Scotland

Although Scotland takes up one third of the territory of the British Isles, its population is not very big. It is the most northern part of the island of Great Britain and it is not far away from the Arctic Circle.

That's why it is not densely populated: its population is a little over 5 million people.

Scotland is divided into three regions: the Highlands, which is the most northern and the most underpopulated area with a harsh climate, the Lowlands, which is the most industrial region, with about three quarters of the population, and the Southern Uplands, with hills, which border on England.

The Highlands of Scotland are among the oldest mountains in the world. They reach their highest point in Ben Nevis.

Many valleys between the hills are filled with lakes, called lochs. The best known is Loch Ness where some people think a large monster lives. The most important city here is Aberdeen which is the oil centre of Scotland.

Most of the population of Scotland is concentrated in the Lowlands. Here, on the Clyde, is Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city. It is also an important cultural centre.

Shipbuilding is one of its most important industries, other industries are steel, heavy and light engineering and coal-mining.

One of the things that people associate with Scotland is the kilt. The kilt is a relic of the time when the clan system existed in the Highlands. Everybody in the clan had the same family name, like MacDonald or MacGregor (Mac means “son of”). The clan had its own territory and was ruled by a chieftain. Each clan had its own tartan.

The national dress for Scotsmen includes a kilt in the tartan cloth of his clan and the sporran, a pouch worn in front of the kilt.

Edinburgh has been the capital since the 15^th century. It is the cultural centre of Scotland. It is associated with the names of George Gordon Byron and Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Burns and Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes. It is also associated with the world famous Edinburgh Festival of Music and Drama. The festival was first held in 1947 and has been held annually ever since. Its emblem is a thistle.

References:

1. Arberdeen – г. Абердин

2. Edinburgh Festival – Эдинбургский фестиваль (ежегодный международный музыкальный и театральный фестиваль в г. Эдинбурге в августе- сентябре. Проводится с 1947 г.)

3. the Arctic Circle – Северный полярный круг

4. Loch Ness – озеро Лох-Несс

5. the Clyde – р. Клайд

6. kilt – килт, юбка шотландского горца (в складку, из шерстяной шотландки; часть шотландского костюма)

7. clan – клан (родовая община у шотландцев и ирландцев)

8. tartan – тартан (традиционный шотландский рисунок из перекрещивающихся узких и широких разноцветных полос; каждый клан имеет свой тартан)

9. thistle – чертополох (национальная эмблема Шотландии, а также эмблема Эдинбургского фестиваля)