Great Britain United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. UK owned countries

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 match them with accessories.

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 included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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. 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. 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.

Five districts with unique nature are registered here, as well as three. The locals call them "castles" because of the impressive number of ancient fortresses (about 600 castles).

Characteristic

Great Britain (United Kingdom) is an island state, most of whose territory is located on two large islands separated by the waters of the Irish Sea. The total area of ​​the UK is 244,017 sq. km. The population of Great Britain is 58,395 thousand people.

The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It consists of four countries: England, Scotland and Wales, located on the island of Britain, and Northern Ireland. The latter is located on the same island as the Independent Republic of Ireland. Thus, Great Britain has a common land border only with Ireland.

The British Isles lie off the northwest coast of Europe.
The British Isles are surrounded by many small islands. To the southwest of the Isle of Britain are the Isles of Scilly, and to the north of Wales is the Isle of
Anglesey. On the western and northern coasts of Scotland there are numerous small islands that are part of Great Britain. 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, which has common water borders with it. The shortest distance to the northern coast of France is the Strait of Dover, but the main communication between the states is through the English Channel, called the English Channel by the British, along the bottom of which a high-speed rail tunnel was built at the end of the twentieth century. 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, Norway are located much further.

Thus, the EGP of Great Britain is both neighboring and seaside, which is extremely beneficial for the economic development of the country, although, undoubtedly, it has certain disadvantages in strategic and military terms.

The administrative map of Great Britain has changed several times, because. the accession of the countries that make up the United Kingdom lasted for centuries. Each once independent state has its own capital or administrative center. The official capital of the UK is
London, as the unification of the lands took place around England.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Great Britain, being in first place in the world in terms of economic development, created a colossal colonial power that occupied almost a quarter of the planet's territory. The British colonies included India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and much of Africa. In the twentieth century, the English colonies became independent states, but many of them are part of the British Commonwealth, headed by the British monarch. In 1921, the southern part of Ireland seceded from Great Britain and became an independent state.

Modern administrative divisions of Great Britain

Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy

The UK form of government is a constitutional monarchy. Monarchy is the oldest form of government in existence today. Moreover, in the UK, the succession of royal power was violated only once in ten centuries of the existence of the state. The current Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain
The second comes from the family of the Saxon king Egbert, who united England in 892, and Malcolm II, who ruled in Scotland from 1005 to 1034.

The monarch in Great Britain is the main person of the state. Legally, the monarch leads the executive branch, is the supreme commander of the British Army. But in fact, as a result of the changes that have taken place over many centuries, the monarchs have lost absolute power. The Queen rules the state with the consent of the Cabinet of Ministers, i.e. "reigns, does not rule."

The legislature is a bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Upper House - the House of Lords and the Lower House - the House of Commons. Meetings are held in the Houses of Parliament, which is one of the sights of London. The 650 members of the House of Commons are elected by British citizens once every five years, while membership in the House of Lords is hereditary in the families of hereditary nobles.

Thus, the queen represents the state in the international arena and is a symbol of power. Executive power belongs to the Cabinet of Ministers, which is formed by a parliamentary majority.

Among the variety of political parties in the UK, the leading role belongs to the two largest parties. These are the Conservatives (Tory) and the Labor Party (Whigs).

UK population

The population of the UK is over 58 million people. National composition: English - more than 80%, Scots - 10%, Welsh (indigenous people of Wales) - 2%, Irish - 2.5%.

A significant part of the population professes Protestantism. The exception is Northern Ireland, the majority of whose inhabitants are Catholics. Northern Ireland is a place of constant conflicts on religious and national grounds.

Since 1921, about 40% of the population has lived in the seven largest urban agglomerations centered on London (Greater London), Manchester (South East Lankshire), Birmingham and Wolverhampton (West Midlands), Glasgow (Central Clydeside), Leeds and Bradford (West Yorkshire). ), Liverpool (Merseyside) and Newcas-on-Tyne (Tyneside). The rate of urbanization in the UK is 91%. The proportion of the rural population is very small.

