church, formed in 1534 under the influence of Protestantism. More than 10% of the UK population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. In addition, there are many Presbyterians and Muslims in the country.

Great Britain has been a constitutional monarchy for many centuries. The country consists of four provinces - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The head of state is the Queen, power is inherited. The head of government is the Prime Minister (he becomes the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons).

Legislative power belongs to the bicameral Parliament, which consists of the House of Lords (1200 seats) and the House of Commons (659 seats). Main political parties - Conservative Party, Labor Party and Liberal Democrats.

The climate in Great Britain is temperate maritime with high rainfall. The determining influence on the climate of Great Britain is the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Gulf Stream. The average temperature in winter is 0C, and in summer – +25C. The warmest months are July and August, and the coldest is February.

Note that although July and August are considered the warmest months in the UK, they are also the wettest, with the most rainfall.

Great Britain is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. The total coastline is 12,429 km. The English Crown Lands include the islands of Jersey and Guernsey in the English Channel, as well as the Isle of Man (located in the Irish Sea).

There are over 20 large rivers and over 380 lakes (many of them artificial) in the UK. The largest rivers are the Severn (354 km), Thames (346 km), Trent (297 km), Great Ouse (230 km), Wye (215 km) and Tay (188 km).

Note that in Great Britain there is an extensive network of canals, most of which were built in the Victorian era.

Archaeologists have found evidence that people lived on the territory of modern Britain back in the Neolithic era. Many historical artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age have also been found.

In 43 AD Britain, after stubborn resistance from local tribes, was captured by the Roman Empire and became its province. Power Ancient Rome over Britain lasted until 410 AD, after which the island was alternately invaded by tribes of Angles and Saxons from Germany, and then by Vikings from Scandinavia. The spread of Christianity in the British Isles began at the end of the 6th century.

In 1066, the famous Battle of Hastings took place, consolidating the Norman victory in the conquest of Britain. William of Normandy (better known as William the Conqueror) became king of England on December 25, 1066.

In the Middle Ages, on the territory of modern Great Britain, numerous wars took place between the English, Scots, Irish and Welsh. In 1337, England began the Hundred Years' War against France over the French provinces of Guienne, Normandy and Anjou, which eventually ended in French victory in 1453.

Immediately after this, in 1455, a bloody internecine 30-year War of the Roses began in England between two branches of the royal seven (Yorks and Lancasters).

In 1534, King Henry III became head of the Church of England, which led to the English Reformation and the dissolution of many monasteries. The mid-17th century was marked by the overthrow of the monarchy, the reign of Oliver Cromwell, and then the restoration of monarchical power.

In 1707, England and Scotland signed an act of union, thus forming the Kingdom of Great Britain.

In the 18th century, Great Britain became the largest colonial power with a huge fleet. Trade and banking developed rapidly in the country. At this time, revolutionary changes took place in English industry and agriculture.

The development of Great Britain continued in the 19th century, during the so-called “Victorian era.”

Great Britain played a big role during the world wars of the 20th century. In 1921, the Irish Rebellion broke out, leading to the formation of an independent Ireland. As for Northern Ireland, then it is still part of Great Britain. Now Great Britain is an active member of the NATO military bloc and is also part of the EU.

Since the UK is made up of several "provinces" (England, Scotland, Wales and of course Northern Ireland) which were there before independent countries, it is clear that its culture is multi-ethnic.

Traditional English folk legends about the semi-mystical King Arthur and his knights, as well as semi-historical legends about Robin Hood, are known all over the world. Many historians claim that such personalities really existed in Medieval England, but we know about them only from folk legends.

In general, it should be noted that in Great Britain traditions play a greater role than in many other countries of the world. Residents of Foggy Albion are proud of their traditions, many of which seem strange and eccentric to us. Thus, in Great Britain, theaters have been closed on Sundays for more than 300 years.

Another English tradition is that, according to the decree of King Charles II, 6 crows must permanently live in the Tower of London. The British are confident that as long as these birds live there, nothing threatens the royal power.

Some of you may know that in the House of Lords of the British Parliament the Chancellor sits on a sack of wool. This custom dates back to the times when sheep's wool made England a rich and powerful country.

Old English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish traditions may seem strange to modern Europeans, Asians or Americans, but the inhabitants of Foggy Albion adhere to them with enviable tenacity.

The Canterbury Tales by the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, published in 1476, had a decisive influence on the development of literature in Great Britain. In the Middle Ages, England gave the world such talented poets, writers and playwrights as Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Wyatt, John Milton and, of course, William Shakespeare.

Subsequently, Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, John Keats, William Blake, George Byron, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Thomas Hardy, Virginia Woolf, Wodehouse, Eliot, Graham Greene, Iris Murdoch and Iain Banks appeared.

However, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can also boast “big” literary names. The most famous of them, perhaps, are the Scottish poets William Dunbar and Robert Burns.

The most famous artists in Great Britain are George Gower, Samuel Cooper, Joshua Reynolds, George Stubbs, John Constable, Joseph William Turner and David Hockney.

If we talk about music, then, of course, in the UK there were quite talented classical composers, however, this country, first of all, gave the world the legendary “Liverpool Four” - the rock group “The Beatles”.

Each region of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) has its own traditional cuisine. In general, it can be said that British food is based on meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken), fish, eggs and flour. Meat and fish are usually served with potatoes or some other vegetable.

