Статья с глоссарием "Geographical position of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the world map: its flora, fauna and symbols "

Паринова Д.С.

Geographical position of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the world map: its flora, fauna and symbols

Географическое положение Соединенного Королевства Великобритании и Северной Ирландии на карте мира: его флора, фауна и символы

СОДЕРЖАНИЕ

1. Англо-русский глоссарий…………………………………………………….3
2. Geographical position of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the world map; its flora, fauna and symbols…………………….4
3. Список учебной литературы………………………………………………..12

Глоссарий

1. The Irish Sea – Ирландское море
2. The Hebrides – Гебриды
3. The Shetland Islands – Шотландские острова
4. The English Channel – пролив Ла-Манш
5. The Strait of Dover – пролив Па-Дэ-Кале
6. The Pennines – Пеннинские горы
7. The Central Plain – Кембрийские горы
8. The Lake District – Озерный край
9. Offa's Dyke – дамба Оффа
10. Scafell Pike – Скафелл Пайк (гора)
11. Caledonian Canal – Каледонский канал
12. The Grampians – Грампиаские горы
13. Lough Neagh – озеро Лох Ней
14. BelfastLough – Белфастское озеро
15. Rathlin – остров Ратлин
16. The Severn – р.Северн
17. Cumberland – Камберленд
18. Westmoreland – Уэстморленд
19.  Lancashire– Ланкашир
20. The Darwin Mounds – курганыДарвина
21. The Severn Estuary – Северный лиман
22. Risso’sdolphin – Дельфин Риссо
23. The Barbary lion–Берберийскийлев
24. Roedeer – косуля
25. WicklowMountains – Горы Уиклоу
26. Оystercatcher – кулик-сорока

Geographical position of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the world map: its flora, fauna and symbols

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official name of the state which is sometimes referred to as Great Britain or Britain (after its major island), England (after its major historic part or the British Isles).

The population of the UK is over 57 mln people. The UK is inhabited by the English, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish who constitute the British nation. English is not the only language. Scottish, Welsh and Irish are also used.

The British Isles consist of two largeislands (Great Britain and Ireland) separated by the Irish Sea and a lot of small islands (the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands). The United Kingdom has evolved from a series of annexations, unions and separations of constituent countries over several hundred years.

The area of the UK is 244,100 square kms. It is situated off to the northwest coast of Europe between the Atlantic Ocean on the north and the North Sea on the east and is separated from the European continent by the English Channeland the Straits of Dover.The rocky and broken west coast of England, Wales and Scotland is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. On the east coast the land is low and sandy. The white chalk cliffs of the south coast are washed by the English Channel.

Historically the territory of the United Kingdom is divided into four parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

England is the largest.It accounts for just over half (53 %) of the total area of the UK, covering above 130 thousand sq.km. The relief of England can be divided into: Northern England mostly taken up by the low Pennine Mountains, the Central Plain, lowland South-east England and hilly South-west England. Most of the country consists of lowland terrain,with more upland and some mountainous terrain northwest of the Tees-Exe line, including the Lake District, the Pennines, Exmoor and Dartmoor.England borders on Scotland in the north and Wales in the west.

England has two land borders: a 96 km border with Scotland that follows the Cheviot Hills and a 257 km border with Wales that loosely follows the route of Offa's Dyke. To the west, the Irish Sea separates England from Ireland and the Isle of Man; to the east, the North Sea separates England from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium and to the south, the English Channel separates England from France and the Channel Islands.

England is washed by the North Sea in the east and the Bristol Channel and by the Irish Sea in the west. England is separated from the continent by the English Channel in the south. The higher part of England is in the west. England's highest mountain is Scafell Pike (978 metres).

The longest river in England is the Severn which has its source in Wales, enters England at its confluence with the Vyrnwy and flows into the Bristol Channel. The longest river entirely within England is the Thames which flows through the English and British capital, London. Although the largest nation within the UK, England is relatively absent of large lakes, with many of its former wetlands being drained throughout the Middle Ages. Most of its largest lakes lie within the aptly named Lake District in Cumbria, Northern England.

