Changes in EGP over time in the UK. Economic and geographical characteristics of the country of Great Britain

egp japan

1.not profitable, because there are no neighbors

2. profitable, because it is a leader among port states and many trade routes pass through it

3. not profitable, poor in mineral resources, rich in polymetallic ores and copper ores, agricultural areas are not developed

4. profitable EGP

5. Trade relations with other countries of the world have intensified. From the end of the 12th century until 1867, the feudal state that existed on the islands of Japan was ruled by shoguns. Feudal rulers imposed a ban on almost all contacts with foreigners, fearing their expansion and the spread of Christianity. The "closure" of Japan prevented the country from being colonized. However, a long period of its isolation led to the fact that until the 20th century it was, as it were, hidden from the eyes of Europeans. Severe isolation greatly affected the country's economic development. At a time when the whole of Europe was moving by leaps and bounds towards scientific and technological progress, Japan was still at the agricultural stage of development. In the 20th century, Japan took part in three major wars (Russian-Japanese, 1st and 2nd World Wars). In World War II, it was an ally of Nazi Germany and Italy. In 1945, in accordance with the secret Yalta agreements of the victorious countries, all the Kuril Islands were transferred to the Soviet Union as a war trophy. Since the Second World War, Japan has not had a peace treaty with Russia and makes claims to Russia on the islands of the Kuril chain: Kunashir, Shikotan, Habomai. Almost 50 years later, the Kuril Islands belonged to the USSR and Russia, the socio-economic situation on the islands remains extremely difficult, the islands remained undeveloped. Based on the principles of justice, we must admit that Japan has the moral and legal right to lay claim to at least the Southern Kuril Islands. It is necessary to support in every possible way the emerging trend towards rapprochement, resolve the territorial issue and make peace with Japan, putting an end to the Second World War.

6.favorable influence, increased production area

egp great britain

1.favorable

2.favorable, there is access to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans

3.favorable, average amount of minerals

4. favorable

6.egp has a positive effect on the production sector

In the country, the leading role belongs to maritime transport (86% of cargo turnover), it provides international and domestic connections. Road transport accounts for 75% of domestic transport (the main London-Manchester-Glasgow highway), and rail about 20%.

With the opening of the railway tunnel, the role of this transport in international transport increased. High-speed trains cover the distance between London and Paris in 3 hours.

River routes are used for recreational purposes, and the role of pipeline transport is increasing.

Since the country is an island, the role of air transport is great. There are 150 in the country passenger airports, which provide communication with 120 countries of the world. Transportation is carried out by the transnational company British Airways. The largest airports are located in London (Heathrow and Gatwick).

Since Great Britain is an island state, all its external transport and trade are related to maritime and by air.

About 90% of the total cargo turnover is accounted for by sea transport, including 25% by cabotage.

The UK maritime fleet is 9.6 million reg. b.t. All areas of the country, except the West Midlands, are, to one degree or another, directly connected to seaports, which serve as major transport hubs. The largest of them are London, Southampton, Liverpool, Goole and Harwich. The ports of London and Liverpool handle about half of all cargo (by value).

In the past, more passengers arrived in the UK by sea than by air.

However, since the beginning of the 60s of the 20th century, the number of air passengers began to grow rapidly and is now several times higher than the number of those arriving in the country by sea.

Great Britain egp. Britain's position in relation to neighboring countries.

In total, the country has about 150 airports, through which it is connected by regular airlines to more than 100 countries of the world.

Almost all transport is carried out by British Airways. Five largest airports The London area countries of Heathrow and Gatwick, as well as Manchester, Luton and Glasgow, account for 75% of all passenger and air cargo traffic.

The UK is connected to the continent by two railway ferries (Dover - Dunkirk and Harwich - Ostend), the English Channel and numerous sea car and passenger ferries - with Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland and France.

To attract passengers on ferries, duty-free trade has been opened.

In domestic freight transport, road transport plays the largest role. It is more than 3 times inferior to railway and coastal transport. In connection with the development of motor transport, more than 12 thousand km of railway tracks were removed. Now the length of the railway tracks is about 17 thousand km. At the same time, the network of highways is expanding (371 thousand km) and their reconstruction is taking place.

In this case, the main attention is paid to connecting the main conurbations of the country with the shortest routes.

UK transport system Wikipedia
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Characteristics of Great Britain

(England) 1 position in relation to neighboring countries 2 Provisions against the main land and sea transport routes 3 Rules in relation to the main fuel resource bases, industrial and agricultural areas 4 positions in relation to the main areas of product sales 5 Change in EGP in time 6 General conclusion The influence of EGP on the development and deployment of the country's economy

(England)1 Position in relation to neighboring countries 2 Position in relation to
to the main land and sea transport routes 3 Regulations on
in relation to the main fuel raw material bases, industrial and
agricultural areas 4 Position in relation to the main
product sales areas 5 Change in EGP over time 6 General conclusion about
influence of EGP on the development and location of the country's economy

1) Great Britain borders only Ireland.
2) The island state is an important point for cargo transportation from Europe to America and Africa.
Land transport is important only in domestic transport.
3) near Great Britain there is one of the largest fuel bases in Europe - the North Sea. Great Britain, across the narrow English Channel, neighbors large economic countries in Europe - France and the Netherlands and Belgium.
4) Sales areas for the UK are Europe, America, Asia and Africa
5) EGP has not changed significantly over time since the 80s of the 20th century (formation of the EU).
6) Thanks to its favorable geographical location (access to the Atlantic, close to Europe, direct connection with the USA), Great Britain is actively developing its economy and international trade.

The largest economic centers of Great Britain are located on the coast, near major ports.

The easiest way to get around central London is the tube. You can buy tickets for one or two trips, but if you use the metro often, then travel cards will be very convenient.

These cards can be for one day, for a week, or for a month, and they allow unlimited use of the metro, bus and train in the areas of your choice.

One-day travel cards can be purchased at metro ticket offices. They are valid for travel on the metro and buses at any time. They are not valid for travel on airport buses or for special excursions.

Weekly travel cards are valid for travel on the metro and buses at any time, but are not valid for travel on airport buses or for special excursions.

The cost varies depending on the number of zones selected.

How to get to the city center from Heathrow Airport

TAXI. The taxi rank is located next to the airport exit.

BUS. Airport buses go to central London (A1 to Victoria Station and A2 to Euston Station). The fare is about 6 pounds. Tickets can be purchased at the airport building or on the bus.

Buses leave every 20 minutes.
METRO. The Piccadilly Line runs from Heathrow to central London and links extensive underground network metro.

But if you have a lot of luggage, the trip may be difficult. Trains leave every 5 minutes and the journey takes 55 minutes.
HIGH-SPEED TRAIN. To the center of London, to PADDINGTON railway station, every 20 minutes. walk high speed trains, travel time 20 min.
TAXI Black cabs are a feature of London's streets and are safe and orderly.

A taxi can be stopped on the street when the yellow light is on, indicating that the taxi is free. There are taxi ranks in many places, including main train stations. Doormen and hotel receptionists will order a taxi for you. Be careful and do not accept offers from drivers of cars that do not have special taxi signs.

Many of them do not have a legal work permit, driving in such cars is unsafe because they are not insured, and the drivers often do not have the necessary experience.

Urban transport

London is one of the cities in the world where transport has become a legend.

The world's first subway and the famous double-decker buses are the hallmark of the English capital. Of course, Londoners who are faithful to traditions try to maintain their appearance with the least changes. True, London's public transport is no longer limited to the metro and red Double Decker buses.

Despite all the English conservatism, new types of transport regularly appear in the British capital. The steam underground became electrified long ago, the division of carriages into classes disappeared, and buses in London are no longer only double-decker. Nowadays, the main transport load is still carried by the metro and buses. However, the history of London transport (which began with omnibuses and the steam underground launched in 1863) is so great and interesting that a museum of urban transport has been created in the British capital.