English cuisine has traditionally been "bland", with no seasoning. However, after Great Britain captured numerous colonies (we are, of course, talking about India), various Indian seasonings began to be used more in English cuisine.

Traditional English dishes - Yorkshire pudding, Christmas pudding, roast beef, Cornish paste, pudding and Battenberg cake.

Traditional Scottish dishes - haggis, oatmeal, pickled herring “rollmops” and dessert “Kranahan”.

Traditional Welsh dishes include bara brith yeast bread, sorrel soup, beef in beer and Welsh flatbreads.

Traditional Irish dishes include Irish stew, coddle (sausage, bacon, potatoes and onions), barmbrack and potato pancakes called boxties.

We advise tourists in the UK to try the famous English cheeses. In general, more than 400 varieties of cheese are now produced in England. The most popular of them is cheddar ( hard cheese with a strong nutty taste). In addition, we note such varieties of English cheese as Stilton, Red Leicester and Cheshire.

Traditional British drinks are beer, cider, tea, gin and Pimm (made from gin with the addition of lemonade, fruit and mint).

There are so many attractions in the UK that we will highlight only the 10 most interesting of them (in our opinion):

Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone circle built several thousand years ago. This monument is located on Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. Historians do not know exactly for what purposes it was intended, although they are inclined to the version of a religious cult.

Tower Bridge in London
The Tower Bridge in London was built in 1894. It is considered one of the symbols of London.

Chatsworth House
This mansion was built in the English county of Devonshire in the middle of the 16th century. Considered one of the finest country houses in the UK. It was here that the film “Pride and Prejudice” was filmed in 2005.

Lake Windermere
This lake is the largest in England. It is located in Cumbria. Beautiful landscapes attract thousands of tourists to Lake Windermere every year.

Portmeirion village
Located on the coast of North Wales. Construction of this amazing village began in 1925. Portmeirion may now be the most eccentric village in all of Britain.

Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is located in Northern Ireland, it consists of approximately 40 thousand basalt columns that appeared as a result of a volcanic eruption. According to legend, this Path was created in ancient times by the Giants who previously inhabited the Earth...

Edinburgh
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, is an ancient city that has preserved huge amount historical and architectural monuments, among which the “star” is Edinburgh Castle.

Tresco Abbey Gardens
These gardens are located on the Isle of Scilly and were planted in the 19th century. At the moment, flowers and trees from 80 countries around the world grow in the Tresco Abbey Gardens, including, for example, Burma and New Zealand. Even in winter, more than 300 plants bloom here.

York Minster
Construction of York Minster in York (Northern England) began in 1230 and continued until 1472. York Minster is considered one of the most magnificent Gothic cathedrals in all of Western Europe.

Project "Eden"
The Eden Project is a modern botanical garden in the UK. It is located in the county of Cornwall. Now in this botanical garden, more than 100 thousand flowers and trees from different countries of the world grow under two huge transparent domes.

The largest cities in Great Britain are London (more than 8.2 million people), Birmingham (more than 1.1 million people), Glasgow (about 600 thousand people), Belfast (more than 600 thousand people), Manchester (more than 500 thousand . people), Edinburgh (more than 500 thousand people) and Liverpool (about 500 thousand people).

Most of us associate Great Britain with constant rain and fog. However, this country turns out to have excellent seaside resorts. Moreover, the UK even has the English Riviera (Torbay). The most famous seaside resorts of Foggy Albion are Newport, Eastbourne and Brighton. There are approximately 760 beaches in the UK that are tested annually to meet European standards.

For those learning English, it is useful to learn more about the culture, traditions, and values ​​of Great Britain. This will allow you to better understand the people who live there. Whether you're visiting the country on business, touring, studying, or just finding someone to practice online, these tips and facts will show you the way to more effective communication.

1. French has been the official language in Great Britain for 300 years.
2. 25% of people living in London were born in another country.
3. More than 30,000 people living in England are named John Smith.
4. The form of government on the island is a parliamentary monarchy. This means that the government is elected by the citizens and has more power than the monarch, whose role is more representative. The head of government is the prime minister.
5. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland also have a local government, which is responsible for domestic policy and affairs in the areas of health, education, culture, transport, and the environment.
6. The United Kingdom is a member of the European Union.
7. England gave the world rugby and polo.
8. Windsor Castle is the largest royal residence in the world.
9. - the first city in which a subway appeared.
10. Famous musicians from Great Britain: The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, Radiohead, Coldplay, Pink Floyd.

1. Great Britain is an island state that includes 4 countries: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
2. English is spoken by more than 70% of the people in the United Kingdom. Other languages ​​spoken on the island include Welsh (Wales), Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish (Scotland), Irish and Ulster-Scots (Ireland).
3. The Irish, Scots and Welsh are very proud of their countries and roots and do not like to be called British. And especially don’t make the mistake of calling them English.))
4. Stonehenge, a complex of stone structures on Salisbury Plain, was built around 3000 BC.
5. Big Ben is not actually a clock, but the largest bell inside the tower of the Palace of Westminster.
6. London was founded by the Romans after their invasion of Britain in 43. The city was then called Londinium.
7. The first hot chocolate shop opened in London.
8. More than 300 languages ​​are spoken in England.

