The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is an island state located in northwestern Europe. The country is washed by the waters of the North Sea from the east, the Norwegian Sea from the north and the Atlantic Ocean from the west and south. It occupies the entire island of Great Britain, as well as the northeastern part of the island of Ireland and small nearby islands and archipelagos.
The detailed map of Great Britain shows that the country also extends its sovereignty to a number of island territories in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Great Britain on the world map: geography, nature and climate
Great Britain occupies 243,809 km2 on the world map, of which 229,946 km2 is on the island of Great Britain. Despite its relatively small size, the country has an extremely long coastline - 17,820 km.
The length of the land border is only 360 km. The only land neighbor of Great Britain is Ireland, which occupies most of the island of the same name. However, the country's overseas territories border with Spain (in a small area near the city of Gibraltar) and Cyprus (in the area where sovereign British military bases are located). Great Britain recognizes more than two dozen states as its maritime neighbors, but its main territory borders only with France across the English Channel and Pas-de-Calais.
Geographical location of Great Britain
The country's topography is very diverse. The northern regions of Great Britain are represented by the Scottish Highlands. It is here that on maps of Great Britain in Russian you can find the highest point in the country - Mount Ben Nevis (1344 m). To the south, the Lowlands of Scotland begin, abutting the Pennine Range, which stretches 350 km from north to south. Behind it begins the Midland - a plain that occupies most of the island. Another small mountain range, Snowdonia, is located in Central Wales in the west of the country.
The country's Northern Irish enclave, despite its small size, is also distinguished by its varied topography. This is where the country's largest lake, Lough Neagh, is located, with an area of 396 km². There are a sufficient number of large deep rivers in Great Britain, but the length of the longest, the Severn, does not exceed 354 km.
Animal and plant life
The country's nature has been subject to significant human intervention since ancient times. Up to 70% of the UK is used for agricultural purposes. And only 10% of the land is occupied by forests. In the northern mountainous regions, mixed oak-pine forests are common. To the south, elms, hornbeams, birches, beeches and ash trees are more common. A significant part of animal species was exterminated. Today there are only 53 species of mammals in the UK. The most common species are red deer, wild goats, roe deer, badgers, foxes, otters and weasels. Gray and common seals are often found on the coasts. Coastal waters are rich in commercial fish species - mackerel, herring, sprat, cod and sardines.
Climate
Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, the country's climate is milder than in countries of the same latitude. Most of Great Britain lies in a temperate oceanic climate. The average winter temperature ranges from 2-4 0 C, and the summer temperature rarely exceeds 15-16 0 C.
It is worth noting that in the mountainous and most northern regions these indicators will be 2-3 degrees lower. The number of rainy and cloudy days in the country is high, so the amount of precipitation in the most humid western regions can reach 3000 mm per year. However, in most areas of the UK the average rainfall does not exceed 800mm.
Map of Great Britain with cities. Administrative division of the country
Great Britain has a very confusing structure. Not counting the overseas territories, the country is divided into 4 main parts, which are actually autonomous states. These are England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Moreover, each of the parts has its own internal administrative division, different from the others. So Northern Ireland is divided into 6 counties and 11 districts, Scotland into 32 counties, and Wales into 9 counties, 10 shire towns and 3 cities. England has the most complex division: 28 counties, 6 city-counties, 9 regions, 55 unitary units, Greater London and the Scilly Archipelago, which has a special legal status. A map of Great Britain with cities in Russian makes it clear that the majority of the country's population (up to 85%) lives in England, which occupies about 53% of the area of Great Britain.
London is the capital of Great Britain and the third most populous city in Europe. Located in the southeast of the country on the banks of the Thames River. It is one of the key economic and financial centers of the world.
150 km north-west of London is Birmingham is the second largest city in Great Britain. Historical center of British industry and engineering. It is also one of the leading European scientific and educational centers.
City of Leeds located closer to the geographical center of the country in the county of Yorkshire and is the third largest city in the UK. After the capital, it is the country's second most important financial center.
You will learn from this article how England differs from Great Britain, the lords' fees from the House of Commons, and Prince Harry from Princess Beatrice.
Most of us use the words “England” and “Great Britain” as identical concepts, without going particularly into the legal meaning of these concepts. Meanwhile, as they say in Odessa, these are “two big differences,” two completely different territories.
England- a territory on the island of Great Britain, its largest administrative unit. The name “England” goes back to the name of one of the Germanic tribes (the Angles) that once inhabited this historical region.
