______________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION

9
INTRODUCTION ______________________________________________________________
Despite its relatively small size,
Britain is highly populated, with an
estimated population density of 245
persons per sq km (634 per sq mi) in 2002.
It is highly developed economically,
preeminent in the arts and sciences,
sophisticated in technology, and highly
prosperous and peaceful. In general,
British subjects belong to one of the more
affluent states of Europe and enjoy a high
standard of living compared to the rest of
the world.
Many nations around the world have
been influenced by British history and
culture. With each passing year, English
comes closer to being a world language for
all educated people, as Latin once was.
The prominence of English can be traced
to the spread of the British Empire during
The national flag of the United Kingdom
the last three centuries. In the early 20th is the Union Jack, also known as the Union
century, a quarter of the world’s people Flag
and a quarter of the world’s land surface
were controlled in some way by Britain.
Some parts of the world received substantial
numbers of British emigrants and developed
into what were called daughter nations.
These colonies eventually became self-
governing areas called dominions. Canada,
Australia, and New Zealand fit this pattern.
For a long time India was the most
important colony in the British Empire, but
after a long anticolonial struggle with
Britain, independent India today is the State Emblem of the United
world’s most populous democracy. The Kingdom
British Empire once included substantial
portions of southern, western, and eastern
10
______________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION
Africa; important areas in Asia, such as
Hong Kong; a few holdings in the Americas;
and a large number of islands in the Pacific.
Today most of these are independent
nations, but many retain some British law,
institutions, and customs.
Even parts of the world never
included in the British Empire have adopted
the British system of parliamentary
government, often referred to as the
Westminster model. Originally a vehicle for
royal authority, this system gradually
evolved into a representative government Crowned Floral Badges of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
and finally became a means through which Ireland: Heraldic badges of England (Tudor
Rose), Scotland (Thistle) and Ireland
democracy could be exercised. Today (Shamrock). The plant badges are grown from
legislative power comes from the lower the same stem, representing the united
countries.
house of Parliament, known as the House of
Commons. The freely elected members of
the House of Commons select the nation’s chief executive, the prime minister. He
or she in turn appoints members of the House of Commons to the Cabinet, a body
of advisers. Because the executive is not separated from the legislature, the
government is efficient as well as responsive to the electorate.
Britain was a pioneer in economic matters. The first industrial revolution
occurred in Britain in the 18th and early 19th centuries and led to the development
of the world’s first society dominated by a middle class. Britain was the first nation
to have more than half of its population living in urban areas. Rapid economic
development and worldwide trade made Britain the richest nation in the world
during the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century. For a long time before and
after the Industrial Revolution, London was the center of world capitalism, and
today is still one of the world’s most important business and financial centers.
Britain has been important in the arts throughout modern times. Plays,
novels, stories and, most recently, screenplays from Britain have been admired
throughout the world. The output of English-language literature from Britain has
far surpassed its output in art and music, fields dominated by other European
nations.

11
INTRODUCTION ______________________________________________________________

12
______________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION

13
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES

THEORETICAL PART

PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION

What are the main countries of the UK and their capitals?

What are the highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales?
What are the chief rivers of Great Britain?
What are the chief lakes in Great Britain?
What are the largest cities of Great Britain?
What is the total population of the UK?

1. THE POSITION OF THE BRITISH ISLES

The position of the British Isles has helped the country to become a
major world power. The surrounding seas made it necessary for Britain to become
a seafaring nation in order to trade with other lands, and the discovery of the
Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries led to a great growth of trade between the
Old World and the New. The British Isles stand on the edge of highly
industrialized Western Europe and face westwards across the Atlantic to North
America. So they lie on the main transatlantic shipping lanes. The growth of
commerce and shipping enabled Britain to trade with most parts of the world, to
become a major sea power and to expand her territories overseas. Today the British
Empire has virtually ceased to exist, but the English language is spoken in most
parts of the world and is an important link in the British Commonwealth of
Nations.
The British Isles form a group of islands (over 5000) off the north-west
coast of Europe (total area about 315.000 square kilometers). These islands include
Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and Ireland (Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland); the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Scilly and Anglesey; and the
Orkneys and Shetlands together with numerous islands and isles off the west coast
of Scotland.

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__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Geographical map of the British Isles

All these form administrative counties or parts of counties of the mainland;

but the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, also part of the British Isles, are
largely self-administrated and are not part of England, Wales, Scotland or
Northern Ireland.

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1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________

The Shetland Islands

The Shetland Islands present a
subarctic archipelago that lies
northeast of the island of Great
Britain and forms part of Scotland.
The local way of life reflects the
Scottish and Norse heritage of the
isles, including the Up Helly Aa fire
festival, and a strong musical
tradition, especially the traditional
fiddle style. The islands have
produced a variety of writers of
prose and poetry, often in the
distinct Shetland dialect of Scots.

The fact that Great Britain is an island has kept her secure from invasion for
the past 900 years. Before 1066, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Danes came to settle
and brought some of the different racial elements that go to make the modern
“native” of Britain, but since that date most of her resources have been developed
peacefully. In contrast to this, most of the countries on the continent of Europe
have frequently suffered from the devastation brought by war during that period.
The British Isles are situated between latitudes 50* N and 61* N. In these
mid-latitudes a temperate maritime climate is experienced. This enables people to
work all the year round, both indoors and out. Other parts of the world are less
fortunate.

16
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES

A typical fishing village in Cornwall

Cornwall forms the westernmost part of
the south-west peninsula of the island of
Great Britain. Cornwall is the homeland
of the Cornish people and is recognised
as one of the Celtic nations, retaining a
distinct cultural identity that reflects its
history.

