Where is Great Britain located? Geographical location. Topic "Geographical position of Great Britain" Geographical position of the border of Great Britain

The state is located on British Isles(island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, as well as a large number of more small islands and archipelagos, including the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland Islands, Anglesey, Arran, White) in the Atlantic Ocean. It is washed by the North, Irish, Celtic and Hebridean seas. The southeast coast is located just 35 km from the northern coast of France, which are separated by the English Channel.

Main UK cities

The area of ​​Great Britain is 243,809 km², of which land is 240,579 km² and inland waters are 3,230 km². The coastline is 17,820 km long. South Coast connected to continental Europe through a 50 km long Eurotunnel (of which 38 km is under water). This is the longest underwater tunnel in the world. Northern Ireland has a 360 km land border with the Republic of Ireland, and it is the UK's only land border.

England occupies just over half of the entire UK territory, covering 130,395 km². Most of it consists of lowlands. Highlands are concentrated in the north (Pennines) and north-west (Cumberland Mountains). Among the latter, the highest peak in England is Scafell Pike (978 m). The longest rivers are the Thames, Severn and Humber. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest point in the British Isles.

Scotland occupies just under a third of the entire UK, covering 78,772 km². It includes about eight hundred islands, mainly in the west and north of the main territory.

Wales occupies just less than one tenth of the entire UK, covering 20,779 km². Wales is a largely mountainous country, although South Wales is less mountainous than the rest. The main population and industrial areas are located in South Wales, including the coastal cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. The highest mountains in Wales are located in Snowdonia (including Mount Snowdon 1085 m high). The coastline of Wales is 1200 km long. the largest island is Anglesey in the northwest.

Northern Ireland covers just 13,843 km² and is mostly hilly. Here is Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles (388 km²). The highest point in Northern Ireland is Slieve Donard in the Mourne Mountains with an altitude of 852 m.

Great Britain has a temperate oceanic climate with plenty of rain throughout the year. Temperatures vary depending on the season, but rarely fall below −11°C or rise above 35°C. The main winds come from the southwest and often bring cold and wet weather from the Atlantic Ocean, however the eastern parts of the country are mostly protected from these winds and since most of the rainfall falls in the western regions, the eastern ones are the driest. Atlantic currents, heated by the Gulf Stream, bring mild winters, sometimes snowfall in winter and early spring, although the snow usually does not last long.

The islands where Great Britain is located are located northwest of mainland Europe. Today, the country occupies one of the most important places in the structure of the world economy, and the engine of its economic development is the service sector and the financial sector.

Where is Great Britain located? Geography of the country

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

The climate itself and where the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is located means that the sea has a significant influence on all aspects of people's lives. The islands are washed by the North, Celtic, Hebridean and Irish seas, as well as the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

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

Geography and administrative divisions

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

Modern administrative division the country is due to historical factors, which include the formation of the Norman kingdoms in the west of the country. Administratively, the kingdom is divided into England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

More than half of the country's territory is occupied by England, which is predominantly a flat territory; hills in the territory are found only in the north, where the Pennines are located, and in the northwest, where the Cambridge Mountains lie.

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

Geography of Scotland

Both historically and geographically, Scotland is completely special region countries. It occupies just under a third of the UK's territory and has a complex history of becoming part of the country.

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

Geologically, Scotland is divided into two large and very different regions, bordered by the Highland Rift, which runs from the Isle of Arran in the west to Stonehaven in the east. To the northwest of the rift are the Scottish Highlands, and to the southeast is a region known as the Lowlands.

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

Lowland, in turn, has a flatter landscape and a temperate climate, which has led to a significantly larger population of the region. On its territory are the most significant cities of Scotland, including its capital - Edinburgh.

Geography and history of Wales

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

Unlike Scotland, Wales never enjoyed sovereignty within its current borders, and its final merger with England occurred in the 16th century. Despite significant industrial growth in the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century, the vast majority of Wales' population lives in small communities.

An interesting fact is that until the mid-twentieth century the region did not have an official capital. It was not until 1955 that the Queen declared Cardiff the capital of the region. In addition, Wales is a sparsely populated region, with a population of barely more than three million people.