1. The population of Great Britain is more than 63 million people, of which 53 million live in England.
2. The British are a reserved people who love privacy. Even friends don't ask questions about personal relationships or finances.
3. The capital of England and Great Britain is London, the capital of Wales is Cardiff, Scotland is Edinburgh, Northern Ireland is Belfast.
4. The currency of Great Britain is the pound sterling.
5. The most common religion is Christianity. Although people of completely different religions live throughout the UK.
6. The United Kingdom covers approximately 245,000 square kilometers, stretching from the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland down to the southwest of England and across the sea to Northern Ireland.
7. The geography of Great Britain ranges from green meadows and forests to moorland and mountains. The highest mountain, Ben Nevis, is located in Scotland, its height is 1344 meters.
8. Britain has an incredible history that dates back to 6500 BC. Throughout Britain you will find historical monuments, from Stonehenge to Buckingham Palace.
9. The UK is home to almost 30 cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Among these cities: Edinburgh, Canterbury, Chester, Oxford, York.
10. The UK is one of the leading countries in the world for starting and running a business.
11. The United Kingdom is one of the world's top producers, ranking first in information technology, science, and the creative industry.
12. In the 18th century, the British Empire covered 20% of the world's surface and was home to a quarter of the world's population.

1. In Britain, children begin their education at the age of 4-5, attending Primary School. Then they go through several levels of education until the age of 16-18
2. Until 1832, there were only 2 universities in England - Oxford and Cambridge.
3. The British city of York is considered the most haunted city in Europe and one of only a few in the world. There are about 500 reported ghost sightings in the city.
4. The Queen of England is the only British citizen who travels without a passport.
5. Golf is the national Scottish game. The earliest mention of it is in 1457.
6. Robin Hood was not real person. This is a collective image based on real criminals of medieval England, whose stories were woven together by storytellers and minstrels.
7. The London Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. Each lap takes 30 minutes.
8. Until 1877, lecturers at Oxford University were not allowed to marry, and women were only able to receive university degrees from 1920.
9. JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, is the world's first billionaire writer. The series has sold 400 million copies in England and around the world. The books were published in 55 languages, including ancient Greek and Latin.
10. The world's first record store opened in 1894 in Cardiff, Wales.

1. Cheshire is the name of one of the oldest videos of English cheeses. It has been on the menu since Roman times.
2. Halloween is one of many traditions that has its roots in pagan Scottish traditions. October 31 - was important date in the Celtic calendar. This day marked All Saints' Day, when spirits returned to haunt the living.
3. About 30 million Americans believe they are of Scottish ancestry. Among them: Theodore Roosevelt, Presidents Bush, Marilyn Monroe.
4. Scots (Gaelic) is one of the Celtic languages ​​that has survived to this day. The other three are Welsh, Irish, Cornish (endangered), Breton (in France).
5. Famous English scientists - Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking.
6. British inventor and scientist Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web.
7. One of the most influential and famous poets in England is William Shakespeare. Not a single portrait of him was painted during his lifetime.
8. The official home of the British Monarch in London is Buckingham Palace. Until now, there is a changing of the guard ceremony every other day (every day from April to July), which attracts tourists.
9. The Olympic Summer Games have been held in London 3 times - in 1908, 1948 and 2012.
10. Football (soccer), rugby and cricket are the most popular sports in England.

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United Kingdom is located in northwestern Europe. Consists of the island of Great Britain, on which are located England, Scotland And Wales, and the part of the island of Ireland which occupies Northern Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are dominions of the United Kingdom, but are not part of it. It is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the west and north, and the North Sea in the east. In the south it is separated from the mainland by the English Channel.

The name of the country comes from the English Great Britain. Britain - according to the ethnonym of the Briton tribe.

Official name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Capital:

Territory area: 244 thousand sq. km

Total Population: 61.6 million people

Administrative division: It consists of four historical regions (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), which are divided administratively into numerous counties.

England: 39 counties, 6 metropolitan counties and a special administrative unit - Greater London (administrative center - London).

Wales: 8 counties (administrative center - Cardiff).

Scotland: 12 regions and 186 islands (administrative center - Edinburgh).

Northern Ireland: 26 counties (administrative center - Belfast). The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have a special status.

Form of government: Constitutional monarchy.

Head of State: Monarch - supreme bearer executive branch, head of the judiciary, supreme commander.

Population composition: 83.6% - English, 8.5% - Scots, 4.9% - Welsh, 2.9% - Irish, 0.7% also live (Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese and from African countries)

Official language: English. Accordingly, in Scotland they use Scots, and in Wales they use Scottish Gaelic and Anglo-Scottish (Scots).

Religion: 71.6% are Christians, 15.5% are atheists, 0.3% are Buddhism, 2.7% are Islam, 1% are Hinduism, 0.6% are Sikhism, 0.5% are Judaism.

Internet domain: .uk

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +44

Country barcode: 50

Climate

The climate of the United Kingdom is very mild. Although extreme temperatures above 38°C or below -18°C have been reported, temperatures very rarely rise above 29°C on summer days or fall below -7°C on winter nights. The mildness of the climate is due mainly to the influence of the North Atlantic Current (an extension of the Gulf Stream ), bringing warm waters to the western coast of Europe. At these latitudes, westerly transport of winds predominates, and thus cool air comes from the Atlantic Ocean in summer and warm air in winter.

Although the temperature differences are very small, winters on the west coast of the United Kingdom are warmer than on the east. In the Isles of Scilly, in the far south-west of Great Britain, and Holyhead in north-west Wales, the average January temperature is 7°C, in London - just 5°C, and on most of the east coast - below 4°C. Despite similar temperatures, winters become less favorable as you move north along the east coast, where chilly, wet winds blow from the cold North Sea.

