View of the country by geographical location of the UK. Features of the geographical location and territory of the UK. England now

The geographical location of the UK.

  UNITED KINGDOM  (Great Britain), Britain, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a state in northwestern Europe, in the British Isles (the largest is in the United Kingdom), northeastern part of the island of Ireland, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Channel Islands and other small islands. Separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Pas de Calais. Area 244.11 thousand km2. The population of 60.1 million people (2003). Capital London.

Large cities and metropolitan areas: Greater London, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Bradford, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol.

UK nature. The climate of Great Britain.

It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and its seas - the Northern and Irish, the English Channel, the Pas de Calais, the North and St. George. The coastline is strongly dissected by bays (fjords in the north and estuaries in the south), forms significant peninsulas of Wales and Cornwall. There are significant geographical differences between the four historical regions. Scotland and Northern England are mountainous and geographically represent High Britain - the North Scottish Highlands (Ben Nevis, 1343 m, the highest point of Great Britain), the South Scottish Upland, the Pennine and Cambrian mountains, the Lake District in the north-west of England . Smooth plateau-like peaks, gently sloping soddy slopes are characteristic, glacial landforms are preserved in the north. The High Line is separated from High Britain by a conditional line that runs southwest from Newcastle at the mouth of the River. Tyne to Exeter at the mouth of the river. Ex in the south of Devon. In the south and southeast of Low Britain there are hilly plains (the London basin and others), framed by cuest ridges, a typical landscape of “good old England”. The climate is temperate oceanic, humid, with mild winters and cool summers (influence of the Gulf Stream). Average January temperatures are 3-7 ° C, July 11-17 ° C. Precipitation on the plains of 600-750 mm, in the mountains of 1000-3000 mm per year, frequent drizzle and fog. The western part of the country receives slightly more rain than the eastern. A dense network of full-flowing rivers (Thames, Severn, etc.), many of which are connected by channels, often outdated. There are many lakes in Scotland and Ireland (Loch Ness, Loch Lomond in Scotland and others, Loch Ney in Northern Ireland). Peatlands, moorlands, used as pastures for sheep prevail in the mountains. Forests (from oak, beech, birch) occupy 9% of the country. The plains are occupied by arable land and meadows and are densely populated. Numerous national nature reserves and parks for recreational use (Peak District, Snowdonia, etc.).

UK economy. UK industry and economy.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. Over the past 20 years, the following changes have been made in the English economy: the public sector has been reduced; tax rates have been reduced from individuals and legal entities; deregulation of the economy was carried out (with a simultaneous reduction in government spending). In 1995, Great Britain ranked 5th in the world in total industrial production (after the USA, Japan, Germany, France). GNP per capita of $ 24,500 (2000). In terms of energy reserves, it occupies the first place in Europe, being a major producer of oil and gas (extraction is carried out on the shelf of the North Sea by the most advanced methods on platforms; in the British sector, about 1/3 of reliable reserves are concentrated in Europe) and coal. Oil production 124 million tons in 1996 (the main fields of Brent, Fortis), gas 89.9 billion m3 (17 fields are exploited, the largest - Leman-Benk, Brent, Morham). British Petroleum and the Anglo-Dutch company Royal Dutch / Shell are among the leaders in their market segment. Historically, very important coal mining is constantly declining. In the manufacturing industry, priority is given to such industries as transport engineering (12.4% of total industrial production), including automobile manufacturing (national companies and branches of foreign companies Rover, Ford, Jaguar, Vauxhall, Pegeout-Talbot, Honda, Nissan, Toyota); shipbuilding; aerospace industry - the third in the world after the USA and France, producing civil and military aircraft (British Aerospace, Harrier, Tornado, Eurofighter), Rolls-Royce aircraft engines, equipment for the European concern Airbus Industry; food industry (12.5% \u200b\u200bof total production); general engineering: the production of agricultural machinery and machine tools, including the production of textile equipment (Great Britain is the seventh manufacturer in the world of machine tools in the world); electronics and electrical engineering; Computers, processors, and supercomputers (including manufacturers such as IBM and Compaq); software; telecommunication facilities (fiber optics, radars, etc.); medical equipment; Appliances. The chemical industry accounts for 11% of total production. These are: pharmaceuticals (Great Britain is the fourth drug producer in the world); agrochemistry; perfumery; new materials and biotechnology. The development of modern UK industry is determined by the level of development of high technology. Great Britain has the highest scientific and technological potential in Europe. Expenditures on research work make up more than 2% of GDP per year, including over 35% of all research work financed by the state. Traditionally, textile engineering was important (confined to the old textile areas - Lancashire, Yorkshire). The oldest branch of the English industry - the textile industry - has now lost its former importance (the main areas of the cotton industry are Lancashire, the woolen is Yorkshire, the knit is the East Midlands, and the linen is Northern Ireland). Large-scale food and taste industry (production of food concentrates, confectionery and tobacco products, drinks (approx. 1/5 of the world export of alcoholic beverages, mainly Scotch whiskey and English gin).

