Administrative division of Great Britain. Main areas and their characteristics

The United Kingdom is one of the largest countries in the European Union, a member of the United Nations. The capital of the country is London, which every schoolboy knows. Previously called the British Empire.

Outstanding personalities of Great Britain

It was in England that the first steam locomotive and TV was invented. Great Britain is home to many outstanding people. Here were born Winston Churchill, Shakespeare, Newton, Margaret Thatcher, Paul McCartney, writer Charles Dickens, musician Freddie Mercury, the greatest modern physicist Stephen Hawking, actress Emma Watson, Charles Darwin - the founder of the world-famous theory of evolution.

What are the areas of the UK?

The generally accepted administrative division of Great Britain at the present time includes four historical areas, or, as they are called by the English, countries. They include England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In the UK, there is an extremely high population density: there are 230 inhabitants per square kilometer. At the same time, the population is spread unevenly across the territory. Most of the British live in England. This is not surprising, because this territory occupies the most convenient geographical position. It is also in England is the political and economic center of the whole state. In addition, here the most favorable natural conditions.

The most important region

England is an area in which most of the cultural and historical sights of the whole Kingdom are located. For example, it is here that the Westminster Abbey is located. The date of its foundation is the 9th century. Buckingham Palace also acquired special fame . The royal family still live here. The date of its construction is 1703. Every schoolboy heard about Trafalgar Square. It is from her in England that the distance from London to other cities is counted.

The most important district of the country

The leading position among the cities of Great Britain is London. In addition to the fact that London has a dominant position both politically, economically and culturally, it is the main seaport of England. Not far from the capital are the largest recreational areas of the country - the resorts of Brighton and Margate.

In addition to London, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland also includes other cities that carry the functions of regional centers. There are ten in all, and this includes Edinburgh (the capital of Scotland), Cardiff (the capital of Wales) and Belfast (the capital of Northern Ireland), Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds and Bradford.

Scotland: nature and population

Despite the fact that the administrative division of Great Britain includes Scotland, the British often call it a separate country. In all the Scots are showing signs of self-indulgence. They have their own church, their own banks and currency. These features of Scotland originate from the time when it was still a separate state. Throughout history, there have been aggressive attempts by England to seize its territory.

The areas of Scotland are among the least populated. This is due to a more severe climate, compared with other regions, as well as with economic indicators. The capital is Edinburgh.

Scotland is the northern part of the island of Great Britain, as well as the adjacent islands. The area is 78,772 square kilometers. Km. If we compare Scotland with other territories of Great Britain, then its climate is more variable. This is due to uneven terrain.

In the process of the Scotland's stubborn struggle against the conquerors, their national identity grew more and more. In 1603, after the death of Queen Elizabeth I, King Jacob VI ascended to the throne. Then two territories were in possession of one monarch. In 1707 documents were signed, according to which England and Scotland became a single state.

A bit about Wales

The areas of Wales are located on the west side of England. In the north, its banks are washed by the Irish Sea, in the south - by the Bristol Bay, in the west lies the St George Pass. Despite the fact that Wales is connected with England politically, he has kept his traditions to this day. The main and largest city of Wales is Cardiff. About 3 million people live on its territory.

By nature, Wales can be divided into three regions. In its central part there are mountains with a height of more than 600 meters, which cross the vast valleys. Lowlands - in the coastal part. Here there are a lot of river valleys, through which in the past enemy troops easily penetrated here. The climate is temperate. In the elevated areas, the vegetation is very scarce, but on the plains you can see many rare plant species.

One of the most famous sights of this district are stalactite and stalagmite caves. Everyone who visits Wales, first of all, seeks to visit these mysterious places. The cave under the name Dan-Ir-Ogof is attractive with stalactites and stalagmites. And in the cave of the Wei of Nile you can admire the unusual waterfalls.

Administrative division of Great Britain: other criteria

There are other ways of dividing the country's territory, for example, into counties, and also into oblasts. In this case, the name of the county (in full or in abbreviated form) must be indicated in any postal item. The history has developed so that modern Great Britain can be conditionally divided into several broad areas.

The administrative division of Great Britain according to them is as follows:

1. Northern Ireland. The capital is Belfast.
2. Northern Scotland, South Scotland. The administrative center is Edinburgh.
3. Northeast. Consists of 4 counties. The main city is Newcastle-upon-Time.
4. North-West - consists of five counties, the main cities - Liverpool and Manchester.
5. Yorkshire and the Humber region. Yorkshire is the largest county in England. Included in the administrative unit of Yorkshire and Humber.
6. East Midlands. The capital of the region is Nottingham.
7. Western Midlands with its capital in Birmingham.
8. Wales.
9. East of England, the main city of which is Cambridge.
10. South-East with the administrative center in Guilford.
11. Southwest. The largest city is Bristol.
12. Territory of Greater London.

In Great Britain there are about a hundred large cities. At the same time, 44 of them have large ports. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been trading through the sea routes throughout history, mainly with the Baltic basin countries. The cities of Bristol and Liverpool throughout history have been a kind of gateway to the "New World".

The settlements of Great Britain are known for their long and sometimes difficult-to-pronounce names. However, they also use commonplace toponyms. For example, Great Britain has about 1500 settlements under the name Newtown.