Collapse of the colonial system

After the Second World War, significant changes occurred in the world associated with the construction of a new world order, the division of the planet into two opposing economic camps and the decomposition of the colonial system of government.

By that time, Great Britain was the largest colonial empire in terms of territory with many overseas possessions. However, the serious social and economic upheavals caused by the war no longer allowed such vast territories as India to be kept under control. The colonial empire ended with the granting of sovereignty to the British possessions in Asia and Africa.

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

UK economy

The region where Great Britain is located occupies a key position in the global financial system, but in terms of production potential it is extremely important not only for Europe, but for the whole world.

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

But even today, in terms of economic, industrial, technological and scientific development, the country is approximately on a par with the USA and Japan, and London’s GDP is the largest in Europe compared to other cities.

A key part of the country's industrial sector is the automotive industry, which employs more than eight hundred thousand people and generates a total turnover of more than £52 billion.

Current state of affairs in the country

Answering the question about where Great Britain is located and in which hemisphere, it is worth answering right away that the country is entirely located in the Western and Northern Hemispheres, and therefore belongs to the region in which the main wealth, industrial technologies and scientific knowledge are concentrated.

In 2016, a referendum was held in the country, according to the results of which Great Britain should leave the European Union, which will create completely new conditions in the European and global economy.

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

Note 1

The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The capital of the kingdom is London. The country occupies the British Isles to the northwest of continental Europe. Often the country is simply called England– by the name of the historical part or by the name largest island – Great Britain.

The British Isles include, separated by the Irish Sea, Great Britain and Ireland, as well as about $5 thousand smaller islands. Among them are the Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland. From north to south, the island of Great Britain stretches for $966$ km, and the width, even at its greatest, is $2$ times less. The British archipelago is separated from Sweden and Denmark by the shallow North Sea. The islands are separated from France by two narrow straits - the English Channel and Pas de Calais. A tunnel with a length of $49$ km has been operating under the English Channel since 1993. Traveling from London to Paris by train takes $3$ hours. The Atlantic Ocean washes the northern and western shores of the British Isles. In the coastal zone there are many bays, bays, deltas, and peninsulas.

The borders of the United Kingdom, with the exception of Ireland, are maritime. The heavily indented coastline extends for more than $100 km. The British archipelago was once part of Europe, but, as a result of the flooding of low-lying lands, it was cut off from the mainland. The prime meridian passes through the London Greenwich Observatory, which marks the geographical position of the country.

The total area of ​​Great Britain is $240,842 sq km. Of the countries in the United Kingdom, the largest in both area and population is England, which explains its dominance in British history. The short distances between the countries of the United Kingdom contributed to the creation of a political union and close ties.

Great Britain stands at the head of the British Commonwealth of Nations. This Commonwealth is a political and economic entity consisting of former colonies and dominions. The kingdom is separated from the continent, which is important geographical feature. This feature contributed to the fact that for many centuries it did not experience foreign invasion, although it itself took part in European wars. Being on the routes to the World Ocean, Great Britain has always taken advantage of this. The island position has always contributed to the development of shipbuilding, and was a guarantee of a secure strategic position, making it possible to remain independent.

Sea and air transport routes passing through the United Kingdom link Europe with North America.

Composition of the territory

The United Kingdom includes the formerly independent regions of Wales, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland. Each region has its own administrative division. Great Britain also has dependent territories. These include $3$ dependent lands and $11$ dependent territories– only $14$. In addition to these dependent territories, there are so-called crown possessions. They are not part of the United Kingdom and are not considered overseas territories. They are located in the coastal waters of the island of Great Britain. The crown possessions are the $2$ Channel Islands - Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, located in the Irish Sea. Their residents are citizens of the United Kingdom.

England is the largest region of the kingdom by area and occupies more than half of its territory. Scotland, which ranks second, accounts for a third of the territory and one-tenth for Wales. The area of ​​Northern Ireland is only $14 thousand sq km.

England is the largest administrative and political part of the kingdom. In the north it borders with Scotland, in the west with Wales. Of the total population of the country, 84% live in England. The area of ​​this region is $133.4 thousand sq. km, and the population is $53 million people. Here is the capital of the entire country - London. The largest cities, besides the capital, are:

• Lester,
• Manchester,
• Birmingham,
• Sheffield,
• Leeds,
• Liverpool,
• Coventry.

