Scotland

Scotland is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The other countries are England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and Glasgow is the largest city.

Scotland occupies the northern part of the island of Great Britain. Most of Scotland is mountainous. The highest peak is 4.406-foot (1.343-metre) Ben Nevis.

Scotland has three main land regions. They are: the High­lands, the Central Lowlands, and the Southern Uplands.

The most interesting and beautiful part of Scotland - and of the whole of Britain, is the region usually called the Highlands. The Highlands are in the north of Scotland. This is a region of mountains and rivers, small towns and villages. The Highlands are a country of great sea lochs and on the sides of some of the lochs there are farms which can only be reached by boat. Loch Lomond is one of the largest and most famous of Scottish lakes.

Most of the large Scottish towns and cities are in the Central Lowlands. This region has Scotland's best farmland and most of its mineral resources. About three - fourths of the Scottish people live in the lowlands.

Many sheep and cattle are raised in the Southern Uplands.

The river Clyde is Scotland's most important river. Ships from the Atlantic Ocean can sail up the Clyde to Glasgow. The lakes, lochs, are connected by canals and form the Caledonian Canal, which cuts across Scotland. Loch Ness is famous for its «monster». Some people claim to have seen a creature 30 feet (9 meter) long in the lake.

Scotland has hundreds of offshore islands. A large group of islands called the Hebrides lies off the west coast. The'Orkney and Shetland groups of islands lie north of Scotland and form the boundary between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

The economy of Scotland depends mainly on manufacturing and trade. Scotland manufactures chemicals, electronic equipment, industrial machinery, petroleum products, steel, textiles, and whisky.

Most of Scotland's factories are in the Central Lowlands. Glasgow is the center of the country's metal - making industry. Petroleum industries have grown rapidly in Scotland as a result of the discovery of oil and gas under the North Sea. A region called Clydeside, along the banks of the River Clyde, was once one of the world's greatest shipbuilding centers.

Scotland's chief export is petroleum. Other exports include electronic equipment, machinery, Scotch whisky, and textiles. Scotland's main imports include food and raw materials.

About 80 per cent of Scotland's land is used for agriculture. Livestock products, such as meat, milk, and wool, account for about 75 per cent of Scotland's farm production. Scotland's chief crops are barley and wheat. Farmers also grow potatoes and oilseeds (seeds grown for the oil they contain).

Scotland is also famous for its fishing industry. Scottish people catch cod, haddock, and mackerel. They also catch lobsters, herring, and whiting. The leading fishing port is Peterhead.

Scotland has a population of about 5 million. Glasgow, the largest city, has about 734,000 people. The other leading cities are Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. One of Scotland's major problems is emigration. Thousands of Scots leave the country each year because of limited job opportunities.

English is the official language throughout Great Britain . In Scotland , English is spoken in a variety of dialects and with a variety of accents.

Most Scottish traditions began with the clans. The clans are made up of families who have a common ancestor and the same name, such as Mac Donald, Mac Gregor, etc. The most famous feature of the clans is their kilts. Bagpipe music is another famous Highland tradition.

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