Agricultural production is highly intensive, half satisfying the country's food needs. In agriculture (1994) 24.8% of the country's territory is used (including St. 60% under arable land, 35% cultivated meadows), pastures occupy 45.9%, and under the forest 10.4%. The main branch of agriculture is animal husbandry. She suffered significant damage in the late 1990s. epidemics of rabies of cows (spongiform encephalitis) and foot and mouth disease. OK. 1/3 arable land is occupied by cereals, pre. wheat and barley. The main agricultural areas are East and Southeast England.
   25% of the country's GDP is created by the financial services sector. It employs 12% of the country's labor reserves, and London is the world financial center, the financial capital of the planet. Among financial services, banking activities should be distinguished (besides the British banks in London, the 50 largest banks in the world are represented), insurance, the derivatives market (futures, options, global depositary receipts), the bond market (Eurobonds), the foreign exchange market (operations with Eurocurrencies), financial leasing, trust operations with foreign shares, operations with precious metals. In addition to London, major financial centers are Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool, Edinburgh. In tourism, 7% of the working population is employed, and the annual income exceeds $ 8 billion. London is the largest tourist center in the world. A significant part of GDP is provided by education in world-famous schools and universities.
   Monetary unit - pound sterling.

History of Great Britain.

Traces of settlements of primitive people are found on the British Isles almost everywhere.
Of the pre-Celtic population, the Picts tribe living in Scotland is most famous. In the 1st millennium BC e. Celts came here. By the name of one of the tribes, the Britons, the country was called Britain. Julius Caesar first landed here, but soon left the island. His successors founded Roman settlements here, but they could not conquer the whole territory and did not try to move north. With the weakening of Rome, the British formed their kingdoms. In the 5-6 centuries. during the period of the Great Migration of Peoples, England was conquered by the Anglo-Saxons, who formed several kingdoms here: Mercia, Wessex, Sussex, Kent, Northumbria. They were united by King Alfred the Great (end of the 9th century). He compiled the first set of general English laws. The Anglo-Saxons faced the attacks of the Vikings and, starting from the 9th century, paid them a tribute - Denegeld. One of the Viking kings, Knud I the Mighty, included England in his empire (2nd half. 11th century), but after his death the Anglo-Saxons regained their independence. Their last king, Harold II, fell in a battle with the Duke William of Normandy in 1066. The Norman Conquest united the country, and the formation of the English nation began. In 1212, the rebellion of the barons, supported by all classes, led King John the Landless to sign the Magna Carta. This laid the foundation for the development of the English monarchy as an estate, that is, relying on all classes of the country. From the end of the 13th century Wales passed to the English crown. The centennial war of 1337–1453 with France led to the loss of possessions of the English kings on the continent. In Scotland, an independent kingdom arose approx. 9 c. and often came into confrontation with England. The conquest of Ireland by the British began in the 12th century.

