Great Britain political map in Russian large. Geographic location of Great Britain. Great Britain on the world map: geography, nature and climate

One of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the western part of Europe, of course, is Great Britain. A country with a rich culture, long traditions and wonderful colors, it constantly attracts many tourists. Probably, each of us knows where the UK is located on the world map. Naturally, official language is English, and since it is an international language, tourists usually have no problems communicating with the native English. In this article, we will show where the UK is located on the world map, as well as tell the most interesting facts about this wonderful country.

Four parts of Great Britain

As we all know, Britain consists of four parts, one of which, of course, is Wales. Its main wealth is nature. Wales is famous national parks with dense vegetation and beautiful beaches. The second part - Scotland with great views, third - Northern Ireland famous for its green hills. And of course, the fourth part is directly England. English culture delights with its diversity. Here you can see many historical sights that attract tourists from all over the world. Today, every student who studies English should know where the UK is located on the world map, as well as have an idea about the traditions and interesting facts about an amazing country.

The British are a hardy people and can walk around in light clothes almost until the very cold.

Entrance to most of the museums in the UK is free, so each visitor can make a material contribution in the form of a donation.

There are laundries in every city in all districts, since it is not customary to wash clothes at home there.

Before entering the London Underground, everyone is given fresh newspapers, but at the same time, before leaving the car, passengers leave them on the seat so that other people can read them.

Even at noon you can see men in tuxedos here.

Grocery stores in Britain close at 9-10 pm.

Britain was the very first industrial country in the entire world.

England is cold and hot water runs from different taps.

Most big wheel The review is located in London. Each rotation lasts about 30 minutes.

Famous and beloved by tourists, Big Ben is actually the name of the bell, and the tower is called St. Stephen's Tower.

Even if a person speaks English poorly, he will still be complimented on his correct speech.

Island of Great Britain on the world map

If you carefully examine the map, then Britain can be seen in the most western part of Europe. It is washed by the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and is also separated by straits from other countries of the continental zone. All this helps to see the political map of the world. Great Britain includes 4 parts, and the length of the island is longer than it is wide, and it is washed by the ocean on one side and bays on the other.

Today we learned where the UK is located on the world map, and it is possible that many will have a desire to visit this amazingly beautiful and rich in tradition country.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Island state located in northwestern Europe. The country is washed by the waters North Sea from the east, Norwegian - from the north and Atlantic Ocean- from the west and south. It occupies the entire island of Great Britain, as well as the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and small nearby islands and archipelagos.

A detailed map of the UK 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 on the world map occupies 243,809 km 2, of which 229,946 km² falls on the island of Great Britain. Despite its relatively small size, the country has an extremely long coastline of 17,820 km.

The length of the land border is only 360 km. The only land neighbor of the UK is Ireland, which occupies most of the island of the same name. However, the overseas territories of the country border on Spain (on a small stretch near the city of Gibraltar) and Cyprus (in the area of ​​the location of sovereign British military bases). Great Britain recognizes more than two dozen states as its maritime neighbors, but the main territory borders only on France through the English Channel and Pas-de-Calais.

Geographic location of Great Britain

The relief of the country is very diverse. The northern regions of Great Britain are represented by the North Scottish Highlands. It is here that on the maps of Great Britain in Russian you can find the highest point of the country - Mount Ben Nevis (1344 m). To the south, the Mid-Scottish Lowland begins, resting on the Pennine Range, which stretches for 350 km from north to south. Behind him 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 Northern Irish enclave of the country, despite its small size, is also distinguished by a variety of relief. It is here that the largest lake in the country, Loch Neagh, is located, whose area is 396 km². In the UK, there are a sufficient number of large deep rivers, but the length of the longest - Severn - does not exceed 354 km.

Animal and plant world

The nature of the country has been subjected to significant human interference 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 and pine forests. To the south of the bowl there are elms, hornbeams, birches, beeches and ash trees. A significant part of animal species was exterminated. To date, only 53 species of mammals live in the UK. The most common 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 sardine.

Climate

Thanks to the warm current of the Gulf Stream, the country's climate is milder than in countries of the same latitude. Most of the UK lies in the temperate oceanic climate zone. The average winter temperature ranges from 2-4 0 C, and the summer temperature rarely exceeds 15-16 0 C.

