SCOTLAND

Scotland (English / Scots)
Alba (Gaelic)

Capital Edinburgh
55°51′N, 4°15′W
Largest city Glasgow

Official languages English, Gaelic and Scots

Government Constitutional monarchy
- Queen Queen Elizabeth II
- First Minister Alex Salmond MSP
Unification
- Lands north of Forth united under Bridei m. Beli c. 685
- Dál Riata incorporated by Óengus m. Fergusa c. 741
- Lothian and Strathclyde finally incorporated on accession of David I 1124 (confirmed Treaty of York, 1237)
- Galloway incorporated 1234/5
- Orkney and Shetland annexed 1472

Area
- Total 78,772 km²
30,414 sq mi
- Water (%) 1.9

Population
- 2005 estimate 5,116,900
- 2001 census 5,062,011
- Density 95 /km²
167.5 /sq mi

GDP (PPP) 2006 estimate
- Total US$172 billion
- Per capita US$33,680

HDI (2003) 0.939 (high)

Currency Pound sterling (GBP)

Time zone GMT (UTC0)
- Summer (DST) BST (UTC+1)

Internet TLD .uk2

Calling code +44

Patron saint St. Andrew
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Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a nation in northwest Europe and one of the four constituent countries[1] of the United Kingdom. It occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shares a land border to the south with England. It is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. Apart from the mainland, Scotland consists of over 790 islands.[2]

Edinburgh, the country's capital and second largest city, is one of Europe's largest financial centres.[3] Scotland's largest city is Glasgow, which is the centre of the Greater Glasgow conurbation. Greater Glasgow is home to approximately 40% of Scotland's population. Scottish waters consist of a large sector[4] of the North Atlantic and the North Sea, containing the largest oil reserves in the European Union.

The Kingdom of Scotland was an independent state until 1 May 1707, when the Acts of Union (despite widespread protest across Scotland)[5] resulted in a political union with the Kingdom of England to create the Kingdom of Great Britain.[6][7] Scotland's legal system continues to be separate from those of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; and Scotland still constitutes a discrete jurisdiction in public and in private international law.[8] The continued independence of Scots law, the Scottish education system, and the Church of Scotland have all contributed to the continuation of Scottish culture and Scottish national identity since the Union.[9][10] However, Scotland is no longer a separate sovereign state and does not have independent membership of either the United Nations or the European Union.

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National symbols

The distinctive Royal Stewart,Tartan is the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II.

* The Flag of Scotland, the Saltire or St. Andrew's Cross, dates (at least in legend) from the 9th century, and is thus the oldest national flag still in use. The Saltire now also forms part of the design of the Union Flag.
* The Royal Standard of Scotland, a banner showing the Royal Arms of Scotland, is also frequently to be seen, particularly at sporting events involving a Scottish team. Often called the Lion Rampant (after its chief heraldic device), it is technically the property of the monarch and its use by anybody else is illegal, although this is almost universally ignored, and never enforced.
* The unicorn is also used as a heraldic symbol of Scotland. The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland, used prior to 1603 by the Kings of Scotland, incorporated a lion rampant shield supported by two unicorns. On the Union of the Crowns, the Arms were quartered with those of England and Ireland, and one unicorn was replaced by a lion (the supporters of England).
* William Wallace, a national hero and a leader in the Scottish Wars of Independence.
* The thistle, the floral emblem of Scotland, features in many Scottish symbols and logos, and on UK currency. Heather is also considered to be a symbol of Scotland.
* Flower of Scotland is popularly held to be the National Anthem of Scotland, and is played at international events such as football or rugby matches involving the Scotland national team. However, since devolution, more serious discussion of a national anthem has led to this being disputed. Other candidates include Scots Wha Hae, Scotland the Brave and A Man's A Man for A' That.[87]
* Tartan is a specific woven textile pattern that often signifies a particular Scottish clan, as featured in a kilt.
* St Andrew's Day, the 30th of November, is the national day, although Burns' Night tends to be more widely observed. Tartan Day is a recent innovation from Canada. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament passed the St. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007, designating the day to be an official bank holiday.[88]

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Geography & natural history

Geography of Scotland

Scotland comprises the northern third of the island of Great Britain, which lies off the coast of north west Europe. The total land mass is 78,772 km² (30,414 mi²).[30] Scotland's only land border is with England, and runs for 96 kilometres (60 miles) between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. The Atlantic Ocean borders the west coast and the North Sea is to the east. The island of Ireland lies only 30 kilometres (20 mi) from the south western peninsula of Kintyre, Norway is 400 kilometres (250 mi) to the north east, the Faroes 310 kilometres (193 mi) and Iceland 798 km (496 mi) to the north west. The geographical centre of Scotland lies a few miles from the village of Newtonmore in Badenoch, far to the north of the modern population heartlands.[31]

The territorial extent of Scotland is generally that established by the 1237 Treaty of York between Scotland and England[32] and the 1266 Treaty of Perth between Scotland and Norway.[7] Exceptions include: the Isle of Man, which is now a crown dependency outside the United Kingdom, the 15th century acquisitions of Orkney and Shetland from Norway;[30] and Rockall, a small rocky islet in the North Atlantic which was annexed by the UK in 1955 and later declared part of Scotland by the Island of Rockall Act 1972.[33][34] However, the legality of the claim is disputed by the Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Iceland and it is probably unenforceable in international law.[35][36]

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Geology & geomorphology

Geology of Scotland

The whole of Scotland was covered by ice sheets during the Pleistocene ice ages and the landscape is much affected by glaciation. From a geological perspective the country has three main sub-divisions. The Highlands and Islands lie to the north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault, which runs from Arran to Stonehaven. This part of Scotland largely comprises ancient rocks from the Cambrian and Precambrian which were uplifted during the later Caledonian Orogeny. These foundations are interspersed with many igneous intrusions of a more recent age, the remnants of which have formed mountain massifs such as the Cairngorms and Skye Cuillins. A significant exception to the above are the fossil-bearing beds of Old Red Sandstones found principally along the Moray Firth coast. The Highlands are generally mountainous and are bisected by the Great Glen. The highest elevations in the British Isles are found here, including Ben Nevis, the highest peak at 1,344 metres (4,409 ft). Scotland has over 790 islands, divided into four main groups: Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides, sub-divided into the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides. There are numerous bodies of freshwater including Loch Lomond and Loch Ness. Some parts of the coastline consist of machair, a low lying dune pasture land.

