England

England consists largely of undulating or flat lowland countryside. But lower hill ranges also stretch over much of the country, most important of these are the North Yorkshire Moors, the limestone Cotswolds, the chalk North Downs and South Downs, and the Chiltern Hills. The east of the country is particularly low and flat. Some areas lie below sea level. These low-lying lands include the Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire Fens, the Norfolk Broads and the Suffolk Marshes.

England’s upland areas include such major hilly regions as:

• The broad central upland belt of the Pennines forming the 890-km. long backbone of Britain and reaching the Peak District in the south;

• The north-western mountain region of the Lake District rising to Scafell Pike (978 m) – the highest point in England and the Cumbrian Mountains;

• the Cheviot Hills between England and Scotland;

• the Yorkshire dales, running to the east coast of Yorkshire.

In the extreme south-west is Cornwall Peninsula open to the winds of the Atlantic where ancient rocks make a low plateau, rising to the high moorlands of Exmoor and Dartmoor.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland (or Ulster) is situated in the north-west of the island of Ireland. Since the partition of Ireland in 1921, it has a 488-km border with the Republic of Ireland. Physically, Northern Ireland reminds a saucer with a central fertile plain with boggy areas, rising gradually to higher land on all sides: hills and mountainous areas of the Sperrin Mountains in the north-west and the Mountains of Antrim in the north-east. The country can boast of a rocky coastline in the north with interesting geological formations such as the Giant’s Causeway. The north-eastern tip that is only 13 miles from the Scottish coast had encouraged both Irish and Scottish migration in the past.

Rivers and Lakes

The British Isles have many rivers but they are short and, since the west coast is mountainous, most of them flow eastward. Because of the humid climate, the water-level is always high. Their easy navigability made them important as part of the inland transport network in the 19thb century for the transportation of bulk products such as coal, iron ore and steel. Rivers now are not used much for navigation. At present, many town and cities, including London, draw all or part of their water supply from these rivers since they seldom freeze in the winter.

The largest river in England is the Thames – 346 km. It originates in the Cotswolds and first flows eastward, turning south through the Chiltern Hills and then through London to the North Sea. The Severn (354 km) is considered longer than the Thames.

Other important rivers are in northern England: the Tyne, the Wear and the Tees, which all originate in the eastern Pennines and flow to the North Sea. The Mersey (112 km) in north-western England flows into the Irish Sea. The Trent (297 km) from the southern Pennines flows eastward, the Great (or Bedford) Ouse (230 km) flows north-east into the Wash.

Scotland’s chief river is the Tay (188 km long). The Forth (about 183 km) is a river in south Scotland. The Clyde (170 km) in southern Scotland flows past Glasgow.

The Shannon is the largest river of Ireland, but it flows through the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland proper, there are few rivers worth mentioning: the Lagan in the estuary of which Belfast is situated; the Foyle, famous for its eel fisheries; the Upper Bann and the Lower Bann, which are particularly good for salmon fishing.

The chief river of Wales is the Wye.

The British lakes are generally rather small and remote. They have no outlets, so they afford limited economic possibilities as navigable waterways, though they are attractive as areas for relaxation due to their special charm, beauty and peace.

The long and narrow lakes of Scotland – usually called lochs – lie among the steep slopes of the Highlands. Among 16 major lakes of Scotland Loch Lomond is the largest and Loch Ness is the most famous.

Still, the largest lake of the United Kingdom is to be found at the centre of Northern Ireland – Lough Neagh with the water mirror of some 396 sq. km.

The largest lake of Wales – Lake Bala – is only 10 sq. km.

The scenic Lake District which is a number of lakes in beautiful mountain scenery on the north-west side of the Pennine system also enjoys world fame, attracting many tourists. The largest of the lakes that occupy many of its ice-deepened valleys are Windermere, Ullswater, Derwentwater and Conistonwater. This mountainous district is widely known for its association with the history of English literature and especially with the name of William Wordsworth (1770-1850). He spent sixty years out of his eighty years in the Lake District and was the acknowledged head and founder of the Lake School of Poets (Coleridge, Southey).