It should be noted that in the mountainous and most northern regions these figures will be 2-3 degrees lower. The number of rainy and cloudy days in the country is high, so the rainfall 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 800 mm.

UK map with cities. Administrative division of the country

The UK has a very confusing structure. Apart from 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, which differs from the others. So Northern Ireland is divided into 6 counties and 11 districts, Scotland - into 32 districts, and Wales - into 9 counties, 10 city-counties 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 most of the country's population (up to 85%) lives in England, which occupies about 53% of the area of ​​Great Britain.

London- 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 River Thames. It is one of the key economic and financial centers of the world.

150 km northwest of London is Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK. Historic 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 Yorkshire and is the third largest city in the UK. After the capital, it is the second most important financial center countries.

If you are well versed in geography, then it will not be difficult for you to easily describe the position of Great Britain on a map in English. And if not, then you can always use our topic, which will guide you through the country from south to north, and from east to west.

When studying a map of England in English, the only thing you have to do is remember a lot of names. Seas, mountains, cities, capitals and rivers can cause difficulty. But don't worry, you can! In our article you will find the most significant objects.

Look at the map. You can see that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on 1the Isles 2 . They are called British Isles 3 There are more than 5000 small islands there. Two of them are the biggest: Great Britain and Ireland. We know that the UK consists of 4 countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are located on the largest island which is called Great Britain. Northern Ireland is situated on the smaller one which is called Ireland and occupies the northern part of it.

You can see that the UK is washed by water 4 from all sides. It is separated from 5 Europeby the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. It is washed by the atlantic ocean in the west, by the north sea in the east. The UK is separated from the Ireland by the Irish Sea. The geographical position flavored the development of the country as a great sea country.

England occupies 6 the southern part of Great Britain. Scotland is in the north of the island and Wales is in the west of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is in the north-east of Ireland.

The central and the most beautiful part of the county is England. The landscape is diverse 7 . In the north and in the west of the country you can see mountains 8 , but the other area is plain 9. England has more fertile soil 10 than others. Also there are many lakes in the north-western district 11 which is known as lake district.

Scotland can be called the country of mountains. The region of the mountains which is known as Highlands is the oldest in the world. The Grampians is the chain 12 of the mountains there. Ben Nevis is the highest peak 13 . There are some other chains: the Pennine in England and the Cumbrian Mountains in Wales.

You will find a lot of forests along the county. But none of them can be called great. The biggest one is Sherwood Forest. It occupies the area in the eastern part of England. Of course, you have heard the legends about it. The most famous is about Robin Hood.

There are many rivers in the UK. But they are not long. The longest one is the severn which flows in England. The Thames, the Mersey and the Clyde are the most important rivers. They play a great role in British trade and commerce.You can travel by water along the whole country because many of the rivers are connected 14 by channels.

London, Glasgow, Liverpool,Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh are the largest cities in the UK. The total area 15 of the UK is 224,000 sq km. And the population 16 is about 60 million. Its advantageous 17 position has made the UK one of the powerful country in the world.

Vocabulary:

  1. to be situated on is located
  2. the Isles- islands
  3. the British Isles British Isles
  4. to be washed by water washed by water
  5. to be separated from separates from
  6. occupy - takes
  7. diverse - diverse
  8. mountains- mountains
  9. plain- flat
  10. fertile soil fertile soil
  11. district- area
  12. chain- mountain ranges
  13. peak- peak
  14. to be connected connected
  15. total area - common area
  16. population - population
  17. advantageous - vantage point

Great Britain and Ireland islands of Great Britain and Ireland

England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

the English Channel and the Strait of Dover — English Channel and La de Calais (Strait of Dover)

the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish-sea Atlantic Ocean, Irish Sea

Highlands- Highlands (highlands)

Ben Nevis— Ben Nevis

The Grampians, the Pennine, the Cumbrian Mountains in Wales — Grampian Mountains, Pennines, Cumbrian Mountains

The Thames, the Mersey and the Clyde, the severn Thames, Mersey (Mersey), Clyde, Severn

London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh — London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh

Well, have you read it? Translated? Comprehended? The map of England in English will look less intimidating if you review and analyze the text again. Try to name only the rivers, where they are and what they are. Capitals, mountains, what separates them and where they are. It will be easier to learn in parts. Dare!

