Lesson Week 3: Geography of the UK

Week 3: Geography of the UK
Company
Logo


Contents

1

England Geography

2

Scotland Geography

3

Wales Geography

4

Northern Ireland Geography


2. 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 5
bells in the clock tower (St.
Stephen’s Tower)


Westminster Abbey
• Is the most famous church in Great
Britain.
• Located in London, officially 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 Chaucer, the physicist Isaac
Newton,

and

the

naturalist

Charles


Houses of Parliament
•

Also

called

New

Palace

of

Westminster, is the seat of the British
legislation, on the East bank of the
River Thames in London.
• Was built from 1840-1860, after plans
by Sir Charles Barry, on the site of the
Palace of Westminster which was
largely destroyed by fire in 1834.

• Cover an area of more than 3
hectares and contain 1100 apartments,
100 staircases, and 11 courts.


Bobbies
•

Bobby

(nickname

for

policeman) is named after
Sir

Robert

politician

Peel,

who

the

created

London’s police force in the

19th century.
• Bobby is familiar form of
“Robert”.


Double – Decker Buses

• Can be seen all over Britain, but only red ones are seen in
London.
• Buses in London are not as popular as the Tube because
they get stuck in traffic.


The Rose
• The national flower of England.
•

Has

England’s

been

adopted

as

emblem since

the

Wars of the Roses – civil wars
(1455 – 1485).
• The civil wars between the
house of Lancaster (emblem
was a red rose) and the royal
house of York (emblem was a
white rose)


The Oak
• Is sometimes depicted as the
traditional tree of England
 partly for its connotation of

strength and endurance.
 partly for its royal associations.

• Is regarded as the “monarch of
the forest”.


3. Scotland Geography


Topographic map


Regions and Cities
Scotland’s Quick Facts

 Area: 78,789 sq km
 Population: 5,222,100 (2010 estimate)
 Capital City: Edinburgh
 Major Cities: Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling.
 Official Language: English / Scottish Gaelic (1.4%)
 Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
 Highest point: Ben Nevis (1,343 m)
 Major Rivers: The Clyde, The Dee, The Don (The longest: Tay- 188

km)
 Major Lakes: Loch Linnhe, Loch Fyne (Sea Lakes), Loch Ness
 National emblems: St. Andrew, bluebell, thistle.


Regions
Has 3 fairly clearly-marked regions:
 The Southern uplands (north of the border with England):

small towns, quite far apart from each other, economy
depends on sheep farming.
 The Central plain (further north): riff valley, relatively low-

lying, economy includes coal and iron, 80% of the population.
 The Highlands (lie to the north and west): mountains,

deep valleys, and numerous small islands, the North Sea oil
industry is the main economy.


Major Cities

Glasgow

Edinburgh


Glasgow
• 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 Ireland


Edinburgh
• Is half size of Glasgow.
• Is the capital city of Scotland.
• Has comparatively middleclass 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 Thistle

The Bluebell