According Scotland, it is the most northern of the four countries of the UK and occupies an area of 78,8 thousand sq.km. In the north and west Scotland is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and by the North Sea in the east. The coastline of Scotland is greatly indented. In many places deep fiords penetrate very far inland. Scotland has over 790 islands divided into four main groups: Shetland, Orkney, and the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides.The territory of Scotland can be divided into three regions: the Northern Highlands, the Central Lowlands and the Southern Uplands.

The Highlands occupy most of the land to the north-west of a line drawn from Glasgow to Aberdeen. Two parts of the Highlands – the North-western Highlands and the Grampians – are separated by a narrow valley, through which runs the Caledonian Canal. The Highlands are the highest mountains in the British Isles. Their average height doesn’t exceed 457 m above sea level. The highest peak in the British Isles – the Ben Nevis reaches the height of 1344 m.

The Lowlands region of Scotland includes Biggar, Culross, Edinburg, Glasgow, New Lanark Perth and Sanquhar. Traditionally the Lowlands is all the land south of the fault line which stretches north to east. The region exemplifies Scotland’s dramatic scenery with wooded valleys and winding rivers. It is the cradle of the Scottish nation. They are densely populated.

The Southern Uplands seldom rise over 579 m above sea level. This region of Scotland represents the point where Scotland and England came together with the closure of an ancient ocean called the Lapetus.The Southern Uplands is an overwhelmingly rural and mainly agricultural region. It’s partly forested and contain many areas of open moorland.

There are numerous bodies of freshwater including Loch Lomond and Loch Ness.It has been estimated that there are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs (lakes) in Scotland, and more than 7,500 in the Western Isles alone.Lochs are widespread throughout the country, they are most numerous within the Scottish Highlands and in particular in the former counties of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty.The majority of the larger lochs are linear in form.

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom.It is bordered by England to the east, the Severn Estuary to the south-east, the Bristol Channel to the south-west and the Irish Sea to the west and north. It has a total area of 20,779 sq.km. Wales has over 2,700 km of coastline and is largely mountainous with its higher peaks in the north and central areas. The country lies within the north temperate zone and has a changeable, maritime climate. The capital and largest city is Cardiff.

Wales is a peninsula washed by the sea on the sides: the Bristol Channel (south), the St.George Channel (west) and the Irish Sea (north). Geographically Wales may be considered part of highland Britain, the Cumbrian Mountain occupying most of the land. It is an area of high mountains, deep valleys, waterfalls and lakes. Wales is a region of heavy rainfall brought by the prevailing west winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The Walsh have kept their own language but English is spoken as well. There are a lot of mountains and also three national parks, including Snowdonia. It is in north Wales and its highest mountain, Snowdon, is 1,085 m.

Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom that is variously described as a country, province, territory or region. It occupies the north-eastern part of Ireland, which is separated from the island of Great Britain by the North Channel. In the south-west Northern Ireland borders on the Irish Republic.Northern Ireland co-operates with the Republic of Ireland in several areas.

Northern Ireland consists of six historic counties: County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry and County Tyrone.

Almost all the area of Northern Ireland is a plain of volcanic origin, deepening in the center to form the largest lake Lough Neagh (391 sq.km.).It is the largest freshwater lake both on the island of Ireland and in the British Isles. A second extensive lake system is centered on Lower and Upper Lough Erne in Fermanagh.

The largest island of Northern Ireland is Rathlin, off the north Antrim coast. Strangford Lough is the largest inlet in the British Isles, covering 150 sq.km.

The Lower and Upper River Bann, River Foyle and River Blackwater form extensive fertile lowlands, with excellent arable land also found in North and East Down, although much of the hill country is marginal and suitable largely for animal husbandry.

The valley of river the Lagan is dominated by Belfast, whose metropolitan area includes over a third of the population of Northern Ireland, with heavy urbanization and industrialization along the Lagan Valley and both shores of Belfast Lough.