GREAT BRITAIN

(United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

General information

Geographical position. Great Britain is a state in the north-west of Europe. It consists of the island of Great Britain, which contains England, Scotland and Wales, and Northern Ireland, which occupies part of the island of Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are dominions of the United Kingdom, but are not part of it.

Square. The territory of Great Britain occupies 244,110 sq. km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of the Great Britain is London. Largest cities: London (7,335 thousand people), Manchester (2,277 thousand people), Birmingham (935 thousand people), Glasgow (654 thousand people), Sheffield (500 thousand people), Liverpool (450 thousand people), Edinburgh (421 thousand people), Belfast (280 thousand people).

Great Britain consists of 4 administrative and political parts (historical provinces): England (39 counties, 6 metropolitan counties and Greater London), Wales (8 counties), Scotland (9 districts and an island territory) and Northern Ireland (26 counties). The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have a special status.

Political system

Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II (in power since 1952). The head of government is the prime minister. Legislative power is vested in Parliament, which consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

Relief. On the territory of England are the Pennines (in the north of the region) with the highest point - Mount Scafell Pike (2178m). South of the Pennines and east of Wales stretches a vast plain that occupies most of central and southern England. In the extreme south are the Dartmoor Hills (about 610 m above sea level).

Scotland, which is mostly mountainous, can in turn be divided into three regions: the Highlands in the north, the Central Lowlands in the center and the Suzen Uplands in the south. The first region occupies more than half of the territory of Scotland. This is the most mountainous area british isles, cut in many places by narrow lakes. In the Grampian Mountains of this region is the highest point in Scotland and the entire United Kingdom - Mount Ben Nevis (1343 m). The central region is more or less flat with few hills. And although it occupies only a tenth of the territory of Scotland, the majority of the country's population is concentrated here. Most South Region- moorland, much lower than the Highlands. >

Wales, like Scotland, is a mountainous region, but the mountains here are not so high. home Mountain chain- The Cambrian Mountains in the center of Wales, the Snowdon massif (up to 1,085 m high) is located in the northwest. Most of the territory of Northern Ireland is occupied by a plain, in the center of which is Loch Nee. In the northwest are the Sperin Mountains, on the northeast coast - the Antrim Highlands and the Murne Mountains in the southeast of the region, they also contain the highest point in Northern Ireland, Slieve Donard (852 m).

Geological structure and minerals. On the territory of Great Britain there are deposits of coal, oil, natural gas, iron ore, rock and potash salts, tin, lead, quartz.

Climate. The climate of the country varies depending on the region. In England, the climate is mild due to the relative warmth of the seas surrounding it. Average annual temperature is about +11°С in the south and about +9°С in the northeast. The average July temperature in London is about +18°C, the average January temperature is about +4.5°C. The average annual rainfall (the heaviest rains come in October) is about 760 mm. Scotland is the coldest region in the UK. The average January temperature is about +3°C, and snow often falls in the mountains in the north. The average July temperature is around +15°C. Most a large number of precipitation falls in the west of the Highlands region (about 3,810 mm per year), the least - in some eastern regions(about 635 mm per year). The climate of Wales is mild and humid. The average January temperature is around +5°C. Average July - about +15°С. The average annual rainfall is approximately 762 mm in the central coastal region and over 2,540 mm in the Snowdon Massif. The climate of Northern Ireland is mild and humid. The average annual temperature is about +10°С (about +14.5°С in July and about +4.5°С in January). Rainfall in the north often exceeds 1,016 mm per year, while in the south it is about 760 mm per year.

Inland waters. The main rivers of England are the Thames, the Severn, the Tyne, and the picturesque Lake District is located in the Mersinnins. The main rivers of Scotland are the Clyde, the Tay, the Force, the Tweed, the Dee and the Spey. Loch Ness, Loch Tay and Loch Catherine stand out among the numerous lakes. The main rivers of Wales are the Dee, Usk, Teifi. The largest lake is Bala. The main rivers of Northern Ireland are the Foyle, the Upper Ban and the Lower Ban. Loch Neagh (about 390 sq. km) is the most big lake British Isles.

