History of Scotland in English. A story about Scotland. Famous places in Scotland

What do you know about the birthplace of the kilt and ancient castles? Scotland is full of romantic stories: one of the oldest trees in the world, the indomitable love of freedom of the Scots, a mythical animal as a national symbol, a large number of pioneers, and a love of legends and myths.

Tree that is 5000 years old

One of the oldest trees in Europe grows almost in the very center of Scotland - in the courtyard of the church in the village of Fortingal in Perthshire. Fortingall yew is given from 2 to 5 thousand years. The land around this village is an amazing archaeological site where the foundations of a 1,300-year-old monastery have been excavated.

The Fortingall yew is interesting not only because of its age, but also because of the folklore that shrouded this ancient Living being. Yew trees are an integral part of the landscape of countless British church gardens - for many centuries the trees were planted along with the foundation of the church. Since the church appeared nearby long after this legendary tree, researchers believe that the Fortingall Yew was the “core” of pagan rituals long before Christianity came to Perthshire.

Legend has it that the judge and Roman ruler Pontius Pilate, who sentenced Jesus Christ to crucifixion, was born under the tree and played in the shade of the Yew tree as a child. This legend, hardly reliable, connected Scotland with the history of Christianity in an original, mythological way.

Today the tree is badly damaged and even had to be trimmed a little to save it from destruction. But this doesn't matter of great importance because the Fortingall Yew still stands in the heart of Scotland, reminding visitors of the sacredness of ancient trees.

40% redheads

They say that over the past hundred years, red-haired people have disappeared from the planet. This rumor arose as a result of an incorrect interpretation of the words of a Bradford University professor in The Daily Mail magazine. There he talked about how, due to migration and mixed marriages, people with red hair could disappear. But what he really meant was that their numbers may simply dwindle, but they won't disappear completely.

The largest number of people with the “red gene” live in the south-east of Scotland - there they account for approximately 40 percent of the entire earth's population. Red pigment is usually associated with having very pale skin, and this type is predominantly found in the far north, where the weather is often cloudy. People need significant amounts of vitamin D and redheads tend to get more of it than people with all other skin types, even with the slightest exposure to sun rays. That is, such snow-white skin of the people of the north is very sensitive to sunlight, due to which it “absorbs” a lot of sun at once.

Last year the Redhead Parade took place in Edinburgh for the first time. It was positioned as the first British Proud Redheads' Procession, and took place as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Art Festival.

Historical site – Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall or Wall is the most outstanding monument of antiquity in Scotland and Great Britain. The history of this defensive fortification goes back to the distant years 122-126 AD. The wall was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to strengthen the border of Roman possessions and protect his state from raids by the Picts and Brigantes from the north, which is how the wall got its name. The fortification has a grand scale - the wall stretches 117 kilometers along the borders of England and Scotland. The width of the building is 3 meters, the height is 5-6 meters. The shaft was intended exclusively for guard duty.

The ruins of the wall were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Now tourists can safely walk along the rampart, but archaeologists warn about the need for restrictions because they fear for the safety of the historical monument.

Edinburgh Cellars

Beneath the streets of the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, lies a series of underground chambers that are today called the Edinburgh Vault. What is strange is that these basements were not a city before the construction of the current streets or secret tunnels for transporting prohibited goods. The cellars are located under the South Bridge, which connects two slopes - the South side and Old city. This street with a bridge was built as a trading point in 1788.

Over time, the street and bridge became populated with shops, and underneath them were cellars and storerooms. As a result of lack of air in the basements and waterproofness, the street suffered greatly and the storerooms had to be abandoned. So, legitimate business moved out of there, and illegal trade emerged in its place.

The deeper cellars were closed and began to be used in many different ways - from underground pubs to illegal housing for poor immigrants. The chambers were abandoned in the late 1800s and only reopened in 1988 for research.

Today, the Edinburgh Cellars inspire fear in many people - it is believed that ghosts live there. The legend tells of the notorious West Port murderers William Burke and William Burke, Irish immigrants. During 1827-1828, they committed 16 murders for the purpose of making money: they sold the corpses of their victims as material for anatomical dissection to a famous Scottish surgeon. They say that for some time the bodies of the murdered were in Edinburgh cellars.

