The United Kingdom ofThe United Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain

and Northern Irelandand Northern IrelandThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official name of the state which is situated in the British Isles. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north, the North Sea in the east, the English Channel and the Straits of Dover in the south. More than 56 million people live in Britain. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of four countries which are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

England is the largest country in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This part of the country is divided into 39 non-metropolitan and 7 metropolitan counties. The capital of England is London. Its land is 130,000 sq. km. The population of England is 48 mil. people. The largest cities are Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield and others. People who live in England are called the English. They speak only English. The famous river Thames is situated in London. The national emblem of England is red rose. The national flag of England represents a red cross on a white field. It’s Saint George’s Cross of England. England is the heart of Great Britain.

Scotland is smaller than England but larger than Wales. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. Scotland is the second part of the UK. Its land is 78,800 sq. km. The population of Scotland is 5,3 mil. people. The largest cities are Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee. People who live in Scotland are called the Scottish or Scots. They speak Scottish and English. The biggest rivers are Clyde and Spay. There are a lot of beautiful lakes in Scotland. But the most famous of them are Loch Lomond and Loch Ness. The lake “Loch Ness” is famous all over the world because of its monster. The greatest mountains are Ben Nevis and Grampian Hills. The national emblem of Scotland is a thistle. The national flag is a blue field with white diagonal crossed stripes on it. It’s Saint Andrew’s Cross.

Wales is the smallest country in the UK. The capital of Wales is Cardiff. Its land is 20,800 sq. km. Its population is about 2,8 mil. people. The largest cities are Swansea, New Port. The biggest river is Usk and the biggest lake is Wirnwel. One of the biggest mountain is Snowdon. The national symbol is a yellow daffodil. The national flag is white and green with a red dragon on it.

Northern Ireland is the fourth country in the UK. Its land is about 14,000 sq. km. The population is about 1,5 mil. people. The capital of the Northern Ireland is Belfast. The largest cities are Ulster and Dublin. The biggest rivers are Shannon, Bun. Northern Ireland is a land of lakes and rivers. The biggest lake is Lough Neagh. People who live in Ireland are the Irish. They speak Irish and English. The national flag of Ireland represents a diagonal red cross on a white field. It’s Saint Patrick’s Cross. The national symbol is a green shamrock.

UNIONUNION JACKJACK

British flag is called “Union Jack”.Really there are three flags in it.

English ScottishIrish

The red The red cross on cross on white field. white field. It's SaintIt's Saint

George’s George’s cross of cross of EnglandEngland

The blue field The blue field with white with white diagonal diagonal crossed stripes crossed stripes on it. It’s St. on it. It’s St. Andrew’s Andrew’s Cross.Cross.

The white field The white field with red with red diagonal diagonal crossed crossed stripes on it. stripes on it. It’s Patrick’s It’s Patrick’s CrossCross

Finally when we put one Flag to another we will have “Union Jack”.

• In the official coat of arms the In the official coat of arms the field shows the various royal field shows the various royal emblems of different parts of emblems of different parts of Britain: the three lions of Britain: the three lions of England in the first and fourth England in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of the second and the harp of Ireland in the third. It is Ireland in the third. It is surrounded by a garter bearing surrounded by a garter bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense. The shield is supported pense. The shield is supported by the English lion and the by the English lion and the Scottish unicorn and is Scottish unicorn and is surmounted by the Royal crown. surmounted by the Royal crown. Below it appears the motto of Below it appears the motto of the Sovereign, Dieu et mon drot the Sovereign, Dieu et mon drot (God and my right. The plant (God and my right. The plant badges of the United Kingdom- badges of the United Kingdom- rose, thistle and shamrock – are rose, thistle and shamrock – are dsiplayed beneath the shield.dsiplayed beneath the shield.

• The national The national anthem of the anthem of the country is “God country is “God save the Queen”. It save the Queen”. It was written by was written by Henry Cary and Henry Cary and was sung in 1740 was sung in 1740 for the first time.for the first time.

• London is the capital of London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, Great Britain, its political, economic and economic and commercial centre. It’s commercial centre. It’s one of the largest cities in one of the largest cities in the world and the largest the world and the largest city in Europe. It’s city in Europe. It’s population is about 9 population is about 9 million.million.

•     London is one of the London is one of the oldest and most oldest and most interesting cities in the interesting cities in the world. It was founded world. It was founded more than two thousand more than two thousand years ago. It was founded years ago. It was founded as Londinium by the as Londinium by the Romans.Romans.