Soils and vegetation. The vegetation of England is quite poor, forests occupy less than 4% of the region, most often there are oak, birch, pine. In Scotland, forests are more common, although moorland dominates the region. Oak and coniferous trees (spruce, pine and larch) grow mainly in the forests in the south and east of the Highlands. In Wales, the forests are mostly deciduous: ash, oak. IN mountainous areas coniferous trees are widespread.

Animal world. Deer, fox, rabbit, hare, badger are common in England; among the birds - partridge, dove, raven. Reptiles, of which there are only four species in all the British Isles, are rare in England. The rivers of the region are mainly inhabited by salmon and trout. For Scotland, the most characteristic deer, roe deer, hare, rabbit, marten, otter, wild cat. Of the birds, partridges and wild ducks are found mainly. There are also many salmon and trout in the rivers and lakes of Scotland. Cod, herring, haddock are caught in coastal waters. In Wales, the fauna is almost the same as in England, with the exception of the black polecat and pine marten, which are not found in England.

Population and language

The population of the United Kingdom is approximately 58.97 million people, average density population of about 241 people per sq. km. Ethnic groups: British - 81.5%, Scots - 9.6%, Irish - 2.4%, Welsh - 1.9%, Ulsters - 1.8%, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Arabs, Africans. The state language is English.

Religion

Anglicans - 47%, Catholics - 16%, Muslims - 2%, Methodists, Baptists, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs.

Brief historical outline

In 43 AD e. Britain became part of the Roman Empire and remained there until 410, when the Celts, Saxons and other tribes replaced the Romans.

In 1066, the petty kingdoms of Great Britain were conquered by the Norman commander William and united into a single state.

In 1215, King John the Landless signed a guarantee of rights, providing for the rule of law "Magna Carta" (a document to this day is one of the main parts of the country's constitution).

In 1338, England entered the war with France, which lasted more than a hundred years (until 1.453). Almost immediately after its end, a war broke out for the English throne (the War of the Scarlet and White Roses - two rival dynasties of Lancaster and York, as a result of which both dynasties died), ending in 1485 with the victory of the Tudor dynasty "

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603), England became a great maritime power and conquered vast colonies on several continents.

In 1603, when the Scottish king James VI ascended the English throne as King James I, Scotland and England were effectively united into one state. However, the Kingdom of Great Britain was proclaimed after the signing of the act of unification in 1707, from the same time London became the capital of a single state.

In 1642-1649. the conflict between the royal house of the Stuarts and Parliament led to a bloody civil war, which resulted in the proclaiming of a republic led by Oliver Cromwell. The monarchy was soon restored, but the rights of the king were significantly curtailed and, in fact, the full power was in Parliament.

At the end of the XVIII century. Great Britain lost 13 American colonies, but significantly strengthened its position in Canada and India.

In 1801, Ireland was annexed to the kingdom. In 1815, Great Britain played a big role in the defeat of the Napoleonic army, which strengthened its position as one of the most important European powers. After that, the country lived in peace for a century, expanding its colonial possessions, which especially grew during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901).

After the First World War, Great Britain was in a difficult economic situation, which partly played in favor of the Irish liberation movement, and in 1921 Ireland declared independence.

After the Second World War, national problems in Scotland and Northern Ireland became more acute. The events in Northern Ireland took on a particularly dramatic character, where a war had actually been waged since 1969.

In August 1994, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) announced a unilateral ceasefire, and the peace process, which began in the early 1990s with negotiations between the British and Irish governments, moved a little faster. However, dissatisfied with the course of the negotiation process, the IRA militants resumed their terrorist activities in early 1996. An agreement was reached between England and Ireland to settle their differences by peaceful political means.