The British Isles stand on the Continental Shelf. The surrounding seas are
shallow and less than 600ft (200m) deep. During the Ice Age this shelf was dry
land and the British Isles were linked to the Continent. It was submerged when the
vast ice-sheets and glaciers slowly melted at the end of this period. The final
parting from the Continent took place almost 8.000 years ago. The waters round
the British Isles contain important fishing grounds. In the North Sea and the Irish
Sea lives great number of plankton upon which fish feed. The great variety of fish
that are found has enabled a prosperous fishing industry to grow.

2. THE BUILD AND RELIEF OF THE BRITISH ISLES

For so small group of islands, Britain has a great variety of natural scenery.
In the north and west lies most of the high land reaching above 1.000ft (300 m),
and rising in isolated areas to over 3000ft (900m). The highest peak is Ben Nevis
(4.406ft/ 1.343 m) in the Scottish Highlands. Deep valleys, many the result of
glaciations, dissect the mountains. In North-West England the picturesque lakes of
the Cumbrian Mountains attract tourists.
In contrast the land in the South and East is under 600 ft (180 m) and only
rises about 1.000 ft (300 m).

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1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________

Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in
the British Isles, located in Scotland.
Standing at 1,343 metres above sea
level, it is located at the western end of
the Grampian Mountains in the
Lochaber area of the Scottish
Highlands, close to the town of Fort
William.

From a comparison of the Geology and Relief maps it is clear that the
mountains and high plateau of Highland Britain are built chiefly of ancient rocks
of Paleozoic and Pre-Cumbrian age. In contrast, Lowland Britain is much lower
lying. Its rocks are younger in age and were formed in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic
eras. Lowland Britain comprises southern and eastern England.
Highland Britain consists of Scotland, most of Wales, the Pennines and the
Lake District. The Pennine Chain extends southward from the Cheviot Hills into
the Midlands, a plain region with low hills and valleys. England is separated from
Scotland by the Cheviot Hills, running from East to West.
The highest peaks are: in Scotland – Ben Nevis (1.343 m); in Wales –
Snowdon (1.085 m); in England – Scafell Pike (978 m).

The Lake District

The Lake District is a mountainous
region in North West England. A
popular holiday destination, it is famous
for its lakes, forests and mountains and
its associations with the early 19th
century writings of William Wordsworth
and the other Lake Poets. It is located
entirely within the county of Cumbria,
and all the land in England higher than
910 m above sea level lies within the
National Park, including Scafell Pike,
the highest mountain in England. It also contains the deepest and longest bodies of water in
England, respectively Wast Water and Windermere.

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__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
3. RIVERS AND LAKES

Since Britain has a moist climate with much rainfall, rivers and lakes are
numerous. Rivers in central and eastern Britain tend to flow slowly and steadily all
year long because they are fed by the frequent rain. Many have been navigable,
and from the earliest times they have served peoples interested in either commerce
or invasion. The Highlands act as a divide and determine whether rivers flow west
to the Irish Sea or east to the North Sea. Rivers and streams moving westward
down from the Highlands tend to be swift and turbulent; rivers flowing eastward
tend to be long, graceful, and gentle, with slowly moving waters.
The Thames and the Severn are the longest rivers in Britain and are almost
equal in length. The Severn flows south out of the mountains of central Wales to
the Bristol Channel at Bristol. It is 290 km (180 mi) long. The Thames, 338 km
(210 mi) long, flows eastward out of the Cotswold Hills and weaves through the
metropolis of London. The Thames provides water to the city of London and is
used to carry commercial freight. Other important rivers in England are the
Mersey, which enters the Irish Sea at Liverpool; the River Humber on the east
coast, into which the Trent River and several other rivers flow; and the Tyne River
in northern England, which flows past Newcastle upon Tyne to the North Sea.

The Thames
The Thames is a river that flows through southern England, most notably through London.
it is the longest river entirely in England (346 km) and the second longest in the United
Kingdom, after the River Severn (354 km).

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1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________

The Severn Valley

The River Severn (354 km) is usually
considered to be the longest in the UK. The
Severn is the greatest river in terms of water
flow in England and Wales.

In Scotland the important rivers are the Clyde and the Forth, which are
joined by a canal. The River Clyde flows northwest, past Glasgow, and empties
into the Atlantic at the Firth of Clyde. (Firth is the Scottish name for an arm of the
sea that serves as the broad estuary of a river.) The River Forth flows eastward into
the Firth of Forth, where Edinburgh rises on its south bank. The most important
rivers in Northern Ireland are the Lagan, the Bann, and the Foyle.
Most of the large lakes in the United Kingdom are located in the upland
areas of Scotland and northern England, although Lough Neagh in Northern
Ireland is the largest lake in the United Kingdom. Loch Lomond, on the
southwestern edge of the Highlands of Scotland, is the largest on the island of
Great Britain, measuring 37 km (23 mi) long and from 1.6 to 8 km (1 to 5 mi)
wide.

Erne River (Northern Ireland)

The River Erne is the second-longest
river in Ulster (129 km). It is very
popular for fly fishing for trout and
salmon, with a number of fisheries along
both the river itself and its tributaries.

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__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Avon River
The River Avon is an English river in the
south west of the country. The Avon is the
19th longest river in the UK at 121 km.

On the north-west side of the Pennine system lies the Lake District
containing the beautiful lakes which give it its name. This district is widely known
for its association with the history of English literature and especially with the
name of William Wordsworth, the founder of the Lake District School of poets.
Lake Windermere is the largest of the 15 major lakes in the famous Lake District
of northwestern England. It is about 1.6 km (1 mi) wide and more than 16 km (10
mi) long.

4. CLIMATE

The temperate, maritime climate of the British Isles can be summed up as

one of mild winters, cool summers, and rainfall at all times of the year. However,
a study of the day-by-day weather shows such a variation in temperature, rainfall,
wind and sunshine, that it is often said that the British Isles have no climate, but
only experience weather.