Football and violence

The largest city in Scotland, Glasgow, has a bad reputation - it is called almost the capital of crime and murder. Research shows that Glasgow has more violent incidents per capita than Rio de Janeiro or New York. But unlike New York, weapons are rarely used in the Scottish city; fists and knives are more often used. Crime rates have fallen significantly over the past 10 years, but Glasgow is still marred by religious violence. high level poverty and fierce sporting competition.

Many pubs in Glasgow have strange signs saying “All football colors are prohibited”. This is because there are pubs there that are “assigned” to certain football teams, and going there wearing “competitive colors” can cause misunderstandings and showdowns. There has long been a fierce rivalry between the two most successful clubs in Scotland - Rangers and Celtic. The teams have deep religious differences: Rangers represent Protestants and associate themselves with the British monarchy, Celtic are Roman Catholic, and wearing green associates them with Ireland. In fact, both teams were founded by members of their respective religions: Celtic was founded by a Catholic monk, while Rangers was founded by a group of Protestant rowers.

Discoveries and inventions: telephone, ATM and microwave

Scotland claims to be the country with many of the inventions and discoveries that we take for granted today. While some inventors are well known, such as Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone, many remain obscure.

In 1839-1840, blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan in a small village in southern Scotland improved Drez's invention by adding pedals.

ATMs are another Scottish invention. The idea of ​​creating a machine that could issue paper money at any time came to Scotsman John Shepherd-Barron in the mid-60s of the last century. The first ATM was installed in 1967.

We can find many Scottish inventions in our kitchens. For example, did you know that the microwave oven was invented by the Scots? The basic principles of this technical innovation were laid down by James Clerk Maxwell in the mid-1800s. He studied the electromagnetic spectrum and discovered the waves on which energy is transmitted.

Artificial refrigeration was invented by William Cullen in 1748. At that time it was believed that this invention was absolutely useless in Everyday life. This was the case until the refrigerator was invented. And when you pour yourself a gin and tonic, you can thank George Cleghorn, the Scottish physician who mixed quinine, tonic and gin to treat malaria in the 1700s.

Scottish engineer John Lougie Baird created the first mechanical television system. This was in 1926, and in 1928 he invented the first color television.

Vikings

The Scandinavians had a very large influence on Scottish culture. In the 11th century they conquered many of the smaller Scottish islands before reaching the main British ones. In fact, the Vikings were very different, although they are stereotypically portrayed as cruel and bloody: for example, family was very important to them, and they always took their wives to a new conquered place. Scotland lay along their trade route from American Newfoundland to Baghdad and was a significant point on the map.

And interestingly, the Vikings warned their allies not to mess with the Scots and stay away from those places. A Scandinavian guidebook from the 1200s portrays Scotland as a dangerous and dark place - their language is impossible to understand, and their people are cruel and terrifying. Due to unpredictable weather conditions and strong storm winds, the Vikings also feared the seas surrounding Scotland. They did not rob the local population to the same extent as they did with other, less protected villages, because the Scots were not going to give up their goods without a fight.

However, the Vikings still settled in Scotland and, most likely, their descendants still live there today. The Scottish language still contains words from Old Norse. For example, “kilt” comes from the Old Norse word kjalta.

Mythical official animal - unicorn

As surprising as it may sound, the official animal of Scotland is the unicorn. And you can believe this, knowing the special love of the Scots for legends and myths. Unicorns were held in high esteem by the Celts, their symbolism was interpreted much the same as today: grace, purity, healing and happiness. The creature was printed on gold coins during the reign of King James III 1466 – 1488. The Scottish royal coat of arms features two unicorns, and along with the lion, the unicorn is still featured on the Royal Coat.

Interestingly, given the angelic qualities that people attribute to this mythical animal, on coats of arms it is depicted chained. The Scots explain this by saying that, according to legend, only a virgin can tame a unicorn and wildlife he is very dangerous. But another animal of Scotland, the red lion (which was adopted during the reign of King James VI), is not included in the official iconography. Perhaps this is because it is the unicorn's pronounced love of freedom that most resonates with the freedom-loving Scottish people.

