Lesson Week 3: Geography of the UK

Lesson Week 3 Geography of the UK provide documentation for the country you are studying Anglo-American school for you majored in English. Invite you to consult, hope content useful document serves the academic needs and research.

Week 3: Geography of the UK Company Logo Contents England Geography Scotland Geography Wales Geography Northern Ireland Geography England Geography Topography England’s Quick Facts   Area: 130,423 sq km Population: 51,460,000 (2008, statistic.gov.uk)   Capital City: London Major Cities: Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffied  Official Language: English  Currency: Pound Sterling (£)  Highest point: Scafell Pike (978 m)  Longest River: The Thames (346 km)  Largest Lake: Windermere (14.7 sq km) Topography • Is the largest of the countries comprising the island of Britain (covering about two-third of the island) • Can be divided into two major regions:  the highland zone of hills and mountains in the North and West  the lowland zone of rolling plains in the South and East Topography • The highland zone including the Pennine Chain of mountains (the backbone of England), is a massive upland area (160 miles – 260 km) • Is made up of several broad, rolling, windswept moorlands separated by deep river valleys • Generally, the Highland is cooler than the Lowland, and gets more rainfalls and less sunlight • The soil is too thin and stony, with hard rock formation below the ground Topography • The lowland zone contains mostly rolling plains, receives less rain and more sunshine than the highland zone, and the soil is fertile • Most of the region is less than 150m (500ft) above the sea level • Has been extensively inhabited, farmed and grazed for thousands of years • Most of Britain’s population lives densely packed into the lowland zone Climate • The overall climate is called Temperate maritime • Mild with temperatures not much lower than 0oC in winter, and not much higher than 320C in summer • Has four seasons:  Spring: March to May  Summer: June to August  Autumn: September to November  Winter: December to February Images of England • Is the most important river in the southern England • Is the main source of the water supply of London • The part immediately of below the river London Bridge is called the Pool, part between the bridge and the Blackwall is called the Port River Thames Big Ben • Is the great bell in the clock tower on the eastern end of the Houses of Parliament in London • The booming 13.5 ton bell first rang out in 1859 • Officially Big Ben is only the name of the biggest of the bells in the clock tower (St Stephen’s Tower) The Daffodil and the Leek • The vegetable called leek is also considered to be a traditional emblem of Wales • Explanations: St David advised the Welsh, on the eve of battle with the Saxons, to wear leeks in their caps to distinguish friend from enemy The Culture of the Wales The Welsh Language • The Welsh are very proud of their language and culture • The language & culture are best preserved in the North and West of the country, and have been more challenged by industrialization in the South and East • Welsh is one of the Celtic languages, and is estimated to be spoken by 16% – 20% of the population The Welsh Language • The Welsh language Act in 1967 said that all official documents should be in both languages, most road signs are printed in English and Welsh • Since the 1960s, there has been increased interest in Welsh (50% of secondary school students learn Welsh as their 1st language) • Since 1982, there has been an independent fourth TV channel broadcasting mainly in Welsh The Welsh Language Welsh Gwlad! Gwlad! Pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad; Tra môr yn fur i’r bur boff bau, O bydded i’r hen iaith barbau English Homeland! I am devoted to my country; So long as the sea is a wall to this beautiful land, May the ancient language remain Eisteddfod • Means “a sitting of learned men” in Welsh • Is a name for competition people meet to dance, sing and read poems • Is held each summer in the 1st week of August to promote Welsh language, literature, music, and customs Northern Ireland Geography Northern Ireland’s Quick Facts  Total area: 13,843 sq km(ranking fourth in the UK)  Population: 1.8 million (2010 estimate)  Official Language: English, Irish, Scots  Capital: Belfast  Largest Lake: Lough Neagh (about 390 sq km), also the largest lake in the British Isles  Highest point: Slieve Donard (852 m), a peak in the Mourne Mountains  Currency: Pound Sterling (£)  National Emblems: St Patrick and the Shamrock , a three-leaved plant similar to clover Topography Topography • Has an extreme northern to southern extension of about 135 km, and an extreme eastern to western extension of about 175 km • Consists of mainly a low, flat plain • Because of the flat terrain , drainage is poor, and the areas of marshland are extensive Topography • Apart from several isolated elevations, major areas of considerable height are: the Sperrin Mount (northwest), the Antrim Mount (northeastern coast), and the Mourne Mount (southeast) • The chief river are the Foyle River, which forms part of the northwestern boundary and flows into Lough Foyle at Londonderry Weather and Climate • The climate is mild and damp throughout the year • The prevailing westerly winds from the Gulf Stream are largely responsible for the lack of extreme summer heat and winter cold • Average annual temperature is 100C: in July (140 C) and in January (40 C) • Rainfall is distributed during the year (1,000 mm) • The level of humidity is high Places of interest • Belfast – the Capital City  Is one of the youngest capital cities in the world  In the 17th century it was only a village  During the development of 19th century, industries the (linen, rope-making, engineering, tobacco & sea-trade) doubled the town’s size every ten years  Is also well-known for shipbuilding (the Titanic was build here) The Giant’s Causeway • According to the legend, the basalt columns of Giant’s Causeway are ancient stepping stones giants used to cross the channel between Ireland and Scotland • Based on geological evidence, scientists believe the distinct pillars formed during the cooling and contracting phase of a lava flow The Giant’s Causeway • The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea • Altogether there are 40,000 of these stone columns, mostly hexagonal • The tallest are about 40 feet high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 90 feet thick in places Company Logo ... Images of England • Is the most important river in the southern England • Is the main source of the water supply of London • The part immediately of below the river London Bridge is called the Pool,... part between the bridge and the Blackwall is called the Port River Thames Big Ben • Is the great bell in the clock tower on the eastern end of the Houses of Parliament in London • The booming... known as the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter in Westminster • Was built between 11th and 19th centuries • In the main church of the abbey there were the tombs of famous citizens – the poet Geoffrey