The influence of the chief winds on the climate of Great Britain

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1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
In July the main features of temperature are governed by the position of the
British Isles in mid-latitudes. The warmest areas are in the South (London 18*C),
whereas the north of Scotland is coolest (Wick 13*C).
Places inland have higher temperatures than coastal areas in summer. The
sea warms up more slowly than the land, thus in July the land is usually warmer
than the sea.
The west coast is a little cooler in summer than places further east, because
the British Isles lie in the belt of variable westerly winds.
In winter, the sea loses its heat more slowly than the land surface. The
warming effect of the on-shore westerly winds is made much greater by the
presence of the North Atlantic Drift. This warm ocean current originates from the
Gulf Stream Drift off the east coast of the U.S.A. and flows off the west and south
coasts of the British Isles.
Table 1
The average air temperatures of the British Isles

5. POPULATION

The United Kingdom is an island state: it is composed of some 5.500

islands, large and small. The two main islands are Great Britain (in which are
England, Wales and Scotland) to the east and Ireland (in which are Northern
Ireland and the independent Irish Republic) to the west. They are separated by the
Irish Sea.
The UK is one of the world’s smaller countries (it is twice smaller than
France or Spain), with an area of some 244,100 square kilometers. The UK is
situated off the west coast of Europe between the Atlantic Ocean on the northwest
and the North Sea on the east and is separated from the European continent by the
English Channel and the Strait of Dover.

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__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
Table 2
Demographics of the UK

Population Percentage Population

Part Area
(2014) (2014) density
England 53,012,456 83.9 130,427 km² 406/km²
Scotland 5,295,000 8.4 78,772 km² 67/km²
Wales 3,063,456 4.8 20,778 km² 147/km²
Northern
1,810,863 2.9 13,843 km² 130/km²
Ireland
United
63,181,775 100 243,820 km² 259/km²
Kingdom

It is believed that at the end of the 11th century the population of Britain was
about two million. At the end of the 17th century the population of England and
Wales was about five and a half million, and that of Scotland was about one
million.
Censuses of the people of Great Britain have been taken regularly every ten
years since 1801, with the exception of 1941, because of the war. The census of
1971 showed a population in the United Kingdom of about 54 million; nowadays it
is over 64 million people (England – 53ml., Scotland – 5 ml., Wales – 3 ml.,
Northern Ireland – 1,8 ml.). There are fourteen other countries in the world with
more people.
Most British people attribute their origins to the early invaders, calling
themselves English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, or Ulsterites. The Ulsterites are an
ethnically controversial group—some claim they are Scottish and others identify
themselves as Protestant Irish. The remaining share of the population is minorities
who arrived, substantially, in the decades following the end of World War II in
1945.
The minorities—Chinese, Asian Indians, Pakistanis, Africans, and
Caribbean people of African ancestry—came to Britain in great numbers after
1945. Immigration from the South Asian subcontinent (India and Pakistan)
stabilized in the 1990s, but immigration from African countries continued to rise.
By the late 1990s more than half of the people in these categories had been born in
the United Kingdom. These newer ethnic groups tend to live in the more urban and

23
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
industrial areas of England, especially in London, Birmingham, and Leeds. It is
considered that 60 percent of black Britons live in the London area, along with 41
per cent of the Asian Indian population. More than 94 percent of the population is
described as white. According to the most recent estimates, based on 1994
statistics, Asian Indians make up 1.5 percent of the British population; Pakistanis,
0.9 percent; Bangladeshis, 0.3 percent; Chinese, 0.3 percent; Caribbeans, 0.08
percent; and Africans, 0.03 percent. Irish immigration to Britain is unique.

6. SCOTLAND

Although Scotland takes up one third of the territory of the British Isles, its
population is not very big (5,2 million people) and most unevenly distributed
(Central and South). The Cheviot Hills mark the boundary between England and
Scotland. Scotland includes the Hebrides off the west coast, and the Orkney and
Shetland Islands off the north coast. It is bounded by the North Sea on the east.
The total area of Scotland is 78.770 sq. km. (together with 186 inhabited
islands). The capital is Edinburgh, although Glasgow is the largest city. The saint
patron of the country is St. Andrew.
Since the middle of the last
century depopulation has been taking
place in the North-west Highlands.
People have moved away, some to
Central Scotland, some to England and
many overseas, in order to improve their
standard of living. In 1995 the Highlands
and Islands Development Board was set
up to find ways to improve conditions
and create more jobs to encourage
people to stay. But many people are still
leaving the rural areas of the North-
west Highlands and the Islands each
year.

Geographical map of Scotland

24
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Flag of Scotland (Saint Andrew)

According to legend, the Christian apostle
and martyr Saint Andrew, the patron saint
of Scotland, was crucified on an X-shaped
cross at Patras.

Geographically Scotland can be divided into the following regions:

1) The Highlands and Islands, which is the most northern and the
most underpopulated area with a harsh climate.
2) The Lowlands / Central Scotland /, which is the most industrial
region in Great Britain, with about three quarters of the population.
3) The Southern Uplands, with hills, which border on England.

6.1. The Highlands and Islands

This is one of the most difficult areas in Great Britain for a man to inhabit. It
includes the Grampians, the North-west Highlands, the coastal lowlands of the
North-east and the Islands.
The mountains form the most extensive area of upland in the country. The
rocks include some of the oldest, hardest and most complex in the British Isles.
This region includes a great number of valleys (as U-shaped, hanging valleys –
the result of moving ice during the Ice Age), lochs (Ness, Oich, Lochy), rivers (the
Sprey, the Upper Tay – the longest river of Scotland). Many valleys between the
hills are filled with lakes, called lochs. The best-known is Loch Ness where some
people think a large monster lives.
Highland cattle
The area is very sparsely populated, with many
mountain ranges dominating the region, and
includes the highest mountain in the British
Isles, Ben Nevis. Before the 19th century the
Highlands was home to a much larger
population, but due to a combination of factors
including mass migration to urban areas
during the Industrial Revolution, the area is
now one of the most sparsely populated in
Europe.