England ranks southern part islands of Great Britain and refers to a place where a huge number of attractions are concentrated. In this historical area originated English language and the Anglican Church. London was the center of the British Empire. This is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, which is why England became the first industrialized country in the world. The English economy is represented by industry, agriculture, the high technology industry, and the sports industry.

The second administrative and political part of the United Kingdom is Wales, located in the southwest part of Great Britain. It is washed by the sea on three sides, and only the eastern border of Wales passes with the English counties - Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire. The coastline stretches for $1200$ km. The area of ​​Wales is $20.8 thousand sq km. The terrain of the territory is mainly mountainous, turning into high hills, and a significant part of the territory is covered national parks– Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast. According to the 2011 census, Wales had just over $3 million inhabitants, and the main peoples are Welsh and English.

Scotland- another administrative and political part of the kingdom, located in the northern part of the island of Great Britain and having a land border with England. On other sides it is washed by the seas of the Atlantic Ocean. The area of ​​the territory is $78.7 thousand sq km, on which $5.3 million people live. The capital is Edinburgh, and other major cities include Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee. Scotland owns a large number of small islands, much of which are uninhabited. Large oil fields of the Atlantic Ocean and parts North Sea belong to Scotland, and the city of Aberdeen bears the nickname of the oil and energy capital of Europe.

Northern Ireland. The territory is located just $21 km from the Scottish coast. It is the fourth administrative and political part of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland occupies the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland. The capital is the city of Belfast. Northern Ireland is administratively divided into 6 counties and 26 districts. The island of Ireland itself is divided into 4 historical regions - Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht. Ulster, in turn, is divided into another $9 counties, $6 of which belong to Northern Ireland. The three remaining counties - Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan - belong to the Republic of Ireland.

There are 3 population groups in Northern Ireland:

1. The east of Northern Ireland is populated Presbyterians– these are immigrants from Scotland;
2. The northern and central territories were inhabited English related to the Church of England;
3. The remnants of the indigenous population - Catholics - remained in the extreme western regions and areas bordering Ireland.

All $3$ groups not only differ in religion and culture, but also treat each other very warily. The population is $1.6 million and lives mainly in rural areas because Northern Ireland is an agricultural region of the United Kingdom.

UK economy

The UK is one of those Western European countries with a GDP of more than a trillion dollars. It is a world trade and financial center. In the international division of labor, the country acts as a supplier of industrial products. It must be said that in modern world The role of the kingdom is also determined by banking, insurance, and shipping and freight activities. Gross national product increases by $45$% due to the service sector, which includes transport and communications, retail trade, insurance, banking system, financial institutions, healthcare, education. The share of the service sector is increasing faster than the share of the manufacturing industry. The share is decreasing agriculture and the share of the mining industry. The export of capital remains the most important source of income for Britain's international monopolies.

Note 2

Today is characterized by the fact that Great Britain has lost many economic advantages. Among them are the following:

1. Undivided control over the world's deposits of non-ferrous metals, oil, natural rubber;
2. Lost control over cheap agricultural products;
3. Control over guaranteed markets for industrial goods;
4. It has lost the unlimited possibilities for exporting capital to all continents.

IN industry a country that produces $1/3$ of the gross national product employs $1/3$ of the economically active population. Imported raw materials are used for its work and the focus is on the foreign market. Traditional industries today lag behind modern industries that use advanced technology and labor organization, the latest equipment and modern management methods. The concentration of production led to the formation of the largest associations of industrialists, for example, Imperial Chemical Industries. Unilever, British Leyland, General Electric Company. These associations employ $200,000 people.

Industrial enterprises are concentrated in a densely populated belt from London to Lancashire and from West Yorkshire to Gloucestershire. Other major industrial areas are in South Wales, north-east England and central Scotland

IN agriculture The kingdom employs only $2$% of the country's economically active population. It is efficient, intensive and highly mechanized by European standards. The country fully meets its needs for barley, oats, potatoes, poultry, pork, eggs and fresh milk. But, nevertheless, the kingdom imports many food products. The imports include $4/5$ of butter, $2/3$ of sugar, half of the wheat, bacon, $1/4$ of the consumed beef and veal. The leading branch of agriculture is livestock farming, and the conditions for it are more favorable. The livestock farming area is located in the western, wet part of the island of Great Britain.

