Scotland is the second largest country in Great Britain. It is bordered on the west and north by the Atlantic Ocean; on the east by the North Sea and on the south by England.
Area:
78,789 sq km (30,420 sq miles) including the islands. About twice the size of the Netherlands and almost the same size as South Carolina in the US. Scotland counts 787 islands from which around 130 are inhabited.
Size:
Scotland measures 441 km (274 miles) from north to south. From east to west it varies from 38.8 km to 248 km. The overall coastline including the islands is 10,000 km! (69% of the total UK coastline)
Population:
Around 5 million (january 2002)
Density:
64 people per sq km (166 per sq mile)
language:
English and gaelic (1.4 %)
for English to Scottish translations click here
Capitol:
Edinburgh
Major cities and inhabitants:
Glasgow (580,000) - Edinburgh (450,000) - Dundee (150,000) - Aberdeen (210,000) - Inverness (65,000)
Currency:
Pound Sterling consisting of the following coins: 1p,2p,5p,10p,20p,50p,£1,£2 and notes: £5, £10, £20, £50, £100
In most countries, the issue of banknotes is the prerogative of the government and its central bank. In Scotland, however, for historical reasons three of the Scottish banks continue to exercise a privilege which first came about in the 17th century. These banks and their notes are the Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank
Religions:
Majority of the people (3,3 million) are christian. Churches: Church of Scotland (Presbyterian), Scottish Episcopal Church, Roman Catholicism.
Highest Point: Ben Nevis 1,343m
Lowest point: Loch Morar (310 meters deep)
Longest river: River Tay 193 km
Shortest river: River Morar 500 meters
Largest Lake: Loch Lomond 60sq km (40 km long)
Average Temperature: In January 3degr c., July 15degr c. measured in Edinburgh
BoB
Quote:
for English to Scottish translations click here
No link
MadWelshie
A minor Admin mistake
MadWelshie
* The average Englishman in the home he calls his castle, slips into his national costume ~ a shabby raincoat ~ patented by chemist Charles Macintosh from Glasgow, Scotland.
* En route to his office he strides along the English lane, surfaced by John Macadam of Ayr, Scotland.
* He drives an English car fitted with tyres invented by John Boyd Dunlop of Dreghorn, Scotland.
At the office he receives the mail bearing adhesive stamps invented by John Chalmers of Dundee, Scotland.
* During the day he uses the telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
* At home in the evening his daughter pedals her bicycle invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, Blacksmith of Dumfries, Scotland.
* He watches the news on T.V., an invention of John Logie Baird of Helensburgh, Scotland and hears an item about the U.S. Navy, founded by John Paul Jones of Kirkbean, Scotland.
* He has by now been reminded too much of Scotland and in desperation he picks up the Bible, only to find that the first man mentioned in the good book is a Scot ~ King James VI ~ who authorised its translation.
Nowhere can an Englishman turn to escape the ingenuity of the Scots.
* He could take to drink but the Scots make the best in the world.
* He could take a rifle and end it all but the breech~loading rifle was invented by Captain Patrick Ferguson of Pitfours, Scotland.
* If he escaped death, he could find himself on an operating table injected with penicillin, discovered by Alexander Fleming of Darvel, Scotland, and given an anaesthetic, discovered by Sir James Young Simpson of Bathgate, Scotland.
* Out of the anaesthetic he would find no comfort in learning that he was as safe as the Bank of England, founded by William Paterson of Dumfries, Scotland.
* Perhaps his only remaining hope would be to get a transfusion of guid Scottish blood which would entitle him to ask
* "WHA'S LIKE US"
MadWelshie
Scotland is a mountainous country in the north of the island of Great Britain and shares a land border to the south with England and is bounded by the North Sea on the east and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. Its capital city is Edinburgh.
Scotland has some 790 islands - 130 inhabited.
Scotland is Famous for....
Its fresh water lochs (lakes) – there are over 600 square miles of them. One of the most famous is Loch Ness where a mysterious monster is said to lurk in the depths of the water.
It is also famous for its clans, kilts, medieval castles, as well as poetry and songs of Robert Burns.
Theatre lovers from around the world come to Edinburgh for its famous theatres festival.
Famous People of Scotland
Famous Scots include: Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, David Hume and the actor Sean Connery.
Famous musicians of Scotland include Annie Lennox, Wet Wet Wet, Travis and Simple Minds.
Government
In July 1, 1999, the Scottish Parliament was opened by HM the Queen, the first Scottish Parliament for 300 years. Scottish parliament responsibilities include social work services, health, local government and education.
Interesting Facts
Edinburgh was the first city in the world which had its own fire-brigade.
Edinburgh – the capital of Scotland, like Rome, was built on seven hills.