During the war of the Scarlet and White Roses (1455-1485) in England, the old tribal nobility was largely destroyed. The new nobility (gentry) increased their holdings at the expense of enclosures (the expulsion of peasants from the land), willingly participated in various kinds of commercial and industrial enterprises. In the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603), England, defeating the Spanish fleet, achieved supremacy at sea. Elizabeth was replaced by the kings of the Scottish Stuart dynasty, Scotland united with England as a personal union (and since 1707 it was officially united and deprived of independence). The English Revolution of the 17th century culminated in the establishment of a parliamentary monarchy. A long struggle with France for trade and colonial hegemony ended in the 18th century. victory of Great Britain; huge possessions in India and North America were seized, the colonization of Australia, New Zealand began. In the 1760s in England, an industrial revolution began. By the middle of the 19th century it accounted for 1/2 of world production. Scotland and Ireland (the union of 1801 eliminated the remnants of autonomy) developed much more slowly. Throughout the 19th century Britain expanded its empire, although it lost the United States of America. Vast territories in Burma and South Africa were seized, the seizure of India, Cyprus, Egypt ended, wars were waged against China. In 1867, the colonies in Canada were transformed into the 1st dominion, then Australia and some other colonies became the dominion. Throughout the 19th century finally formed the system "the king reigns, but does not rule." The struggle for power since the 17th century. led two parties - the Tories and Whigs. From the middle of the 19th century the Tories transformed into a conservative party, and the Whigs into liberals.

After World War I, Great Britain acquired a significant portion of former Germanic possessions in Africa and b. including territories taken from Turkey. The Labor Party (Labor) Party gained a great influence in domestic politics. After World War II, Britain, destroyed by the bombing, was faded into the background in the international arena compared to the USA. In the 1940-1970s. almost all British colonies gained independence. The Labor Party pushed back the liberal and after World War II, the government was alternately formed by Labor and Conservatives. Under the conservative government of M. Thatcher, most public sector enterprises were privatized, and a course was taken to reorient traditional coal-mining regions. Being one of the leading EU members since its inception, the UK has pursued an independent policy towards other European countries, focusing more on the United States. Traditional English conservatism does not yet allow the T. Blair government to switch to pan-European currency, although the country's business community is striving for this.

National holiday - Queen's birthday (not celebrated on Her Majesty's true birthday, but by decision of the government, usually on one Saturday of the first half of June).

geographic uk rural resource

Features of geographical location

Great Britain is an irregularly shaped archipelago with a very diverse landscape and nature. The latter is a consequence of the fact that the British Isles were once part of Europe, but were cut off from the mainland after the flooding of the lowlands, now the bottom of the North Sea and the English Channel. Northern Ireland, which politically complements the United Kingdom, is located on the second largest island, Ireland, and is the western extension of the Scottish mountains. These highlands are separated by a narrow Northern Canal. The western shores of the island of Great Britain are rocky and steep, eastern more gentle.

The area of \u200b\u200bGreat Britain is about 240,842 square meters. km Most of it is land, and the rest is rivers and lakes. The area of \u200b\u200bEngland is 129634 square meters. km., Wales - 20637 sq. km. km., Scotland - 77179 square meters. km and Northern Ireland - 13,438 sq. m. km Thus, England is much larger than other countries in the United Kingdom, and has the largest population. These factors explain England's dominance in British history.

The southern tip of the island of Great Britain the Cornwall Peninsula is located at 50 N, and the northernmost part of the Shetland Islands archipelago is at 60 N

The length of the island of Great Britain from north to south is 966 km, and its greatest width is half as much. Located on the continental shelf, the British Archipelago is separated by the shallow North Sea from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Federal Republic of Germany and the narrow English Channel (British call it the English Channel) and the Pas de Calais from France.

Historically, the geographical features of Great Britain influenced human settlement, population migration, armed conquest and political union. They also determined the location and operation of industry, transportation systems, agriculture, the fishing industry, forests, energy and communications. These days, they continue to shape the lives of the British, and in addition, they are closely linked to public concern about the state of the environment and wildlife.

England (population - 48.2 million people) consists mainly of hilly or flat lowlands, diluted with several mountain zones in the north and southeast. But low hills stretch across most of the country, interspersed with lowlands and plains.

The population is concentrated mainly around large cities: London and generally in the southeast of England, western Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield, northwestern industrial Liverpool and Manchester and northeastern Newcastle and Sunderland.