The metro (Underground, Tube) has twelve lines. They were all created at different times and by different owners and therefore are still quite different from each other. Some trains run mostly underground, others on the surface.

Over time, many areas railways moved from the metro to trains long distance and vice versa. At first glance, the metro layout, intertwined with the network of regular trains, leads to despair, especially after the coherent Moscow metro system. However, it is quite easy to understand. Lines often branch into separate branches to one or another area of the city, so you should always pay attention to the train's destination.

In addition, trains of different routes can run on the same tracks. On the main lines, trains run quite often, with intervals of no more than five minutes; on outlying lines, you can wait up to half an hour.

The country's position in relation to neighboring countries. Economic and geographical position of countries

Tariff system London Underground It seems complicated, but in fact, understanding it is not a big problem.
All of Greater London is divided into six zones, which radiate from the center in concentric circles.

Any ticket must be valid in all zones covered by the trip. Therefore, when choosing a travel route, you need to be careful not to inadvertently end up in an area where your ticket is not valid. In general, the London Underground usually allows you to get to your destination in several ways. Among them, you can choose the one that affects fewer zones. For example, if you need to travel from the second zone to the third at the opposite end of the city, you can easily bypass the first central zone and thus halve the cost of the trip.

The most expensive is the first zone, which includes the city center and the largest number of tourist attractions.
A single smart card (Oyster Card) is another way to pay for travel on the London Underground, buses and trams. It is also valid on some train routes and on DLR (Docklands Light Rail) lines.

Oyster Card is a more economical payment system that allows you to link several travel cards to a magnetic card, or use the “pay as you go” mode.

You can top up your magnetic card balance at London Underground stations, some railway stations, at specialized points of sale of these cards, by phone or on the website www.tfl.gov.uk.
The tram has recently been restored in London. Everyone knows about double-decker buses, but few people know that fifty years ago double-decker trams ran around London.

London Tram currently has three routes in the southern part of the city. Thirty meter long double carriages serve the Croydon area. Tram tickets are sold separately from vending machines at stops. If you need to transfer to a bus after a trip by tram or vice versa, you can buy a “tram-bus” ticket for the same price. Bus tickets are not valid on the tram.
Another new (a little over ten years old) form of London transport is the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

It owes its appearance to the collapse of the London docks, which lost orders after the modernization of maritime freight transport. Large container ships began to unload at deep-water ports along the coast, leaving the vast London area desolate.

The program for bringing the dock area back to life included the appearance of high-speed transport there, which was launched in the late eighties. The DLR train consists of several driverless carriages that can accommodate about 250 people. Currently, four lines are already operating.

They provide connections between the former dock area and metro and railway stations, as well as the city centre. The DLR fare system is the same as the metro, metro tickets are valid on the DLR and vice versa.
Transport tickets can be purchased from vending machines located at metro stations and bus stops. ground transport. In addition, bus tickets can be purchased from the driver.

All children's tickets expire at 22:00.
In general, London transport operates from four to five in the morning until one in the morning. It is better not to travel during rush hours: 07:30-09:30 and 16:30-18:30. Night buses have an N index in front of their number, for example, N-23.

They all pass through Trafalgar Square. On Sunday, transport starts running after seven in the morning and stops by midnight. Traffic intervals on Sunday are approximately twice as long. During Christmas, many lines are not operational at all.
Another part of London transport system are river boats, plying between the many piers on the Thames.

They are owned by several companies, and contain a total of twenty routes. The Thames has its own tariff system.

Ministry of General and Vocational Education

Sverdlovsk region

State educational institution

primary vocational education

Vocational school for training trade workers

Economic-geographical

country characteristics

Great Britain

Essay

Executor:

Telitsyna M.M.

student of group No. 21

Supervisor:

geography teacher

Khorzova T.V.

Ekaterinburg

Introduction…………………………………………………………………….…3

1.Territory, borders, position of the country……………………………...4

2. Natural conditions and resources……………………………………......5

3.Population…………………………………………………………….7

4. Economy and industry………………………………………...8

5.Agriculture…………………………………………………….11

6.Transport…………………………………………………………….12

7.Science and finance……………………………………………………….13

8.Recreation and tourism………………………………………………………......15

9.Security environment and environmental problems…………....18

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………….19

Appendix 1…………………………………………………………….20

Appendix 2…………………………………………………………….21

Appendix 3…………………………………………………………….22

Appendix 4…………………………………………………………….23

Appendix 5…………………………………………………………….24

References………………………………………………………25

Introduction

I chose the topic “Economic and geographical position of Great Britain” because Great Britain is closest to me of all other countries, of course, not counting Russia. I would like to visit this country, its cultural places and learn more about it than my superficial knowledge.

To write an essay on this topic, you need to study four sources that fairly accurately describe the situation in Great Britain. And based on these sources, it is necessary, based on the questions posed, to show the current situation of the country and draw a conclusion about its condition.

1. Territory, borders, position of the country

Great Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is an irregularly shaped archipelago with a very diverse landscape and nature. The area of Great Britain is approximately 240,842 sq. km. Most of it is land, and the rest is rivers and lakes. England's area is 129,634 square meters. km., Wales - 20,637 sq. km., Scotland - 77,179 sq. km. and Northern Ireland - 13,438 sq. km. The southern tip of the island of Great Britain, the Cornwall peninsula, is located at 50° N, and the northernmost part of the Shetland archipelago is at 60° N. The length of the island of Great Britain from north to south is 966 km, and its greatest width is half that. Great Britain has a complex administrative-territorial division. It consists of 4 historical and geographical regions: England (45 counties and a special administrative unit - Greater London). Wales (8 counties); Northern Ireland (26 counties); Scotland (12 regions); independent administrative units - the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Great Britain is washed from the west by waters Atlantic Ocean, and from the east - by the waters of the North Sea. From the south, Great Britain borders on France - its closest and most developed neighbor, which shares water borders with it. Shortest distance to north coast France - the Strait of Dover, but the main communication between the states is through the English Channel, called the English Channel by the British, along the bottom of which a tunnel for high-speed rail transport was built at the end of the twentieth century. Before this, communication between the two countries was carried out by water or air. Also, the closest neighbors of Great Britain are Belgium and the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Norway are located much further away. Thus, the UK’s EGP is both neighboring and coastal, which is extremely beneficial for the economic development of the country, although it has some disadvantages in strategic and military terms.