In recent years, there has been a significant influx of population from developing countries, mainly from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Industry

Great Britain is one of the four countries that determine the economic power of Europe. UK industry includes many industries, some of which are of global importance. Midland is the main industrial region of Great Britain.

Metallurgy

Metallurgy in the UK is one of the most developed industries. It employs more than 582 thousand people. Moreover, the first place in terms of the number of employment belongs to the ferrous metallurgy (332 thousand people). The rest falls on non-ferrous metallurgy. The main centers of steel and iron production are Cardiff and Swansea (Wales), Leeds (England). Annual steel production is more than 15 million tons. Aluminum smelters are located mainly in Scotland and Wales.

The consumers of ferrous metallurgy products are mainly machine-building plants.

mechanical engineering

Engineering is one of the leading industries in the UK. It includes many directions, each of which is characterized by its location. So high-tech engineering (aeronautics, electronics) are located mainly around London. The machine tool industry is concentrated in the Birmingham area. Shipbuilding is a specialization of the Glasgow region, and textile engineering is developed mainly in the Manchester region.

Fuel and energy complex.

The main energy sources are coal and oil, and to a lesser extent natural gas. The coal mining industry is one of the oldest industries in the UK. At the beginning of the century, British coal dominated the world market, but now more than 80 million tons of coal are mined annually in the UK. The main areas of coal mining are Cardiff, South Wales and Central England (Sheffield). Oil is produced on the shelf of the North Sea off the east coast of England and Scotland. The annual production is more than 94 million tons. The main oil refineries are located in Southampton, Cheshire, Yorkshire. Income from oil exports reaches 150 million pounds. Gas production is 55 billion cubic meters. m. per year and grows annually. The electric power industry is based on thermal and hydroelectric power stations. Numerous hydroelectric power plants are located in the mountainous regions of Scotland and Wales, and thermal power plants are located in coal mining areas. The share of nuclear power plants is small, although in recent years there has been an increase in their construction.

Chemical industry

The chemical industry is concentrated mainly in Birmingham and Middlesbrough. This is mainly the production of plastics, detergents and disinfectants, dyes, fertilizers. The UK is one of the largest dye exporters in the world. The pharmaceutical industry has reached a high level of development. Demand for medicines manufactured in the UK is growing every year

Light industry

Light industry is one of the oldest industries in the UK. About 690 thousand people are employed in this area, more than half of them are women. The main areas for the development of light industry are Lancashire, Yorkshire, Liverpool, Manchester. On the Isle of Lewis, the production of woolen fabrics is concentrated, mainly the world-famous "plaid". The UK is one of the world leaders in the production of woolen fabrics. Knitwear production is developed mainly in Scotland and the Midlands. The production of linen fabrics is concentrated mainly in Northern Ireland. The UK has a long history of leather dressing and is a global exporter of leather products. Factories engaged in leather production are located everywhere, but a significant part of them are concentrated in Lancashire, Yorkshire, the Midlands, and around London. The UK is the world's third largest pop shoe manufacturer. More than 200 million pairs of shoes are sold annually. The UK clothing industry is the largest in Europe. The UK is a major clothing exporter. The main centers of the clothing industry are London, Leeds and Manchester.

Great Britain is a great and very interesting country, attracting tourists with its rich history, beautiful landscapes and castles on the one hand and the lively bustle and cultural heritage of its capital - London.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain consists of 4 countries-regions:

• - the oldest monarchy in Europe. This is the most popular tourist part of the country, where many "thematic" royal attractions, historical sites and traditions are concentrated. The capital of England - London.

• - the birthplace of whiskey, bagpipes and kilts, a country with stunning natural beauty. There are high mountains, deep blue lakes where the elusive Nessie lives, and green hills. Capital of Scotland - Edinburgh.