Wales (population 2.9 million people) is a mountainous country with mountains and hills stretching across the territory, often breaking into deep valleys created by river channels. These mountains gradually decline and turn into high hills in the east of England. The highest mountains of Wales are located in the northwest, where Mount Snowdon reaches 1,085 m in height.

Lowlands are bounded by narrow coastal zones and river valleys in southern Wales, where two thirds of the Welsh population live. In the past, the highlands of Wales hindered wars, agriculture, and human settlement.

Scotland

Scotland (population 5.1 million) can be divided into three main parts. The first part is the northwestern and central mountains, along with a large number of islands on the western and northern coasts. These lands are poorly populated, and make up half of the entire territory of Scotland. The second part is the central lowlands, which make up one fifth of the entire Scottish territory and three quarters of the total population of Scotland, most of the industrial and commercial centers and cultivated land. The third part is the southern highlands, which include a number of hills extending to the border with England.

The highest mountain in Scotland is Ben Nevis (1342 m), which is also the highest mountain in Great Britain.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland (population 1.6 million) is located just 21 km from the Scottish coast, which caused the migration of peoples in the distant past. Since the division of Ireland in 1921 in the south and west, it borders on the Republic of Ireland. In the north is a mountainous coast, in the center, closer to the south, a fertile valley, and mountains in the west, northeast and southeast.

The British Isles lie off the northwestern coast of Europe. The British Isles are surrounded by many small islands. Silli Islands are located southwest of the Isle of Britain, and Anglesey Island is located North of Wales. On the western and northern coasts of Scotland there are numerous small islands that make up the UK. The most important of these are the Orkney Shetland Islands.

From the west, Great Britain is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and from the east - by the waters of the North Sea.

From the south, Great Britain borders on France, the closest and most developed neighbor, having common water borders with it. The smallest distance to the northern coast of France is the Dover Strait, but the main communication between the states is through the English Channel, called by the British the English Channel, along the bottom of which at the end of the twentieth century a tunnel was laid for high-speed rail communication. Prior to this, communication between the two countries was carried out by water or air.

Also the closest neighbors of Great Britain are Belgium and the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Norway are located much further.

The diversity of geographic features of Great Britain is the result of long geological and climatic changes. Over time, thanks to the movements of the earth's crust, mountain ranges, which formed the oldest territories of Great Britain, rose from the bottom of the sea. Periods of warm subtropical weather were replaced by new movements of the earth's crust, and huge marshy forests covered all the lowlands. Forests, in turn, were buried under sand, soil and mud, so that the petrified forests became the coal of modern Britain. Later, the climate changed from subtropical to arctic. During the Ice Age, almost the entire island was buried under ice, with the exception of only southern England.

The mountains gradually erode due to ice, water and winds. This process rounded the mountain peaks and moved the rocks to the lowlands, where they were compressed into new mountains, as a result of which the landscape became smoother and softer. Geological and weather changes have determined the current appearance of valleys and plains, as well as “determined the location of the main rivers of Great Britain, such as Clyde, Fort and Tweed in Scotland, Tyne, Trent, Humber, Severn and Thames in England and Wales, Bann and Logan in North Ireland. ”

The forces of nature also influenced the coastlines, as the sea was either retreating or returning again. Parts of the coastal zone went under water, while others were exposed. These processes continue today, especially on the east and south coasts of England. Where the sea receded, chalk and limestone mountains formed, as well as sandy beaches along the coast, while the destruction of the soil caused the loss of part of the land in some places.

Great Britain was originally part of the European mainland, but the melting of glaciers after the end of the ice age led to a rise in sea level, and the country was separated from the continent by the North Sea at its widest point and the English Channel at its narrowest. The distance between Dover in England and Calais in France is the smallest (32 km).

The entire coast is banned by bays, bays, deltas and peninsulas, so most of the UK is located at a distance of no more than 120 km from the sea. The sea off the coast is no deeper than 90 meters, because most of the British Isles lie on the continental shelf, which is a raised seabed connected to the mainland. The warm current of the Gulf Stream heats the sea and air along the shelf. Therefore, the climate on the islands is much milder than it could be, given their northern location. The current also affects coastal waters, which are important for the fishing industry.

