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Great Britain
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political union of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is not a federation but a unitary state, and its inhabitants elect members to represent them in a parliament that meets in London. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, however, retain a degree of autonomy in running some of their own affairs. The first union of separate states in the British Isles took place in 1301, when Wales was joined to England by the creation of the title of prince of Wales for the son of Edward I of England. Wales was not officially incorporated with England, however, until 1536. In 1603 James VI of Scotland became king of England (as James I), uniting Scotland and England under one ruler and creating the so-called Union of the Crowns. Despite this unification, Scotland retained its own parliament until 1707, when the parliaments of the two states were formally united. Although this union was opposed by many Scots, it ultimately gave them entry to the larger world of English politics and business. The name Great Britain was officially adopted for this union; when Ireland was added to Great Britain by the Act of Union of 1801, the title United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was introduced.
United Kingdom Fact Summary Official Name. United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Coat of Arms. Quartered
shield with England represented by two of the quarters and Scotland
and Ireland each represented by one quarter; supported by a crowned
golden lion for England and a unicorn for Scotland; a garter encircles
the shield. The Royal motto, Dieu et mon droit is beneath the
arms. Took present form in 1837. Anthem. 'God Save the
King (Queen)'. Coastline. Total--5,130
miles (8,257 kilometers); England and Wales--2,410 miles (3,880
kilometers); Scotland--2,500 miles (4,023 kilometers); Northern
Ireland--220 miles (354 kilometers). Natural Regions. Scottish
Highlands, Lowlands, and Uplands; Lake District; Antrim Plateau;
Lleyn Peninsula; Gower Peninsula. Major Ranges. Brecon
Beacons, Cambrian Mountains, Grampian Mountains, Mourne Mountains,
Pennines, Sperrin Mountains. Notable Peaks. Ben Nevis,
4,406 feet (1,343 meters); Snowdon, 3,560 feet (1,085 meters);
Scafell Pike, 3,210 feet (978 meters); Ben Lomond, 3,192 feet
(973 meters); Cader Idris, 2,927 feet (892 meters); Slieve Donard,
2,796 feet (852 meters); Plynlimon, 2,468 feet (752 meters). Major Rivers. Bann, Dee,
Erne, Severn, Teifi, Thames, Towy, Trent, Tweed, Usk, Wye. Major Lakes. Bala, Lomond,
Lower Lough Erne, Neagh, Upper Lough Erne, Vyrnwy, Windermere.
Climate. Northern Ireland--temperate,
maritime; cool and humid conditions. England--rainy and temperate;
mild winters; cool summers. Scotland--cool, rainy, windy; winds
from the southwest make the climate warmer than it would otherwise
be so far north; autumn and winter are the wettest seasons; west
coast receives the most rainfall. Wales--influenced by mountains
and nearness to the sea; mild winters; cool summers; west coast
has high rainfall; higher mountain regions can have cold winters
with heavy snow. Population (1996 estimate).
58,784,000; 623.7 persons per square mile (240.8 persons per square
kilometer); 89.5 percent urban, 10.5 percent rural (1995 estimate).
Life Expectancy (at birth).
Males--74.4 years; females--79.7 years. Major Language. English
(official). Ethnic Groups. white,
Asian Indian, West Indian, Pakistani, African, Chinese, Bangladeshi,
Arab.
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