Fun Sports Games

There are some fascinating stories surrounding sports in Scotland. Scotland has long been considered the birthplace of golf, where it was invented in the 15th century. The game almost immediately gained enormous popularity and the then king, James II, was forced to outlaw it because, in his opinion, it interfered with preparations for war. Golf wasn't the only sport that was banned: in 1424, King James I banned football. He was dissatisfied with the roughness of the game and thought that this would only cause injuries to his players. The very first international football match in Scotland took place in 1872.

Also, in addition to well-known sports games, there are other, little-known, fun entertainments in Scotland. For example, elephant polo. This game, common in Southeast Asia, has also taken root in Scotland. Elephant polo began to be played at the beginning of the 20th century by English aristocrats who came to Asia. The founders were Scotsman James Manclark and Swiss Jim Edwards. During the game there are two people on the elephant - the driver and the player. The game is played using a standard polo ball.

Independence

Scotland is a sovereign state within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Although it is part of the constitutional monarchy in Great Britain, the country enjoys great independence. The education system in Scotland is separate and regulated from within. Petroleum and nuclear energy are regulated in the UK. The health system, although part of the larger National Health Service, Scotland controls its implementation independently (which, unlike England, allows them to provide free prescriptions for everyone).

Unlike most Western systems, Scotland has its own court system and the police force is separate from the rest of the UK. Scotland also has its own parliament, which is chaired by the First Minister of Scotland.

When we hear about Scotland, beautiful landscapes, rugged medieval castles, famous Scotch whiskey and, of course, bagpipes and kilts immediately come to mind. Until the 18th century, Scotland was a separate kingdom. Scotland is currently part of Great Britain. Very often the question arises about what the Scots have more similarities or differences with the English.

Scotland is very different from England and Ireland. The territory of this country has approximately 790 islands, an amazing fact is that 130 of these islands are considered uninhabited. The symbol of Scotland is the unicorn - a mythical animal that symbolizes wisdom, spiritual purity and happiness. All these qualities are very close to the entire Scottish people.

Famous places in Scotland

The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, like Rome, is located on 7 hills. This city has a huge number of architectural buildings. Beneath the streets of the capital are underground chambers called the Vaults of Edinburgh. It is believed that these places are haunted.

In the small village of Fortingall, in Perthshire, grows the oldest tree in Europe, which is 5000 years old - the Fortingall yew. It is believed that the yew was a central element of Druidic pagan rituals in Perthshire. Also in these places there are amazing and archaeologically interesting ruins of a 1300-year-old monastery.

Amazingly, the Hamilton Mausoleum in South Lanarkshire has the longest echo in the world. It lasts 15 seconds.

The air route between two Scottish islands is considered the shortest in the world. It lasts about 1 minute.

Scotland's most famous freshwater lake is Loch Ness. This place gained popularity thanks to the legend of the monster Nessie, who lives in these waters. Loch Ness is a popular tourist destination.

Scotland's population is almost 5.3 million people. Amazing fact, that almost the same number of Scots live in the United States and Canada combined.

Scotland has the largest number of red-haired people – 13%. Interestingly, in southern Scotland 40% of the population has red hair. The first parade of red-haired people in British history was held here.

Scotland Special attention devotes to education. Interesting fact that after Sparta, Scotland became the first country to introduce a system of general education for the population. There are 14 universities in this country, many of which are the oldest in the world.

The famous Glenlivet distillery produces the world's most famous and best whiskey in the whole country. There is a belief that the true taste of whiskey can only be understood by experiencing the true spirit of the mysterious Scottish mountains.

Famous literary geniuses like Lord Byron were from Scotland.

10 famous inventions of the great Scots

1. Kirkpatrick Macmillan - in 1840, invented the bicycle pedal.
2. John Shepherd-Barron - invented the ATM in the 60s of the 20th century. The first ATM was installed in 1967.
3. Alexander Graham Bell - 1876, invented the telephone.
4. John Logie Baird invented the television system in 1926, and the first color television appeared in 1928.
5. Alexander Cumming - patented the flush toilet in 1775.
6. Charles Mackintosh - invented waterproof clothing in 1824. The Scots still call the raincoat “Mac”.