2. Natural conditions and resources The climate of Great Britain is temperate, oceanic, very humid with mild winters and cool summers. The British Isles are characterized by frequent fog and strong winds. The temperate oceanic climate and the influence of the warm North Atlantic Current create favorable conditions for the development of agriculture. The average temperature of the coldest month - January - does not fall below +3.5 degrees even in the extreme northeast of Great Britain, and in the southwest it reaches +5.5 degrees. Snow in winter time falls throughout the country, but very unevenly. In the mountainous regions of Scotland, snow cover lasts for at least 1-1.5 months. In the south of England, and especially in the southwest, snow falls very rarely and lasts no more than a week. Here the grass is greener all year round . High soil cultivation is an important factor in increasing agricultural productivity. In the British climate, rivers are full of water. The largest are the Thames, Severn, Trent, and Mersey. Rivers are only used as a source of energy in the Scottish Highlands. The UK does not have a large variety of mineral resources. The importance of hard coal is especially great, the total reserves of which amount to 190 billion tons. Three basins stand out as the largest reserves and production: Yorkshire and South Wales. In addition to these three largest coal basins, an important role is played by the Scottish basins, stretching in a chain from the western to the eastern edge of the Lowlands, as well as the Lancashire and West Midlands, consisting of a number of small deposits. There are small outcrops of coal seams on the coast of the Kimberland Peninsula and in the extreme southeast of England - the Kent Basin. In the 60s, oil and gas fields were discovered on the North Sea shelf. Large deposits are located off the coast of southeast England and northeast Scotland. Great Britain ranks sixth in the world oil producer. Oil reserves in Great Britain reach 770 million tons. In addition to large energy resources, the UK has significant reserves of iron ore. But their deposits are characterized by low metal content in the ore (22-33%). The largest field is the East Midlands. Until recently, Great Britain supplied half of its needs for this type of raw material with its own iron ore, the rest was purchased through imports. Currently, the mining of low-quality ore has proven to be unprofitable, so production has been curtailed and switched to importing high-quality ores from Sweden, Canada, Brazil and a number of African countries. In the past, small deposits of copper and lead-zinc ores, as well as tin, were mined in the UK. Their deposits are severely depleted and production is now very small. They mine some tungsten. Uranium ores have been found in Scotland. Of non-metallic industrial raw materials, the extraction of kaolin or white clay is significant, as well as rock salt in Cheshire and Durham and potash salt in Yorkshire. The country's soil cover is dominated by a variety of podzolic soils and brown soils. The meadow soils near the Wash Bay are the most fertile. In general, the soils in Great Britain are highly cultivated and produce high yields. Great Britain is characterized by a cultural landscape. Only in the mountainous regions of the country is natural vegetation preserved. The forests are dominated by broad-leaved species (oak, hornbeam, elm, beech) and only in Scotland - pine. Today, only 9% of the UK's territory is occupied by forests. However, the country gives the impression of being very wooded thanks to the hedges that surround the fields and meadows, as well as small areas of woodland and numerous parks. Only West Coast, exposed to westerly winds carrying salty sea spray, is almost devoid of vegetation. Thus, due to the temperate oceanic climate in the UK, the grass is green all year round, i.e. Soil productivity is high. The UK does not have a large variety of minerals, however, some of them played a huge role in shaping its industrial areas, and the UK is now more of an importer than an exporter. 3. Population

The total population (according to 2008 data) is 61,113,205 people. Age structure: under 14 years old - 16.7%, 15-64 - 67.1%, 65 and older - 16.2%. The average age of men is 39 years, women - 41 years. The average family composition is 2 children and parents. The rural population is 11%, the rural population density is 242 people. per 1 sq. km. The total number of economically active population is 29 million people. In cities with the number of inhabitants of St. 100 thousand people Almost half of the country's population lives. The largest cities by population: London (6,803,000 people), Birmingham (935,000 people), Glasgow (654,000 people), Sheffield (500,000 people), Liverpool (450,000 people), Edinburgh (421 000 people), Manchester (398,000 people), Belfast (280,000 people). In Great Britain, the birth rate exceeds the death rate, the rapid birth rate can be seen in the table (Appendix 1) from 1976 to 2009. The country's indigenous people make up 92% of the population (2001, census), of which:

· English - 83.6%,

· Scots (mainly in Scotland) - 8.5%,

· Welsh (mainly in Wales) - 4.9%,

· Irish (mainly in Northern Ireland, Ulsterians) - 2.9%.

Immigrants and their children live mainly in the Greater London, West Midlands and Merseyside conurbations. They make up about 8% of the country's population, including:

people from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh - 3.6%,
China - 0.4%,
African countries - 0.8%,
dark-skinned islanders Caribbean Sea - 1 %

The current monarch is Elizabeth II, who began her reign on February 6, 1952. Her eldest son, Prince Charles, is her heir. The Prince of Wales holds various ceremonial functions, as does the Queen's husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. In addition, there are several other members of the august family: children, grandchildren and cousins. Thus, the population is growing due to labor immigrants from countries that have recently joined the European Union, who, after the EU enlargement in May 2004, were allowed free entry to work in the UK. However, the country's birth rate still exceeds death rates, although natural increase is no longer the dominant factor in the increase in the number of Britons.

4. Economy and industry

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks sixth among leading countries in terms of overall economic activity and gross domestic product (GDP). The country's economy is highly monopolized: the 100 largest TNCs control over 50% of industrial output and foreign trade. UK industry provides 1/3 of the gross national product and accounts for 1/3 of all employees. It uses mainly imported raw materials and is increasingly focused on the foreign market. On the one hand, Great Britain is characterized by the rapid growth of modern industries using advanced production technology and labor organization, the latest equipment and advanced management methods, on the other hand, the lag of old traditional industries. The country's largest industrial monopolies are Imperial Chemical Industries, or IKI, Unilever, British Leyland and General Electric Company, which each employ 200 thousand people. The bulk of Britain's industrial enterprises are concentrated in a densely populated industrial belt, including counties from London to Lancashire and from West Yorkshire to Gloucestershire. The largest industrial areas outside this belt are South Wales, north-east England and central Scotland. In areas where old industries and traditional industries developed, they became lagging or depressed. This is most of Scotland, Northern Ireland, almost all of Wales, the extreme northeast and part of the southwest of England. The main branch of the UK mining industry is coal mining. It has been going on for three centuries. The UK ranks third in Europe in terms of coal reserves. As for the British oil refining industry, it is still dependent on imports of crude oil and petroleum products. There are 9 oil refineries in the country with a total capacity of about 90 million tons per year (the Shell oil refinery in Shell Haven with a capacity of 4.3 million tons per year closed in 1999). They are located in the Thames Estuary, at Foley near Southampton, in south Wales, on the Manchester Canal, in Teesside, Humberside and in Scotland (Grangemouth). More than 80 gas fields with proven reserves of 2 trillion have been discovered in the British North Sea. m 3 and recoverable - 0.8 trillion. m 3. Gas production there began in the mid-60s; now 37 fields are in operation, 7 fields account for 1/2 of the production, among them Lehman Bank, Brent, Morekham. Production volume for 1990–2003 increased from I to 103 billion m 3. Foreign gas trade is insignificant; in 2003, its exports amounted to 15, and imports - 8 billion m 3. Through a gas pipeline laid at the bottom of the North Sea, gas reaches east coast islands of Great Britain in the area of Easington and Yorkshire. A major achievement of the British economy is that the entire manufacturing and consumer sectors are fully supplied with electricity. 86% of electricity is produced by thermal power plants, 12% by nuclear power plants and 2% by hydroelectric power plants. The overwhelming number of thermal power plants operate on coal, but in recent years some of them have switched to oil. The largest thermal power plants (with a capacity of more than 1 million kW) are located on the Trent River and near London. Hydro stations are generally small and are located mainly in the Scottish Highlands. Iron ore mining occurs in a relatively narrow belt that begins at Scunthorpe in Yorkshire in the north and stretches across the East Midlands to Banbury in the south. The ore here is of low quality, siliceous and contains only 33% metal. The need for iron ore is met by imports from Canada, Liberia and Mauritania. Ferrous metallurgy has developed greatly.
Today, Great Britain ranks eighth in the world in iron and steel smelting. The state-owned British Steel Corporation produces almost all the country's steel. There are 4 metallurgical districts preserved, of which only one is located in the center of the country: Sheffield-Rotherham, with its specialization in high-quality steel and electric steel, the rest are on the coast in ports (in South Wales - Port Talbot, Llanwern, in Humbersay de Scunthorpe , in Teesside - Redcar). Mechanical engineering, the largest branch of British industry, employs 1/4 of all those employed in the manufacturing industry. The industry accounts for 40% of conventionally pure manufacturing products. Transport engineering predominates. About 1/3 of the capital spent on the production of means of transport belongs to American companies that gained a foothold in the British Isles after the Second World War. There are enterprises in this industry in almost all areas and most cities of Great Britain. Electrical engineering is one of the growing and developing industries; it ranks second among manufacturing industries in terms of the number of employees. Several very large companies dominate the electrical industry: General Electric, English Electric and Associated Electrical Industries. The UK's position in the production of turbines and electric motors is still quite strong. But electronics now occupy a dominant position. The production of computer equipment is developing most dynamically, but the main position here is occupied by American capital, and in the production of consumer electronics - Japanese capital. British firms are traditionally strong in the production of radio-electronic equipment (radars, radio transmitters) and communications equipment. Aircraft manufacturing is one of the fastest growing branches of engineering in the UK. This industry is dominated by the largest state-owned company, British Airspace. It specializes in producing a wide range of different aircraft, helicopters, spacecraft, and rockets. The helicopters are manufactured by another large company, Westland Aircraft. Almost all aircraft engine production in the country is concentrated in the hands of the nationalized Rolls-Royce company, which has factories in Derby, Bristol, Coventry, and also in Scotland. Cooperation with Western European and American companies in the production of civilian and military equipment is widely developed. The latest chemical industry production is also one of the fastest growing industries. About 1/3 of the products of basic chemistry are inorganic chemicals - sulfuric acid, oxides of metals and non-metals. Among the many chemical industries, the production of synthetic fibers, various types of plastics, new dyes, pharmaceutical products and detergents began to stand out on a large scale. British chemistry is based on oil and gas raw materials and specializes in a fairly limited number of chemicals. Traditional sectors of the British economy, such as the textile industry, are also developing. Among the branches of light industry, it plays a special role in the industrial development of the country, in the spread of the machine method of production throughout the world. Woolen fabrics are produced mainly in West Yorkshire, rayon production predominates in the Yorkshire town of Silsden, and cotton fabrics are produced in Lancashire, in the small textile towns north-east of Manchester. The production of woolen fabrics, products, and yarn is the oldest in the British Isles. Woolen products from British textile manufacturers are still highly valued in foreign markets. In the structure of the manufacturing industry, the paper and printing industries (13.9%), food and tobacco (13.8%) have the largest share. Over the past half century, the food industry has become one of the main areas of concentration of British capital: of the 40 corporations in the country included in the “Club 500” of the largest companies in the world, this industry is represented by a dozen, led by Unilever, Diageo and Cadbury Schweppes. Food concentrates, confectionery products, drinks (including tea, Scotch whiskey and London gin), and tobacco products are highly competitive on the world market. The placement of the largest enterprises is focused on markets, including foreign ones. Thus, the UK ranks sixth among countries in terms of overall economic activity, GDP and industrial production.