• - land of beautiful green plains and majestic castles. It was here that many medieval films, serials and historical paintings were filmed. The famous British saga "Doctor Who" stands out in particular. Capital of Wales - Cardiff.
• Northern Ireland- the most picturesque region of Great Britain. Among the old towns and villages, time seems to flow more slowly. Capital of S. Ireland - Belfast.

How to get to the UK from Russia?

From Moscow by direct flight you can get to London and Manchester a, but from St. Petersburg only to London.

Companies flying to London: Aeroflot, British Airways, Transaero and "" (Only from Moscow).

There are no direct flights to Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh.

Visa to UK

You need a visa to visit the country. Great Britain is not included in the zone
Schengen agreement, so you need to get a special visa.

To help the traveler:

On the plane, you will need to fill out a migration card.

Useful information about the UK

Currency

The monetary unit of Great Britain is the pound sterling (£).
1 pound = 100 pence

In circulation there are banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50 £ and coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pence, 1 and 2 £.

A tourist can exchange currency only at exchange offices, and withdraw from a card at ATMs.

Note: in addition to England, the banks of Scotland and Northern Ireland issue pounds. They differ in design and are accepted anywhere in the UK, but in Russia they are not accepted in exchangers.

Transport

The country has an extensive network of railways, buses and flights. Railway communication is especially widespread.

Eurostar high-speed trains also run to France from London.

There are also ferries connecting the port cities of Great Britain and the European land.

Climate

Despite a common misconception, the UK does not always have bad weather and no fog.

In the UK, the climate is temperate and mild. Rains happen, but short and fast. The weather is very changeable, it is formed by the Gulf Stream. The farther from the coast, the drier.

In the southern part of the country, the weather is drier and slightly warmer than in the north, but floods and hurricanes are much more common.

United Kingdom hotels

There are many hotels in the UK, mostly operating on the B&B (bed and breakfast) system, or not including meals at all. The rooms are small, but quite comfortable.

Of course, there are prestigious luxury hotels, but their cost is exorbitant.

The article gives an understanding of what territories are part of the UK, and answers the question of what is the reason for this. The material contains interesting facts about the historical formation of the state. It becomes clear which historical period became a turning point in the development of the country, and Great Britain took shape in a world power known to everyone.

What parts does the United Kingdom consist of?

Great Britain is a Western European power, localized in the British Isles and separated from Europe (mainland) by the North Sea and two straits.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain consists of:

• England;
• Scotland;
• Wales;
• Northern Ireland.

The latter occupies only the northern part of the island of Ireland.

The Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea.

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The total area of ​​the state is 244 thousand square meters. km.

Briefly, the country is called the United Kingdom, as well as Great Britain or Britain. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who acts as the reigning monarch.

Rice. 1. Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.

The United Kingdom was formed for quite a long time. In the Middle Ages, only a number of small states-principalities were located on the territory of the present state. In the 11th century, a feudal state with sole control was already formed on the site of present-day Great Britain.

Rice. 2. Division of Great Britain on the map.

If we disassemble the United Kingdom of Great Britain into its "component" parts, we get the following picture: England is the historical basis of the whole kingdom; Scotland is a territory over which the English fought for a long time; the Principality of Wales - the original territory of residence of the Welsh; Northern Ireland is a region that is characterized by separatist initiative.

In Northern Ireland, there is an "Irish Republican Army", which has as its main goal isolation from the United Kingdom.

This gives a brief idea of ​​how many countries there are in the UK.

crown lands

Today, almost a dozen small territories are under British sovereignty (14). The Queen of England is now the official ruler in 16 Commonwealth states.

The structure of Britain includes the "crown lands" - the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Crown lands are the property of the British Crown, which is not included in the United Kingdom, but is not a foreign territory. Crown lands have not had colonial status throughout their history.

Each such territory has individual car license plates and a personal postal code.

For example, the Isle of Man postal service issues its own stamps, which are bought with great pleasure by collectors and amateur philatelists.

Rice. 3. Isle of Man, postage stamps.

Some crown territories mint their own coins and issue paper money. They are not recognized as official means of payment in the UK, but are often accepted as payment in many establishments in the country. Evaluation of the report

Average rating: 4.4. Total ratings received: 154.