1. Alexander Bain - began working on the first fax machine in 1840.
2. William Cullen - invented artificial refrigeration in 1748. This invention gained wide popularity with its use in refrigerators.
3. James Clerk Maxwell - at the end of the 19th century, while studying the electromagnetic spectrum, discovered waves that transmit energy. This discovery was the reason for the invention of the microwave.
4. Alexander Fleming invented penicillin in 1928.

Also, logarithms were invented in Scotland in 1614, the pneumatic tire in 1887, and asphalt in 1920.

Founded in 1695, the Bank of Scotland is the oldest operating bank in the UK. It was the first bank in Europe to issue its own banknotes.

Scottish cultural heritage

The Norwegians had a great influence on the culture of Scotland. They captured many small islands in this country in the 19th century before conquering the main one british isle. For the Scandinavians, Scotland is an important part of the trade route stretching from Newfoundland (North America) to Baghdad (Asia).

An amazing, magical musical instrument of Scotland is the bagpipe. Bagpipes are national musical instrument this country, but got there from Asia. An interesting fact is that bagpipes were banned in the British Kingdom for a very long time.

The average life expectancy of Scots is 95 years. The population of this country prefer a quiet lifestyle and closer to nature. Of the 5 million people living in Scotland, half prefer to live away from the hustle and bustle - in the countryside enjoying the amazing nature.

Their famous men's skirts (kilts) are practically never worn in everyday life. A kilt is worn on holidays or for weddings. The kilt's design and colors are a family-owned and protected symbol.

During the year, the temperature varies on average from +5 to +20C. Such weather influenced the attitude of the local population to the cold. When going for a walk, even the smallest children in strollers, the Scots will not wrap them in something warm.

Very beautiful and interesting nature in Scotland: due to the growing heather, the mountains become varied in color. Beautiful lakes and stretched green valleys create a unique landscape of the northern country. Residents are careful about nature and love cleanliness. There is no debris or dirt even after snow or rain. The grass carpet is green even in winter.

History of sport in Scotland

The history of sports in this northern region is interesting. Scotland is the birthplace of golf, which was invented in the 15th century. He quickly gained wide popularity. King James II banned the game because he believed golf interfered with fighters' preparation for war. Due to its popularity, football was also persecuted. The love for football became higher than all prohibitions and in 1872, it was in Scotland that the first football match between England and Scotland took place.

In addition to such popular sports as football and golf, a lesser-known exotic sport for this country is also popular in Scotland - elephant polo. This game is widely played in Asian countries like India, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Modern version Elephant polo was created by Scotsman James Manclark in 1980.

On weekends, residents come to watch dog racing, which is very popular. Gambling people bet on the winner. Locals They hold log throwing competitions. Whoever throws the log further will be the winner. This is amazing sports entertainment.

Only after visiting this mysterious country can you enjoy the amazing architecture of austere ancient castles, mountain landscapes and magnificent lakes. Scotland is shrouded in thousands of myths, medieval legends and ancient traditions and beliefs. Scotland has a rich and fascinating history. Despite the harsh climate, the country fascinates with cheerful, kind people.

Scotland has been part of Great Britain for over three centuries, but it is not like other parts of Great Britain. Below are 50 facts you need to know about Scotland.

1. The unicorn is an animal that is depicted on the coat of arms of Scotland.

2. The shortest scheduled flights in the world are in Scotland. The flight is one and a half miles long - from Westray to Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands. The journey lasts 1 minute 14 seconds.

3. Scotland occupies approximately 790 islands, 130 of which are uninhabited.

4. Skara Brae - a Neolithic settlement located on the Isle of Bray, in the Orkney Islands, is the most old building in Great Britain, which dates back to 3100 BC. e.