25
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________

13th-century Benedictine abbey

The mountainous area forms a plateau, highest on the west side and deeply
dissected by the action of the ice and rivers. Above the general plateau surface rise
mountain masses such as Ben Nevis (1.343 m) and Ben Macdhei (1.309). The
most important city here is Aberdeen which is the oil centre of Scotland.

6.2. The lowlands (Central Scotland)

This region lies between the Highlands and the Southern Uplands. It
includes densely populated valleys and ranges of sparsely peopled hills rising to
about 2000 ft (600m). Over 75% of the people of Scotland live here. There are a
number of natural features that have favoured Central Scotland:
a) Much of it is below 500ft (150m) and consequently the climate is warmer
and drier than that of the other regions;
b) Deep soils, suitable for farming, are widespread;
c) Mineral resources, especially coal, enabled the growth of heavy industry;
d) A great number of fiords (the result of Ice Age) – long, deep, sheltered
inlets favoured the growth of ports, trade and the shipbuilding industry;
c) The lowland facilitated the building of good road and rail
communications.
Central Scotland is often called the Midland Valley because it is a rift valley
(80 km wide). The main rivers are River Tay River, Clyde and River Forth.
Within Central Scotland the rocks are younger than those of the Grampians
and Southern Uplands.
The largest cities of Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh, are situated here.

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__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Burrell Collection, Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, and
third largest in the United Kingdom. It is
situated on the River Clyde in the country's
West Central Lowlands. Inhabitants of the
city are referred to as Glaswegians.

6.3. The Southern Uplands

The Southern Uplands stand out as a sparsely populated region rising to over
2.500 ft (700 m), forming a barrier to easy land communications between the
lower lands of Central Scotland and the north of England. The rocks are of
Paleozoic age and consist mainly of shales and slates. Rivers have cut deep valleys
into these highlands. In general, the climate here is not severe but some important
contrasts in it are experienced in different parts of Southern Scotland. In the west
the maritime influence is seen in the mild winters. This coast has a long growing
season, but the on-shore westerly winds bring much rain and cloudy skies.
In contrast, the east coast in winter comes under the influence of high-
pressure systems over Europe and it is cooler. The growing season is shorter, but
long hours of bright sunshine from clearer skies enable growth a greater variety of
crops.

This piper of The King's Own Scottish

Borderers is wearing the traditional uniform
of the Scottish regiments, a kilt, sporran,
bonnet and a dirk in his stocking. The plaintive
skirl of the bagpipes evokes the days of
Scotland's heroic past.

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1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
The land of this region is mainly presented with moorland and rolling
valleys. The Cheviot Hills are located here; they are based on volcanic rocks and
granite.
The chief rivers here are the Tweed, The Doon, the Upper Clyde.

7. WALES

Wales is part of the United Kingdom; it is united politically, legally and

administratively with England and occupies a broad peninsular on the western
side of the island of Great Britain. Wales also includes the island of Anglesey. The
country is bounded on the north by the Irish Sea; on the east – by the English
counties of Cheshire, Shropshire and Gloucester; on the south – by Bristol
Channel; on the west – by St. George Channel.
The total area of Wales is 20.779 sq. km. The capital is Cardiff. The saint
patron of the country is St. David.
The population of Wales is about 3 ml. people but it is distributed most
unevenly. Wales has a strong national identity and its own language; over
700.000 people can speak Welsh and the Royal Eisteddfod is held each year to
encourage its use. Much of this individuality has been retained since Roman times.
The present Welsh people and their language are descended from the Celtic-
speaking inhabitants of those times. The Welsh call their country Cymru, and
themselves they call Cymry, a word which has the same root as “comrader” (friend
or comrade).

Geographical map of Wales

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__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
Flag of Wales
The flag incorporates the red dragon of
Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd, along with
the Tudor colours of green and white. The
flag was granted official status in 1959, but
the red dragon itself has been associated
with Wales for centuries, though the origin
of the adoption of the dragon symbol is
now lost in history and myth.

Wales is mainly a mountainous country and most of the lowland is found in the
deeper valleys and on the coast. The mountains are built of old rocks, resistant to
erosion. In northern and central Wales grits, shales and volcanic rocks are built of
Old Red Sandstone.
Above the plateau in the north are ranges developed on the more resistant
grits and volcanic rocks. One of these is the Snowdonia range, which includes
Snowdon 3.560 ft (1.084 m) – the highest mountain in England and Wales. The
plateau is deeply dissected by the rivers which drain it, that is the rivers Conway,
Severn, Wye, Usk, Towy, Dee.
In Snowdonia there are many U-shaped valleys and glacial troughs. In a
mountainside occur many armchair-shaped hollows, often containing a small
lake as the result of ice action during the Ice Age.
The main cities are: Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport.

Skenfrith, Wales
Skenfrith, in southeastern Wales, includes
the ruins of a 13th-century castle, bottom
center, which is surrounded on all sides by
an irregularly shaped stone wall. Like
many other Welsh small towns and
villages, Skenfrith relies on the rural land
that lies outside of the industrial southern
portion of Wales. Green fields of grazing
land for cattle and sheep dominate the
mountainous countryside of Wales.

