 Persian
/ English
conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland; note - Great Britain includes the countries of
England, Scotland, and Wales
conventional short form: United Kingdom
London.
Population: 7.5 million (official estimate 2004).
Western
Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of
Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea,
northwest of France
242,514 sq km
(93,788 sq miles).
Description:
The British landscape can be divided roughly into two kinds of
terrain – highland and lowland. The highland area comprises the
mountainous regions of Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England
and North Wales. The English Lake District in the northwest contains
lakes and fells. The lowland area is broken up by sandstone and
limestone hills, long valleys and basins such as the Wash on the
east coast. In the southeast, the North and South Downs culminate in
the White Cliffs of Dover. The coastline includes fjord-like inlets
in the northwest of Scotland, spectacular cliffs and wild sandy
beaches on the east coast and, further south, beaches of rock, shale
and sand sometimes backed by dunes, and large areas of fenland in
East Anglia.
Note: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Although
they form one administrative unit (with regional exceptions), they
have had separate cultures, languages and political histories. The
United Kingdom section consists of a general introduction (covering
the aspects that the four countries have in common) and sections
devoted to the four constituent countries. The Channel Islands
(Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey, Sark and Herm) and the Isle of Man are
dependencies of the British Crown. These are included here for
convenience of reference.
More detailed geographical descriptions of the various countries may
be found under the respective entries.
60.8 million
(official estimate 2007).
English, Welsh
(about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic
(about 60,000 in Scotland)
Climate:
Owing to it being an island, the UK is subject to very
changeable weather. Extremes of temperature are rare but snow, hail,
heavy rain and heatwaves can occur. For detailed descriptions, see
Climate in the respective country sections.
Economy - overview:
The UK is a member of the G8 group of the world's leading
industrial nations. Engineering (especially of military products),
chemicals, electronics, construction and textiles are the main
components of the industrial sector. Among service industries,
tourism, media, retail, financial services, telecommunications and
computer services are the most important and have undergone rapid
growth, while heavy industries have suffered relative decline.
Unemployment in 2006 stood at 2.8%.
The UK's external economic relations are now dominated by the EU
(which accounts for 70% of all UK trade), and the overriding issue
facing the government is the extent to which they are willing to
integrate into the European economy.
The argument is now focused on whether Britain should adopt the
Euro. Many political and business leaders favour membership, but
there is huge opposition in the country at large. The conclusion of
the debate may be decisive to Britain's economic future.
Economy:
The UK is a member of the G8 group of the world's leading industrial
nations. Engineering (especially of military products), chemicals,
electronics, construction and textiles are the main components of
the industrial sector. Among service industries, tourism, media,
retail, financial services, telecommunications and computer services
are the most important and have undergone rapid growth, while heavy
industries have suffered relative decline. Unemployment in 2006
stood at 2.8%.
The UK's external economic relations are now dominated by the EU
(which accounts for 70% of all UK trade), and the overriding issue
facing the government is the extent to which they are willing to
integrate into the European economy.
The argument is now focused on whether Britain should adopt the
Euro. Many political and business leaders favour membership, but
there is huge opposition in the country at large. The conclusion of
the debate may be decisive to Britain's economic future.
machine tools,
electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment,
shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and
communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper
and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other
consumer goods
Exports:
Manufactured goods, food, beverages and tobacco.
Imports:
Manufactured goods, machinery and fuels, and food.
• Main trade partners: Germany, USA, France, Ireland and Netherlands
Exchange rates:
Pound (GBP; symbol ?�) = 100 pence. Notes are in denominations of
?�50, 20, 10 and 5. Additional bank notes issued by Scottish banks
(including ?�1 notes) are accepted in all parts of the UK, although
some smaller shops outside Scotland may prefer English banknotes.
Coins are in denominations of ?�2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1
pence.
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/291/money/Europe/United-Kingdom.html
GDP :
US$2.2 trillion (2005).
|
Usesful Links 