United Kingdom, located on the northwestern continental coast, is traditionally called (by the name of the largest island) Great Britain, and by the name of its main part is England. Officially, it is called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Actually includes three historical and geographical areas: England, Wales and Scotland. The United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland, which occupies the northeastern part of the island of Ireland. This is the fourth
  region of the country.

British islands  - The most extensive archipelago in Europe. It includes two large islands - Great Britain and, separated by the Irish Sea, and another 5 thousand small islands, among which three groups of islands stand out in particular
  North: Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and Isle of Man, England and others. The UK is an irregularly shaped archipelago with a very diverse landscape and nature. The latter is a consequence of the fact that the British Isles were once part of Europe, but were cut off from the mainland after the flooding of the lowlands, now the bottom and strait. Northern Ireland, which politically complements the United Kingdom, is located on Ireland's second largest, and is the western extension of the Scottish mountains. These highlands are separated by a narrow Northern Canal. The western shores of the island of Great Britain are rocky and steep, eastern more gentle.

The area of \u200b\u200bGreat Britain is about 240,842 km2. Most of it is land, and the rest is lakes. The area of \u200b\u200bEngland is 129634 km2, Wales - 20637 km2, Scotland - 77179 km2 and Northern Ireland - 13438 km2 Thus, England is much larger than other countries of the United Kingdom, and has the largest population. These factors explain England's dominance in British history. The southern tip of the island of Great Britain the Cornwall Peninsula is located at 50 ° N, and the northernmost part of the Shetland Islands archipelago is at 60 ° N

Historically, the geographical features of Great Britain influenced human settlement, armed conquest and political union. They also determined the location and operation of industry, transport systems, the fishing industry, energy and communications. These days, they continue to shape the lives of the British, and in addition, they are closely linked to public concern about the environment and wildlife.

England  (population - 48.2 million people) consists mainly of hilly or flat lowland, diluted with several mountain zones in the north and southeast. But low hills extend through most of the country, interspersed with lowlands and. The population is concentrated mainly around large cities: London and generally in the southeast of England, western Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield, northwestern industrial Liverpool and Manchester and northeastern Newcastle and Sunderland.

Wales  (population - 2.9 million people) is a mountainous country with mountains stretching across the entire territory and
  hills, often breaking into deep valleys created by river beds. These mountains gradually decline and turn into high hills in the east of England. The highest mountains of Wales are located in the northwest where Mount Snowdon reaches
  1085 m. In height.

Lowlands are bounded by narrow coastal zones and river valleys in southern Wales, where two thirds of the Welsh population live. In the past, the highlands of Wales hindered wars, agriculture, and human settlement.

  (population - 5.1 million people) can be divided into three main parts. The first part is the northwestern and central mountains, along with a large number of islands on the western and northern coasts. These lands are poorly populated, and make up half of the entire territory of Scotland. The second part - the central lowlands, which make up one
  a fifth of all Scottish territory and three-quarters of the total population of Scotland, most industrial and commercial centers and cultivated land. The third part is the southern highlands, which include a number of hills extending to the border with England.

The highest mountain in Scotland is Ben Nevis (1342 m), which is also the highest mountain in Great Britain.

Northern Ireland  (population - 1.6 million people) is only 21 km away from the Scottish coast, which caused peoples in the distant past. Since the division of Ireland in 1921 in the south and west, it borders the Republic of Ireland. In the north is a mountainous coast, in the center, closer to the south, a fertile valley, and mountains in the west,
  northeast and southeast.

Great Britain is formed on most of the British Isles, which are located on the northwest coast of mainland Europe. Great Britain is separated from the Continent by the English Channel. “Great Britain” is a geographical expression, but “Great Britain” is a political expression. Full name - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain includes England, Wales and Scotland.

Great Britain is actually the largest of the group of islands that lies between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The total area is 242,534 square meters. km Great Britain is just less than 1,000 km long from the south coast of England to the far north of Scotland, and just less than 500 km across in the widest part.