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1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
8. ENGLAND

England is a political division of the island of Great Britain and the principal
division of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. England
occupies all of the island east of Wales and south of Scotland, other divisions of
the island of Great Britain. Established as an independent monarchy many
centuries ago, England in time achieved political control over the rest of the island,
all the British Isles, and vast sections of the world, becoming the nucleus of one of
the greatest empires in history. The capital, largest city, and chief port of England
is London, with a population in 2015 of 8,5 million. It is also the capital of the
United Kingdom and the site of the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The total population of England is about 53 ml. people.

Geographical map of England

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__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Flag of England (Saint George)

The association of the red cross as an
emblem of England can be traced back to
the Middle Ages, and it was used as a
component in the design of the Union Flag
in 1606. Since the 1990s it has been in
increasingly wide use, particularly at
national sporting events.

England is somewhat triangular in shape, with its apex at the mouth of the
Tweed River. The eastern leg, bounded by the North Sea, extends generally
southeast to the North Foreland, called the Downs. The western leg of the triangle
extends generally southwest from the mouth of the Tweed along the boundary
with Scotland, the Irish Sea, St. George’s Channel, and the Atlantic Ocean. The
northern frontier extends from Solway Firth on the west along the Cheviot Hills to
the mouth of the Tweed on the east. The base of the triangle fronts the English
Channel and the Strait of Dover.
The total area of England is 130,410 sq km (50,350 sq mi), 57 percent of the
area of the island. This total area includes the region of the Isles of Scilly; the Isle
of Wight, located off the southern coast; and the Isle of Man, located in the Irish
Sea. Native to the island is the Manx cat, characterized by the absence of a tail.
The Isle of Man is a popular tourist resort.
The saint patron of the country is St. George.

This lovely village of Sawrey in

Cumbria — where Beatrix Potter, of
Peter Rabbit fame, wrote most of her
books at Hill Top Farm -is in the
Southern Lakes, an area where
Herdwicks, the Lakeland's own breed
of sheep, are raised.

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1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
One of the principal physiographic features of England, as well as of the
entire island of Great Britain, is the deeply indented coast. Most of the
indentations are excellent natural harbors, easily accessible to deepwater
shipping, a factor that is very important in the economic development of England.
By virtue of the high tides that prevail along the eastern coast, a number of rivers
and their estuaries provide this region with safe anchorages. The most important
of rivers are the Tyne, the Severn, the Tees, the Humber, the Yare and the Thames.
The most important harbors on the southern coast include those of Dover,
Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Portsmouth, and Plymouth.

8.1. North-west England (Cumbria)

This region consists of the Cumbrian Mountains or Lake District, together

with the surrounding lowlands.
The Cumbrian Mountains are dome-shaped and rise to over 900m in the
central district, where the highest peaks are formed in resistant rocks of early
Paleozoic times. During the Ice Age ice collected on the higher areas and glaciers
moved along the river valleys. The results of this glaciation can be seen in many
U-shaped valleys and ribbon-lakes. The old valleys were deepened and widened
by the action of the glaciers. When the ice finally melted, long narrow lakes
remained in the hollows that were produced. There are so many lakes in this area
that it has become known as the Lake District.

Geographical regions of Great

Britain

32
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
Since the Ice Age rivers have carried silt to the lakes and deposited it in
them to build deltas. Some lakes have been divided into two by such deltas. This
land is very flat and floods easily after heavy rains.

8.2. North-east England

It includes the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Tyne and Wear, and

Cleveland. It is the area of great contrasts from the point of view of both relief and
human settlement. The land rises westward to reach height of over 610ft in the
Pennines and the Cheviots. Despite the presence of towns in some parts of the
region, there are beautiful stretches of coastline, including limestone cliffs and
sand dunes. Valleys include both old agricultural settlements and the rows of
houses built in the 19th century. Towns also show great contrasts: there are the
old-established fortress cities such as Durham, industrial settlements of the 19th
century, and the new towns.

8.3. South-east England (the Weald)

South-east England differs in many ways from other parts of Britain. The
region extends from the Sussex coast to the North Downs and from the Kent coast
to the Hampshire Basin. The name “the Weald” is given to the central parts. The
geography of this region is greatly influenced by its proximity to London. For
example, the fast electric trains of the Southern Railway enable people to live on
the coast and travel daily to work in London. The other features that have left their
imprint on the region are the sea and the nearby Continent.

Castle of Dover (South-east

England)
Dover is a town and major ferry port
in the home county of Kent, in South
East England. The surrounding chalk
cliffs are known as the White Cliffs of
Dover.

33
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________

Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor
in the English county of Berkshire. It is notable
for its long association with the English and
later British royal family and for its
architecture.

Most of the rivers flow from the centre of the Weald and have cut gaps
through the surrounding Chalk ridges. The climate has some advantages for both
the tourist trade and the growth of fruit, for which Kent is famous.
This area lies in the south-east side of the British Isles and has warm, sunny
summers and cool winters. In general the climate here is the driest in all the British
Isles. It is very favourable for farming in the South-east where the warm sunshine
enables a good ripe crop almost every year.

9. IRELAND

Ireland is the western most part of the British Isles. It is situated on that side
of the British Isles away from the trade routes with Europe. In fact, its main links
are across the Irish Sea with Great Britain. Its total area is 86, 473 sq km. (The
Republic of Ireland – 70,300 sq km., Northern Ireland – 14, 148 sq km.). The
capital is Belfast. The saint patron of the country is St. Patrick.

Geographical map of Northern

Ireland

34
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES

Flag of Northern Ireland (Saint Patrick)

The Saint Patrick's Saltire represents Northern
Ireland indirectly as Ireland in the Union Jack. It is
sometimes flown during Saint Patrick's Day parades
in Northern Ireland, and is used to represent Northern
Ireland during some royal events.