Frost and snow are not unusual phenomena, especially at high altitudes, but in the lowlands in a normal winter, temperatures below 0 ° C last only 30–60 days a year, and snow only 10–15 days. In London there is only snow on the ground for about 5 days a year.

The highest summer temperatures are observed in the southeast. In London the average July temperature is 17°C, on the Isles of Scilly 16°C, in Holyhead 15°C, and on the north coast of Scotland - less than 13°C.

In normal years, all areas of the UK receive sufficient rainfall for farming, and in some mountainous areas it is even excessive. Seasonal and annual fluctuations in precipitation are slight, and droughts are rare.

The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the west of the United Kingdom, and relatively little in the eastern part. In London, the average annual rainfall is only 610 mm, in most of Low Britain - up to 760 mm, and in parts of High Britain - up to 1020 mm. Central Wales averages over 1,525mm of rainfall per year, while parts of the Lake District and western Scottish Highlands (the wettest places in the UK interior) receive over 2,540mm.

Fairly cloudy weather prevails, as most precipitation falls in the form of constant drizzle rather than showers, and the sun does not appear many days of the year.

At these latitudes, summer days are long and winter days are very short. In January for a share south coast The UK receives an average of two hours of sunshine per day, with rarely more than an hour and a half north of Birmingham. Even on the long days of July, the southern coast receives only seven hours of sunshine on average, while the northern part of the country receives less than five hours a day. The lack of sunlight depends more on continuous cloud cover than on fog.

London's famous fogs of the past were due to thick smoke from burning coal for heating purposes, rather than due to meteorological conditions. However, damp, damp fog still occurs in London on average 45 days a year, predominantly in January and February, and most ports experience between 15 and 30 foggy days each year, with fog able to paralyze all traffic for a couple of days or more .

Geography

Great Britain is an island country in northwestern Europe. It occupies the island of Great Britain, part of the island of Ireland and a number of smaller islands (Man, White, Channel, Orkney, Hebrides, Shetland and others).

Great Britain consists of 4 historical and geographical regions: England, Scotland and Wales, located on the island of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland. The total area of ​​the country is 244.9 thousand square meters. km. Great Britain has a land border with only one country - Ireland. In the north and west the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the east and south by the North Sea and the narrow straits of the English Channel and Pas de Calais. The entire coast is dotted with bays, bays, deltas and peninsulas, so most of Great Britain is located no more than 120 km from the sea.

Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Northern England are dominated by medium-height mountains and hills with deeply incised river valleys. The highest point of the country is located in Scotland - this is Mount Ben Nevis with a height of 1343 m. The south-eastern and central parts of Great Britain are occupied by elevated plains and heaths. In these areas, only a few places reach 300 m above sea level.

Great Britain has a dense network of rivers. In England and Wales the main rivers are the Tyne, Trent, Humber, Severn and Thames, in Scotland the Clyde, Forth and Tweed, and in Northern Ireland the Bann and Logan. All of them are short, deep and non-freezing in winter. There are many lakes in the mountains, mostly of glacial origin. The largest of them are Loch Neagh, Loch Lomond and Loch Ness.

Nature conservation in Great Britain is carried out by a system of national parks, national nature reserves, forest reserves and waterfowl reserves, occupying about 7% of the country's territory. The uniqueness of British national parks is that these are not “wilderness” areas, but areas quite close to large cities, more like huge city parks or botanical gardens. The largest national parks- These are the Lake District or Lake District and Snowdonia, Dartmoor and Brecon Beacons reserves.

Flora and fauna

Flora

In prehistoric times, much of the United Kingdom had dense forests of oak, birch and other hardwoods, but now, after more than 20 centuries of development, the area is largely deforested. However, despite the absence of large forest areas, agricultural areas appear wooded due to hedgerows, shelterbelts in fields, game reserves and small forest plantations near farms and estates.

Forest areas are usually confined to areas with very rugged terrain or sandy soils that are unsuitable for agriculture. Huge old trees are preserved in the royal forests, i.e. in areas such as the New Forest, which were originally set aside for royal hunts, but some of which were never heavily forested. After 1919 and especially after 1945, the government began to encourage the creation of both public and private border forest belts from fast-growing coniferous trees. According to 1997 estimates, forest management was carried out in the country on an area of ​​approx. 2 million hectares. However, in Low Britain it is not forests that predominate, but fields and pastures.

The main vegetation formation in Great Britain is heathland, which predominates in High Britain at altitudes above 215 m, but is also found in other areas. Overall, they account for approximately 1/3 of the area of ​​Great Britain and most of Northern Ireland. In fact, four completely different types are combined here: heathland proper, dominated by common heather (Calluna vulgaris), found on fairly steep slopes and well-drained, usually sandy soils; grassy heaths on well-drained soils with a predominance of bentgrass (Agrostis sp.) and fescue (Festuca sp.), and in less drained areas - blue molinia (Molinia coerulea) and white grass (Nardus stricta); sedge heaths represented by cotton grass (Eriophorum vaginatum), rush (Scirpus cespitosus) and rush grass (Juncus sp.) on more humid lands, and sphagnum bogs in the wettest areas.

