1. Geography of the United Kingdom (General Characteristics. The Relief and Borders of the Country. Climate. Mineral and Energy Resources. Environmental Issues)

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – constitutional monarchy. The largest island in the archipelago, known as the British Isles. Wales – on the west, Scotland – to the north. Northern Ireland – in the northeast corner of Ireland. Area – 244,110 sq km – roughly the size of Oregon or Colorado, twice the size of New York State. The UK lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, and comes within 35 km (22 miles) of the northwest coast of France, from which it is separated by the English Channel. Northern Ireland shares a 360 km international land boundary with the Republic of Ireland. The Channel Tunnel bored beneath the English Channel, now links the UK with France. The UK is bordered by four seas: to the south by the English Channel, which separates it from continental Europe, to the east by the North Sea, to the west by the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the UK is made up of gently rolling hills with isolated areas of high ground such as Dartmoor in the south-west of England or the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – constitutional monarchy. For a long time India was the most important colony in the British Empire, today it is the world’s most populous democracy. The British Empire once included substantial portions of southern, western and eastern Africa, important areas in Asia, such as Hong Kong a few holdings in the Americas, and a large number of islands in the Pacific. Today most of these are independent nations, but many retain some British law, institutions, and customs. Many countries have adopted the British system of parliamentary government often referred to as the Westminster model. Britain was a pioneer in economic matters. The 1st industrial revolution occurred in Britain in the 18th and early 19th century. Britain was the 1st nation to have more than half of its population living in urban areas. Rapid economic development and worldwide trade made Britain the richest nation in the world during the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century. The UK is bordered in the south by the English Channel, in the east – by the North Sea, in the west – by the irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. England is the largest, most populous and wealthiest division of the UK. It makes up 130,410 of the UK’s total 244,110 sq km. England – 53.4 percent of the area of the UK, Scotland – 32.3, Wales – 8.5, Ireland - 5.8 The UK comprises a number of small islands: the island of Wight, off of England’s southern coast. Anglsey – off of the northwest coast of Wales, the Isles of Scilly in the English channel. Several dependencies – the isle of Man, the Channel Isles off the northern coast of France, they are not technically part of the UK, Britain is responsible for their international relations and defense, but they are self-governing. Britain has the remains of the former British Empire. It assists them economically. The island can be divided into 2 major natural regions – the highland zone and the lowland zone. The lowland zone in the south and east consists mostly of rolling plains with a milder climate and better soils for farming. The highland zone contains rough country. The highest point is Ben Nevis in Scotland. Area of high hills and mountains in the north and west (Wales, Scotland and some parts of England – the Pennine Chain – the backbone of England. The western part of the Higlands – the Scottish lochs or large lakes. Northern Ireland consists of hilly highlands similar to those of Scotland. In the center – Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Isles 29 km long and 18 km wide. The peninsula of Wales – covered by mountains. climate – rainfall much, many rivers and lakes, Thames and Severn – the longest Loch Lomond. Lake Windermere. mineral, energy resources – exhausted or produced in small quantities. imports from other countries, but still have lime, sand, gravel, rock, sandstone, clay, chalk, salt the richest energy sources in the European Union (EU), still continues to buy oil and natural gas. Coal is now not important. nuclear energy facilities Developing biofuels – energy from wastes, landfill gas and crops solar energy, wind and water power. Environmental issues the country has a good record of its protecting, has invested a lot to help global community to preserve the environment in 2007 12.7 percent of the UK was protected by national, regional parks since 1940s – disposal of radioactive waste is a serious problem. another issue – the pressure to develop more land to maintain productive agricultural land, it has severely restricted urban and suburban development in some areas => land prices are extremely high.