The Island of Ireland is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North
Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the second-largest
island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on
Earth.
The total population of Ireland is over 4 ml. people (Northern Ireland – 1,8
ml.). During the last hundred years, thousands of people left Ireland to find work in
North America and Great Britain. The numbers emigrating were highest in the
middle of the 19th century after the Potato Famine 1847. By 1861 over three
million had left the country. Emigration has continued at a slower rate up to the
present time. The population of the Republic of Ireland (Eire) has increased
slightly in 1961, but in Northern Ireland (Ulster) it has been rising slowly since the
beginning of this century. Therefore, in order to find some of the reasons for these
changes the geography of Ireland must be observed.
In its relief and the structure of its rocks another type of link exists between
Great Britain and Ireland. The relief of Ireland is represented with its low lying
Central Plain surrounded by a rim of highlands. The highlands are found in two
main areas. In the north lie the Antrim Plateau and in the north-west there are the
mountains of Donegal. In the south are the Wicklow Mountains, to the west of
them lie many separate ranges including Slieve Bloom, Carry Mountains and
Mackgillycuddy’s Ranges. In the latter is Carrantouhill (1.041m), the highest peak
in Ireland.

City Hall, Belfast

Belfast is the capital and largest city
of Northern Ireland, and the second
largest on the island of Ireland. It is
situated on the River Lagan. Belfast
was granted city status in 1888.

35
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________

Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

The Giant's Causeway is an area of
about 40,000 interlocking basalt
columns, the result of an ancient volcanic
eruption. It is located in County Antrim
on the north coast of Northern Ireland.

The geology of these mountainous areas gives evidence that at some time
Great Britain and Ireland were joined. The old resistant rocks of the Highlands of
Scotland are similar to those in the mountains of Donegal and some others. These
rocks are of the older Paleozoic age.
The climate of Ireland has some features that have an important influence on
agriculture. It is very humid and the rainfall is generally high. Ireland’s climate is
the most equable in the British Isles. The mild climate enables plants to grow all
the year round, especially in the south and west, but the high rainfall and cool
summers prevent many crops from ripening. Grasses grow well in these conditions
and this has earned Ireland the name Emerald Isle. Ireland is very breezy, so gales
are very common here. The driest season is spring. The main rivers are the
Shannon (the longest), the Lee, the Bann, the Lagan, the Foyle,
The physical features (position, relief, soils and climate) have greatly
affected the way of life of the people, but the political division of Ireland has also
played a part in this. There are two distinct political units:
The Republic of Ireland, which is independent of the Commonwealth. Eire is
the name of the country, the capital is Dublin and Irish is the official language in
addition to English.

Rural Antrim
The green, rolling farmland of
County Antrim stretches toward
Slemish Mountain in northeastern
Northern Ireland.

36
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, Ulster is the name of the country,
it sends 12 members of Parliament to Westminster; the capital is Belfast.
The two countries have been developed by man in different ways, so the
occupations of their peoples must be considered separately.

Self-checking Questions

1. Why do the British Isles have a favorable position?

2. What are the main countries of the UK and their capitals?
3. What smaller isles do the British Isles comprise?
4. What kind of relief is presented in the British Isles?
5. What are the latitudes on which the British Isles lie?
6. What is the Continental Shelf? Dwell on its importance in the economy of
the country.
7. What does “temperate maritime” climate mean?
8. What does Highland Britain comprise?
9. What does Lowland Britain comprise?
10.What is the highest point in the British Isles?
11.What are the chief waters of the British Isles?
12.Why is Scotland not densely populated?
13.Into what regions can Scotland be divided?
14.What kind of individuality is observed in Wales?
15.What is one of the principal physiographic features of England?
16.Why has Northern Ireland earned the name Emerald Isle?

37
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
PRACTICAL PART

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Study the following proper names and practice their pronunciation:

The British Isles [ð br a lz] The Thames [ð t mz]

The Continental Shelf [ð nt ntl lf] The Severn [ð n]
The Isle of Wight [ði a l v wa t] The Antrim Plateau [ði æntr m plæt ]
The Gulf Stream Drift [g lf stri m dr ft] The Weald [ð wi ld]
The Isle of Scilly[ði a l v li] Durham [ m]
Edinburgh [‘ nbr ] Emerald Isle [ ld a l]
The Channel Islands [ð ænl ndz] Cardiff [ f]
The Isle of Man [ði a l v mæn] The Royal Eisteddfod [ð la ðv d]
The Cumbrian Mountains [ð mbr n ma nt nz]
The Pennines [ð na nz] The Southern Uplands [ð n pl ndz]
The Lake District [ð le k str kt] The Orkneys [ði kniz]
The Cheviot Hills [ð t h lz] The Strait of Dover [ð stre t v ]
The Highlands [ð ha ndz] The Lowlands [ð ndz]
Emerald Isle [ ld a l] Eire [ ]
The Cambrian Mountains [ð kæmbr n ma nt nz] Ulster [ lst ]

2. Note down from the theoretical material phrases and word combinations
in bold letters corresponding to the thematic vocabulary of the theme
“Geography of the British Isles”. Translate them into Ukrainian.

3. Find in the text the following concepts; check your ability to explain
them in English, and add them to your working vocabulary:

Temperate maritime, glacial troughs, racial elements, armchair-shaped

hollows, transatlantic shipping lanes, self-administrated, fishing grounds, natural
scenery, the belt of variable westerly winds, depopulation, subcontinent, hanging
valley, mountain masses, sparsely peopled, densely populated, natural features,
high-pressure systems, rolling valley, peninsular, resistant to erosion, deeply

38
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
indented coast, dome-shaped, ribbon-lakes, limestone cliffs, sand dunes, the
Weald, rim of highlands.