Animal world

Many large mammals, such as bear, wild boar and Irish red deer, have long been hunted to extinction in the British Isles, and the wolf has been eradicated as a pest. Today there are only 56 species of mammals left. The red deer, the largest mammal, lives in the highlands of Cornwall and the Scottish Highlands. There are quite a few roe deer found north of Yorkshire and southern England.

Wild goats live in mountainous areas. Among the small mammals there are hare, rabbit, marten, otter, wild cat, a large number of partridges and wild ducks. Of the small predators, the most numerous are ermine and weasel; ferrets are found in Wales, and European wild cats and American martens are found in the mountains of Scotland.

There are many salmon and trout in the rivers and lakes of Scotland. Cod, herring, and haddock are caught in coastal waters. The fauna is almost the same as in England, with the exception of the black ferret and marten, which are not found in England. Various species of fish are found in the waters off the British Isles: in the surface layers sea ​​waters- sable fish, herring, sprat feed in the bays and estuaries of rivers, and sardines and mackerel appear off the coast of the Kirkwall Peninsula.

The most important commercial fish from distant and near waters are cod, haddock and marlan. Some cod weigh up to 20 kilograms. Also in rivers and lakes there are roach, chub, and barbel. The famous monster of Loch Ness, which could supposedly be a relict aquatic dinosaur, is most likely a fiction invented to attract tourists and various types of business.

The gray seal is found off the islands and coastal cliffs of Cornwall and Wales, and the common seal prefers the coasts of Scotland, eastern shores Northern Ireland and surrounding islands.

More than 200 species of birds can be seen in England, more than half of which come from other countries. The British Isles are home to 130 bird species, including many songbirds. Many species are able to adapt to changing conditions, and it is believed that there are more birds in suburban gardens than in any forest. The most common species are sparrows, finches, starlings, crows, kingfishers, robins, and tits. The national symbol of England is the red-breasted robin. Millions of birds migrate along the coast of Great Britain from south to north and back.

Attractions

The territory of Great Britain is full of natural contrasts - ancient and dull moors, moors and improbably blue lakes of Scotland in the north, picturesque coastal cliffs and crystal clear calm waters off the south and west coasts, hilly cultivated Central England with parks and lawns, majestic mountains and green valleys of Wales in the west. Each region of the country has a characteristic appearance, its own distinctive traditions, culture and customs.

• Beaumaris
• York Cathedral
• Canterbury Cathedral
• Tower
• Sherwood forest
• Edinburgh Castle
• Westminster Abbey
• Loch Ness

Banks and currency

The UK currency is the pound sterling (GBP). There are 100 pence in one pound. There are notes in circulation in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pounds and coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pence and 1 pound. The provinces sometimes use the names of old British coins - "guinea", "shilling", "penny" and others, but the real unit of payment is the pound.

England, Scotland and Northern Ireland print slightly different banknotes. Although they are valid throughout the UK, it is best to leave them in stores in the parts of the country where you received them. If you did not have time to do this, such banknotes can be exchanged in banks, and without commission.

Banks are open from 9.00 to 15.30 without breaks on weekdays, large banks also open on Saturday.

You can change money at any bank branch (commission 0.5-1%), in the evening - at exchange offices of large department stores and at some travel agencies. At airports, exchange offices operate 24 hours a day. A passport is required to exchange cash.

Widely used credit cards Visa, Master Card, American Express, and traveler's checks. Street ATMs are widespread, but cases of credit cards being blocked by mistake are not uncommon, so it is better to use ATMs in institutions.

Useful information for tourists

Shops are usually open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.30, although many department stores are open until 18.00, and on Wednesdays or Thursdays until 19.00-20.00. Large stores can also accept customers on Sundays, but only for any six hours between 10.00 and 18.00. In small towns and villages, shops often close for a half-day afternoon once a week, as well as for an hour-long lunch break.

Hotels in many cases have a special service charge, usually 10-12%. Where this fee is not included in the bill, the staff and maids who serve you are usually given a tip of 10-15% of the bill.

Some restaurant bills include service. Where it is not taken into account, a tip of 10-15% of the bill amount is accepted.

Porters receive 50-75 pence per suitcase, taxi drivers - 10-15% of the fare.

One of the quirks you may encounter in the UK is that most hotels still don't have mixer taps above the washbasin. The British do not wash with running water, but fill a washbasin full of water, use it, then flush it.

On the day of departure you must vacate your room before 12.00. If there is a lot of time left before the plane departs, you can leave your things in the hotel storage room.

In England, good manners and table manners are very important, so you must follow the basic rules of the meal ritual. Never place your hands on the table, keep them on your lap. The cutlery is not removed from the plates, since knife stands are not used in England. Do not transfer utensils from one hand to another; the knife must be in right hand, the fork is in the left. Since various vegetables are served at the same time meat dishes, you should proceed as follows: you put vegetables on a small piece of meat using a knife; learn to hold them there with the back of a fork without piercing them. If you dare to prick even one pea on a fork, you will be considered ill-mannered.

You should not kiss ladies' hands or say compliments in public such as “What a dress you have!” or “This cake is so delicious!” - they are regarded as great indelicacy.

Individual conversations are not allowed at the table. Everyone must listen to whoever is speaking at the moment and, in turn, speak loudly enough to be heard by those present.

Remember that the British own style life, and they, like no other nation, sacredly honor traditions and customs.