Brief economic essay

Great Britain is an economically developed industrial country. Extraction of oil, natural gas, coal. The leading industry is mechanical engineering, including electrical and radio-electronic, transport (aerospace, auto and shipbuilding), tractor and machine tool building. The oil refining, chemical (production of plastics and synthetic resins, chemical fibers, synthetic rubber, sulfuric acid, mineral fertilizers), textile, and food industries are well developed. Large footwear, clothing and other branches of light industry. The main branch of agriculture is meat and dairy and dairy farming. Grain farming predominates in crop production; sugar beet cultivation, potato growing. Fishing. Export: machinery and equipment, oil and oil products, products of the chemical industry. The UK is a major exporter of capital. Foreign tourism.

Currency unit- GBP.

A Brief Outline of Culture

Art and architecture. In the UK, the largest, unusually folded and integral in composition megalithic complexes of the Neolithic and bronze age(Stonehenge, Avebury), remains of Roman buildings I-V centuries, stone carving and metal products of the Celts, Picts, Anglo-Saxons. By the 7th - 10th centuries include churches (in Earl Barton, 10th century) derived from folk frame buildings, and miniatures with a complex curvilinear pattern. Anglo-Norman churches (in Norwich, Wixester) with narrow, long naves, choir and transept and powerful square towers, tower-like castles (Tower of London, begun around 1078), colorful miniatures of the Winchester school are characteristic of the Romanesque style of the 11th-12th centuries . Developed from the 12th century English Gothic (the first Gothic construction in Europe - in Durham Cathedral) is represented by cathedrals in Canterbury, Lincoln, Salisbury, York, Westminster Abbey in London; they are characterized by a combination of simplicity and massiveness of elongated squat volumes with an increasing abundance of decor, an increasingly complicated pattern of wide facades; decorative finesse

teas gothic paintings, miniatures, sculptures, tombstones with stone or engraved figures on copper sheets. Late Gothic (“perpendicular style”, from the second half of the 14th century) is marked by the richness of carved decoration of light, spacious interiors of churches and secular buildings (St. the emergence of easel, including portrait, painting.

The Reformation (begun in 1534) gave English culture a purely secular character, and after the English revolution of the 17th century. in construction and everyday life, the desire for rationality and comfort intensified.

In painting of the XVI-XVII centuries. the main place was occupied by the portrait: the traditions of H. Holbein, who came to Great Britain, were developed by the English miniaturists N. Hilliard, A. Oliver, S. Cooper; the type of spectacular aristocratic portrait of the 17th century, introduced by foreigners who settled in Great Britain - L. van Dyck, P. Lely, G. Neller, acquired from their English successors - W. Dobson and J. Riley, great simplicity, rigor and objectivity.

The classically clear buildings of I. Jones (Banquet Hall in London, 1619-1622) served as the starting point for the development of English classicism of the 17th-18th centuries, distinguished by restrained, strict solemnity, and a clear logic of the composition of urban ensembles (Greenwich Hospital, 1616-1728, architect K Wren and others, Fitzroy Square, about 1790-1800, architects R. and J. Adam, in London), churches (St. Paul's Cathedral, 1675-1710, and 52 churches in London, built by C. Wren after fire of 1666).

Great Britain was the birthplace of the romantic trend of pseudo-Gothic and landscape "English" parks (W. Kent, W. Chambers).

The rise of English art in the 18th century opens with the work of W. Hogarth. A galaxy of brilliant portrait painters: A. Ramsey, J. Reynolds, H. Raeburn skillfully combined the ceremonial impressiveness of the composition with the naturalness and spirituality of the image. National schools of landscape (G. Gainsborough, R. Wilson, J. Krom; watercolorists J. R. Cozens, T. Girtin) and genre painting (J. Moreland, J. Wright) have developed.

In the first half of the XIX century. along with the romantic fantasy graphic artist W. Blake and the bold colorist landscape painter W. Turner, the founder of the plein-air realistic landscape J. Constable, the subtle landscape painter and historical painter R. P. Bonington, the masters of the watercolor landscape J. S. Kotman and D. Cox.