Scottish man in traditional costume
During the era of medieval fragmentation of Europe, England was an independent kingdom, whose possessions either increased or decreased depending on the military successes of local rulers.
Great Britain- this is the name of the largest island of the British archipelago, on which, in addition to England, there are two more independent territories that were previously independent states: Wales and Scotland.
Henry VIII - one of the most famous rulers of medieval England Country England or Great Britain?
The country that we call either England or Great Britain is officially called “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. Therefore, strictly speaking, both names are wrong.
The United Kingdom's possessions include the island of Great Britain, the north of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands and archipelagos around the world, such as Gibraltar, Bermuda, the Falkland Islands and the Cayman Islands.
Tower Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in Great Britain In Russia, this cumbersome name is often shortened to “Great Britain”. In Europe, the abbreviation UK (from “united kingdom”) is almost always used for abbreviation.
British Royal Guards dress uniform United Kingdom of Great Britain: general information
What part of the continent is Great Britain located on?
Great Britain, not counting small islands, is located in the British Archipelago, in the North-Western part of Europe. This region is often called Foggy Albion due to the abundance of rain, dampness and endless fog that cyclones bring from the Atlantic.
The warm waters of the Gulf Stream slightly soften the climate: there are no very cold winters here (with the exception of the mountainous areas of Scotland and Wales), and in summer the average temperature is around 20 Celsius.
Rain and fog are common in England Capital of England and Great Britain
London is the capital of Great Britain and is also the capital of the administrative region of England. This is the largest city in the kingdom, its cultural and economic center. London is also one of the global financial centers of the world.
Economic institutions of global scale are concentrated here; the main financial flows of the largest transnational corporations and currency centers of smaller states pass through London.
London is the capital of England and Great Britain London was founded by the Romans as the capital of the Roman province of Britannia, located in the British Isles. The first mention of London is found in 117 by the Roman historian Tacitus - at that time the city had existed for more than 50 years.
London has occupied its leading position among other capitals since the Middle Ages. In terms of influence on world politics, few cities in the Old World can compete with the center of the British Empire.
In the 20th century, London also gained fame as one of the world's main centers of fashion and youth subculture. It is to London that we owe the appearance of “dandy” and “casual” styles, rock musicians and the Beatles group.
The Beatles are Britain's most famous rock band Great Britain on the world map
Today, Great Britain ranks modestly 78th in the world in terms of territory size. It accounts for only 2% of the earth's surface. We can say that Great Britain is just a small spot on the world map. But it was not always so.
At its height, the British Empire literally controlled a quarter of the world. At the beginning of the 20th century, Great Britain was the largest state that has ever existed on the planet (its record has not yet been broken).
Former British colonies on the world map In addition to the crown territories in the British Isles, Great Britain owned: Canada, Australia, half of the African continent, India, Oman, Iraq, Honduras, Bermuda and the Bahamas, Malaysia, Burma, New Zealand, New Guinea, Cyprus and other smaller territories. The USA was also territory of the British Crown until its War of Independence in 1776.
Contemporaries said that the sun never sets on the British Empire. In fairness, it should be noted that the colonial policy of Great Britain did not promise anything good for the conquered territories. In the history of the British Empire there were many bloody wars and the most severe punitive operations in the territories under its control.
Modern territory of Great Britain on the map of Europe Map of Great Britain in Russian
You can see detailed maps of Great Britain, including a map of attractions, roads and railways, administrative divisions and many others. All maps are available for download.
Political structure of Great Britain
Who is the head of state in Great Britain?
The UK has a rather complex and confusing system of government. In addition to the monarch, there are such bodies governing the country as the House of Lords, the House of Commons, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Prime Minister.
British Parliament House in London UK House of Commons
The main task of the House of Commons is to represent the interests of all classes of the population when passing laws in the state. Members of the House of Commons are elected by voting in the administrative districts of Great Britain for a term of 5 years. This is the lowest level of the UK legislature.
UK House of Lords
The House of Lords represents the interests of the highest aristocracy and clergy in Great Britain. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the House of Lords had the right to reject any bill proposed by the House of Commons if it considered that this law infringed on the interests of the nobility.
UK House of Commons Currently, the Lords can only delay such laws by between one month and a year. The duties of members of the House of Lords also include the consideration of judicial appeals.