When traveling to the UK - the land of fogs - we advise you not to forget that British weather is unpredictable! Winters are usually quite mild, with temperatures rarely reaching sub-zero. From March to May, days can be both sunny and windy, with rain. In June-August, temperatures can reach + 30 °C or more, but during the day, as a rule, they remain somewhere between + 20-25 °C. In London it rains 180 days a year, and the wettest cities are Liverpool and Manchester.

United Kingdom(eng. United Kingdom; full name - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, English. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) - an island state in Western Europe, form of government - parliamentary monarchy. The capital is the city of London. The name of the country comes from the English Great Britain. Britain - according to the ethnonym of the Briton tribe.

A state in the British Isles (the island of Great Britain and the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, a large number of small islands and archipelagos, the Channel Islands), washed by the Atlantic Ocean and its seas. Area: total - 244,820 km², land - 240,590 km², inland waters - 3,230 km². The highest peak is Ben Nevis, English. Ben Nevis, Gaelic Beinn Neibhis/ (1343 m) - located in the north of Scotland (Grampian Mountains), the lowest point is Fenland (−4 m).

In the north and west, mountainous terrain predominates - the North Scottish Highlands (up to 1343 m), the Pennine and Cambrian mountains; in the south and southeast there are hilly plains. The climate is temperate oceanic, humid. Average temperatures in January are from 3 to 7 °C, in July 11-17 °C; precipitation up to 3000 mm per year in the west and 600-750 mm in the southeast. Main rivers: Thames - 334 km, Severn - 310 km, Trent - 298 km, Mersey - 109 km, Clyde - 170 km. The largest lakes: Loch Ness (area 56 km²), Loch Neagh (area 396 km²). Forests (beech, oak, birch) occupy about 9% of the UK's territory.

Administrative division

Great Britain consists of 4 administrative and political parts (historical provinces):
England (39 counties, 6 metropolitan counties and Greater London) - adm. central London
Wales (22 unitary entities: 9 counties, 3 cities and 10 city-counties) - adm. Cardiff center
Scotland (12 regions: 9 districts and 3 main territories) - adm. Edinburgh center
Northern Ireland (26 counties) - adm. Belfast city center

Dependent territories with capitals:

British Isles

Isle of Man (Douglas)
Channel Islands
Guernsey (St Peter Port)
Jersey (St Helier)

Europe

Gibraltar (Gibraltar)

America

Anguilla (Valley)
Bermuda (Hamilton)
British Virgin Islands (Road Town)
Cayman Islands (Georgetown)
Montserrat Island (Plymouth)
Turks and Caicos Islands (Cookburntown)
Falkland Islands (Port Stanley)
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

Atlantic Ocean

Saint Helena (Jamestown) and its dependent territories - Ascension Islands and Tristan da Cunha

Oceania

Pitcairn Island (Adamstown)

Indian Ocean

British Indian Ocean Territory - Chagos Archipelago

Population

The population is growing mainly due to migrant workers from countries that have recently joined the European Union, who were allowed free entry to work in the UK after EU enlargement in May 2004. However, the country's birth rate still exceeds death rates, although natural increase is no longer the dominant factor in the increase in the number of Britons. The total population (according to 2008) is 61,113,205. Age structure: under 14 years old - 16.7%, 15-64 - 67.1%, 65 and older - 16.2%. The average age of men is 39 years, for women - 41 years. Population growth - 0.279%, birth rate - 10.65/1,000; mortality rate - 10.05/1,000. The net migration rate is 2.16 migrants/1,000. 90% of the population lives in cities, with an annual increase of 0.5%. In cities with the number of inhabitants of St. 100 thousand people Almost half of the country's population lives. The largest cities by population: London (6,803,000 people), Birmingham (935,000 people), Glasgow (654,000 people), Sheffield (500,000 people), Liverpool (450,000 people), Edinburgh (421,000 people), Manchester ( 398,000 people), Belfast (280,000 people).

Ethnic composition

The indigenous inhabitants of the country make up 92% of the population of V. (2001, census), of which:
English - 83.6%,
Scots (mainly in Scotland) - 8.5%,
Welsh (mainly in Wales) - 4.9%,
Irish (mainly in Northern Ireland, Ulsterians) - 2.9%.

Immigrants and their children live mainly in the Greater London, West Midlands and Merseyside conurbations. They make up about 8% of the country's population, including:
people from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh - 3.6%,
China - 0.4%,
African countries - 0.8%,
dark-skinned islanders Caribbean Sea - 1 %

British nation

1. The formation of the British nation took place in a special way, which is not comparable with the French model of nation formation (the confrontation between the “bottoms” and the “tops” in the Great French Revolution), as well as with the German model, due to the fact that Great Britain was never a fragmented state like Germany before 1871.

2. In the XIV-XV centuries, during the period of great geographical discoveries, the national economy began to play a huge role in Great Britain, which united the population of the country.

3. Great Britain, unlike other European countries, has always been somewhat isolated due to its geographical location.

4. The religious component also played a huge role in the consolidation of the British nation (XVII century) - a revolution was carried out with religious motives (confrontation between Catholics and Protestants).

5. Also, an important role in the process of formation of the British nation can be assigned to the process of enclosure, which resulted in the assimilation of the peasant population in the cities, as well as the development of land by peasants in remote corners of Great Britain.

6. In England the Bible was translated into English earlier than in other countries. European countries; Thus, a single English language, universal for all British people, emerged.