• London is situated on the London is situated on the river Thames. The total river Thames. The total area of London is 1579 area of London is 1579 squaresquarekm.km.

http://sch119comp7.narod.ru/08.htm

• The City’s the oldest part of The City’s the oldest part of London. Here most of the London. Here most of the streets are narrow, and traffic is streets are narrow, and traffic is very slow. The City’s also very slow. The City’s also London’s commercial and London’s commercial and financial center with a number financial center with a number of offices and banks, with the of offices and banks, with the Bank of England among them. Bank of England among them. It’s also a market for goods, It’s also a market for goods, from all parts of the world. The from all parts of the world. The City of London is very small part City of London is very small part of Great London. The number of Great London. The number people who live in the City’s people who live in the City’s about ten thousand. The heart about ten thousand. The heart of the city is the stock of the city is the stock Exchange.Exchange.

• St Paul's Cathedral is St Paul's Cathedral is one of the world's most one of the world's most famous cathedrals, famous cathedrals, designed by Sir designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The Christopher Wren. The famous cathedral famous cathedral church of the diocese of church of the diocese of London is incorporating London is incorporating the Crypt, Ambulatory the Crypt, Ambulatory and Whispering Gallery. and Whispering Gallery. Those who wish to pray Those who wish to pray at times when there is at times when there is an admission charge an admission charge may use St Dunstan's may use St Dunstan's Chapel on the north Chapel on the north sideside

Great West Door.

St Paul's Cathedral

from Millennium

Bridge.

The Tower of London The Tower of London was build in the 11th was build in the 11th century.century. It was It was planned by William planned by William thethe Conqueror to Conqueror to keep London under keep London under the control of his the control of his government and to government and to defend the city. It defend the city. It comprises not one, comprises not one, but 20 towers. The but 20 towers. The oldest part of the oldest part of the Tower is the Square Tower is the Square building called the building called the White Tower. White Tower.

The London Eye has The London Eye has become the most popular become the most popular paid visitor attraction in paid visitor attraction in the UK, visited by over 3 the UK, visited by over 3 million people a year. It million people a year. It was designed by was designed by architects David Marks, architects David Marks, Julia Barfield and Malcolm Julia Barfield and Malcolm Cook. Cook. The height of the The height of the London Eye is 135m. London Eye is 135m. Each rotation takes 30 Each rotation takes 30 minutes. The total weight minutes. The total weight of the wheel and of the wheel and capsules is 2,100 tones. capsules is 2,100 tones. Each of the 32 capsules holds

approximately 25 people.

• Westminster is the most Westminster is the most important part of the capital. important part of the capital. It’s the administrative centre. It’s the administrative centre. The Houses of Parliament, the The Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British seat of the British Government, are there. It’s a Government, are there. It’s a very beautiful building with very beautiful building with two towers and a very big two towers and a very big clock called Big Ben. Big Ben clock called Big Ben. Big Ben is really the bell which strikes is really the bell which strikes every quarter of an hour. every quarter of an hour. Opposite the Houses of Opposite the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Parliament is Westminster Abbey. It’s a very beautiful Abbey. It’s a very beautiful church built over 900 years church built over 900 years ago. The tombs of many great ago. The tombs of many great statesmen, scientists and statesmen, scientists and writers are there.writers are there.

•   It is the London home of the Queen. When the flag is flying on It is the London home of the Queen. When the flag is flying on the top she is at home. It was built as a country -house for the the top she is at home. It was built as a country -house for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, and was bought by King George III Duke of Buckingham in 1703, and was bought by King George III in 1762 as a family house. Today the Palace contains 600 rooms. in 1762 as a family house. Today the Palace contains 600 rooms. The interior and the gardens are never open to the public except The interior and the gardens are never open to the public except for those who are invited to Garden Parties or other formal for those who are invited to Garden Parties or other formal ceremonies. The Royal Standard flying above the east front of ceremonies. The Royal Standard flying above the east front of the Palace indicates that the monarch is in the residence. the Palace indicates that the monarch is in the residence. 

Victoria ParkVictoria Park (or 'Vicky' Park, as (or 'Vicky' Park, as locally known) is a large open locally known) is a large open space that stretches out across space that stretches out across part of the East End of London, part of the East End of London, England bordering parts of Bethnal England bordering parts of Bethnal Green, Hackney, and Bow, such as Green, Hackney, and Bow, such as along Old Ford Road, London E3. along Old Ford Road, London E3. The park is entirely within the The park is entirely within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Victoria Park lake (2004)

The 'Bathing Pond' in Victoria Park.