5.Agriculture

In recent decades, the development of agriculture has significantly increased the scientific and technical level and productivity of which has become part of the national agro-industrial complex. The country's supply from local resources is steadily growing, and during the post-war period it has risen from 1/3 to 4/5, complete self-sufficiency has been achieved in products such as milk, there is a high supply of eggs, poultry, wheat, oats, barley, potatoes; Fruits, butter, sugar, and cheeses are imported. Under the conditions prevailing in the EU, one has to pay more for imported products compared to the possibilities of importing food from former colonies, which gives rise to constant contradictions between the UK and other EU members. UK agriculture is currently one of the most productive and mechanized in the world. The industry's employment share is 2% of total employment in the country. The total area of agricultural land is 58.3 million hectares (76% of all land in the country). The structure of agricultural production is dominated by livestock farming. Dairy and meat and dairy cattle breeding, pig breeding (bacon fattening), meat sheep breeding and poultry farming are also developed. England is one of the world's largest suppliers of sheep wool. Traditionally, livestock farming is concentrated in river basins. However, livestock farming suffered great damage in 2001 due to livestock diseases - first with spongiform encephalopathy (“mad cow disease”), and then with foot-and-mouth disease. In crop production, almost 60% of arable land is occupied by perennial grasses, over 28% by grain crops (including 15% by wheat, 11% by barley); 12% - under industrial (rapeseed, sugar beets, flax) and fodder crops (including potatoes), as well as vegetable gardens and berry fields. The main agricultural regions are East Anglia and the South East. There are many orchards in the country. Agriculture enjoys great support from the state and receives subsidies from the EU budget. For products such as wheat, barley, oats and pork, production volumes exceed consumption volumes; for such as: potatoes, beef, lamb, wool, sugar and eggs - the production volume is lower than the consumption volume. Thus, many of the UK's essential products have to be imported from other countries. They import 4/5 of the butter, 2/3 of the sugar, half of the wheat and bacon, and 1/4 of the beef and veal consumed in the country.

6.Transport

Great Britain is an island state, so all its external transport and trade is associated with sea and air transport. About 9/10 of the total cargo turnover is accounted for by sea transport, including 1/4 of cabotage. All areas of the UK, except the West Midlands, are, to one degree or another, directly connected to seaports, which serve as major transport hubs. The largest of them are London, Southampton, Liverpool, Hull and Harwich, with the London and Liverpool seaports handling about half of all cargo (by value). The UK is connected to the continent by a Channel Tunnel, two railway ferries (Dover - Dunkirk and Harwich - Ostend), and numerous sea car and passenger ferries - with Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Holland and France. In domestic freight transport, road transport plays the largest role. The leading role in domestic transportation is occupied by road transport - 85% of passenger transportation and 81% of freight transportation. The territory of Great Britain is covered by a dense network of roads. The length of asphalt roads is 406.4 thousand km. Unlike other developed countries, the UK, with a high density of roads, only 4% is made up of modern motorways, which attract 36% traffic flows. The most intense traffic is along the London-Birmingham-Manchester-Glasgow axial motorway. London and Glasgow have underground trains. To increase competitiveness, railways were electrified (1/3 of the lines), and express trains for passengers and cargo were launched on the main routes. The government is implementing various organizational measures to modernize this type of transport. Value drops river transport. The length of waterways is 3.2 thousand km. Inland waterways (rivers and canal networks) are now used mainly for recreational purposes only. Cargo transportation is carried out mainly within the deep-water estuaries of the Mersey, Thames, Severn, and Humber. Developing quickly air transport. Since the 1980s air transportation of passengers and cargo has more than tripled. British Airways is a leading international airline. There are about 450 civil airports in the country - the largest of them is Heathrow. The pipeline transport network is rapidly expanding; it is connected to gas pipelines coming from the North Sea fields; the total length of pipelines is 3.9 thousand km. - up to 75% of oil reaches land via oil pipelines.

Transport in the UK therefore plays an important role in domestic freight and passenger transport. So the Channel Tunnel with two railway ferries transports 60-80% of the total population per day.

