We explain everything about the United Kingdom and its physical and cultural characteristics. Also, what is its economy, religion and the history of this country.
The United Kingdom is made up of Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland.
United Kingdom
He United Kingdom is a sovereign country composed of four nations whose official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIt is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is the eleventh largest country in Europe and the fourth most populous. Territorially, it is made up of a group of islands located north of France, east of Ireland and west of the Netherlands and Denmark.
Its form of government is constitutional monarchy and Its capital is the city of London, England’s capital. In addition, the administration of the other nations has been decentralized in their respective capitals: Edinburgh (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales) and Belfast (Northern Ireland).
Geographically, it occupies the island of Great Britain and part of the island of Ireland, as well as small nearby islands. It also has 14 overseas territories spread across the planet.
Based on productive development and its gross domestic product (GDP), the The United Kingdom is considered the fifth largest economy in the world..
See also: England
Characteristics of the United Kingdom
Some characteristics of the United Kingdom are:
- Its population is 67,100,000 inhabitants.
- Its area is 243,600 km2, which represents a population density of 275 inhabitants per square kilometer.
- It is made up of four nations: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Its capital is the city of London.
- The predominant climate is temperate oceanic.
- The south of the country has a flat relief, while the north is more mountainous.
- The most important rivers are the Severn and the Thames.
- Its official language is English, and the majority of the population is Protestant Christian.
- It stopped participating in the European Union in 2020.
- Its official currency is the pound sterling.
Area, population and capital of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is made up of four nations:
- EnglandIt covers 57% of the surface of the island of Great Britain. Its capital is London, which is also the capital of the United Kingdom.
- ScotlandIt is located in the northern part of the island of Great Britain and covers a third of its surface. It also has almost 800 islands. Its capital is the city of Edinburgh.
- Welsh. It occupies a peninsula that is located in the western part of the island and occupies approximately 9% of its surface. Its capital is the city of Cardiff.
- North IrelandIt occupies the northeastern part of the island of Ireland and represents 30% of the island’s territory. Its capital is Belfast.
The United Kingdom It has an area of 243,600 square kilometers.has a population of 67,100,000 inhabitants, and a population density of 275 inhabitants per square kilometer.
London, the capital of the United Kingdom and England, is the largest city in Great Britain and the third largest in Europe after Istanbul and Moscow. It was founded by the Romans almost two thousand years ago, on both banks of the Thames River. Between 1831 and 1925 it was the largest city in the world. It is currently governed by a mayor and a local assembly.
Although its official language is English as in the whole of the United Kingdom, this city is home to citizens originating from so many different places in the world that More than three hundred different languages are spoken there.. It has a population of 9 million inhabitants, and its metropolitan area exceeds 14 million, which represents 20.8% of the country’s total.
Other major cities in the United Kingdom include Birmingham and Leeds in England, and Glasgow in Scotland.
Climate, relief and hydrography of the United Kingdom
Due to its temperate climate, the United Kingdom is home to oak, ash, beech and pine trees.
The predominant climate of the United Kingdom is temperate oceanic.. It is a type of very humid temperate climate characterized by cold winters and cool summers, and abundant rainfall throughout the year. It is a characteristic climate of the area, so It is also known as “British temperate.”.
As for the relief, in the south of the island of Great Britain the plain predominates, especially in the territory of England. Towards the west and north the relief becomes higher, and appear mountain ranges like the Highlands in Scotlandwhere Mount Ben Nevis is located, the highest in the country at 1,343 meters high.
The hydrography of the United Kingdom is characterized by the presence of short but deep rivers. The longest river, 354 kilometers long, is the River Severn, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The second longest but most important river in the country is the Thames, which runs through the city of London and flows into the North Sea.
Regarding the flora and fauna, and due to its mostly temperate climate and frequent rainfall, in the United Kingdom trees such as oak, ash, beech and pine abound. Towards the north the climate becomes a little colder and that is why coniferous forests predominate. In contrast, deciduous forests can be found in the slightly warmer south. The most abundant mammals are foxes, rabbits, deer and weasels.
See also: Temperate climate
UK culture
Queen is one of the most important English rock bands in history.