5. The Hamilton Mausoleum in South Lanarkshire has the longest echo in the world - it lasts 15 seconds.

6. In Scotland there are more than 600 sq. miles of freshwater lakes, including the most famous Loch Ness.

7. Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, is the second largest city after Glasgow.

8. Edinburgh became the first city in the world to have its own fire brigade.

9. Like Rome, Edinburgh was built on seven hills. The city has the largest number of architectural monuments than anywhere in the world.

10. Until 1603, Scotland had its own monarch. After Elizabeth I died, James VI of Scotland also became ruler of both Scotland and England, resulting in him also becoming James I of England.

11. The city of St. Andrews is considered the “birthplace of golf.” It was played here back in the 15th century.

12. Queen Victoria is believed to have smoked cigarettes to ward off midges during her visit to the Scottish Highlands.

13. Edinburgh became the birthplace of the Skye Terrier Greyfire Bobby, who won the hearts of everyone who knows his history.

After the owner's death, Bobby every day for 14 years went to the cafe where he was used to being with the owner, received a bun and returned to the owner's grave in the cemetery. There he met his death and was buried. In Edinburgh there is a fountain with a sculpture of a Skye terrier. The monument was erected in 1872 after the death of Bobby, who had earned the reputation as the most loyal dog in the world.

14. Currently, Scotland is the second largest country in Great Britain after England.

16. The motto of Scotland is “Nemo me impune lacessit”, or “No one will touch me with impunity.” It is used by the Order of the Thistle and also in later versions of the royal coat of arms.

17. Scotland is the favorite country of the royal family, who love to relax at Balmoral Castle on the banks of the River Dee.

18. In the northeast of the country, girls are called quines, and boys are called louns.

19. The first recorded appearance of the Loch Ness Monster occurred in 565 AD, when the monster attacked one of the followers of St. Columba.

Saint Columba is an Irish holy monk who preached Christianity in Scotland. Saint Columba is considered one of the twelve apostles of Ireland. In 563, Saint Columba founded the first monastery in what is now Scotland and was abbot there.

20. The Scottish city of Aberdeen is known as the oil capital of Europe, as well as the Granite City.

21. The deepest lake in Scotland, Loch Morar, reaches a depth of 328 meters and is considered the seventh deepest lake in the world.

22. Scotland's smallest whiskey distillery, Edradur in Pitlochry, attracts 100,000 visitors a year, but produces only 90,000 liters of malt whiskey.

23. Scotland is the homeland of the oldest tree in Europe, the Fortingall yew, which is approximately 3 thousand years old. According to local legend, Pontius Pilate was born in the shade of this yew tree and played there when he was little.

24. The raincoat was invented in 1824 in Scotland. It was invented by Charles Mackintosh, a chemist from Glasgow. In the UK the raincoat is still called "Mac".

25. The state religion of Scotland is Christianity.

26. Scotland gained independence in 1314 when Robert the Bruce defeated an English army at the Battle of Bannockburn.

27. The Kingdom of Scotland remained independent until May 1, 1707, when Scotland joined England by the Act of Union, forming a single state - the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

29. The country's territory covers 78,772 km².

30. The population of the country is about 5.2 million, which is approximately 8.5% of the total population of Great Britain.

31. Population density - 65.9 people/km².

32.V North America There are about as many Scots living as in Scotland itself, while, according to the US and Canadian censuses, about 5 million people claim to have Scottish ancestry.

33. Scotland has its own judicial system, different from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The jury can return a verdict of “guilty,” “not guilty,” or “not proven guilty.”

34. The Bank of Scotland, founded in 1695, is the oldest existing bank in Great Britain. It was also the first bank in Europe to issue its own banknotes.

35. Famous Scottish inventors include John Lougie Baird, who invented television in 1925, Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone in 1876, and Alexander Fleming, who invented penicillin in 1928.

36. The first university hospital in America, the Baltimore Infirmary, was founded by Glasgow surgeon Granville Sharp Pattison in 1816.

37. There are three in Scotland state languages: English, Scots and Gaelic, spoken by only 1% of the population.

38. There are 19 universities and institutes in Scotland, including the University of St. Andrews, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, met.

