Week 3: Geography of the UK

inburghGlasgow• Is a third largest city in Britain.• Associated with heavy industry• Has a strong artistic heritage.• In 1990, was the European City of Culture.• Over the centuries, has received many immigrants from IrelandEdinburgh• Is half size of Glasgow.• Is the capital city of Scotland.• Has comparatively middle-class image.• Associated with scholarships, the law and administration.• Has many fine historic buildings=> Is called “Athens of the North”Weather and Climate• Is subject to the moderating influence of the surrounding seas.Extreme seasonal variations are rare• Temperate winters and cool summers are the outstanding climatic features.• In the western coastal region, conditions are somewhat milder than in the east (subject to the moderating effects of the Gulf Stream).The Thistle & The Bluebell The ThistleThe BluebellThe Thistle• Has been Scotland’s emblem for centuries.• The first use as a royal symbol was on silver coin issued by James III in 1470.• Grows to a height of five feet, has no enemies because of vicious spines that cover it like armor plating.The BluebellThe Bluebell of ScotlandThe rose, summer’s emblem‘tis England’s chosen treeAnd France decks her shieldwith the stately Fluer-de-lisBut brighter, fairer than theseThere blooms a flower for me,Tis the Bluebell, the BluebellOn Scotland’s grassy leaWhere from the dark, up springs the larkThe rising sun to see!Where from the dark, up springs the larkThe rising sun to see!Customs of ScotlandMarriage and FamilyEatingSocializingHolidays and Celebrations1. Marriage and Family• People usually marry in their middle to late 20s• Early families living in the Scottish Highlands were loyal to their clan (relatives sharing a common ancestor).• Contemporary members of a clan make efforts to preserve its traditions and history• Each clan is represented by a tartan (a distinctive plaid pattern)Royal Stewart TartanBlack Watch Tartan1. Marriage and Family• In rural areas, the extended family can still be important.• In urban areas, families tend to be small and generally close-knit.• The elderly prefer to stay in their own homes and remain independent as long as possible, rather than living with their married children.2. Eating• Traditionally, the Scots have favored meals such as stews, eaten with vegetables as neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes).• The national dish is haggis made from ground sheep entrails, mixed with oats and spices, and tied in a sheep’s stomach and cooked.2. Eating• The national drink is Whiskey (spelled “whisky” in Scotland), the production of which contributes significantly to the economy.• The word “Scotch” is used to mean whisky throughout the world.3. Socializing• A handshake is usual when people are introduced.• Standard English greetings such as “Hello” and “How do you do?” are common.• Informal greetings among friends include “All right?”, “Fit like?”, to which the response is “Nae sae bad” (Not so bad) or “All right.”• In Scotland, visits home are usually prearranged. Only close friends and family drop by unannounced.4. Holidays and Celebrations• New Year’s Eve (Hogmanay) More important festival in Scotland than it is in England, even it has a special name (Hogmanay). On Hogmanay, children would go to the doors of their neighbors, sing and cry out “Hogmanay!” to receive oatmeal cakes in return. “First – footer” is the 1st person to cross the threshold of a home after midnight on New Year’s Eve. If the “first-footer” is a dark-haired man carrying presents => the family should have good luck for the rest of the year.5. Holidays and Celebrations• Saint Andrew’s Day On 30th November to honor the patron saint of Scotland. Some Scots wear a blue-and-white X on this day to symbolize the cross upon which Saint Andrew was crucified by the Romans.4. Wales GeographyTopography mapRegions and CitiesWales’s Quick Facts Area: 20,779 sq km Population: 2,999,300 (2009) Capital city: Cardiff Major cities: Caerphilly, Newport, Swansea, Wrexham Official Language: English, Welsh Currency: Pound Sterling (£) Highest point: Snowdon (1,085m) Longest river: Severn (partly in England, 354km) Largest Lake: Bala (4,4 sq km) National Emblems: St.David, the Daffodil and the leek The Welsh national Game: RugbyRegions and Cities• Is 242 km from north to south.• 2/3 of the total population of more than 2.9 million people live in the South Wales coastal area.• The three biggest towns are located in the South Wales coastal area: Swansea Cardiff NewportRegions and Cities• Swansea Is an important industrial centre with manufactures including steel & nonferrous metals, motor-vehicle parts. Larger petroleum refinery & chemical works are located in the suburb of Llandarcy. The town centre was destroyed by German bombing during World War II (1939-1945), and has been rebuilt, was enlarged in 1974.Regions and Cities• Newport is a town in southeastern Wales, a port on the Usk River. is a major steel-producing center of the United Kingdom. is a commercial and transportation center of southeastern Wales. the port, improved in 1970s, handles imports of ore and timber and exports of iron, steel, and machinery. Regions and Cities• Cardiff is the largest city of Wales & has been the official capital since 1955. became a major industrial town and an important port when the coal, iron and steel industries were developing in South Wales. is an attractive and interesting place to live with good communications, plenty of parks and varied population.CardiffCardiff at nightCardiff BayThe New TheatreNational Museum of WalesWeather and Climate• The climate of Wales, like that of England, is mild and moist.• The average temperature in July is 160C, and in January is 60C.• Shares a reputation with Manchester, England a reputation for being wet, but most of Wales gets an awful lot of rain.• Has the highest average rainfall, varies with elevation, ranging from about 760 mm in certain coastal regions to more than 2,500 mm in the Snowdon massif.The Daffodil and the Leek• The national flower of Wales is the daffodil, which is traditionally worn on St. David’s Day.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 WalesThe 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 LanguageWelshGwlad! Gwlad! Pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad; Tra môr yn fur i’r bur boff bau, O bydded i’r hen iaith barbauEnglishHomeland! 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.5. Northern Ireland GeographyNorthern 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.TopographyTopography• 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, 3 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 19th century, the development of industries (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 flowThe 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.Thank You !