The greatly indented coastline of Northern Ireland is abundant in rocks and cliff. On its territory moors and meadows prevail, where cattle graze. People grow crops, vegetables and potatoes. But forests are rather scarce. On the river banks and on the coast, they are engaged in fishing.

The rivers of Britain are short. Their direction and character are determined by the position of the mountains. Due to the humid climate and abundant rainfall, the water level in the river is always high. The rivers seldom freeze in winter, most of them remain ice-free. Many of the river are joined together by canals. This system of rivers and canals provides a good means of cheap island water transport. The most important rivers are the Severn, flowing from the Cumbrian Mountains in Wales into the Bristol channel, the Thames, flowing across the plains of south-eastern England and emptying into the North Sea. Owing to the fact that British lakes are rather small and have no outlets. But most of them, especially those situated in the countries of Cumberland, Westmoreland and north Lancashire, are famous for their unique beauty and picturesque surrounding. Famous is the English Lake District, occupying a comparatively small area. It is a place of steep ridges and deep valleys, smooth slopes and deep lakes, ravines, waterfalls and green meadows.  

Scotland has more than 90% of the volume and 70% of the total surface area of fresh water in the United Kingdom. There are more than 30,000 freshwater lochs and 6,600 river systems.

Over the centuries, much of the forest area, especially on the lowlands, was cleared for cultivation. Today only about 9 % of the total surface is wooded.

Fairly extensive forests remain in the east and north Scotland and in southeast England. In the mountainous region of Great Britain,the vegetation is represented by coniferous and mixed forests with the predominance of pine, oak and birch. When the islands were first settled, oak forest probably covered the greater part of the lowland.

 The most common trees are oak, beech, ash, elm and in Scotland also pine and birch. About 14% of Scotland is wooded, much of it in forestry plantations, but before humans cleared the land it supported much larger broad-leaved forests.Although much reduced, significant remnants of the native Scots pine woodlands can be found.17% of Scotland is covered by heather moorland and peatland. Sutherland have one of the world's largest and most intact areas of blanket bog, which supports a distinctive wildlife community. Almost all the lowland outside the industrial centers is farmland, with a varied seminatural vegetation of grasses and flowering plants.

The oak is the national tree of England, representing strength and endurance. The Royal Oak and Oak Apple Day commemorate the escape of King Charles II from the grasps of the parliamentarians after his father's execution; he hid in an oak tree to avoid detection before making it safely into exile. The Major Oak is an 800- to 1000-year-old oak in Sherwood Forest, fabled as the principal hideout of Robin Hood.

The Sessile Oak, also called the Welsh Oak is the national tree of Wales. The Scots Pine is the national tree of Scotland.

There are at least 1500 different species of wildflower in Britani. Some 107 are particularly rare. There are red poppies, bluebells, daisies, daffodils, rosemary, iris, ivy, mint, thistles and many others. There are also algae and mosses across the island. Wild vegetation consists of the natural flora of woods, fens and marshes, cliffs, chalk down and mountain slopes, the most widespread being the heather, grasses, gorse and bracken of the moorlands.

Every country has its specific culture and peculiarities which can be found in their symbols. The floral emblem and at the same time the symbol of England is the red rose. This flower has become a symbol since the Civil war which is called War of roses (1455-1485). It is a syncretic symbol in that it merged the white rose of the royal house of York and the red rose of the royal house of Lancaster. The winner was the Royal Family with a red rose as a family symbol. As such, it is seen on the dress uniforms of the Yeomen Warders at the Tower of London, and of the Yeomen of the Guard. It featured on the British Twenty Pence coin.

The cuckoo flower can be found throughout Wales. Bog rosemary can be found in central Wales. Within the British Isles, the Snowdon lily is found only on the slopes of Snowdon.

The daffodil and the leek are symbols of Wales. The origins of the leek can be traced to the 16th century, while the daffodil became popular in the 19th century, encouraged by David Lloyd-George. There are many explanations of how the leek came to be adopted as the national emblem of Wales. One is that St. David advised the Welsh, on the eve of battle with the Saxons, to wear leeks in their caps to distinguish friend from foe. As Shakespeare records in Henry V, the Welsh archers wore leeks at the battle of Agincourt in 1415.And the daffodil is traditionally worn on St David's Day each 1 March.