7.Science and finance

Great Britain's contribution to the treasury of world science, primarily to the development of natural and technical sciences. Among the outstanding scientists - physicists, chemists, biologists: I. Newton, R. Boyle, R. Hooke, J. Joule, M. Faraday, J. Maxwell, C. Darwin, Cavendish, E. Rutherford. The works of British philosophers, sociologists, historians, and economists became world famous: R. Bacon, T. More, Fr. Bacon, T. Hobbes, I. Bentham, W. Petty, A. Smith, D. Ricardo, J. Mill, R. Owen, T. R. Malthus, A. Marshall, J. M. Keynes, B. Russell. More than 70 British scientists have been awarded Nobel Prizes. The UK accounts for approximately 4.5% of global spending on science and 8% of all scientific publications. The importance of science in the UK can be seen in the changes that have taken place in education. Technical schools and colleges, as well as graduate programs at other institutions, are seeking to increase the number of professional scientific workers. Schools work closely with industry. The Manchester Research Council brings together university scientists and members of the Chamber of Commerce. Industrially important research is being carried out at the University of Sheffield in the field of glass technology, and in Cheshire in the use of radio telescopes. There are more than 200 scientific institutions and organizations in the UK, publishing more than 400 scientific periodicals. As for libraries, let's name the main ones. The British Museum Library in London (more than 10 million volumes), the Cambridge University Library (more than 3.5 million volumes), the Bodleian Library in Oxford (more than 4.5 million volumes), and the Scottish National Library in Edinburgh (more than 4 million volumes), Welsh National Library in Aberystwyth (more than 2 million volumes). Copies of all published books are sent, in accordance with the law, to the British Museum for copyright purposes, as well as to other libraries if requests for these publications are received from them. The largest libraries are located at the universities of London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St. Andrews, Queen's (in Belfast), John Ryland (in Manchester), the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum. Important collections of special editions are held in the Patent Office, India House, the Public Record Office, the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, the Arts Council, the National Book League, the National Archives, the Royal Botanic Gardens. , the Institute of Contemporary History (Wiener Library) and the National Library for the Blind. There are about 500 state library boards, with more than 40,000 branches and lending more than 400 million books a year. Delivery of books using specially equipped vehicles is becoming increasingly popular in remote areas. The book collections are complemented by a large number of video and audio materials. UK companies have reduced their R&D (Research and Development) spending. According to this indicator, the UK ranks fifth among the seven leading industrialized countries. In the field of high technology, British firms are ahead of Japanese and German companies, but behind the United States and France. This situation is caused not only by a decrease in the level of development funding from the companies themselves, but also by a decrease in support from the state. The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Finance are developing a joint policy to increase investment in R&D and to optimize the process of introducing research results into all sectors of the country's economy. The participation of the Ministry of Finance underscores the attention the government is paying to solving this problem. The two ministries are leading working groups involved in restructuring the organization and financing of British R&D. The Treasury Chief Treasurer is sponsoring a group led by a director of British Biotech. The group studies R&D financing in high-tech companies, and, in particular, financing of the initial stage of development. The Department of Trade and Industry sponsors the Tech-Stars group to overcome barriers to the development of small and medium-sized firms in the high technology field. The Minister of Science heads the working group on issues of inventive activity and the implementation of inventions in industry. The Investment Working Group is chaired by Lord Hollick and is looking at the constraints to investment in R&D. All groups include representatives from banking, joint ventures, and manufacturing and service firms. Thus, scientific and technical programs have been developed and are being implemented aimed at solving pressing problems of industry and society, which include: creating a promising vehicle future; reduction of pollution levels major cities countries; creation of promising materials for industry; genetic and environmental balance of human health; integrated approach to aging problems. And the role of science in Great Britain is very significant.

8.Recreation and tourism

For most visits to the UK, a multiple-entry visitor visa is issued, valid for 6 months. In some cases, a visitor visa may be issued for a single visit. Russian citizens, thanks to a concession under the UK Immigration Rules, may not receive a transit visa and leave transit zone airport if your stay in the UK is no more than 24 hours. In cooking, the British are as committed to tradition as in many other things. For centuries, the English day begins with a traditional breakfast: scrambled eggs with fried bacon, fried tomatoes, mushrooms, sausages and black pudding. Nowadays, oatmeal and corn flakes are more often served. After breakfast, tea and toast with orange marmalade will be waiting for you. Lunch, or second breakfast, is served at half past two, followed by tea or a light lunch at 5 o'clock and dinner at 7. Snacks and sandwiches are very popular - triangular sandwiches have already become one of the many English traditions. Puree soups and broths are common first courses, but they are rarely served and are not an integral part of the daily meal. Spices and herbs are used very rarely. The British eat a lot of meat: beef, veal, lamb, pork. It is baked whole, rare, or cut into steaks and fried in a frying pan. The meat is always served with gravy, baked vegetables (usually potatoes) and pickles. Of the intoxicating drinks, beer is especially popular - black ale and porter, and draft beer is especially valued, as well as whiskey, gin, brandy, rum, and port. Placements in the UK are divided into three types:

Hotel – a hotel where it is provided full service by placement;
B&B and Inn - guest accommodation providing the necessary service for bed and breakfast;
Motel – budget or roadside hotels, informal accommodation options with very limited services. are managed by private entrepreneurs and have limited opportunities for businessmen.

In addition to the star rating, hotels can be assigned specific names. MetroHotel (metro hotel). Does not offer hot meals to guests, but must be within walking distance from catering establishments. CountryHouseHotel (country home hotel). The hotel should have a small park or garden - secluded and quiet. SmallHotel (mini-hotel). The maximum number of rooms is 20. Typically, such hotels are managed by private entrepreneurs and have limited opportunities for businessmen. The main attractions of England and the whole of Great Britain are located, of course, in London, where, for example, in the City area tradition and modernity are combined. And also in the capital of Scotland - Edinburgh. Big Ben ( Appendix 1) - This is a huge clock that stands on the tower of St. Stephen. This clock, located on the tower of the United Kingdom Parliament, is recognized by its sound and heard throughout the world because its chime is broadcast hourly on BBC radio. Tourists are not allowed to enter Big Ben; you can get to the very top of the ninety-six-meter tower via a very narrow spiral staircase. After going through all three hundred and thirty-four steps, you can get to a small open area, this is where the legendary bell is located. Big Ben is one bell. It is more than two meters high and has a diameter of three meters. British museum(Appendix 2) - British Library, reading room of the British Museum, which is a huge cylindrical room. All the walls of this room are lined with books. Buckingham Palace(Appendix 3) - Buckingham Palace is located opposite the gilded marble monument to Queen Victoria opposite Pall Mall. If the Queen is in the palace, then the royal flag flies on the roof of the palace. At the request of the Queen's ancestor, King George IV, the palace was built according to the architectural design of John Nash. The cost of construction reached seven hundred pounds due to the mass of excesses of this kind, such as, for example, five hundred veined marble blocks from Carrara Edinburgh castle(Appendix 4) Edinburgh Castle is located in the very center of the city, so it is visible from everywhere. None of the passing tourists can pass by. Because the castle is enormous. But besides entertainment, it attracts with its age and historical significance. Stonehenge. A giant structure in the center of Europe - Stonehenge - is a stone mystery. In general, Stonehenge is a gigantic structure that includes 82 five-ton megaliths, 30 stone blocks weighing 25 tons and 5 huge trilithons weighing 50 tons. The stone blocks are stacked in the form of arches pointing to the cardinal directions. Until recently, scientists believed that this structure was erected in 3100 BC by the tribes of the British Isles for the purpose of observing the Sun and Moon. But recently this idea has been revised. London parks- this is a special attraction, which is a green spot in the very center of the city, covering an area of more than three hundred hectares. The huge size of the parks and their length create the illusion of an untouched natural landscape, creating an environment that contrasts with the super-urban landscape of the city. The importance of parks for restoring the atmosphere of central London is enormous, which is why they are called the “lungs of London”. Museum of Z. Freud. Sigmunda Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, lived in this house with her family since 1938 after fleeing the Nazi regime in Austria. Until 1982, Freud’s youngest daughter, also a psychoanalyst, lived here. Now it houses both a museum and a research center. Tower of London. In a book dedicated to the nine-hundredth anniversary of the Tower, the Duke of Edinburgh wrote: “During its history, the Tower of London has been a fortress, a palace, a repository of royal jewels, an arsenal, a mint, a prison, an observatory, a zoo, and a place attracting tourists." Ferris wheel(LondonEye) is the world's largest Ferris wheel. Such a gift to Londoners and guests of the city was made by 2000. The Ferris wheel has 32 cabins, each of which can accommodate 25 people; a full revolution of the wheel takes half an hour. The construction of the huge Ferris wheel was financed by British Airways. From a height of one hundred and thirty-five meters there is a wonderful view of London; in favorable weather you can see the city and its surroundings within a radius of forty kilometers. Cathedral saint Pavel is the residence of the Bishop of London, as well as the spiritual center of the City. Architect Sir Christopher Wren monitored the progress of construction of the cathedral from the windows of his house, which was located on the opposite bank of the river. From there he could see the work at the top of Ludgate Hill. The construction of this masterpiece lasted for thirty-five years. Sherlock Holmes House built in 1815. The British government declared it an architectural and historical monument second category. From 1860 to 1934, the house was a private property and a boarding house, but with the acquisition of the building by the International Society, it became the home of Sherlock Holmes. Windsor Palace- this castle, which is visible from Windsor Park, was considered very romantic by great people. To the left of it is the Round Tower. The architect Geoffrey Whiteville was awarded the knighthood for his creation in 1828. Westminster Abbey – its beauty was carefully created by different generations of royals, starting with Edward the Confessor, who ascended the throne in 1040. It is a pity that the church he built was consecrated only in 1065, when the king became weak and could not attend the consecration ceremony. The following year, on Christmas Day, the coronation of William the Conqueror took place in the church. Thus, in Great Britain, tradition and modernity have been combined, traditions in cooking, religion and cultural values, and modernity in education, the upbringing of younger generations and social development.