Great Britain and England are frequently used country names in the media.

These are not two variants of the name of one country, but two different states, between which there is a certain difference.

United Kingdom(Russian name from English. Great Britain) or United Kingdom(United Kingdom, abbreviated UK), the full official name is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland(English T the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), is an island nation located in the northwest of continental Europe.

The political union of Scotland and England (including Wales) led to the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.

The form of government is a parliamentary monarchy.

The state religion is the Anglican Church, Protestantism.

The form of government is a unitary state, although Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales (3 out of 4 historical provinces) have enjoyed limited autonomy since the end of the 20th century.

Capital - London(English) London[ˈlʌndən]) is the capital and largest city of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, one of the largest cities in Europe and one of the largest financial and economic centers in the world.

Official languages: English(in fact), in Wales - Welsh.

The state religion is the Anglican Church, Protestantism.

Geographical position

The state is located on the British Isles (the island of Great Britain, the northeastern part of the island of Ireland, as well as a large number of smaller islands and archipelagos, including the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands, Anglesey, Arran, White) in the Atlantic Ocean. It is washed by the Northern, Irish, Celtic and Hebrides seas. The English Channel separates the southeast coast of Great Britain from the north coast of France.

The area of ​​Great Britain is 243,809 km²(78th in the world), of which land - 240,579 km², inland waters - 3230 km².

Government of Great Britain

Great Britain includes several vast regions, where England represents the historical core of the Kingdom. State sovereignty extends to 14 territories - Bermuda, Gibraltar, St. Helena, Maine, Orkney, Hybrid, Channel Islands and others. Provinces: Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Largest cities: Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Sheffield, Liverpool, Edinburgh. Formally, the head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. The UK is one of the largest European countries. The high status of the UK among one of the largest European states is confirmed by the country's permanent membership in the UN Security Council and the presence of a nuclear potential. The United Kingdom does not have a unified legal system. The judicial bodies of Great Britain in their activities are guided by three judicial systems, in which there are significant differences: English law, the law of Northern Ireland and the law of Scotland.

General information about England

England (English England [ˈɪŋɡlənd]) is a state (kingdom) within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Great Britain). The largest administrative and political part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The population of England is 84% ​​of the total population of the UK.

England became a union of once warring kingdoms in 927. The name of the country comes from the name of one of the Germanic tribes that settled there in the 5th and 6th centuries - the Angles. The capital of England is London, the largest city in Great Britain.

England is the birthplace of the English language and the Anglican Church, and English law forms the basis of the legal systems of many countries; in addition, London was the center of the British Empire, and the country was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. England was the first industrialized country in the world, and also a country with a parliamentary democracy, whose constitutional, governmental and legal innovations were adopted by other nations and countries.

The Kingdom of England, including the Principality of Wales, was a separate state until May 1, 1707, when it united with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.

England is currently made up of 9 regions and 48 ceremonial counties. An important role in the English economy is played by agriculture, industrial production, the high-tech industry and the sports industry. The form of government is a parliamentary monarchy (there is no constitution, it is controlled by the monarch, parliament and the government of Great Britain). The state religion is Anglicanism. The names of the inhabitants are Englishman, Englishwoman, Englishmen.
Currency - pound sterling.
Telephone code - +44
Time zones are Greenwich Mean Time.

Geographical position

England occupies two thirds of the island of Great Britain. Territory - 133,396 km². The landscape of England consists mainly of sloping hills, the terrain becomes more mountainous towards the north. The mountainous and flat terrain are conventionally divided along a line between the mouth of the Teess (Teesside) in the northeast and the mouth of the Aix (Devon) in the southwest. To the east is low-lying marshland, which has mostly been drained for agricultural use.

It borders Scotland to the north and Wales to the west. The six largest cities in England (in descending order of population): London, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester.

Thus, "Great Britain", or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, is the name of the state, while England is the dominant region of Great Britain.