The predominant language is Englishwhich is spoken throughout the country but there are other important languages in the United Kingdom such as Welsh in Wales, Scottish Gaelic in Scotland and Irish in Northern Ireland.
In terms of religion, the majority of the UK population identifies as Christian, with the Anglican Church being the largest. However, there is also a diversity of religious beliefs in the country such as Catholicism, Hinduism and Judaism.
Among the most important musical rhythms in UK culture are rock, pop, punk and heavy metal. Some of the most influential exponents include bands and artists such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Elton John, Adele and Amy Winehouse.
In the field of literature, the United Kingdom has produced some of the most influential writers in history. Among the most important references are Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, Agatha Christie, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, George Orwell and JRR Tolkien.
In the field of painting, the United Kingdom has also seen the emergence of great artists. Some of the leading figures are: William Turner, John Constable, Bridget Riley, Barbara Hepworth and David Hockney.
In terms of gastronomy, one of the most emblematic dishes of the United Kingdom is fish and chipswhich consists of fried fish and chips. Many fish products are made in coastal areas. Tea drinking is also a tradition throughout the UK.
National symbols of the United Kingdom
The flag of the United Kingdom is known as the Union Jack.
The national symbols of the United Kingdom are:
- The flag of the United Kingdom. Commonly known as the Union Jack, its design consists of a combination of the crosses of Saint George (patron saint of England), Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland) and Saint Patrick (patron saint of Northern Ireland). It is composed of a navy blue background and white and red crosses.
- The national anthem of the United Kingdom. It is known as “God Save the King“ (“God save the king”). The music of the hymn was composed by Georg Friedrich Handel, and the lyrics are attributed to Henry Carey.
- The coat of arms of the United Kingdom. The symbols of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are incorporated in its design. The shield is made up of four quarters. The first and fourth quarters show the three golden lions on a red background, the symbol of England. The second quarter shows a gold lion rampant on a blue background, representative of Scotland. The third quarter shows a silver harp on a blue background, a symbol of Northern Ireland. At the top of the shield is a royal crown, symbolizing royalty.
United Kingdom economic activities
The United Kingdom is the fifth largest economy in the world and the second largest in Europe, after Germany.
Its main activities are:
- Agriculture and Livestock. It is one of the world’s leading producers of wheat, barley, potatoes, oats and beets. Regarding livestock, it is the fourth largest producer of wool in the world.
- Industry. Its industrial sector is considered one of the most important in the world. Its main activities include the production of food and beverages, the automotive industry, the electronics industry and the steel industry.
- Services. It is the most important sector of the economy, with financial services being particularly prominent.
- Tourism. It receives almost 40 million tourists a year from all over the world. It is the eighth most visited country on the planet.
Its main trading partners are Germany, the United States, China, the Netherlands and France. Its currency is the pound sterling.
In 2016 a referendum in which the population of the United Kingdom was consulted about the possibility of leaving the European Union, and 51.9% voted for the decision to separate. For this reason, the United Kingdom ceased to be part of the European Union on February 1, 2020 and no longer participates in the bloc’s political and economic decision-making and does not maintain the euro as its official currency. This process of separation of the United Kingdom from the European Union was called brexitan acronym between two English terms britain (Great Britain) and exit (exit)
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution allowed the development of capitalism.
Although many of the UK’s industries are now in foreign hands, in the 18th century the kingdom was the birthplace of one of the most significant changes in human history: the Industrial Revolution.
This fact meant the establishment and spread of mass production throughout the world, as well as the development of capitalism, which today is the most widespread economic system on the planet.
In the 18th century this revolution could only originate in the United Kingdom since it was the only country that had the necessary conditions:
- Availability of labor due to demographic growth and abandonment of the countryside,
- Technological advances,
- Accumulation of capital in private hands (merchants).
More in: Industrial Revolution
British Empire
From the 16th century until 1949, the United Kingdom expanded through colonization and treaties. and occupied more than 29 million km2. The subjects of the British crown numbered more than 450 million people, that is, a quarter of the world population at that time. It was the largest empire in history.
However, Since the beginning of the 20th century, anticolonial processes began in various dominated territories. The…