London. British Museum (which houses world-famous archaeological finds, collections of drawings, coins, medals, specialized exhibitions are regularly held); The Victoria and Albert Museum (which is one of the most interesting museums applied arts with the richest collections of items from almost all countries of the world, all styles and eras, national collections of post-classical sculpture, photography, watercolors); Museum of Natural History with magnificent collections of animals, insects, fish, specialized exhibition dinosaurs; Museum of London History with a collection of exhibits from the time of the Roman Empire to the present day; the Tate Gallery with magnificent collections of British and European paintings of the late 19th and 20th centuries; National Gallery with a collection of Western European paintings from the 13th century. to the 20th century; London Gaol - a medieval horror museum with torture chambers; Madame Tussauds is a world famous museum wax figures; cathedral of st. Paul (XVII-XVIII centuries); Tower of London - museum complex, which, in particular, contains the jewels of the British crown; Westminster Abbey (XI century) - the place of coronation of all British monarchs; Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), the most famous part of which is clock tower with the bell "Beat Ben"; Buckingham Palace is the royal residence. Trafalgar Square with Nelson's Column, erected in honor of the victory at Trafalgar; a large number of parks, among which Hyde Park with a "speakers' corner" stands out; Regent's Park with a magnificent zoo, Kew Gadnes with a greenhouse, an aquarium and the Butterfly House, where tropical butterflies fly all year round. Edinburgh. Edinburgh castle; church of st. Margaret (XI century); Castle Rock Castle, the royal residence in Scotland, Holyrod Palace; church of st. Gilles (XV century); the Scottish Parliament building (1639); home of a 16th-century Protestant reformer John Nonce; National Gallery Scotland; National Portrait Gallery of Scotland; Royal Museum; Museum of Modern History; Museum of Scottish History. Belfast. City hall; Protestant Cathedral of St. Anna; Ulster Museum. Glasgow. Cathedral of St. Mungo (1136 - mid-15th century); Glasgow Museum, one of the best in Britain art galleries; Hunterian Museum; Botanical Garden; zoo. Cardiff. Cardaf Castle (XI century); Cathedral of Llandaf; church of st. John the Baptist (XV century); National Museum Wales. Stratford-upon-Avon (England). House-Museum of W. Shakespeare; Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Invernes (Scotland). Castle of the 12th century; the remains of the fort GUv.; nearby is famous lake Loch Ness, where a monster with the affectionate name Nessie supposedly lives.

The science. D. Priestley (1733-1804) - chemist who discovered oxygen; T. Mor (1478-1535) - one of the founders of utopian socialism; W. Gilbert (1544-1603) - physicist, researcher of geomagnetism; F. Bacon (1561-1626) - philosopher, founder of English materialism; W. Garvey (1578-1657) - the founder of modern physiology and embryology, who described the large and small circles of blood circulation; R. Boyle (1627-1691) - chemist and physicist, who laid the foundation for chemical analysis; J. Locke (1632-1704) - philosopher, founder of liberalism; I. Newton (1643-1727) - mathematician, mechanic, astronomer and physicist, creator of classical mechanics; E. Halley (1656-1742) - astronomer and geophysicist, who calculated the orbits of more than 20 comets; J. Berkeley (1685-1753) - philosopher, subjective idealist; S. Johnson (1709-1784) - lexicographer who created the Dictionary of the English Language (1755); D. Hume (1711_1776) - philosopher, historian, economist; V. Herschel (1738-1822) - the founder of stellar astronomy, who discovered Uranus; G. Kort (1740-1800) - inventor of the rolling mill; E. Cartwright (1743-1823) - inventor of the loom; T. Malthus (1766-1834) - economist, founder of Malthusianism; D. Ricardo (1772-1823) and A. Smith (1723-1790) - the largest representatives of classical political economy; J. Watt (1774-1784) - inventor of the steam engine; J. Stephenson (1781-1848) - inventor of the steam locomotive; M. Faraday (1791-1867) - physicist, founder of the theory of the electromagnetic field; J. Nesmith (1808-1890) - creator of the steam hammer; C. Darwin (1809-1882) - naturalist, creator of the theory of evolution; J. Joule (1818-1889) - physicist, experimentally substantiated the law of conservation of energy; J. Adams (1819-1892) - astronomer and mathematician who calculated the orbit and coordinates of Neptune; G. Spencer (1820-1903) - philosopher and sociologist, one of the founders of positivism; J. Maxwell (1831-1879) - physicist, creator of classical electrodynamics; W. Batson (1861-1926), biologist, one of the founders of genetics; G. Rutherford (1871-1937) - physicist, one of the founders of the theory of radioactivity and the structure of the atom; A. Fleming (1881-1955) - microbiologist who discovered penicillin; J. Keynes (1883-1946) - economist, founder of Keynesianism; J. Chadwick (1891-1974) - physicist who discovered the neutron; P. Dirac (1902-1984) - physicist, one of the creators of quantum mechanics; F. Whittle (b. 1907) - inventor of the turbojet engine.