4. Write all you can (What? When? Where? How?) about the
following concepts and proper names:

The Continental Shelf, the Ice Age, Emerald Isle, the Weald, the
Potato Famine, Ulster, Eire, equable climate, human settlement, glaciation, the Isle
of Man, U-shaped valleys, indentations, armchair-shaped hollows, national
identity, The Southern Uplands, the Midland Valley, The Highlands and Islands,
depopulation, ethnically controversial group.

5. Study the peculiarities of the chief mountains of Great Britain and

fill in table 1.

Table 1
N Name of the Geographical Medium Highest Additional
mountains position heights point information

1 The Grampians

2 The Cheviot
Hills
3 The Pennines

4 The Snowdon
mountains
5 The Cambrians

6 The Donegals

7 The Sperrins

8 The Cumbrians

39
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
6. Study the basic characteristics concerning Great Britain and fill in
table 2.

Table 2
Description England Scotland Wales Northern
Ireland
Area

Population
Language
(dialect )
Capital ,
Cities
Rivers
Relief
National
emblems

7. Make a summary of the text using the thematic vocabulary of the

general theme. Emphasize: (a) its subject matter; (b) the main points
described; (c) your personal impressions of the given material.

-
, ,
. , ,
- ,
, 900 . ,
, .
, 1830-
, ,
.

40
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
,
3200 . . . 38
1-1,5 ,
30 , . .
, :
.

.
.
, .
-
. 50-
,
.

8. Be prepared to speak about these geographical objects using

the thematic vocabulary of the general theme and the following
clichés:

to be unevenly (evenly) distributed to be located

to be experienced to be bounded by
to be submerged to form an extensive area
the final parting to be deeply dissected (by)
to provide water on the edge of
day-by-day weather dome-shaped
to be governed by the position resistant rocks
to be composed of to be greatly influenced by
to be separated by to leave its imprint on
to take up to affect the way of life
mountain masses severe climate
densely populated natural features
sparsely peopled to form a barrier
maritime influence the frontier extends from\to
broad peninsular deeply indented coast
to be represented with to be descended from

41
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________

Ben Nevis Lake District

The Grampian Mountains The Cambrian Mountains

GENERALIZING TEST

1. Snowdonia is in the North of…?

a) England;
b) Wales;
c) Scotland;
d) Northern Ireland;
2. Swansea, Newport and Cardiff are the towns of…?
a) Wales;
b) Scotland;
c) Northern Ireland;
d) England;
3. The River Clyde is the main river of…?
a) England;
b) Scotland;
c) Wales;
d) Northern Ireland;

42
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
4. Ben Nevis is the highest point of…?
a) the Cumbria Mountains;
b) the Pennines;
c) the Grampians;
d) the Donegals;
5. Lake District is situated in…?
a) Scottish Uplands;
b) Welsh moors;
c) English mountains;
d) Irish plateau;
6. Central Scotland is often called…?
a) the Weald;
b) the Great Plateau;
c) the Midland Valley;
d) the Rocky Valley;
7. The British Isles are situated in the…?
a) north latitudes;
b) mid-latitudes;
c) south latitudes;
d) east latitudes;
8. Cheviot sheep are found in…?
a) England;
b) Scotland;
c) Wales;
d) Northern Ireland;
9. Wales lies to the…of England?
a) east;
b) west;
c) south;
d) north;
10. The Republic of Ireland…?
a) is an independent state;
b) has a special treaty with the British Parliament;
c) has a special treaty with the USA;
d) has a special treaty with Canada;

43
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
11. The United Kingdom is an island state: it is composed of …islands?
a) 50;
b) 500;
c) 5000;
d) 50000;
12. The UK is situated off … coast of Europe?
a) east;
b) west;
c) south;
d) north;
13. Over 75% of the people of Scotland live in…?
a) Highlands and Islands;
b) Southern Uplands;
c) Cheviot Hills;
d) Lowlands;
14. The present Welsh people and their language are descended from the
…inhabitants of past times?
a) Saxon-speaking;
b) Celtic-speaking;
c) Roman-speaking;
d) Jute-speaking;
15. River Tay is the longest river of…. ?
a) England;
b) Scotland;
c) Wales;
d) Northern Ireland;
16. Dover, Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Portsmouth are the towns of…?
a) Wales;
b)Scotland;
c) England;
d) Northern Ireland;
17. The climate of Northern Ireland is very…?
1) severe;
2) humid;
3) dry;
4) hot;

44
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
18. Ireland is the … most part of the British Isles?
a) southern;
b) eastern;
c) northern;
d) western;
19. Cornwall is a part of…?
a) England;
b) Scotland;
c) Wales;
d) Northern Ireland;
20....are often called “the backbone of England”?
a) the Grampians;
b) the Cambrians;
c) the Pennines;
d) the Donegals;

TESTS IN THEMATIC VOCABULARY

Test 1. Choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the original
sentence if it is substituted for the capitalized word or phrase:

1. The Continental Shelf was SUBMERGED when the vast ice-sheets and
glaciers slowly melted at the end of the Ice Age period.
a) disappeared
b) vanished
c) split
d) immersed

2. The surrounding seas are SHALLOW and less than 600ft (200m) deep.
a) deep
b) profound
c) flat
d) narrow

45
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
3. Parts of the ocean FLOOR seem to be constantly shifting.
a) bottom
b) surface
c) storey
d) current

4. The deep valleys, the result of GLACIATIONS, dissect the mountains.

a) melting
b) weathering
c) erosion
d) freezing

5. For so small group of islands, Britain has a great variety of natural

SCENERY.
a) landform
b) life
c) power
d) phenomena

6. The most FERTILE soil is found in the low-lying fenland of Lincolnshire.

a) poor
b) shallow
c) rich
d) acidic

7. The temperature rarely EXCEEDS 32* C.

a) tops
b) reaches
c) depress
d) reduces

8. DROUGHTS occur, but rarely, and crops are never a complete loss.
a) moisture
b) flood
c) dry
d) devastation

46
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
9. The occasional little WHIRLWIND can destroy the roofs of the houses.
a) storm
b) flood
c) drought
d) rainfall

