Islands, seas, channels

Part 1 the Countrystudy of Great Britain

The geographical position of Great Britain

1.1. Islands, seas, channels

1.2. The parts of Great Britain

1.3. Relief

1.4. Climate

1.5. Vegetation and Animal life

1.6. Mineral resources

Islands, seas, channels

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is an official name of the country, which is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles is a large group of islands lying off the north-western coast of Europe and separated from the continent by the English Channel and the Strait of Dover in the south and the North Sea in the east. Their total area is over 244, 000 square kilometres.

The English Channel, in its widest part in the west is 220 km wide, and in the narrowest, what is called the Strait of Dover, only 32 km. So, the islands have had an easy and mainly profitable contact with mainland Europe. In the past there were a number of schemes how to connect the two coasts. In 1994 the dream came true: the construction of the two-rail tunnel was completed and it was opened for public use. The journey through the tunnel takes about 33 minutes now.

The most important sea routes pass through the English Channel and the North Sea linking Europe with the Americas and other continents. The advantageous geographical position of Great Britain created favourable conditions for the development of shipping, trade and the economy as a whole.

The British Isles consist of two large islands – Great Britain and Ireland – separated by the Irish Sea, and a lot of small islands, the main of which are the Isle of Wight in the English Channel, Anglesea and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, the Hebrides – a group of islands lying to the north of Scotland, the main occupation of people here is farming, and two groups of islands lying to the north of Scotland: the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands.

The Isle of Man (571 sq km) is administrated by its own Manx Parliament and has a population of about 50, 000 chiefly engaged in farming, fishing and tourist trade. The largest settlement is the holiday resort of Douglas.

Another important island in the Irish Sea is Anglesey, situated of the north coast of Wales. Anglesey contains only 52, 000 people, and more of the working population are now engaged in industry than in fishing and agriculture. This is due partly to an increase in the tourist trade and partly to the introduction of several new industries, for example, the operation of the nuclear power station at Wylfa.

The Isle of Wight is in the English Channel. It’s a diamond-shaped, 40 km from west to east, and about half as much from north to south. The Isle of Wight lies across the Southern end of Southampton Water, and is separated from the mainland by the Solent. With its sunny beaches and pleasant varied countryside, the island forms one of the most important tourist resorts. It is linked to London by ferry and rail services. Also lying in the English Channel off the extreme south-western coast of Great Britain is a tiny group of the Isles of Scilly, another resort area.

The Orkney Islands compose about hundred islands. Most of the people (about 20, 000) are engaged in dairy and poultry farming. Bacon, cheese and eggs are exported to Central Scotland.

The Shetland Islands are situated about 70 miles north of the Orkneys. They provide thin poor soils suitable only for rough pasture. The population (18, 000) is actively engaged in herring-fishing. Apart from fish, the only exports from the islands are Shetland ponies and lace knitted from the wool of local sheep.

The British Isles are known for their greatly intended coastline. Therefore there are many bays and harbours, peninsulas and capes on the coast, which were formed as a result of the raising and submerging of the land surface in the process of the geological development of the islands. Due to its extreme identity the coastline of Great Britain, despite its relatively modest size, is 8, 000 km long. Very much intended is the western coast, especially the coasts of Scotland and Wales.

The east coast is less lofty and more regular than the west coast, and the coastal lowlands are flooded frequently.