Geographical location of Great Britain

A state in northwestern Europe, on the British Isles. It occupies the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and part of the island of Ireland, as well as independent administrative units - the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and west, the North Sea in the east and the Irish Sea in the west, and is separated from the mainland in the south by the English Channel and Pas-de-Calais. In the west and north of the country, mountainous, highly dissected terrain predominates, in the southeast and in the center there are elevated plains and wastelands. The highest point is Ben Nevis in Scotland (1343 m). The total area of ​​the country is 244.1 thousand square meters. km.

Capital

Geography of Great Britain. Map, geographical location, population, climate of Great Britain.
Industry and economy of Great Britain, resources, symbols and anthem of Great Britain.

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

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

Government structure of Great Britain.
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy (but there is no formal constitution; there are a number of basic legislative acts). The head of state is the queen. Legislative power is exercised by the Queen and a bicameral parliament (House of Lords and House of Commons). The executive branch is headed by the Prime Minister - the leader of the party that received the majority of votes in the elections to the House of Commons and forms the government. Great Britain heads the Commonwealth, which includes 53 countries.

Administrative and governmental structure of Great Britain.
Consists of 4 administrative and political parts (historical national regions): England (39 counties, 6 metropolitan counties and a special administrative unit - Greater London), Wales (8 counties), Scotland (12 regions: 9 districts and 3 island territories) and Northern Ireland (26 counties). The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are independent administrative units. Possessions of Great Britain: in Europe - Gibraltar, in America - Anguilla, Bermuda, Virgin Islands(British), Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos, Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, in Africa - St. Helena Island, in Oceania - Pitcairn Island.

Population of Great Britain.
About 80% of the population is English, 15% are Scots, Welsh (Welsh), Cornish and Irish; OK. 5% of the population are immigrants from Commonwealth countries. The English are descendants of the Anglo-Saxons and Normans; The Scots, Irish, Welsh and Cornish are descendants of the Celts.

Official language- English. The English are adherents of the Anglican state church, the Scots are mostly Presbyterians, the Irish are mostly Catholics. There are also a small number of Catholics and adherents of the High Church close to Catholicism among the British. The most densely populated areas are Central and South-East England, the least populated areas are northern Scotland and Central Wales. High degree of urbanization; 89.4% of the population lives in cities. Almost 1/2 of the population lives in major cities(with a population of over 100 thousand). On the territory of the country, 8 large urban conurbations with a population of over 1 million people were formed, in which St. 1/3 of the country's population. The average population density is 245.5 people/km2.

Nature of Great Britain. UK climate.
It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and its seas - the North and Irish, the English Channel, Pas-de-Calais, North and St. George straits. The coastline is heavily dissected by bays (fjords in the north and estuaries in the south), forming large peninsulas of Wales and Cornwall. There are also significant geographical differences between the four historical regions. Scotland and Northern England are mountainous and geographically represent High Britain - the North Scottish Highlands (Ben Nevis, 1343 m, the highest point in Great Britain), the South Scottish Highlands, the Pennine and Cambrian Mountains, the Lake District in the north-west of England . Characterized by smoothed plateau-like peaks, gentle turfed slopes, preserved in the north glacial forms relief. From High Britain, Low is separated by a conventional line that runs in a south-west direction from Newcastle at the mouth of the river. Tyne to Exeter at the mouth of the river. Aix in south Devon. In the south and southeast of Low Britain there are hilly plains (London Basin, etc.), framed by cuesta ridges, a typical landscape of the “good old England" The climate is temperate oceanic, humid, with mild winters and cool summers (influence of the Gulf Stream). Average temperatures in January are 3-7 °C, in July 11-17 °C. Precipitation on the plains is 600-750 mm, in the mountains 1000-3000 mm per year, drizzling rains and fogs are frequent. Western part countries receive several more precipitation than the eastern one. A dense network of deep rivers (Thames, Severn, etc.), many of which are connected by canals, often outdated. There are many lakes in Scotland and Ireland (Loch Ness, Loch Lomond in Scotland, etc., Loch Neagh in Northern Ireland). The mountains are dominated by peat bogs and heathland, used as pasture for sheep. Forests (oak, beech, birch) occupy 9% of the country's territory. The plains are occupied by arable land and meadows and are densely populated. There are numerous national nature reserves and parks for recreational use (Peak District, Snowdonia, etc.).

