Scotland

Location

Scotland is part of the United Kingdom.

It is situated to the north of England.

It is surrounded by the North Sea to the east and by the Irish Sea to the south-west.

The country is made up of 790 islands.

Official languages and climate English is the official language.

Scottish Gaelic is spoken in some regions too.

The climate of Scotland is oceanic and tends to be very changeable.

Winters are usually mild.

It can be windy and rainy in the summer..

Population and major cities

The population of Scotland is almost 5 and a half million people.

The two largest cities are Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Other cities include Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness.

Scottish symbols The national coat

of arms of Scotland

Thistle is the national flower.

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital

city of Scotland.

It is the historical centre of the country.

There are many beautiful buildings, famous museums and art galleries.

Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress and a popular tourist attraction.

Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city

in Scotland.

It is a very important industrial and financial centre.

It is situated on the river Clyde.

There are many impressive modern buildings in Glasgow.

Nature There are many

beautiful landscapes in Scotland.

You can see many mountains, lakes and rivers there.

The country is divided into Highlands and Lowlands.

Loch Ness The Loch Ness lake

is perhaps the most famous tourist attraction in Scotland.

You can take a boat cruise to look for the legendary “Loch Ness Monster”.

Castles Scotland is famous

for its majestic castles.

They were used both as residence and fortress.

Eilean Donan Castle and Balmoral Castle are some examples.

Traditional clothing Each Scottish clan

has its own pattern called tartan.

Men and boys wear kilts on formal occasions such as weddings and graduation ceremonies.

Traditional music The Great Highland

bagpipe is the traditional musical instrument.

It is widely used in the British military and in pipe bands throughout the world.

Scottish traditions Highland Games are

held every year to celebrate Scottish culture and heritage.

Various competitions are held in piping and drumming, dancing, and heavy athletics.

Questions

Where is Scotland situated? What is the official language? What is the climate like? What is the capital of Scotland? Which city is an important industrial

and financial centre? What kind of nature can we find there? What is the most popular tourist

attraction? Why is it so popular?

True or false? The population of Scotland is almost 5.5

million people. Edinburgh is the largest city of

Scotland. The rose is the national flower. The country is famous for its castles. The Scottish pattern is called tartan. Men and boys wear kilts every day. Highland Games only include dancing

competitions.