A seat in the House of Lords is hereditary (except for representatives of the church, where members of the House of Lords are appointed by the Council of Bishops), and it is one of the most archaic bodies of government in Europe. Members of the House of Lords, unlike the House of Commons, do not receive a permanent salary for attending meetings and are not required to attend every meeting.
UK House of Lords UK Parliament
The Commons and the House of Lords are collectively called the Parliament of Great Britain. If necessary, the monarch can dissolve parliament and announce early elections, or, conversely, extend its powers.
Cabinet of Ministers
The Cabinet of Ministers is the highest governing body of the country. Cabinet members head various government structures (departments or ministries). Ministers are appointed from among the representatives of Parliament, their responsibilities include the leadership of ministries, as well as consultations with the monarch on important decisions. The UK Cabinet reports to Parliament.
UK Cabinet Office, 2012 Prime Minister of Great Britain
The Prime Minister of Great Britain is the main official in the country after the monarch. He heads the government and can act on behalf of the monarch in certain matters. The candidacy for the post of prime minister is approved by the king or queen from among the most influential members of Parliament.
Kings and Queens of Great Britain
Great Britain is one of the oldest monarchies in the world. The highest head in the country is the monarch (king or queen), the throne is passed on by majority inheritance (that is, the eldest in the family).
Throne Room of Buckingham Palace in the UK Despite the fact that outwardly members of the British royal house perform purely representative and ceremonial functions, the monarch in Great Britain has very real power.
The King or Queen of Great Britain can dissolve the government, grant the title of Lord to non-noble citizens to enter the House of Lords, approve bills, appoint ministers and pardon criminals.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain on the throne UK Conservative Party
The Conservative Party of Great Britain (Tory Party) is the oldest political party in Europe, which dates back to the 17th century. The party traditionally represents the interests of the nobility, clergy and bourgeoisie.
Historically, it is the most powerful political force in the kingdom, consistently holding the majority of seats in Parliament. The most prominent prime ministers in recent British history belonged to the Conservatives: Neville Chamberlain, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron.
The current British Prime Minister Theresa May is also a member of the Conservative Party.
Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister during World War II
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is one of the oldest reigning monarchs in the world. She took the throne from her father George VI in 1952 and has been in power for more than 60 years (Elizabeth II turned 90 in 2016). According to most Britons, Elizabeth is an example of an impeccable ruler who has not tarnished her royal title in any way.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain Despite belonging to the weaker sex, Elizabeth II is famous for her iron character, and will give odds to many men. Some interesting facts from her biography:
At the age of 18, Elizabeth persuaded her father to let her join the active army and in 1944 she took a driver-mechanics course, after which she entered military service in the women's self-defense unit and served for about six months until the end of World War II. She is the only lady in the royal family who took part in military operations.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain as a child Elizabeth fell in love with her future husband, Prince Philip, as a child. Philip is the heir to the impoverished Greek monarchy, whose representatives were forced to flee their own country after being exiled. Philip's candidacy did not suit Elizabeth's parents and the ruling elite of Great Britain at all, but the princess managed to obtain consent to the marriage. Moreover, she herself offered him her hand and heart, without waiting for reciprocal signs of attention.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain with her future husband Prince Philip Elizabeth bought the fabric for her wedding dress using discount coupon cards. In 1947, the British economy had not yet recovered from the war, and Elizabeth considered it indecent to spend the kingdom’s treasury on lavish celebrations.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain after her coronation Even at 90 years old, Elizabeth still personally conducts all the most important meetings in the state and, as the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, inspects all military installations of the kingdom. She does not trust the heir apparent, Prince Charles, with any of these issues.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain with her son The queen's steely character does not prevent her from having small human weaknesses.
Elizabeth II is considered a trendsetter and a big fan of hats. She wears bright colors regardless of her age, but never goes beyond the boundaries of strict classics.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and one of her hats According to protocol, the Queen cannot appear at official events in the same outfit twice. Each of her clothes is entered into a huge catalog, has its own serial number and is accompanied by a record of where, when and under what circumstances she wore it - this allows her to avoid repetition and embarrassment.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her outfits The Queen is obliged to be the standard of politeness, but the number of meetings and audiences is so great that it takes too much energy. Elizabeth II has several secret signs by which the courtiers must understand that it is time to end the event. For example, if Elizabeth is spinning a ring on her finger, the conversation must be ended within the next 5 minutes.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and her handbag In her busy schedule, Elizabeth II makes sure to set aside time to watch her favorite series and television shows. It is known that she is a fan of the English version of “X-Factor”, as well as several TV series, including “Game of Thrones”.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. Something went wrong. Once a year, Elizabeth takes a long vacation and retires to a castle in Scotland, where she spends most of her time reading books and walking. There, Elizabeth takes a warm bath for several hours every day, in which, according to the assurances of the courtiers, she cannot do without a small rubber duck, given to her as a child.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain on vacation Other representatives of the British royal house
Elizabeth II belongs to the royal branch of the Windsors, of which there are quite a lot of descendants in modern Britain. The British are very sensitive to the institution of the monarchy; among the members of the royal family they have their favorites and scandalous persons, whose name is well known to everyone.