Literature. The epic poem "Beowulf" (7th century) has come down to us in the lists of the 10th century. On British soil in the VIII-X centuries. the religious lyrics of the Anglo-Saxons, theological works, chronicles arose. After the conquest of England by the Normans in the XI-XIII centuries. trilingual literature develops: church writings in Latin, chivalric poems and poems in French, English traditions in Anglo-Saxon. The synthesis of the culture of the era of mature feudalism and the anticipation of the early Renaissance are characteristic of the Canterbury Tales (XIV century) - a collection of poetic stories and short stories by J. Chaucer. In the prologue to this work, a description is given of people of all classes and professions going on a pilgrimage to Canterbury. The medieval romance of chivalry is combined here with the prosaic humor of the townspeople; in the assessments of life phenomena, the emergence of early humanism is felt. The Hundred Years' War with France, then the War of the Scarlet and White Roses, slowed down the development of literature. Among the few monuments is the presentation in prose of the legends about the knights of the "Round Table" - "The Death of Arthur" by Thomas Malory (XV century). At the beginning of the XVI century. Thomas More, the author of Utopia, which contained not only criticism of the feudal system, but also a picture of an ideal state, is speaking.

At the beginning of the XVII century. the genre of essays (F. Bacon) and characteristics (G. Overbury) appears. The dramaturgy of the mature English Renaissance reached its highest artistic height. In the XV century. the genres of morality and interlude appear in the theater. In the folk theater, which experienced rapid development in the 2nd half of the 16th century, an original national dramaturgy arose: K. Marlo (1564-1593), T. Kid (1558-1594) and others. Their activities paved the way for the creativity of the great playwright W. Shakespeare (1564-1616). In his comedies, he reflected the cheerful spirit of the Renaissance and the optimism of the humanists; among his works are chronicle plays from the history of England ("Richard III", "Henry IV", etc.). Tragedies (Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, etc.) became the pinnacle of Shakespeare's work.

J. Milton (1608-1674) during the Restoration period created an epic poem on the biblical story "Paradise Lost" (1667).

The leading ideological trend of the XVIII century. enlightenment becomes. The primacy in literature passes from poetry to prose; a bourgeois novel arises, the creator of which was D. Defoe (1661-1731), who became famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe (1719). Satire J. Swift (1667-1745) "Gulliver's Travels" (1726) brought the author worldwide fame. Sentimental novels by S. Richardson (1689-1761), written in epistolary form, gained fame. The satirical line in social comedy continued to develop and culminated in the work of R. B. Sheridan (1751-1816), the author of the satirical comedy The School of Scandal (1777).

The revival of interest in folk poetry led to the popularity of the Scottish poet R. Burns (1759-1796). In the 90s of the XVIII century. the works of the romantics W. Wordsworth (1770-1850), S. T. Coleridge (1772-1834), R. Southey (1774-1843), sometimes united by the concept of "lake school", appear. The second generation of English romantics - J. G. Byron (1788-1824), P. B. Shelley (1792-1822), J. Keith (1795-1821). W. Scott (1771-1832) creates the genre of the historical novel.

30-60s of the XIX-period of the heyday of critical realism: in the novels of Ch. 1810-1865). Thackeray creates a "novel without a hero" "Vanity Fair" (1847-1848). At the end of the XIX century. in the English novel there is a sharp contrast between the neo-romanticism of R. L. Stevenson (1850-1894) and the harsh realism of T. Hard (1840-1928) and S. Butler (1835-1902). Representatives of English naturalism J. Moore (1852-1933) and J. Gissing (1857-1903) were followers of E. Zola.