7. The British often contrast themselves with other ethnic groups:

A) Britain had the most powerful and wide-ranging colonial empire in the world. But at the same time, the British demonstrated their differences with other nations of the world.

B) British colonial policy was also sharply different, which, unlike French or Spanish, did not try to assimilate the natives in its colonies, guided by the principle: “We are British! They are natives! However, the collapse of the empire led to a fundamental shift in the consciousness of the population: national movements, All larger number people considered themselves not British, but Scots, Welsh, and Irish. According to polls public opinion, even in England only a third of the population consider themselves British. What for a long time united the inhabitants of the country (Protestantism, patriarchal institutions of power, monarchy, empire) ceased to work as effectively as before. It is characteristic that since 2001 the word ‘Britain’ in the title of the yearbook of the State Bureau of National Statistics has been replaced by the United Kingdom

Story

The British Isles were conquered in the 5th-6th centuries by the Anglo-Saxons. After the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the process of feudalization was completed, accompanied by the political unification of the country. In the 2nd half of the 13th century, the English parliament arose and an estate monarchy took shape. The development of commodity-money relations and the struggle of the peasantry (Wat Tyler's rebellion of 1381, etc.) led (XV century) to almost complete elimination personal dependence of peasants. At the same time, peasants were deprived of land ownership, which led to their rapid proletarianization. During the Reformation, in 1534, the Church of England was created. The English revolution of the 17th century ensured the establishment of capitalism. At the end of the 17th century, political parties took shape - Tories and Whigs (in mid-19th century transformed into the Conservative and Liberal parties respectively). After the annexation of Scotland was consolidated in 1707 (Ireland was conquered in 1649-1651), the name Great Britain was assigned to the united kingdom. At the end of the 18th - 1st half of the 19th centuries, the industrial revolution took place. The creation of the British colonial empire begins with the conquest of rich Bengal by the East India Company. About a third of all English investments at this time were of Indian origin. In the 1830s, the factory system of production was established. In the 1830s - 1840s. The first mass movement of the proletariat unfolded - Chartism. In the 1840s, Ireland was struck by famine, killing more than a million people. In 1868 the British Congress of Trade Unions was created. The British Labor Party was founded in 1900. In the 19th century, Great Britain became the largest colonial power in the world (British Empire). During the Second World War, Great Britain was one of the main participants in the anti-Hitler coalition. During the collapse of the British colonial empire, almost all English colonies gained independence by the mid-1970s. After the Second World War, British governments were alternately formed by Labor (1945-1951, 1964-1970, 1974-1979, 1997 to present) and Conservatives (1951-1964, 1970-1974, 1979-1997).

Political structure

Great Britain is a parliamentary monarchy headed by the Queen.

The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords). Parliament is the highest authority throughout the territory, despite the presence of their own governing administrative structures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The government is headed by the prime minister.

A distinctive characteristic is the absence of any single document that could be called the fundamental law of the country; there is no written Constitution, moreover, there is not even an exact list of documents that would relate to the Constitution. The relationship between the people and the government is regulated by statutes, unwritten laws and conventions.

Citizenship

From 1 November 2005, applicants for British citizenship must take a special Life in the UK test on knowledge of history, culture and traditions, as well as the fundamentals of government system Great Britain and the public life of this country.
The test, which lasts 45 minutes and consists of 24 multiple-choice questions, is required to obtain citizenship. Previously, London introduced a mandatory English language test, as well as a system for assessing the qualifications and demand for labor skills of immigrants.

Future citizens will be able to obtain the knowledge necessary to pass the exam at courses specially organized for them. According to the developers of the legislation, this knowledge will help immigrants integrate more quickly into British society, including understanding their rights and responsibilities.

In 2004, 140,870 people applied for British citizenship, an increase of 12 percent on 2003.

Economy

Great Britain is a leader in European trade and a major financial center. Over the past 2 decades, the government has greatly reduced the share of the private sector in the economy and expanded social programs. Agriculture is highly intensive, well equipped and meets the highest European standards, producing 60% of products using less than 2% of the workforce. Leading industries: oil and gas production, mechanical engineering, chemical and petrochemical, ferrous metallurgy, oil refining. Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country, a major supplier of finished industrial products to the world market and a major exporter of capital (mainly in developed countries). GDP per capita is $36,600 per year. It ranks 13th in the world in terms of living standards. Extraction of oil and natural gas (mainly on the North Sea shelf), coal. The most developed is mechanical engineering (focused on the production of non-standard products, as well as various types and types of machines), including electrical and electronic, transport (including large aircraft, automobile and shipbuilding), machine tool building, agricultural, production of industrial equipment, handling equipment, etc., chemical and petrochemical (Great Britain is one of the leading places in the world for the production and export of synthetic fibers and dyes, plastics, detergents, fertilizers, etc.), pharmaceutical, oil refining industries, ferrous (quality steels) and non-ferrous (tin, aluminum) metallurgy. The oldest branch of English industry - textiles - has lost previous value. Large food-flavoring industry (traditional production of whiskey, beer; processing of imported agricultural raw materials) industry; production of footwear, knitwear; English porcelain is famous. Agriculture is dominated by dairy and meat and dairy cattle breeding and bacon pig breeding; meat and wool sheep farming. They mainly grow barley, wheat, sugar beets, oats, and potatoes. Vegetable and fruit growing (large greenhouse farming), floriculture (daffodils, tulips).