The population of Great Britain is 57 million people. The British Isles are today divided by two separate and independent states. The smaller of these is the Republic of Ireland, with its capital in Dublin, and the larger, with London as its capital, is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This long name is the result of a complex story. The island of Great Britain contains three "nations" that were separated in the earlier stages of their history: England, Scotland and Wales. Wales became part of the English administrative system by the 16th century. Scotland was not completely united with England until 1707. The United Kingdom of Great Britain is a name that was introduced in 1801 when Great Britain became united with Ireland.

England

The largest and most densely populated part of Great Britain is England. The population of England is 47.837 million people. England is washed by the North Sea, the Irish Sea, the English Channel and the Dover Strait. The name "England" is derived from the Angles. Roman rule dragged on for over 300 years. The last invasion of England took place in 1066, when Duke William in Normandy defeated the British at the Battle of Hastings. Then the English language was very transformed.

The capital of England is London, which is the largest city in the UK. It is located on the Thames River (the most important). There are many rivers in England, the longest is the Severn. England is mainly a low country. Upland areas are in the north and southwest. Northern England, intraregional and southern England - each part is excellent, but very picturesque.

The British love to spend their holidays in the Lake District, which is located in Northern England.

The main industries in England are the wool industry (with its center in Leeds and Bradford), heavy machinery, shipbuilding, and the cotton industry (the center is Manchester).

Scotland

Scotland is the northernmost part of the island of Great Britain. Its population is over 5 million people. Scotland was inhabited mainly by the Picts.

In the 6th century, Scots from Ireland (or Scotia) agreed on what is now Argyll, giving its name to modern Scotland. During the 9th century, various parts of Scotland came together in defense against the Vikings. The powerful monarchy that existed in England threatened Scottish independence throughout the Middle Ages. In 1603, James VI in Scotland also became James VI in England when Queen Elizabeth I of England died without children. In 1651, Scotland was united with England, although Scotland held its own parliament. In 1707, both countries, realizing the benefits of a closer political and economic union, agreed on a single parliament for Britain.

Cheviot Hills marks the border between England and Scotland. Most of Scotland is surrounded by sea. Scotland includes the Hebrides on the west coast and Orkney and the Shetland islands on the north coast. It is bounded by the North Sea in the east.

Scotland is divided into three parts: Highlands, Lowlands and South Scottish Uplands. Highlands are one of the oldest mountains in the world. There are many valleys and lakes in this area; the most famous lake is Loch Ness.

Most of Scotland's population is concentrated in the Lowlands. The largest city is Glasgow. It is an industrial city and an important port in the UK. Shipbuilding is a leading industry. But other industries such as iron and steel, technical and coal industries are highly developed as well. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. It is the cultural center of Scotland.

Wales

In 1301, after defeating the native princes of Wales, King Edward I of England named his son Prince of Wales. Since then, the eldest son of the King or Queen of England has traditionally been given this title. In 1536, Wales was brought into the English system of national and local government by the Act of the Union.

Most of Britain was inhabited by the Celts until the 4th century. Wales and English are both official languages \u200b\u200bin Wales now.

The population of Wales is more than 3 million people. About 75% of the people of Wales live in urban areas.

Wales is a country of old mountains, hard mountains. North Wales is a country of mountains and deep valleys. South Wales is a land of high hills. The capital of Wales is Cardiff (industrial city and port). Cardiff is an administrative and educational center. Industries such as coal, steel, electronics, electrical engineering are developed in this part of the country.

Welsh people love folk music, singing and poetry. Welsh literature is one of the oldest in Europe.

The islands where the United Kingdom is located are located northwest of the continental part of Europe. Today, the country occupies one of the most important places in the structure of the world economy, and the services and financial sectors are the locomotive of its economic development.

Where is the UK located? Geography of the country

The state is located on the British Isles and several other smaller island groups, which include the Hebrides, Orkneys, Shetland, Anglesey, Arran and White.

The climate itself and the location of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland suggest a significant impact of the sea on all aspects of human life. The islands are washed by the North, Celtic, Hebrides and Irish seas, as well as the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The islands where the United Kingdom is located from mainland Europe are separated by the English Channel, or, as the British themselves call it, the English Channel. At its narrowest point, the width of the strait barely exceeds thirty-five kilometers, and along its bottom in this place the Eurotunnel is laid, along which there is a railway connection between the United Kingdom and France.