9.Environmental protection and environmental issues

Today, a three-year project to create a database of building materials is at the last stage of implementation. The project is supported by 24 trade organizations involved in the production and supply of building materials, and is aimed at improving their quality, service life and checking how well they meet the principles of energy saving, environmental protection and human health. Recent sociological studies show about 70% of respondents believe that the state of the environment in their living quarters requires improvement. That's why the Building Institute is planning to issue guidelines for construction firms on how they can improve the quality of their buildings and their compliance with environmental regulations. To encourage construction firms to take part in this important cause, the institute plans to publish a book, "Environment. Competition. Profit", which will include data on all firms that are serious about protecting the environment. The UK is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions . According to Kyoto Protocol commitments, the country has already reduced emissions by 12.5% compared to 1990 and plans to reach 20% in 2010. It is planned that by 2015, 33% of household waste will be recycled or used as fertilizer. Between 1999 and 2000, recycling of household waste increased from 8.8% to 10.3%. The UK has ratified the following international agreements: “on environmental protection”, “on air pollution” (nitrogen oxides, sulfur, organic compounds), “on the protection of the natural environment of Antarctica”, “on the conservation of marine resources of Antarctica”. “The Antarctic Treaty”, “On Biodiversity”, the UN Framework Convention “on Climate Change”, the Kyoto Protocol “on desertification”, “on hazardous waste”, the Maritime Convention, the ban on nuclear weapons tests, “on the protection of whales” and others. Thus, by signing the above treaties and agreements, Great Britain seeks to reduce and partially eliminate the environmental problem.

Conclusion

This essay was written using four sources, having studied which I can conclude that Great Britain is now a highly developed state, one of the leading world powers. In terms of industrial production, it ranks fifth in the world after the USA, Japan, Germany and France. But this is not done yet. In Britain, minerals are being mined and new methods of extracting them are being developed. Due to the fact that Britain is an island state, it remains one of the largest maritime powers today. Due to its economic and geographical position, the UK still has development options. This country can only develop and improve its position in the world.

Annex 1

1-1976; 2-1998; 3-2004; 4-2005; 5-2007; 6-2009

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Appendix 4

Appendix 5

Bibliography:

1.Internet "Great Soviet Encyclopedia". Editor-in-Chief S.I. Vavilov. State scientific publishing house "Big Soviet Encyclopedia". Volume No. 7. 1951.2.Internet Directory “Countries of the World”. 1976. Moscow. Publishing house of political literature. 3. Internet Encyclopedia for children. "Avanta+". Volume 13. “Countries. Peoples. Civilizations". 1999.

Soviet encyclopedic dictionary. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia
1979.- p.204.

Ministry of General and Vocational Education

Sverdlovsk region

State educational institution

primary vocational education

Vocational school for training trade workers

Economic-geographical

country characteristics

Great Britain

Essay

Executor:

Telitsyna M.M.

student of group No. 21

Supervisor:

geography teacher

Khorzova T.V.

Ekaterinburg

Introduction…………………………………………………………………….…3

1.Territory, borders, position of the country……………………………...4

2. Natural conditions and resources……………………………………......5

3.Population…………………………………………………………….7

4. Economy and industry………………………………………...8

5.Agriculture…………………………………………………….11

6.Transport…………………………………………………………….12

7.Science and finance……………………………………………………….13

8.Recreation and tourism………………………………………………………......15

9.Environmental protection and environmental problems…………....18

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………….19

Appendix 1…………………………………………………………….20

Appendix 2…………………………………………………………….21

Appendix 3…………………………………………………………….22

Appendix 4…………………………………………………………….23

Appendix 5…………………………………………………………….24

References………………………………………………………25

Introduction

1. Territory, borders, position of the country

Great Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is an irregularly shaped archipelago with a very diverse landscape and nature. The area of Great Britain is approximately 240,842 sq. km. Most of it is land, and the rest is rivers and lakes. England's area is 129,634 square meters. km., Wales - 20,637 sq. km., Scotland - 77,179 sq. km. and Northern Ireland - 13,438 sq. km. The southern tip of the island of Great Britain, the Cornwall peninsula, is located at 50° N, and the northernmost part of the Shetland archipelago is at 60° N. The length of the island of Great Britain from north to south is 966 km, and its greatest width is half that. Great Britain has a complex administrative-territorial division. It consists of 4 historical and geographical regions: England (45 counties and a special administrative unit - Greater London). Wales (8 counties); Northern Ireland (26 counties); Scotland (12 regions); independent administrative units - the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. From the west, Great Britain is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and from the east by the waters of the North Sea. From the south, Great Britain borders on France - its closest and most developed neighbor, which shares water borders with it. The shortest distance to the northern coast of France is the Strait of Dover, but the main communication between the states is through the English Channel, called the English Channel by the British, along the bottom of which a tunnel for high-speed rail transport was built at the end of the twentieth century. Before this, communication between the two countries was carried out by water or air. Also, the closest neighbors of Great Britain are Belgium and the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Norway are located much further away. Thus, the UK’s EGP is both neighboring and coastal, which is extremely beneficial for the economic development of the country, although it has some disadvantages in strategic and military terms.

2. Natural conditions and resources The climate of Great Britain is temperate, oceanic, very humid with mild winters and cool summers. The British Isles are characterized by frequent fog and strong winds. The temperate oceanic climate and the influence of the warm North Atlantic Current create favorable conditions for the development of agriculture. The average temperature of the coldest month - January - does not fall below +3.5 degrees even in the extreme northeast of Great Britain, and in the southwest it reaches +5.5 degrees. Snow falls throughout the country in winter, but very unevenly. In the mountainous regions of Scotland, snow cover lasts for at least 1-1.5 months. In the south of England, and especially in the southwest, snow falls very rarely and lasts no more than a week. Here the grass is green all year round. High soil cultivation is an important factor in increasing agricultural productivity. In the British climate, rivers are full of water. The largest are the Thames, Severn, Trent, and Mersey. Rivers are only used as a source of energy in the Scottish Highlands. The UK does not have a large variety of mineral resources. The importance of hard coal is especially great, the total reserves of which amount to 190 billion tons. Three basins stand out as the largest reserves and production: Yorkshire and South Wales. In addition to these three largest coal basins, an important role is played by the Scottish basins, stretching in a chain from the western to the eastern edge of the Lowlands, as well as the Lancashire and West Midlands, consisting of a number of small deposits. There are small outcrops of coal seams on the coast of the Kimberland Peninsula and in the extreme southeast of England - the Kent Basin. In the 60s, oil and gas fields were discovered on the North Sea shelf. Large deposits are located off the coast of southeast England and northeast Scotland. Great Britain ranks sixth in the world oil producer. Oil reserves in Great Britain reach 770 million tons. In addition to large energy resources, the UK has significant reserves of iron ore. But their deposits are characterized by low metal content in the ore (22-33%). The largest field is the East Midlands. Until recently, Great Britain supplied half of its needs for this type of raw material with its own iron ore, the rest was purchased through imports. Currently, the mining of low-quality ore has proven to be unprofitable, so production has been curtailed and switched to importing high-quality ores from Sweden, Canada, Brazil and a number of African countries. In the past, small deposits of copper and lead-zinc ores, as well as tin, were mined in the UK. Their deposits are severely depleted and production is now very small. They mine some tungsten. Uranium ores have been found in Scotland. Of non-metallic industrial raw materials, the extraction of kaolin or white clay is significant, as well as rock salt in Cheshire and Durham and potash salt in Yorkshire. The country's soil cover is dominated by a variety of podzolic soils and brown soils. The meadow soils near the Wash Bay are the most fertile. In general, the soils in Great Britain are highly cultivated and produce high yields. Great Britain is characterized by a cultural landscape. Only in the mountainous regions of the country is natural vegetation preserved. The forests are dominated by broad-leaved species (oak, hornbeam, elm, beech) and only in Scotland - pine. Today, only 9% of the UK's territory is occupied by forests. However, the country gives the impression of being very wooded thanks to the hedges that surround the fields and meadows, as well as small areas of woodland and numerous parks. Only the western coast, exposed to westerly winds carrying salty sea spray, is almost devoid of vegetation. Thus, due to the temperate oceanic climate in the UK, the grass is green all year round, i.e. Soil productivity is high. The UK does not have a large variety of minerals, however, some of them played a huge role in shaping its industrial areas, and the UK is now more of an importer than an exporter. 3. Population