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

Agricultural production is highly intensive and meets half of the country's food needs. In agriculture (1994) 24.8% of the country's territory is used (including over 60% under arable land, 35% under cultivated meadows), pastures occupy 45.9%, under forests 10.4%. The main branch of agriculture is animal husbandry. It suffered significant damage in the late 1990s. epidemics of mad cows (sponge encephalitis) and foot and mouth disease. OK. 1/3 of the arable land is occupied by cereals, mainly. wheat and barley. The main agricultural regions are East and South-East England.
The financial services sector generates 25% of the country's GDP. It employs 12% of the country's labor reserves, and London is a global financial center, the financial capital of the planet. Among the financial services, banking activities should be highlighted (in addition to British banks, the 50 largest banks in the world are represented in London), insurance, derivatives market (futures, options, global depositary receipts), bond market (Eurobonds), foreign exchange market (operations with Eurocurrencies), financial leasing, trust transactions with foreign shares, transactions with precious metals. In addition to London, major financial centers are Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Edinburgh. Tourism employs 7% of the working population, and annual income exceeds $8 billion. London is the largest tourist center in the world. A significant portion of GDP comes from education at world-renowned schools and universities.
Currency- pound sterling.

History of Great Britain.
Traces of settlements of primitive people are found almost everywhere in the British Isles.
Of the pre-Celtic population, the most famous is the Pictish tribe who lived in Scotland. In the 1st millennium BC. e. the Celts came here. The country was named Britain after one of the tribes, the Britons. The first Roman to land here was Julius Caesar, but soon left the island. His successors founded Roman settlements here, but were unable to conquer the entire territory and did not attempt to move north. With the weakening of Rome, the Britons formed their own kingdoms. In the 5th-6th centuries. During the period of the Great Migration, England was conquered by the Anglo-Saxons, who formed several kingdoms here: Mercia, Wessex, Sussex, Kent, Northumbria. They were united by King Alfred the Great (late 9th century). He compiled the first set of general English laws. The Anglo-Saxons faced attacks from the Vikings and, starting from the 9th century, paid them tribute - danegeld. One of the Viking kings, Canute I the Mighty, included England in his empire (2nd half of the 11th century), but after his death the Anglo-Saxons regained their independence. Their last king, Harold II, fell in battle with Duke William of Normandy in 1066. The Norman Conquest united the country, and the formation of the English nation began. In 1212, a revolt of the barons, supported by all classes, forced King John the Landless to sign the Magna Carta. This marked the beginning of the development of the English monarchy as a class monarchy, that is, based on all classes of the country. From the end of the 13th century. Wales passed to the English crown. The Hundred Years' War of 1337–1453 with France led to the loss of the English kings' possessions on the continent. In Scotland, an independent kingdom arose ca. 9th century and often came into confrontation with England. The conquest of Ireland by the English began in the 12th century.

During the War of the Scarlet and White Roses (1455-1485), the old family nobility was largely destroyed in England. The new nobility (gentry) increased their holdings through enclosures (driving peasants off the land) and willingly participated in various types of commercial and industrial enterprises. During the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603), England, having defeated the Spanish fleet, achieved dominance at sea. Elizabeth was replaced by kings from the Scottish Stuart dynasty, Scotland united with England in a personal union (and since 1707 it has been officially united and deprived of independence). English revolution of the 17th century. ended with the establishment of a parliamentary monarchy. The long struggle with France for trade and colonial hegemony ended in the 18th century. British victory; Vast possessions were seized in India and North America, and the colonization of Australia and New Zealand began. In the 1760s. The industrial revolution began in England. By the middle of the 19th century. it accounted for 1/2 of world production. Scotland and Ireland (the union of 1801 eliminated the remnants of autonomy) developed much more slowly. Throughout the 19th century. Britain expanded its empire, although it lost the United States of America. Vast territories were captured in Burma and South Africa, the capture of India, Cyprus, and Egypt was completed, and wars were waged against China. In 1867, the colonies in Canada were transformed into the 1st Dominion, then Australia and some other colonies became a dominion. Throughout the 19th century. The system “the king reigns, but does not rule” finally took shape. The struggle for power since the 17th century. There were two parties - the Tories and the Whigs. From the middle of the 19th century. The Tories became the Conservative Party, and the Whigs became the Liberal Party.