In the 90s. the period of modern English literature begins. At its threshold stands a brief period of decadence and symbolism, presented by O. Wilde (1854-1900). The coryphaeus of English symbolism is the Irishman W. B. Yeats (1865-1939).

The last decade of the 19th century and the years preceding the First World War were marked by a powerful development of critical realism, for example, the plays of B. Shaw (1856-1950, Heartbreak House, Back to Methuselah, etc.), fantastic and philosophical novels by H. J. Wells (1866-1946, "The First Men in the Moon", etc.), the trilogy "The Forsyte Saga" and "Modern Comedy" by J. Galsworthy (1867-1933), the works of W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965, "The Burden of human passions", "The Razor's Edge", "Moon and a penny", "Theatre", etc.), E. M. Forster (1879-1970), Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923) and others. J. Conrad stands apart ( 1857-1924), who combined romance sea ​​voyages and descriptions of exotic countries with subtle psychologism. Poetry is most originally represented by R. Kipling (1865-1936).

The main place in the literature of the pre-war period remains with the novel, in which modernist experimentation arises. The Irishman J. Joyce (1882-1941) in his novel "Ulysses" (1922) applied the method of "stream of consciousness" in literature, marking the smallest details of the inner life of the characters.

Everyone is used to thinking that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is one country. But this is not a completely correct statement. The kingdom includes four historical and geographical regions. The United Kingdom includes such territories 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 an absolutely autonomous country within the United Kingdom.

It is impossible not to mention the Isle of Man and True, these territories are administratively independent parts of the kingdom.

Description

Each territory that is part of the UK has its own culture, traditions, sights that have accumulated over the centuries. The official language is English, but there are peculiar exceptions for each administrative and political part. So, today the population of the Welsh villages communicates in the ancient

The heritage of the territories that make up the Kingdom of Great Britain is practically nothing like each other. They differ not only in history, composition of the population and the structure of government, but also in religion and even climate.

A few main points that characterize the UK as a whole:

  • The monetary unit is the pound sterling.
  • Religions - Anglicanism, Catholicism and Presbyterianism.
  • Great Britain is famous for talented actors, musicians, singers, writers, sportsmen, scientists.
  • The Kingdom is considered one of the most popular places for shopping. The country is very rich in brands such as Burberry, which are known all over the world, shops, boutiques and street markets, where you can find vintage clothes and pick up accessories for them.

England

The largest administrative and political part that is part of the UK is England. In turn, it has nine separate regions, each with its own unique traditions and culture, fascinating bustling metropolitan areas such as London, and beautiful, peaceful villages, such as Cornwall. The official language is English. There are thirty-nine counties, six metropolitan counties and an administrative unit called Greater London.

Every year, millions of tourists from all over the world come to England, because it is suitable for a noisy and fun holiday, as well as for romantic walks. There are more than 20 attractions that are listed world heritage UNESCO.

Scotland

There are few places on our planet that can compete with Scotland. Here are large cities such as Glasgow, deep lakes and picturesque mountains. This country is divided into nine regions, which contain about eight hundred islands, three hundred of which are unsuitable for human life.

During the celebration of Burns Night, which falls on January 25, and St. Andrew's Day (November 30), live music is heard throughout the streets.

Scotland is part of the UK to this day. In 2014, they held a referendum on secession from the state. But 55.3% of the population opposed the declaration of independence.

The official languages ​​are English, Anglo-Scots and Scottish Gaelic.

Northern Ireland

The smallest autonomous territory that is part of the UK is Ireland. It consists of twenty-six districts. Despite its small size, it has a very rich nature. Here are located high mountains, flat valleys, forests and even the inland sea. In addition, the country is famous for its history, culture, mythology and vibrant musical life. On venues, in 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 as part of the UK has three official Ulster-Scots and, of course, English.

Wales

There is no place on Earth that would be even slightly similar to the island nation of Great Britain. The composition of the countries includes a rather unusual administrative and political part - Wales. The peculiarity lies in the fact that its inhabitants still communicate with each other in one of the oldest languages ​​in the world - Welsh. The second official language is English. Wales is the third largest country in the UK in terms of land area.

There are five districts with unique nature, as well as three Locals call the castles "because of the impressive number of ancient fortresses (about 600 castles).