Members of the British Royal Family Princess Diana
Diana Spencer (or Lady Di) is consistently ranked in the TOP 10 greatest Britons according to national polls. The first wife of Prince Charles (son of Elizabeth II) won the true, sincere love of her subjects and millions of people around the world.
She is often called the “Queen of Hearts” for her many contributions to charity, as well as her boundless personal charm, modesty and simplicity.
Princess Diana with her sons According to rumors, Elizabeth II very much disliked her daughter-in-law for her popularity among the people (at times she overshadowed the queen herself).
In 1997, Lady Di suddenly died in a car accident, which still causes a lot of rumors and suspicions: there is a version that the accident was staged by members of the ruling family. But even after her death, Princess Diana remains the queen of people's hearts.
Princess Diana (Lady Di) Prince William and Kate Middleton
Prince William is the grandson of Elizabeth II, the son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. William inherited many traits from his mother (he is also charming, does a lot of charity work), and in terms of the degree of adoration of his loyal subjects, he has recently rapidly overtaken his grandmother. He serves as a helicopter pilot for the English Medical Service and takes part in rescue operations.
Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton Kate Middleton comes from a simple family. She met her future husband, Prince William, while studying at university. Shy Kate's demeanor very much reminds the British of Diana. They are delighted with her attitude towards children and impeccable manners, but most of all the audience is touched by the romantic story of Kate and William, which is very reminiscent of the fairy tale about Cinderella.
William and Kate with children Prince Harry
The youngest son of Diana and Prince Charles evokes mixed feelings among the British. On the one hand, he is not distinguished by impeccable behavior, but on the other hand, he is such a sweetheart that British citizens forgive him everything. In addition, his antics are caused more by curiosity and youthful carelessness than by a spoiled disposition.
Prince Harry The most notorious “exploits” of Prince Harry: boundless amorousness (photos of Harry with cute young ladies regularly appear in the press), hussar antics and cheerful parties. But there are also serious achievements: Prince Harry took part in combat operations in Afghanistan as an ordinary pilot, and put his life in danger along with others without any concessions.
Prince Harry with his partner while serving in Afghanistan Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Sisters Beatrice and Eugenie are granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II, daughters of her second son, Prince Andrew. Unlike William and Harry, girls cannot boast of an ideal reputation in the eyes of others, or at least relative charm.
Princess Beatrice The eldest Beatrice is often criticized by residents of Great Britain for her too extravagant outfits, which do not always comply with the protocol. She also gets punished for being too curvaceous and having an idle lifestyle (in Great Britain, belonging to the royal house does not at all mean the right to idleness). Otherwise, Beatrice manages to stay within the bounds of decency.
Princess Eugenie The youngest Evgenia is a real headache for her family. The girl regularly excites the British public with her antics and the next batch of paparazzi photographs: drunken dancing, cigarettes and indecent antics - this is the main thing that Evgenia is famous for.
Video. Interesting facts about Great Britain
Everyone is accustomed to thinking that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is one country. But this is not an entirely correct statement. The kingdom contains four historical and geographical regions. The UK includes territories such as England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Thus, the kingdom occupies most of the area of the British Isles. It is also important that since 1922, Ireland has been a completely autonomous country within the United Kingdom.
One cannot help but recall the Isle of Man and True, these territories are administratively independent parts of the kingdom.
Description
Each territory that is part of Great Britain has its own culture, traditions, and attractions that have accumulated over centuries. The official language is English, but for each administrative and political part there are peculiar exceptions. So, today the population of Welsh villages communicates in the ancient
The heritage of the territories that are part of the kingdom of Great Britain is practically nothing similar to each other. They differ not only in history, population composition and government structure, but also in religion and even climate.
Several main points characterizing Great Britain as a whole:
- The monetary unit is pound sterling.