· English - 83.6%,

· Scots (mainly in Scotland) - 8.5%,

· Welsh (mainly in Wales) - 4.9%,

· Irish (mainly in Northern Ireland, Ulsterians) - 2.9%.

Immigrants and their children live mainly in the Greater London, West Midlands and Merseyside conurbations. They make up about 8% of the country's population, including:

people from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh - 3.6%,
China - 0.4%,
African countries - 0.8%,
dark-skinned people from the Caribbean islands - 1%

Great Britain (United Kingdom) is an island state, most of whose territory is located on two large islands separated by the waters of the Irish Sea. The total area of Great Britain is 244,017 square meters. km. The population of Great Britain is 58,395 thousand people.

Officially the country is called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It consists of four countries: England, Scotland and Wales, located on the island of Britain, and Northern Ireland. The latter is located on the same island as the Independent Republic of Ireland. Thus, the UK shares a common land border only with Ireland.

The British Isles lie off the northwestern coast of Europe. The British Isles are surrounded by many small islands. To the southwest of the island of Britain are the Isles of Scilly, and to the north of Wales is the Isle of Anglesey. On the western and northern coasts of Scotland there are numerous small islands that are part of Great Britain. The most important of these are the Orkney Shetland Islands.

From the west, Great Britain is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and from the east by the waters of the North Sea.

From the south, Great Britain borders on France - its closest and most developed neighbor, which shares water borders with it. The shortest distance to the northern coast of France is the Strait of Dover, but the main communication between the states is through the English Channel, called the English Channel by the British, along the bottom of which a tunnel for high-speed rail transport was built at the end of the twentieth century. Before this, communication between the two countries was carried out by water or air.

Also, the closest neighbors of Great Britain are Belgium and the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Norway are located much further away.

Thus, the UK’s EGP is both neighboring and coastal, which is extremely beneficial for the economic development of the country, although it undoubtedly has certain disadvantages in strategic and military terms.

The administrative map of Great Britain has changed several times, because... the annexation of the countries that make up the United Kingdom took centuries. Each once independent state has its own capital or administrative center. The official capital of Great Britain is London, since the unification of the lands took place around England.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Great Britain, being in first place in the world in terms of economic development, created a colossal colonial power that occupied almost a quarter of the planet's territory. British colonies included India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and much of Africa. In the twentieth century, the English colonies became independent states, but many of them are part of the British Commonwealth, headed by the British monarch. In 1921 South part Ireland separated from Great Britain and became an independent state.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is located in the British Isles. This is the largest archipelago in Europe. It includes two big islands– Great Britain and Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, and another 5 thousand small islands, among which three groups of islands in the north stand out: Hybrid, Orkney and Scottish. The territory of the country is 244.1 thousand square meters. km, this is half the size of the largest countries in Western Europe - France and Spain.

Great Britain has a complex administrative-territorial division. It consists of 4 historical and geographical regions: England (45 counties and a special administrative unit - Greater London); Wales (8 counties); Northern Ireland (26 counties); Scotland (12 regions); independent administrative units - the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

To a certain extent, the rapid economic development of Great Britain was facilitated by its favorable geographical location. This maritime power, formerly a "great maritime power", is located on the continental shelf. The British archipelago is separated by the shallow North Sea from the developed countries of Western and Northern Europe (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Germany), and by the narrow English Channel (20 km) and Pas de Calais (33 km) from France. A railway tunnel running along the bottom of the English Channel connects Great Britain and France, putting an end to the country's maritime isolation.

The country's role in the international arena is great. Great Britain has been a member of the UN since 1945, a permanent member of the Security Council, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) since 1949, a member of the European Union since 1973, the Western European Union since 1954. Head of the British Commonwealth, created in 1931 and includes 50 states, former British dominions and colonies, which maintain close economic and political ties with Great Britain. Great Britain has been a member of the military-political organization NATO since 1949 and has nuclear missile weapons. Plays a major role in such international economic organizations as the Paris Club and the London Club, which regulate the monetary and financial problems of the West and largely determine the policy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Natural conditions and resources. The natural resource factor had a great influence on the formation of the territorial structure of the economy.

Great Britain has a variety of landforms: mountainous terrain predominates in the north and west, and lowland - in the east. Highest point country - Mount Ben Nevis (1343 m) is located in mountainous Scotland. The Pennine Ridge has the greatest extent, stretching from north to south. A vast, rolling plain occupies the south-east and center of the country, while the flattest lowland, the Fenland, surrounds the Wash. In Scotland, the Lowlands stretch between the Northern and Southern Highlands.

The climate of Great Britain is temperate, oceanic, very humid with mild winters and cool summers. The British Isles are characterized by frequent fog and strong winds. The temperate oceanic climate and the influence of the warm North Atlantic Current create favorable conditions for the development of agriculture (in the southwest, plants grow all year round). High soil cultivation is an important factor in increasing agricultural productivity.

In the British climate, rivers are full of water. The largest are the Thames, Severn, Trent, and Mersey.

The importance of river estuaries that extend far into the land, as well as the overall great ruggedness, is very important coastline. This allowed the creation of many ports. Rivers as a source of energy are used only in the highlands of Scotland and North Wales.

In general, the country does not have significant mineral reserves, with the exception of fuel and energy. Coal reserves are estimated at 190–200 billion tons. Total and recoverable reserves are about 50 billion tons (first place in Western Europe). The main deposits are located in the Lowlands of Scotland.

In the 60s, oil deposits were discovered on the North Sea shelf; proven reserves are estimated at 2.4 billion tons, which is approximately 35% of the oil reserves of the entire North Sea shelf (2% of world reserves). About 50 deposits have been found, the largest of which are Brent and Fortis, together accounting for 33% of the total production.

In 1959, large natural gas deposits were discovered in the western North Sea. In 1965, 70 km. Industrial gas production began east of Clinthorpes. Its total reserves are estimated at 1.2 trillion. cube m. Currently, 37 out of 60 natural gas fields are being developed.

Great Britain also has other mineral resources. Iron ores, mostly phosphorous, of low quality

The UK has minor reserves of tin in Cornwall, lead-zinc ores in Wales and uranium ores in Scotland.

Kaolin is mined in Cornwall; rock salt - in Cheshire and Durham; potassium salts - in Yorkshire.

UK population. The main productive force of society is the population. In 2000, the total population of Great Britain was 58.6 million people, the natural population increase was 0.1% per year.

The dominant and most numerous nation in Great Britain is the English; they make up 80% of the population (about 46.9 million people). They inhabit England proper, most of Wales and form compact settlements in some areas in the south of Scotland. English language belongs to the northwestern group of Germanic languages. English is also spoken by the majority of the country's population of Celtic origin - Scots and Welsh.

Of the Celtic peoples of Great Britain, the most numerous are the Scots, whose number exceeds 5.1 million people (10%). They inhabit mainly the northwestern regions of the island of Great Britain and the Scottish, Orkney and Hebrides islands adjacent to their coast.