The Central Lowlands is a rift valley mainly comprising Paleozoic formations. Many of these sediments have economic significance for it is here that the coal and iron bearing rocks that fuelled Scotland's industrial revolution are to be found. This area has also experienced intense volcanism, Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh being the remnant of a once much larger volcano active in the Carboniferous period some 300 million years ago. Also known as the Midland Valley, this area is relatively low-lying, although even here hills such as the Ochils and Campsie Fells are rarely far from view.

The Southern Uplands are a range of hills almost 200 km (125 miles) long, interspersed with broad valleys. They lie south of a second fault line running from Stranraer towards Dunbar. The geological foundations largely comprise Silurian deposits laid down some 4–500 million years ago.[6][37][38]

Aberdeen is Scotland's third largest city. Situated at the mouth of the Dee River, it is known for its granite quarries and fishing industry and sea port. Aberdeen is also known as the Oil Capital of Europe due to the abundant supply of crude oil which is found in the North Sea. | More...

Dundee has been established as some form of settlement since prehistoric times as pictish ruins can still be seen just outside of the modern city. It was here in 1309 that Robert the Bruce was declared King of the Scots and also the place where William Wallace was educated and committed the first act of murder that caused him to go into hiding. | More...

Edinburgh is named after King Edwin of ancient Northumbria and it has been recognized as Scotlands capital since the fifteenth century. A long established city with many years of progress, the city now boasts one of the finest architectural backdrops in the country. It is really the façade of this beautiful city which has caused it to become as popular as it is. | More...

Glasgow was properly established 6th century by Saint Mungo who was a Christian missionary. He built a church on the site where the present Glasgow Cathedral stands today, causing Glasgow to become a religious centre. Prior to this, the area had been inhabited by Picts and Celts and later, by Romans. Romans built outposts and then eventually, the Antonine Wall in an attempt to separate the Romans from the Picts. Remnants of this wall can still be seen today. | More...

Inverness is located in the North-East of Scotland at the mouth of the River Ness from which the city derives its' name. This city is quite old and has many attractions and - being the only city in the Highlands - it is a great starting point. | More...

Perth rests quietly on the banks of the River Tay in the Scottish Lowlands. It has two large public parks and most of the houses near the city centre are building in a Georgian terraced style. For tourists, there are lots of galleries, shops and a theatre, as well as the usually Scottish attractions such as scenery, castles and walks. There are many really great attractions in the region of Perth and Kinross and as such, Perth makes an ideal base for holiday makers. | More...

Stirling is a timeless city situated in central Scotland and is filled with grace and splendor. Though still relatively new (it was only declared a city in 2002), Stirling has long been established as a town and castle fortress. | More...
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Climate
Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles, is in Lochaber, the wettest district in the British Isles

Climate of Scotland

The climate of Scotland is temperate and oceanic, and tends to be very changeable. It is warmed by the Gulf Stream from the Atlantic, and as such has much milder winters (but cooler, wetter summers) than areas on similar latitudes, for example Oslo or Moscow. However, temperatures are generally lower than in the rest of the UK, with the coldest ever UK temperature of -27.2°C (-16.96°F) recorded at Braemar in the Grampian Mountains, on 11 February 1895 and 10 January 1982 and also at Altnaharra, Highland, on 30 December 1995.[39] Winter maximums average 6°C (42.8°F) in the lowlands, with summer maximums averaging 18°C (64.4°F).

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Transport in Scotland

A Loganair aircraft at Barra Airport, the only airport in the world where scheduled air services land on a beach runway

Scotland has five main international airports (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Prestwick and Inverness Airport) which together serve 150 international destinations with a wide variety of scheduled and chartered flights.[82] Highland and Islands Airports operate 10 regional airports serving the more remote locations of Scotland.[83] There is technically no national airline, however various airlines have their base in Scotland including Loganair (operates as a franchise of British Airways), bmi regional[84] Flyglobespan, City Star Airlines, and ScotAirways.

Scotland has a large and expanding rail network, which, following the Railways Act of 2005, is now managed independently from the rest of the UK by Transport Scotland.[85] The East Coast and West Coast Main Railway lines and the Cross Country Line connect the major cities and towns of Scotland with the English network. First ScotRail operate services within Scotland. The Scottish Executive has pursued a policy of building new railway lines, and reopening closed ones. Operators to English destinations include First ScotRail, GNER and Virgin Trains.

The Scottish motorways and major trunk roads are managed by Transport Scotland. The rest of the road network is managed by the Scottish local authorities in each of their areas. The country's busiest motorway is the M8 which runs from the outskirts of Edinburgh to central Glasgow, and on to Renfrewshire.[86]

Regular ferry services operate between the Scottish mainland and island communities. These services are mostly run by Caledonian MacBrayne, but some are operated by local councils. Other ferry routes, served by multiple companies, connect to Northern Ireland, Belgium, Norway, the Faroe Islands and also Iceland.