- Religions are Anglicanism, Catholicism and Presbyterianism.
- Great Britain is famous for its talented actors, musicians, singers, writers, athletes, and scientists.
- The Kingdom is considered one of the most popular shopping destinations. The country is very rich in brand names such as Burberry, which are known all over the world, shops, boutiques and street markets where you can find vintage clothes and choose accessories for them.
England
The largest administrative and political part that is part of Great Britain is England. In turn, it has nine distinct regions, each with its own unique traditions and culture, with exciting bustling cities like London and beautiful, tranquil villages like Cornwall. The official language is English. There are thirty-nine counties, six metropolitan counties and an administrative unit called Greater London.
Millions of tourists from all over the world come to England every year, because it is suitable both for a noisy and fun holiday, and for romantic walks. There are more than 20 attractions that are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Scotland
There are few places on our planet that can compete with Scotland. It is home to major cities such as Glasgow, deep lakes and picturesque mountains. This country is divided into nine regions, which contain approximately eight hundred islands, three hundred of which are unsuitable for human life.
During the celebrations of Burns Night, which falls on January 25, and St. Andrew's Day (November 30), live music can be heard throughout the streets.
Scotland remains part of Great Britain to this day. In 2014, a referendum was held on secession from the state. But 55.3% of the population opposed the declaration of independence.
The official languages are English, Anglo-Scottish and Scottish Gaelic.
Northern Ireland
The smallest autonomous territory that is part of Great Britain is Ireland. It consists of twenty-six districts. Despite its small size, it has a very rich nature. There are high mountains, flat valleys, forests and even an inland sea. In addition, the country is famous for its history, culture, mythology and vibrant musical life. At venues, clubs and concert halls at any time of the year you can enjoy the music of both Irish performers and visitors from all over the world.
Northern Ireland within Great Britain has three official Ulster-Scots languages and, of course, English.
Wales
There is no place on Earth that is even remotely similar to the island nation of Great Britain. The composition of the countries includes a rather unusual administrative and political part - Wales. The peculiarity is that its inhabitants still communicate with each other in one of the oldest languages in the world - Welsh. The second official language is English. In terms of area, Wales is the third largest country in the UK.
There are five areas with unique nature registered here, as well as three local residents call “castles” due to the impressive number of ancient fortresses (about 600 castles).
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is commonly referred to as the United Kingdom. Great Britain is a great power, the heir to the largest British Empire in history, ruled by Elizabeth II.
Great Britain on the world map
Geography
It is an island state in the British Isles, in northwestern Europe. Includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of Ireland and many small islands and archipelagos. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the English Channel. There are many rivers and lakes on the territory of the country that feed the country and flow into the ocean and seas. If you decide to live here for a long time, we recommend that you register British citizenship and then your stay in this country will be more comfortable.
Administrative division
England - 39 counties and 7 city-counties, the central city is London;
Scotland is made up of 12 regions, centered in Edinburgh;
Wales - 9 counties, 13 city-counties, center Cardiff;
Northern Ireland has 26 counties, with the center being Belfast.
The area of the country is 244,840 square meters. km. It is home to about 91 million people, the indigenous people are English, Irish, Scots, and Welsh. The official language is English. There are currently 17 territories under British control.
Map of Great Britain in Russian
Climate
Great Britain has a temperate continental climate, with warm winters and cool summers. Temperatures range from -10°C to +30°C. Temperatures in the mountainous areas of Wales and Scotland fall below the rest of the country. The type of climate is maritime - strong winds blow throughout the entire territory, especially in winter and spring.
Tourism
The ancient history of this distinctive country attracts tourists from all over the world. The first settlers were the Romans, who founded many large cities, including London. Some architectural monuments dating back to the 1st millennium BC have been preserved on the territory of the country.
To admire the nature of England, you can visit the countless gardens of Kent. Aristocratic castles amaze with their beauty and grandeur, and parks with their exquisite splendor. It is becoming an interesting custom to celebrate weddings in magnificent castles in Great Britain.
Lake Loch Ness in Scotland amazes with its unforgettable and pristine beauty. According to legend, the semi-mythical monster Nessie lives in its depths.
There are a lot of beautiful cities in the country; they contain cultural and architectural monuments, museums, sculptures and monuments.
The most wonderful and majestic city is London; its wonderful sights and beautiful ancient architecture can be explored endlessly. Photo materials used from Wikimedia © Foto, Wikimedia Commons