The basis of the Scottish language was one of the northern dialects of the Anglo-Saxon language. The Scottish language included many words from the Gaelic it supplanted, in addition, it was noticeably influenced by the Scandinavian languages.

From the XIV to the XVII centuries. he was state language Scottish state. With Scotland losing its independence, the Scots language is gradually being replaced by English.

In recent years, a national movement has gained momentum in Scotland. The nationalist ideas of this movement are developed by the Scottish National Party, created in 1928, which fights for a democratic solution to the social and national problems of Scotland.

The historical fate and ethnic development of the Welsh (about 2.1 million people, less than 4% of the total population) were different from those of the Scots.

Wales was early conquered by the English; its population underwent greater assimilation than the Scots.

There has been bitter fighting for years in Northern Ireland, which was annexed by the British state in 1922 while the rest of Ireland achieved independence. The United Kingdom then included six counties from the nine Irish provinces of Ulster. The ethnic composition of the population of this region is heterogeneous. About 500 thousand indigenous inhabitants of the island live here (these are Catholic Irish) and more than 1 million Anglo-Irish and Scots-Irish. This composition of the population developed here in the 17th–18th centuries. during the period of intensive colonization of Ireland by the English government.

Unlike the rest of Ireland, where land was distributed to large English owners - landlords, in Ulster plots of land were allocated to small and medium-sized tenants, English and Scots from the southern part of Scotland.

Thus, in Ulster historically there were three population groups that differed from each other in religion and culture, and were wary, and sometimes hostile, towards each other. The eastern regions of Northern Ireland were occupied by settlers from Scotland - Presbyterians, the central and northern provinces were settled by the British belonging to the English Church, in the extreme western and border areas with Ireland lived the remnants of the indigenous population - the Irish, Catholics in their religion.

Over time, a rapprochement took place between the English and Scottish settlers based on common interests, and at present they are already acting as a united front against the native Irish Catholics. Power in Northern Ireland is concentrated in the hands of this Protestant majority, and Irish Catholics are discriminated against in a variety of areas. Very often it is in the means mass media appears as a simple religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants. In fact, the causes of the struggle in Northern Ireland represent a complex knot of national, socio-economic and regional contradictions, the roots of which go back centuries.

A fairly large group of the population (about 500 thousand people) in Great Britain are Jews, living mainly in London and other large cities.

After the Second World War, due to large restoration work and the development of productivity, the influx of workers from European countries to England increased. Currently, 1 million immigrants from various European countries live in the UK, and the total number of foreign citizens in the UK is over 2.5 million people, or less than 5% of the country's total population. In addition, from 50 to 60 thousand temporary workers from Europe arrive in the country every year (most of all from Italy, and now from Eastern Europe). Since the 1950s, the flow of immigrants from Commonwealth countries, the West Indies, India and Pakistan has increased sharply. The situation of this category of citizens is very difficult. Most of they are employed in unskilled work, in the service sector, etc.

The growing number of immigrants from the former British colonies raised questions about race relations. The government, in its special acts, is attempting to limit immigration from its former colonies.

The UK is one of the most densely populated and highly urbanized countries in the world.

On average per 1 sq. km accounted for 246.3 people in 2000. However, the population is distributed very unevenly throughout the country. The bulk of the UK population is concentrated in England, which has the most advantageous geographical location and favorable natural conditions. Here the average density per 1 sq. km exceeds 356 people. Half of the UK's population lives in the London-Liverpool belt. The most sparsely populated areas are in Scotland, with its harsh natural conditions compared to other parts of the country. The population density here is less than 90 people per 1 sq. km, with the population concentrated mainly on the coasts, river valleys and lowlands (especially around Glasgow and Edinburgh).

In 2000, 89.4% of the population lived in cities. The urban population growth rate is 0.4% per year. The so-called English metropolis is being formed, uniting the agglomerations of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and other cities, a total of 30 urban agglomerations. The total area of the metropolis is 50 thousand square meters. km, population – 30–35 million people.

The average life expectancy is high, for men – 75 years, for women – 80.5 years.

The total workforce is about 30 million people. A positive trend in the economy is that the number of people employed in manual and unskilled labor has decreased, and, on the contrary, the number of people employed in jobs requiring high qualifications has increased.

In 2000, the unemployment rate was 6.3% (1,812 thousand people).

The share of the population living below the poverty line, according to UN experts, is 10.6%; living below the average income - 50%, 13.1% - have an income of 14.4 dollars per day.

Political system. Great Britain is a parliamentary monarchy. The country does not have a constitution in the form of a single fundamental law. Legislative acts adopted by parliament and judicial precedents have constitutional significance.

The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II (since 02/06/1952), who belongs to the Hanoverian dynasty of English monarchs, is the 40th British monarch since the conquest of England by the Normans (1066). The Queen is considered the supreme bearer of executive power, the head judicial system, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the secular head of the Church of England, has the formal right to summon Parliament into session, dissolve the House of Commons, authorize bills passed by Parliament, and ratify international treaties. However, in practice, all major royal prerogatives are exercised by the cabinet and parliament.

The state legislative body is parliament, consisting of two chambers. The House of Lords includes about 1,200 hereditary and life peers, Lords of Appeal and Lords Spiritual (two archbishops and 24 bishops of the English Church) and the highest court of appeal. The House of Commons is an elected body consisting of 649 deputies elected for five years under a majority system of relative majority by direct and secret ballot on the basis of universal suffrage.

In the absence of a constitution and according to the provision of “parliamentary sovereignty”, parliament is not bound by previously adopted decisions and can repeal acts of constitutional significance. British courts are deprived of the right to review or repeal acts of parliament and are obliged to apply not the provisions arising from the international legal obligations of Great Britain, but the norms of parliamentary status.

As a result of the general elections in May 1997, the Labor Party received an absolute majority in the House of Commons (418 seats). The Conservatives have 165 seats, the Lib Dems have 46, the Ulster Unionist Party has 10, the Scottish National Party has 6 and the Welsh National Party has 4.

The government is formed by the leader of the party that wins the majority of seats in the House of Commons in the elections. In 1997, Tony Blair became prime minister. Labor replaced the Conservatives, who had been in power for 18 years without a break.

Political parties. The Conservative Party became institutionalized in 1867 (about 1.5 million members). Domestically, the party pursued a policy of implementing broad social and economic reforms, including decentralization and privatization of the economy. In foreign policy terms, conservatives are characterized by a NATO-wide approach to solving international problems. The party shares the concept of “nuclear deterrence”, advocates maintaining a “special relationship” with the United States, modernizing the UK’s nuclear potential, and continuing the country’s membership in NATO and the EU. On the issue of European integration, differences remain in the ranks of the Conservatives, which has complicated the passage through parliament of the Maastricht Agreements, which are regarded by the majority in the party leadership as a worthy compromise that takes into account British national interests.

The Labor Party of Great Britain (LPP), founded in 1890, unites 6.4 million collective and individual members. It puts forward the principles of “democratic socialism” as an ideological basis; in economic policy it is committed to the concept of a mixed economy.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was formed in 1988 by merging the liberal and social democratic parties, which have acted in the political arena in an alliance since 1981, uniting about

60 thousand people. The political platform of the LDP is centrist, largely a compromise (between the two main parties) and vague. Its main components: the need to maintain Britain's nuclear weapons and the country's membership in NATO. In internal issues, the LDP also follows an intermediate line, advocates the fight against unemployment, the priority solution of social problems, and the cessation of further denationalization, but in general relies on a market economy and the development of competition.

Changes in EGP over time in the UK. Economic and geographical characteristics of the country of Great Britain

Great Britain egp. Britain's position in relation to neighboring countries.

Characteristics of Great Britain

The country's position in relation to neighboring countries. Economic and geographical position of countries

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