The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. It consists of two large islands – Great Britain (which includes England, Scotland and Wales) and Ireland (its northern part) and about five thousand small islands. Their total area is about 244 000 square kilometers with the population of about 58 million.
The British Isles are separated from the Continent by the North Sea and the British Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and The Irish Sea.
The surface of Great Britain varies very much. The North of Scotland is mountainous, and is called highlands. The south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called Lowlands. The North and the West of England are mountainous, but the central and south-eastern parts of England are flat. The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the climate. It is mild and damp all the year round.
Britain has been many centuries in the making. In the 1st century the Romans conquered the most part of Britain (which was peopled by Celts) but were unable to subdue the independent tribes in the west and the north. Other invaders were Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings and Normans. The Norman invasion (1066) resulted in integration of the country.
The country developed rapidly – it was the greatest sea power and waged colonial wars. It was the first country in the world where capitalism was established.
Now Great Britain is one of the largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries in the country is shipbuilding.
The capital of the United Kingdom is London, in England. The capital of Wales is Cardiff, and the Scottish capital is Edinburgh. London is not only the political, Economic and cultural center of the United Kingdom – it is also the main tourist attraction of the country. Many of its ancient buildings still stand. The most famous of them are the Tower of London, where the crown jewels are kept, Westminster Abbey, where the English kings are crowned and Buckingham Palace, the queen’s residence. St. Paul’s Cathedral and Houses of Parliament are also very famous among the tourists.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The Queen has very few functions. The legislative power is exercised by the Houses of Parliament. The Houses of parliament consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Commons is the real governing body of the country.
The executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The government is formed by a political party, which is supported by the majority in the House of Commons and the Prime Minister is the leader of this party. The second largest party becomes the official opposition. The two leading parties in Great Britain are the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.