39. The area of ​​Scotland is approximately equal to the area of ​​the Czech Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Panama, the state of Maine in the USA or the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

40. Canada's first two prime ministers, John MacDonald (1815-1891) and Alexander Mackenzie (1822-1892), were Scots.

41. One of the most famous products produced in Scotland - whiskey - was invented in China. It was first distilled by monks in Ireland at the beginning of the 15th century, and only 100 years later whiskey came to Scotland.

42. Scotland's most infamous dish is haggis. It is prepared from lamb offal - liver, heart and lungs, boiled in a lamb stomach. It is unknown where it originated, but a similar dish was mentioned in Greece 2,500 years ago.

43. Scotland is the birthplace of many great thinkers, including Adam Smith, James Watt, David Hume and John Stuart Mill.

44. Famous Scottish inventions include logarithms (1614), asphalt (1820) and the pneumatic tire (1887).

45. Many famous Scottish inventions - kilts, tartan (checkered patterns) and bagpipes - were not invented in Scotland. Kilts originated in Ireland, tartan designs have been found as far back as Bronze Age Central Europe, and bagpipes come from Central Asia.

46. ​​Famous representatives of literature are Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

47. The flag of Scotland is an image of St. Andrew's Cross.

48. The thistle is a symbol of Scotland.

49. Scotland has the most red-haired people in the world. About 13% of Scotland's population are redheads, and 40% of the population are carriers of the recessive gene.

50. The first official international football match was played in 1872 in West Scotland between England and Scotland.

12 Sep

English Topic: Scotland

English topic: Scotland with translation (Scotland). This text can be used as a presentation, project, story, essay, essay or message on a topic.

Part of the United Kingdom

Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom. It occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland is a very small country. Its length is 274 miles. The River Tweed and the Cheviot Hills form Scotland's southern border with England. The North West Channel separates Scotland from Northern Ireland in the southeast. In the north and west, the country is limited by the Atlantic Ocean. The east coast is washed by the North Sea, which separates Scotland from mainland Europe. It is also worth noting that Scotland includes over 790 islands. The country's population is about 5 million people.

Main industrial cities

The main industrial cities of the country are Glasgow, the largest in Scotland, and Edinburgh, which is the capital of the country. Edinburgh is also one of the largest financial centers in Europe. Scottish waters of the North Atlantic and North Sea contain the largest oil reserves in the European Union. This is why Aberdeen is called the European Oil Capital.

The capital of country

Scottish towns are quite different from English towns. The country's capital is one of the most attractive cities in Scotland. Even though this modern city Edinburgh is famous for its history. Edinburgh has 9 hills. On the largest one you can see Edinburgh Castle, which was the home of the Scottish royal family until 1603. The road that starts at the castle and goes east is called the Royal Mile, at the end of which is the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Scottish culture

As for Scottish culture, music is a significant aspect of it. Famous traditional instrument- This is a large Highland bagpipe. Sport is another important element of Scottish culture. The Highland Games, or as they are also called, the Scottish Olympics, are held in the country every year.

Flag of Scotland

Last interesting fact, which is worth noting concerns the national flag of Scotland, known as St. Andrew's Cross or St. Andrew's Cross. According to legend, its origin dates back to the 9th century. As such, it is considered the oldest flag still in use.

Conclusion

Scotland is truly worth visiting.

Free download Topic on English: Scotland

Scotland

Part of the United Kingdom

Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom. It occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland is a very small country. It's about 274 miles long. The river Tweed and the Cheviot Hills form Scotland’s border with England. The Northwest Channel separates Scotland from Northern Ireland in the south-west. In the north and in the west the country is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The eastern coast is washed by the North Sea, which separates Scotland from the mainland of Europe. It should also be mentioned that Scotland includes over 790 islands. The population of the country is about 5 million people.

Main industrial cities

The country’s main industrial cities are Glasgow, which is the largest one in Scotland, and Edinburgh, the capital of the country. Edinburgh is also one of the largest financial centers of Europe. Scottish waters of the North Atlantic and the North Sea contain the largest oil reserves in the European Union. That is why Aberdeen has been given the title of Europe’s oil capital.