After the First World War, Great Britain received a significant part of the former German possessions in Africa and b. including territories taken from Turkey. Great influence in domestic politics the Labor (Labor) Party acquired. After World War II, Britain, devastated by bombing, took a back seat to the United States on the international stage. In the 1940-1970s. Almost all British colonies gained independence. The Labor Party pushed aside the Liberal Party and after the Second World War the government was alternately formed by Labor and Conservatives. Under the Conservative government of M. Thatcher, most public sector enterprises were privatized, and a course was taken to reorient the traditional coal-mining regions. Being one of the leading members of the EU since its inception, the UK has pursued an independent policy in relation to other European countries, focusing more on the United States. Traditional English conservatism does not yet allow T. Blair's government to switch to a common European currency, although the country's business circles are striving for this.

A national holiday is the Queen's Birthday (celebrated not on Her Majesty's actual birthday, but by government decision, usually on one of the Saturdays in the first half of June).

The country, located on the British Isles off the northwestern coast of continental Europe, is traditionally called Great Britain, and by the name of its main part, England. Officially, it is called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain proper includes three historical and geographical regions: England, Wales and Scotland. The United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland, which occupies the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland. The Irish Republic was proclaimed in 1949.

The British Isles are the largest archipelago in Europe. It includes two big islands- Great Britain and Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, and another 5 thousand small ones, among which three groups of islands in the North stand out: the Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and the Isles of Man, Anglesey and others.

The southern tip of the island of Great Britain is the Cornish peninsula, and the northernmost part of the archipelago is the Shetland Islands. The length of the island of Great Britain from north to south is 966 km, and its greatest width is half that. Situated on the continental shelf, the British Archipelago is separated by the shallow North Sea from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Germany and by the narrow English Channel (the British call it the English Channel) and the Pas de Calais from France.

Since 1993, the English Channel Tunnel has been in operation. The construction of this tunnel can be considered grandiose for the development of international relations. Suffice it to say that the total length of the tunnel is 49 kilometers, and the length of the galleries laid under the bottom of the strait is 38 kilometers. It takes only three hours to get from London to Paris by train. “Finally, Europe has joined England,” this is what the British say about the Eurotunnel.

All national borders of the United Kingdom are maritime, with the exception of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The coastline, with a total length of more than 10 thousand km, is highly indented. Thanks to the numerous bays and fiords, there is no place on the island that is more than 120 km from the coast.

In terms of area (244 thousand sq. km), Great Britain is 2 times smaller than the largest states in Foreign Europe- France and Spain.

The climate of the British Isles is influenced by the proximity of the ocean and especially the Gulf Stream. Traditional English weather is rain and damp: winter temperatures very rarely drop below zero (average 3-5C). The most severe weather conditions in the mountains of Scotland, Wales and Northern Scotland; in the western part of Great Britain the climate is wetter than in the eastern part due to the prevailing westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The oceanic nature of the UK climate is reflected in the prevalence of unstable weather with gusty winds and dense fog throughout the year. Winters are very wet and unusually mild, with a sharp temperature anomaly (about 12-15 degrees) compared to mid-latitude values. The average temperature of the coldest month - January - does not fall below +3.5 degrees even in the extreme northeast of Great Britain, and in the southwest it reaches +5.5 degrees, and plants grow there all year round. Masses of warm sea air coming from the southwest raise winter temperatures, but at the same time bring cloudy and rainy weather with strong winds and storms. When cold air invades from the east and northeast, frosty weather sets in for a long time. Snow falls throughout the country in winter, but very unevenly. In the mountainous regions of Scotland, snow cover lasts at least 1-1.5 months, but in the south of England and especially the southwest, snow falls very rarely and lasts no more than a week. Here the grass is green all year round. The west of Britain typically receives twice as much rainfall in winter as in summer. IN eastern regions winter is colder and less humid.