GDP for 2006 was 2.151 trillion dollars; for 2007 - 2.215 trillion dollars; for 2008 - 2.231 trillion dollars. UK GDP in the first quarter of 2009 decreased by 1.9 percent compared to previous quarter, which was a record drop over the past 30 years. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the country's GDP fell by 1.6 percent.

The economically active population is 31.2 million people. 1.4% of the population is employed in agriculture, 18.2% of the population is employed in industry, and 80.4% of the population is employed in the service sector. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. The monetary unit is pound sterling = 100 pence.

The annual budget income is 1.107 trillion dollars; annual budget expenditure is 1.242 trillion dollars. Investments in the economy amount to 16.7% of GDP. The inflation rate for 2008 was 3.8%.

Exports for 2008 amounted to 468.7 billion dollars. Exports: machinery and equipment, oil and petroleum products, cars, weapons, chemical products, medicines, food. Export partners: USA -14.2%, Germany - 11.1%, France - 8.1%, Ireland - 8%, Netherlands - 6.8%, Belgium -5.3%, Spain -4.5%, Italy -4.1%. Imports for 2008 amounted to 645.7 billion dollars. Imports: finished industrial goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, metals, food products. Import partners: Germany -14.2%, USA -8.6%, China -7.3%, Netherlands -7.3%, France -6.9%, Belgium -4.7%, Norway -4.7%, Italy -4.2%.

Culture

The culture of the United Kingdom is rich and diverse. It greatly influences culture on a global scale. The UK has strong cultural links with its former colonies, especially with those states where English is the official language. Immigrants from the Indian subcontinent and the Caribbean have made significant contributions to British culture over the past half century. During the formation of the United Kingdom, it included former independent states with distinct cultures that must be considered separately.

National newspapers: The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, The Observer, The Financial Times, The Daily Express, The Sun, The Mirror, The People.

Religion

Major Religions: Christianity(42,079,000) -71.6%, Buddhism(152,000) -0.3%, Hinduism(559,000) -1%, Judaism(267,000) -0.5%, Islam(1,591,000) -2.7% , Sikhism(336,000) −0.6%, Other religions(179,000) −0.3%, Atheists(9,104,000) −15.5%, Refrained(4,289,000) −7.3%.

On the territory of England there is a church with state status - the Church of England, the secular head of which is the British monarch. The Church of England is one of the local churches that make up the Anglican Communion, which has the Archbishop of Canterbury as its spiritual leader.

According to research, the United Kingdom is a country with a predominantly secular population: only 38% of people claim to believe in God (“a God”), although, according to the Church of England in 2005, “72% of the population of England indicated their religious affiliation as Christian "

British Armed Forces

The military forces are divided into the army, the royal navy, and the royal air force. Ground forces -113,500 people; Air Force - 52,540 people; navy - 43,700 people. British Armed Forces Armed Forces is the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The UK Armed Forces are under the control of the Defense Council of the Ministry of Defence. The primary mission of the British Armed Forces is to defend the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, promote UK security interests and support international peacekeeping efforts. Also, the British Armed Forces are active and permanent participants in NATO operations and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The military budget is 2.4% of GDP as of 2005, approximately $37 billion.

Relations with the Russian Federation

Cooperation between Russia and Great Britain is carried out mainly through the structures of the European Union. Bilateral cooperation thus excludes some aspects included in the EU-Russia program, such as the fight against crime, military exercises and scientific seminars on defense issues. At the Russia-UK level, the following issues are considered: security in the field of energy, nuclear development, technology and the latest design developments. Joint consultations are being held on developments in the field of control at enterprises, in government agencies and on the streets (here states are reaching a special level of cooperation due to the complexity and sensitivity of the issue; consultations are being held on improving existing systems of control, surveillance and recording of attendance, appearance, etc.) . This allows both countries to increase the level of security of the population and government structures and becomes a priority in relations between states in the field of defense and security.

For example, incidents involving disagreement between the parties regarding the extradition of citizens (Lugovoy from Russian territory and Berezovsky from Great Britain), the subsequent expulsion of diplomatic officials and the cessation of cooperation in some areas did not in any way affect joint consultations on control and security matters. Also unaffected by political scandals remains the sphere of the fight against terrorism, where the parties openly express interest in cooperation, mutual development and transfer of experience in countering this threat. The British side highlights the importance of the fight against terrorism as fundamental to Russian-British relations, the most important area of ​​cooperation in general, and positions this area above “political misunderstandings.” This is evidenced by the statement of the British Minister for European Affairs Jim Murphy: “In terms of countering terrorism, we work very closely and will continue to cooperate.”

In the difficult situation of Russian-British diplomacy, numerous scandals, unfulfilled demands and claims, unwillingness to make concessions, high-profile news reports and critical articles that never cease to develop the topic of Berezovsky’s tasks and goals, political assassinations, the involvement of Russian special services in the death of British citizens, intelligence activities of British intelligence services on the territory of the Russian Federation, etc., the possibility of effective cooperation is reduced, the number of bilateral projects is reduced.

Legal acts: In 1997, the Russian Federation ratified the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. From this moment, tax obligations fulfilled in one city are recognized as fulfilled in another.

Interesting facts

• Great Britain has no written constitution.
• The House of Commons is the only place in Britain where the Queen of England cannot enter, since she is not a member of the House.
• In Great Britain, by tradition, the position of First Lord of the Treasury is held by the Prime Minister, and the position of First Lord of the Admiralty is held by the Queen.