10.The number of ducks, geese and other water fowl has DIMINISHED during
recent years.
a) disappeared
b) doubled
c) increased
d) lessened

11.Many of the former BREEDING areas of some birds are still numerous.
a) reproduction
b) cultivated
c) arable
d) growing

12.Cornwall is known to have the most EQUABLE climate of the whole

country.
a) unique
d) balanced
c) predictable
d) rare

13.As the surface is chiefly of clay it becomes very STICKY in wet weather.
a) solid
b) hard
c) light
d) muggy

47
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
14.The Uplands are SPARSELY inhabited.
a) densely
b) thinly
c) evenly
d) highly

15.Wales is a hill country composed of rocky outcrops DISSECTED by deep

valleys.
a) joined
b) linked
c) divided
d) smashed

16.MOISTURE-loving species are found throughout Wales.

a) heat
b) cold
c) frost
d) humidity

17.The REMOTE parts of the country shelter some mammals and birds.
a) isolated
b) distant
c) close
d) proximate

18.The inhabitants of Scotland are UNEVENLY distributed.

a) equally
b) justly
c) irregularly
d) stably

19.Numerous mountain TORRENTS descend from the highland masses.

a) rocks
b) lavas
c) fogs
d) showers

48
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
20.There is a large natural reserve of water for URBAN use there.
a) town
b) rural
c) coastal
d) farming

21.Northern Ireland has a common FRONTIER with the Republic of Ireland.

a) treaty
b) anthem
c) boundary
d) flag

22.Since the middle of the last century DEPOPULATION has been taking
place in the North-west Highlands.
a) expansion
b) reduction
c) growth
d) evolution

23.In the west the MARITIME influence is seen in the mild winters.
a) rocky
b) cliff
c) tidal
d) sea

24.The mountains are built of old rocks, RESISTANT to erosion.

a) vulnerable
b) firm
c) open
d) exposed
25. England is somewhat triangular in shape, with its APEX at the mouth of the
Tweed River.
a) summit
b) foot
c) bottom
d) side

49
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
Test 2. Fill in the blanks with the following words. You may use each word only
once:

climbers level valleys located

peak ridges trails glaciation

points connected climbed place

The Snowdon mountain group is broken by …… into five minor groups, whose
chief ……., Wyddfa (Snowdon) (1,085 meters above sea…….), is the highest
mountain in southern Great Britain. The region is part of Snowdonia National Park
and is ……. in northwestern Wales. The other peaks are ……… by sharp …….,
the product of hard …….. Lying within Snowdonia National Park, Snowdon can
be …….. by a number of ……. or by a railway that goes all the way to the high
…….. of the mountains. ………, hill walkers, sightseers, and fishers have made
Snowdon a popular ……… .

Test 3. Match the definition with the correct word:

1. Cape a) an area of moor

2. fiord b) either the shortest day of the year or
the longest day of the year
3. isle c) a group of islands
4. island d) a steep high rock face, esp. one that
runs along the seashore
5. shelf e) magma emanating from volcanoes
and other openings
6. archipelago f) a long narrow raised land formation
with sloping sides esp. one formed by
the meeting of two faces of a mountain
7. peninsula g) a gap or space made by cleaving or
splitting

50
__________________________________________1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES
8. cliff h) the main part of a land mass as
opposed to an island or peninsula
9. moorland i) the total or partial obscuring of one
celestial body by another
10. lava j) a level or almost level tract of
country, esp. an extensive treeless
region
11. ridge k) point of land that projects out into a
body of water
12. mainland l) a long narrow inlet of the sea between
high steep cliffs formed by glacial
action
13. solstice m) a mass of land that is surrounded by
water and is smaller than a continent
14. eclipse n) a narrow strip of land projecting into
a sea or lake from the mainland
15. plain o) an island, esp. a small one
16. rift p)the sea bed surrounding a continent at
depths of up to about 200 meters

Test 4. Find the synonyms and group them correspondingly:

Inlet, plain, constant, mainland, fiord, sea, outback, promontory, current,

chain of mountains, freeze, bay, shallow, lowland, harbor, moisture, peak,
bottom, stream, headland, mountain range, top, prairie, hill, rocky, point,
permanent, dampness, stony, maritime, equable, shoal, floor, torrent, humidity,
glaciate.

Test 5. Complete each of the following sentences with one of the words below:

bird salmon wild sharks beech

dolphin turtles mole deer mammals

51
1. GEOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH ISLES _________________________________________
1. Great Britain has about forty species of native freshwater fish, of which the
largest is the ………… .
2. The saltwater fish include some quite dangerous species such as ……… .
3. Various species of seal and ………. are found seasonally on British shores and
coastlines, along with harbour porpoises, orcas, and many other sea mammals.
4. The …….. is also widely recognized and its subterranean lifestyle causes much
damage to garden lawns.
5. Large ……….. are not particularly numerous in Great Britain.
6. The largest wild mammals that remain in Britain today are predominantly
members of the ……… family.
7. There are also …………, such as leatherback turtles to be found in the Irish Sea.
8. Oak, elm, ash, and ……….. are the most common trees in England.
9. ……. vegetation consists of the natural flora of woods, fens and marshes, cliffs,
chalk downs, and mountain slopes.
10. Other well known …….. species include the golden eagle, grey heron,
kingfisher, pigeon, sparrow, pheasant, partridge, and various species of crow,
finch, gull, auk, grouse, owl and falcon.

52