The capital of the country

Scottish towns are quite different from English ones. The capital of the country is one of the most attractive cities in Scotland. In spite of being a busy modern city, Edinburgh is famous for its history. There are nine hills in Edinburgh. On the highest hill one can see Edinburgh Castle, which was the home of Scotland’s royal family until 1603. The road which begins at the castle and goes eastwards is called Royal Mile, at the end of which there is the Palace of Hollyroodhouse.

Scottish culture

As for Scottish culture, music is its significant aspect. A famous traditional instrument is the Great Highland Bagpipe. Sport is another important element of Scottish culture. Highland games, or Scottish Olympics, as they are called, are held in the country every year.

Known for its clans, plaid skirts and medieval castles.

Until May 1, 1707, the Kingdom of Scotland was an independent state. Despite widespread protests from the Scots, the Treaty of Union was signed on this day, uniting Scotland with the Kingdom of England, forming the Kingdom of Great Britain. Scotland has since become part of Great Britain, along with Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Scotland covers approximately 79,000 square kilometers and the capital of Scotland is the city of Edinburgh. Scotland is famous for its mountain scenery, lakes, streams and amazingly beautiful coastline.

Scotland's motto is "Nemo me impune lacessit", which in Latin means "No one will touch me with impunity."

The word "Scotland" comes from the Latin word, "Scoti", which was used to refer to the Gaels, and later the word "Scotia" came to mean "land of the Gaels". The word "Scotia" originally referred to Ireland, but around the 11th century it began to be applied to the Gaelic tribes who settled in Scotland north of the River Forth. The words "Scots" (Scots) and "Scotland" (Scotland) came into use at the end of the Middle Ages.

Scotland and lochs
In Scotland, the word "loch" means "closed body of water", it comes from the Gaelic word "lochan", which translates as "small lake" or "pond". Scotland has over 950 square kilometers of freshwater lakes. The largest lake in Scotland by area is Loch Lomond, its area reaches 72 square kilometers, and the largest lake by volume of water is Loch Ness. Legend has it that a huge sea monster lives in the depths of Loch Ness.

Interesting Facts about Scotland
Here are some interesting and lesser known facts about Scotland.

It is believed that during the era of the existence of the Pangea continent, Scotland was completely separated from England. More than a million years ago they collided and stopped in this position, and even today their geological structure is very different from each other.

According to a census conducted in 1909, the Scots were the tallest race in Europe. But after the First World War, by 1930 the average height of men in Scotland had fallen by 9 inches.

During the First World War Scotland lost the most big number soldiers per capita.

Scotland is a predominantly Protestant country. Despite this fact, the Catholic Church of Scotland has the largest number of feasts dedicated to patron saints in the world.

Since Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, the head of state in Scotland is the monarch of the United Kingdom, namely Queen Elizabeth II. In July 1999, Queen Elizabeth II opened a meeting of parliament, which was held for the first time in 300 years. Parliament is responsible for medical care, work in social sphere and the work of local government.

The official language of Scotland is English language, and only about 1.5% of the total population speaks Scottish Gaelic.

The official animal of Scotland is the unicorn. The unicorn is also featured in the coat of arms of Great Britain, where it supports the heraldic shield, but
chained because in medieval times it was believed that this wild animal could only be tamed by a virgin.

The flag of Scotland features the Cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, on a white background.

The volume of Scottish banknotes in circulation is £1.5 billion.

The population of Scotland in June 2006 was approximately 5,200,000 people.

Scotland places particular importance on the comprehensive education of its citizens. It became the first country, after Sparta in classical Greece, to introduce a system of universal education. Moreover, there are 14 universities in Scotland, and some of them are the oldest in the world.

Scotland's climate ranges from temperate to oceanic and the weather is often very changeable. The average temperature here is lower than the rest of the UK.

The laws in Scotland are very unique, in criminal cases they allow three verdicts: "guilty", "not guilty" and "crime not proven".

As you can see from the above, Scotland has it all - beautiful scenery, great weather, picturesque lakes and a rich and varied culture. We hope that this article has aroused your interest in this country and that you will visit it soon.

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