In spring there are cold northerly winds that significantly retard the growth of crops in the east of Scotland, and sometimes dry easterly winds. This time of year is usually the least rainy. Spring in the British Isles is cooler and longer than at the same latitudes on the continent.

In Great Britain, as in other countries with a maritime climate, summers are relatively cool: average temperature the warmest month - July - is 1-2 degrees lower than at the same latitudes of the mainland. In the summer months, cyclonic activity decreases, and the distribution of average July temperatures corresponds to the latitudinal zonality: in the southeast of the country +16 degrees, and in the extreme northwest of +12 degrees.

In autumn, cyclonic activity intensifies, the weather becomes cloudy and rainy, sometimes with strong storms, especially in September and October. When warm air is carried to the cooled surface of the islands, fog often occurs on the coasts.

Warm and humid winds blowing from the Atlantic are responsible for the abundance of rain in the western regions of Great Britain. On average, 2000 mm of precipitation falls there annually, while in eastern England, located in the “rainy shadow,” it is only about 600 mm, and in summer in some places even 500 mm. The mountains thus act as a natural barrier, trapping moist air on the western side. Abundant rainfall has a beneficial effect on the growth of many crops, especially wheat and barley. In general, grain crops in the British Isles perform well in drier years, but grasses often burn out then.

Based on this characteristic, Great Britain occupies a rather advantageous economic and geographical position. It is located at the crossroads of shipping routes and occupies a central position on the most important shipping and world trade lines passing through the English Channel and Pas de Calais. This provides England with connections with the whole world and provides great prospects for the development and expansion of markets for its products.

Geographical location Great Britain is located on northwest Europe and includes four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea and includes the island of Great Britain, northeastern part of the island of Ireland and several small islands. Area: km² Capital: London Official language: English

Form of government: constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The functions of the executive branch belong to the Government. The highest authority of the Government is the Cabinet, appointed by the monarch. The head of the Cabinet is the Prime Minister. Then the Prime Minister selects the remaining ministers, who make up the Government and are the political heads of the Departments. Approximately 20 senior ministers make up the Cabinet of Ministers. The British monarch (Sovereign) is the head of state. Palace of Westminster(the building where the British Parliament meets) Elizabeth II (since 1952)

The official London residence of British monarchs is Buckingham Palace. Westminster Abbey The official London residence of British monarchs is Buckingham Palace. The traditional place of coronation of British monarchs and burial places of English monarchs is Westminster Abbey Buckingham Palace Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westminster (Westminster Abbey)

Population: The dominant and largest group of the population is the British. (83.6%). Next come the Scots and Irish. More than 60 million people Official language: English Religion: predominantly Christian country. Professes Catholicism and Anglicanism Westminster cathedral - main Catholic church in England and Wales St Paul's Cathedral - Anglican cathedral dedicated to the Apostle Paul

Climatic conditions: Unstable weather prevails with gusty winds and dense fogs throughout the year. Winters are very wet and unusually mild, with sharp temperature anomalies. Here the grass is green all year round. In the eastern regions, winter is colder and less humid. Heavy rainfall adversely affects the growth of many crops, especially wheat and barley. Cereal crops in the British Isles produce good results in drier years, but then the grasses often burn out. Natural resources, relief, climatic conditions, inland waters Resources: The lowland areas of England have long been widely used for settlement and agricultural development. Later, mountainous areas began to be developed, where rich pasture lands were an important incentive, and later, mineral resources. Almost all known minerals, except diamonds, have been found in the depths of the islands. Coal deposits are rich in the Penines, in the Mid-Scottish Lowlands, in the foothills of south Wales. The largest iron ore deposit is in the East Midlands (60% of all reserves). Significant reserves of rock and potash salts have been discovered in Cheshire and Durham.