The flora of Scotland is an assemblage of native plant species including over 1,600 vascular plants, more than 1,500 lichens and nearly 1,000 bryophytes.Various populations of rare fern exist.

The national flower in Scotland is the Thistle or sometimes it is called Scottish Bluebell. It became the symbol in the 15th century when this prickly-leaved violet flower was used as the defense of the border of the country.The thistle has been the national emblem since it was adopted by King James III, in the 15th century. In the language of flowers, the thistle (like the burr) is an ancient Celtic symbol of nobility of character as well as of birth, for the wounding or provocation of a thistle yields punishment. For this reason, the thistle is the symbol of the Order of the Thistle, a high chivalric order of Scotland.Heather is also considered to be a symbol of Scotland. Wearing a sprig of heather is believed to bring good luck.

356 species of marine algae have been recorded in the north-east of Ireland. As Counties Londonderry, Antrim and Down are the only three counties of Northern Ireland with a shoreline this will apply to all Northern Ireland. 77 species are considered rare having been recorded rarely.

And the Northern Ireland also has its own flower symbol it is shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar to clover. The legend told that with the help of this three-leaf plant St. Patrick explained the Trinity. He said that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit can’t exist separately as the shamrock can’t be with one leave. And later his followers used to wear the shamrock on St. Patrick's Day.

The nature of Great Britain is greatly affected by the sea. The animal life of the British Isles is now much poorer than it was a few centuries ago. Great Britain experienced early industrialization and is subject to continuing urbanization, which have contributed towards the overall loss of species. However, some species such as the brown rat, red fox and introduced grey squirrel are well adapted to urban areas. With the disappearance of forests, many animals (the wolf, the bear, the boar, the deer and the Irish elk) have become practically extinct. There are foxes in most rural areas, and otters are found along many rivers and streams. Rodents make up 40%
of the mammal species. These include squirrels, mice, voles, rats and the recently reintroduced European beaver. There is also an abundance of European rabbit, European hare, shrews, European mole and several species of bat. Mammals include the red fox, badger, weasel, stoat live here. Different kinds of seal, whale and dolphin are found on or around British shores and coastlines. The largest wild animals today are deer.

The fauna of England is similar to that of other areas British Isles. England's fauna is mainly made up of small animals and is notable for having few large mammals, but in similarity with other island nations; many bird species.England for the most part has an oceanic climate, which lacks extremes of heat or cold and provides plentiful rainfall making the country a rather 'green' environment and providing much food for small and grazing animals.

England is different in respect to Scotland in its wildlife due to its slightly warmer climate, lower land levels and more dense populations, and whilst this is bad for some species of animals, it is good for others.The fauna of England is also very diverse since its landscapes are very different from each other and so this is represented in the flora and fauna.

There are 220 species of non-marine mollusks that have been recorded as living in the wild in Britain and England. There are also 14 gastropod species that live only in greenhouses.

The species of amphibian native to England are the great crested newt, smooth newt, palmate newt, common toad, natterjack toad, common frog and the pool frog.

There are four species of snake: the European adder, grass snake, barred grass snakeand smooth snake. Lizards found in England are slowworms, common lizards, sand lizards, European green lizards and the common wall lizard.

Turtles found off the English coast are the leatherback sea turtle, green sea turtle, hawksbill, loggerhead sea turtle, Kemp's ridley and appear to be visiting English waters in increasingly larger numbers as the seas around Britain warm due to climate change.

There are also several species of insectivore in England and the rest of Britain. The hedgehog is probably the most widely known as it is a regular visitor to urban gardens. It is also vulnerable to road traffic, and many are killed crossing busy motorways and dual carriageways. The mole is also widely recognised and its subterranean lifestyle causes much damage to garden lawns and some gardeners trap or kill them.

Shrews are also fairly common, and the smallest, the pygmy shrew, is one of the smallest mammals in the world. There are also several species of bat found in England. Rodents are also numerous across Britain and England, particularly the brown rat which is by far the most abundant urban animal after humans.

