Some people call it Britain. Others say Great
Britain. Many people mistakenly call the whole country England. But its real
name is a mouthful: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
That’s why it’s usually just called the United Kingdom, or UK for short.
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Facts About the United Kingdom
|
|
|
Official
name
|
United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
|
Capital
|
London
|
|
Official
language
|
English
|
|
Population
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60,900,000
people
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Rank
among countries in population
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22nd
|
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Major
cities
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London,
Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow
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Area
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94,300
square miles
244,000 square kilometers |
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Rank
among countries in area
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77th
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Highest
point
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Ben
Nevis
4,406 feet/1,343 meters |
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Currency
|
Pound
sterling
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PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
The United Kingdom is a country made up of four
parts: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. For centuries, it was
ruled by kings and queens. The United Kingdom still has a monarchy, although
today its power is mostly symbolic.
England is the biggest part, but don’t forget the others.
Each part was once ruled separately. Each has its own culture and its own
native language, which some people still speak. Each even has its own national
soccer team!
TWO MAIN ISLANDS
The United Kingdom lies off the northwest coast of
Europe. There are two main islands—Great Britain and Ireland. There are
hundreds of smaller ones, too, especially off the coast of Scotland in the
north. Northern Ireland is on the same island with the country of Ireland, but
it’s part of the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom has lots of coastline and
coastal towns. Rolling plains cover much of the interior. There are mountains,
too. Ben Nevis, in Scotland, is the highest at 4,406 feet (1,343 meters).
England has an area of mountains and lakes called the Lake District. Wales is
almost entirely covered by craggy mountains and deep, green valleys.
The weather in the United Kingdom is mild and
damp. It’s rainy or overcast up to 300 days each year. That’s why so much of
the countryside is lush and green!
LONDON
London is the capital of the United Kingdom. It’s
located in England, and it’s the biggest city in Europe. More than 8 million
people live there.
London has great churches like Saint Paul’s
Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. It has a castle called the Tower of London and
a large public square called Trafalgar Square. There’s Big Ben, the famous
clock tower at the Houses of Parliament. There’s also a famous shopping and
entertainment center called Piccadilly Circus.
The United Kingdom has other big cities such as
Edinburgh in Scotland, Belfast in Northern Ireland, and Cardiff in Wales. But
none is as big and important as London.
THE QUEEN
When you’re in London, don’t forget to visit
Buckingham Palace. This famous palace is the London home of Queen Elizabeth II.
Guards carefully watch over the palace grounds. Tourists enjoy watching the
changing of the guards.
The queen has very little power when compared
with earlier English kings and queens. Today, an elected prime minister and
Parliament hold most government power. But Elizabeth II is popular with her
people. You’ll find her image on every British stamp, banknote, and coin!
ENGLISH, THE LANGUAGE OF THE WORLD
The United Kingdom is the birthplace of the English
language. Today, English is spoken in more parts of the world than any other
language.
English is considered one of the world’s richest
languages. It has well over half a million words! Why so many? Because many
different people settled in Britain over the centuries, and each group added
their own words.
The United Kingdom has produced some of the
greatest writers of the English language. You’ve heard of William Shakespeare,
right? He was a great playwright and poet from England. Shakespeare wrote many
famous plays, including Romeo and Juliet.
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
In the 1800s, the United Kingdom was the
center of what’s called the Industrial Revolution. It built the world’s first
railroads and large factories. It improved machinery to manufacture goods more
efficiently. Later, the Industrial Revolution spread to the rest of Europe and
to the United States.
THE BRITISH EMPIRE
The United Kingdom began to build an overseas
empire in the late 1500s. It built a large navy to serve its growing empire. By
the early 1900s, the United Kingdom controlled the world’s greatest empire.
“The sun never sets on the British Empire,”
people liked to say. They were right. The empire reached around the world, so
there was always daylight somewhere in the empire. British possessions included
India, Australia, and parts of Africa and the Caribbean. Even the United States
began as a British colony!
In the 20th century, the United Kingdom lost
most of its world empire. But the country continues to work with many of its
old colonies in an organization called the Commonwealth of Nations.
Commonwealth members share many customs and traditions with Britain.
Many people from Commonwealth countries have moved
to Britain. These immigrants have made the United Kingdom very diverse. Today,
the United Kingdom is a multicultural country of more than 61 million people.