Inland waters: The most large lakes Great Britain - Loch Neagh (about 400 sq. km) in northern Ireland, as well as Loch Lomond and Loch Ness in Scotland. Loch Ness and Loch Lochy, located in the Great Glen and connected by a canal, form a direct waterway between the eastern and west coast Scotland. Underground reservoirs have long been the main source of high-quality water for the people of lowland England. The largest underground pool is located under the Cretaceous limestones in the southeast of England. The famous resident of Loch Ness is the Loch Ness Monster! Terrain: The United Kingdom can be divided into two main areas. High Britain, located in the north and west of the country, is underlain by ancient bedrock and presents highly dissected uplands and much less widespread lowlands. To the south and east lies Low Britain, characterized by rolling terrain, low elevations and several mountainous areas; younger sedimentary rocks lie at its base. Ben Nevis ( highest point British Isles, 1344 m)

Economy, large industrial cities, ports Great Britain ranks 8th in the world in terms of GDP (as of 2011). Engineering and transport, industrial goods and chemicals are the UK's main exports. Since the 70s, oil production has not only reduced the import of petroleum products, but also brought significant profits in trade. British Petroleum is the largest industrial corporation in the UK and ranks second in Europe. Britain accounts for 10% of the world's exports of banking, insurance, brokerage, advisory and computer programming services. Currency: pound sterling Bank of England (London)

UK industry uses mainly imported raw materials and is more oriented towards the foreign market. On the one hand, Great Britain is characterized by the rapid growth of modern industries using advanced production technology and labor organization, the latest equipment and advanced management methods, on the other hand, the lag of old traditional industries. The bulk of Britain's industrial enterprises are located in the densely populated industrial belt, which includes counties from London to Lancashire and from West Yorkshire to Gloucestershire. The largest industrial areas outside this belt are South Wales, north-east England and central Scotland. The oldest traditional industry in Britain is the textile industry. Woolen fabrics are produced mainly in West Yorkshire, rayon production predominates in the Yorkshire town of Silsden, and cotton fabrics are produced in Lancashire, in the small textile towns north-east of Manchester. The production of woolen fabrics, products, and yarn is the oldest in the British Isles. Woolen products from British textile manufacturers are still highly valued in foreign markets. Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Since Great Britain is an island state, all its external transport and trade are related to maritime and by air. About 9/10 of the total cargo turnover is carried out by sea transport, including 1/4 by cabotage. All areas of Great Britain, except the West Midlands, are, to one degree or another, directly connected to seaports, which serve as the main transport hubs. The largest of them are London, Southampton, Liverpool, Hull and Harwich. The UK is connected to the continent by a Channel Tunnel, two railway ferries (Dover - Dunkirk and Harwich Ostend), and numerous sea car and passenger ferries - with Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland and France. In domestic freight transport, road transport plays the largest role. At the same time, the network is expanding highways and their reconstruction takes place. High-speed line "LGV Nord Europe" with the Channel Tunnel

Agglomerations Urban agglomerationPopulationRegion Greater London 8,278,251 Greater London, East Anglia, South East England West Midlands2,284,093 West Midlands Greater Manchester 2,240,230 North West England West Yorkshire 1,499,465 Yorkshire and the Humber Tyneside879,996 North East England Liverpool81 6.216 North-West England Nottingham666,358East Midlands Sheffield640,720 Yorkshire and Humber Bristol551,066 South West England Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton461,181 South East England

British culture Sherlock Holmes Museum in London. In London, of course, there is a Sherlock Holmes Museum. It is located on Baker Street, however, contrary to popular belief, not in house number 221b, but in house number 239. The museum was opened in 1990 in a house built in 1815. Theoretically, of course, this house could have seen Sherlock Holmes. But the street on which the museum is located was not called Baker Street in Holmes’ time, but Upper Baker Street. Above the museum door you can see the proud number 221b. And this is an excellent example of how naive tourists are deceived. Since the Holmes House Museum is numbered 239, the number 221b could not be placed on it. The solution was found simply - the museum officially registered a company called 221b Ltd. Thus, 221b on the Holmes House Museum does not mean the house number, but simply the name of the company.