Geography and administrative division

The region where the country is located in the United Kingdom was inhabited by people in the early Paleolithic. However, the written history of Britain begins in the year 43, when the Romans conquered the islands. Of course, written sources pointed to the existence of culture in the country even before the arrival of the Romans, but this information was extremely small and fragmentary.

The modern administrative division of the country is determined by historical factors, which include the formation of Norman kingdoms in the west of the country. Administratively, the kingdom is divided into England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

England occupies more than half of the country's territory, which is predominantly flat territory, elevations in the territory are found only in the north, where the Pennine Mountains are located, and in the northwest, where the Cambridge Mountains are located.

England is the historical core of the formation of the kingdom and the region where the capital of Great Britain - London is located.

Geography of Scotland

In both historical and geographical sense, Scotland is a very special region of the country. It occupies a little less than a third of the UK and has a difficult history of joining the country.

In addition, more than eight hundred islands of various sizes are attributed to the territory of Scotland, among which the Hebrides and Shetland archipelagos stand out.

From a geological point of view, Scotland is divided into two large and very different regions, the border of which is the Highland Fault, passing from Arran Island in the west to Stonehaven in the east. To the northwest of the fault lies the North Scottish Highlands, and to the southeast is the region known as Lowland.

The North Scottish Highlands are characterized by a harsh climate and the presence of almost all the mountains available in the region. Here is the highest point in the country - Mount Ben Nevis, 1343 meters high above sea level.

In turn, Lowland has a more even landscape and temperate climate, which led to a significantly greater population of the region. On its territory are the most important cities of Scotland, including its capital - Edinburgh.

Geography and History of Wales

Wales is one of the historical provinces of Great Britain, with its own history of relations with the British Crown. Despite the fact that the region occupies less than ten percent of the territory of the kingdom, it is of great importance for the economy of the state. The main sector of the economy is pastoralism and the production of high-quality wool, as well as dairy products.

Unlike Scotland, Wales never possessed sovereignty within its current borders, and its final merger with England took place already in the 16th century. Despite significant industrial growth in the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century, the vast majority of the population of Wales lives in small towns.

An interesting fact is that until the mid-twentieth century, the region did not have an official capital. Only in 1955 did the Queen proclaim Cardiff the capital of the region. In addition, Wales is a sparsely populated region with a population of just over three million.

Colonial system collapse

After World War II, significant changes were taking place in the world related to the construction of a new world order, the division of the planet into two opposite economic camps, and the expansion of the colonial system of government.

By that time, Great Britain was the largest colonial empire in terms of territory with many overseas possessions. However, the serious social and economic upheavals caused by the war did not allow more control over such vast territories as India. The colonial empire ceased to exist with the grant of sovereignty to the British possessions in Asia and Africa.

However, with some sovereign countries, the Commonwealth of Nations was formed, which included Canada, Australia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Namibia, Cameroon and New Zealand. From a formal point of view, the head of all these states is the British monarch.

UK economy

The region where the United Kingdom is located occupies key positions in the global financial system, but from the point of view of production potential, it is extremely important not only for Europe, but also for the whole world.

For a long time, Great Britain was the main center of industrial and scientific innovations that followed the first industrial revolution that began in this kingdom.

But even today in terms of economic, industrial, technological and scientific development, the country stands at about the same level as the USA and Japan, and London’s GDP is the largest in Europe compared to other cities.

A key place in the country's industrial sector belongs to the automotive industry, which employs more than eight hundred thousand people, and the total turnover is more than 52 billion pounds.

The current state of affairs in the country

Answering the question about where the UK is located and in which hemispheres, it is worth immediately answering that the country is completely located in the Western and Northern hemispheres, and therefore belongs to the region in which the main wealth, industrial technologies and scientific knowledge are concentrated.

In 2016, a referendum was held in the country, as a result of which the United Kingdom should withdraw from the European Union, which would create completely new conditions in the European and world economy.

In addition, this event significantly influenced pan-European politics, causing a wave of doubts and hesitations about the need to continue building a united Europe.