Weasels and foxes dominate the role of carnivores in England and are very common in the countryside and in towns and some cities.

England and the British Isles as a whole do boast many wading and shorebirds and England's coastlines are very important habitats for seabirds. England's coastline being generally flatter and sandier than that of its neighboring UK countries is mainly a magnet for wading birds, but it does have some more rocky areas suitable for birds such as puffins.

The mild winters mean that many species that cannot cope with harsher conditions can winter in Britain, and also that there is a large influx of wintering birds from the continent or beyond and even as far as South Africa.

The Barbary lion is a national animal of England. In the Middle Ages, the lions kept in the menagerie at the Tower of London were Barbary lions. English medieval warrior rulers with a reputation for bravery attracted the nickname "the Lion": the most famous example is Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart. Lions are frequently depicted in English heraldry, either as a device on shields themselves, or as supporters. They also appear in sculpture, and sites of national importance. The lion is used as a symbol of English sporting teams, such as the England national cricket team.

The fauna of Scotland is generally typical of the northwest European part, although several of the country’s larger mammals were hunted to extinction in historic times and human activity has also led to various species of wildlife being introduced. Scotland’s diverse temperate environments support 62 species of wild mammals, including a population of wild cats, important numbers of grey and harbor seals and the most northerly colony of bottlenose dolphins in the world.

The representation of the weasel family in Scotland is typical of Britain as a whole save that the polecat is absent. Scotland hosts the only populations of the Scottish wildcat in the British Isles with numbers estimated at between 400 and 2,000 animalsand of the red fox subspecies a larger race. The wild cat is at risk due to the inadequacy of protective legislation and is now considered at serious risk of extinction.

Seventy-five per cent of the UK's red squirrels are found in Scotland.Scotland's seas are among the most biologically productive in the world. It is estimated that the total number of Scottish marine species exceeds 40,000.The Darwin Mounds are an important area of deep-sea cold-water coral reefs.

 Inland, nearly 400 genetically distinct populations of Atlantic salmon live in Scottish rivers.Of the 42 species of fish found in the country's fresh waters, half have arrived by natural colonization and half by human introduction.

Only six amphibians and four land reptiles are native to Scotland, but many species of invertebrates live there that are otherwise rare in the United Kingdom.An estimated 14,000 species of insect, including rare bees and butterflies protected by conservation action plans, inhabit Scotland. Mainland insectivore populations are generally similar to the rest of Britain.

In Wales you can see minke and pilot whales, they are common in the summer while fin and killer whales are rare. Bottlenose dolphins are common and Risso’s dolphin and Atlantic white-sided dolphin are rare. Whales, grey seals, basking sharks and sunfish can also be seen.

Roe deer and fallow deer are the two largest mammal species in Wales. Roe deer are found in central and northern Wales. Fallow deer are found in rural and semiurban areas of Wales. The European polecatcan be found in both urban and country environments. Found in the same area is the red fox, one of the most common mammals in Wales.The red deer, one of five native deer species, is the biggest non-marine mammal in Wales. Fallow, muntjac roe and sika deer can also be found. pine martens are very rarely seen. Other mammals include badgers, foxes, hares, hedgehogs, otters, rabbits, stoats, weasels, red squirrels, and 13 species of bat.

About 430 species of birds have been found in Wales. Red kites and ospreys are some "signature species" of Wales. Red grouse, once a common species, has reduced in population dramatically due to human hunting. Red grouse can be found in the extreme north part of Wales.There are common lizards, grass snakes in Wales too.

The fauna of Ireland comprises all the animal species inhabiting the island of Ireland and its surrounding waters.European hedgehog, stoat, otter, pygmy shrew, and badger are common, whereas others, like the Irish hare, red deer, and pine marten are less common and generally seen only in certain national parks and nature reserves around the island. Some introduced species have become thoroughly naturalized (the European rabbit, grey squirrel, bank vole, and brown rat). In addition, ten species of bat are found in Ireland.

Only one land reptile is native to the country, the viviparous lizard. It is common in national parks, particularly in the Wicklow Mountains.Five marine turtle species appear regularly off the west coast. Three amphibians are found in Ireland, the common European brown frog, the smooth newt, and the natterjack toad.

The northern pike is Northern Ireland's national fish.

Some 230 kinds of birds live in Britain and another 200 are regular visitors. There are a lot of birds including many song-birds. Blackbirds, sparrows and starlings are probably most common. There are many sea-birds which nest round the coasts. Robin Redbreast is the national bird of Britain. The number of ducks, geese and other water fowl has diminished during recent years.Many populations of moorland birds, including the black and red grouse live here. In Scotland the golden eagle has become a nation icon, and white-tailed eagles and ospreys have recently recolonized the land.

Many populations of moorland birds, including the black and red grouse live here, and the country has internationally significant nesting grounds for seabirds such as the northern gannet. The golden eagle has become a national icon, and white-tailed eagles and ospreys have recently re-colonised the land.

        Though once a common sight across the United Kingdom, red kites were hunted to the point where, in the 1980s, only a handful survived, hidden away in the remote valleys of mid-Wales. Thanks to – frankly miraculous – conservation efforts during the following decades, however, these beautiful birds of prey can once again be seen soaring over rural areas of Wales, and in 2007 the Welsh people voted the copper-breasted raptor as the nation’s favorite bird.The red kite is sometimes named as the national symbol of wildlife in Wales.

Northern Ireland does not have an official national bird, but the Eurasian oystercatcher was unofficially selected in 1961.

The flora of Great Britain and Ireland is one of the best documented in the world. There are 1390 native species and over 1100 well-established on the islands. With its mild climate and varied soils, the UK has a diverse pattern of natural vegetation.

Every country has its specific culture and peculiarities which can be found in their symbols.The floral emblem and at the same time the symbol of England is the red rose. This flower has become a symbol since the Civil war which is called War of roses (1455-1485). The winner was the Royal Family with a red rose as a family symbol. This flower became a symbol since the civil war which is called War of roses (1455-1485) was ended and the winner was the Royal Family with the family symbol red rose.

Список учебной литературы

1. On the other side of the channel (По ту сторону пролива)/составители М.В. Процуто, Л.П. Маркушевская. – Санкт-Петербург: Университет ИТМО, 2014 – 134 с.
2. Артемова, А. Ф. First Aid in English Language and Culture. Энциклопедия самообразования по английскому языку и страноведению Великобритании и США. Учебное пособие / А.Ф. Артемова, О.А. Леонович. - М.: АСТ, Астрель, Транзиткнига, 2005. - 400 c.
3. Венявская, В. М. Английский язык. Страноведение / Across the Countries and Continents / В.М. Венявская. - М.: Феникс, 2009. - 448 c.
4. Венявская, В.М. Английский язык. Страноведение / В.М. Венявская. - М.: Феникс, 2009. - 951 c.
5. Вильданова Г.А. Краткая история Великобритании: учебно-методическое пособие / Г.А. Вильданова, О.В. Павлова. – Москва: Директ-Медиа,2015. – 86 с.
6. ГолицынскийЮ. Б. Great Britain / Великобритания. Страноведение / Ю.Б. Голицынский. - М.: Каро, 2019. - 480 c.
7. Колыхалова О.А. Britain: учебное пособие / О.А.Колыхалова, К.С. Махмурян. – Москва: Прометей, 2012. – 77 с.
8. Л. ЛасицаGreatBritain: geography, politics, culture /Л. Ласица, О. Евстафиади; Оренбургский государственный университет. – Оренбург, 2013. – 129 с.
9. Митрошкина, Т. В. Английский язык. Страноведение / English: Cross-Cultural Studies / Т.В. Митрошкина, А.И. Савинова. - М.: ТетраСистемс, 2011. - 288 c.

Ресурсы сети «Интернет»

1. https://www.wales.com/about/culture/national-symbols-wales
2. https://kids.kiddle.co/National_symbols_of_England