Geographical facts about Great Britain. Ben Nevis. Highest point in the British Isles

What is its height?

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain. It is often presented as the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. In Gaelic (the language of the Scottish Celts) the word probably means poisonous, reflecting the rugged terrain, winding paths and sheer cliffs. The rugged mountain landscapes attract tourists like iron to a magnet.
Ben Nevis is a mountain in the west of Scotland. The highest point in the British Isles. Located in the Grampian Mountains in the Highland region. Locals called Ben Nevis for short Ben.
The etymology of the name is not precisely determined. The first part comes from the Gaelic word beinn, which means top. The second part of the name probably goes back to the Gaelic neb, which means evil or frightening, or is translated as frosty ledge from the Gaelic neamh (frosty air) and bhathais (ledge, mountain edge).
The climatic conditions in this region are very harsh. Ben Nevis is cloudy 355 days a year, experiences severe storms 261 times a year and receives up to 4,350mm of annual rainfall - twice as much as nearby Fort William and 7 times more than Edinburgh or London.
In good weather, the top of Ben Nevis offers an incredibly picturesque view for 200 km around the neighboring peaks of Ben Lomond, Ben Lawers, Carn Eig, Liathach, Lochnagar, Morwen and Sgurr na Caich, the peaks of the Cairngorm Mountains, the Isles of Arran and Jura.
Ben Nevis
4406 feet
The highest mountain in Scotland, Ben Nevis (1342 m), is also the highest mountain in Great Britain.
The highest mountain of Great Britain, which is located in Scotland, its height is 1344 m. -1 km 344 m.
1344m
What is the height of Mount Ben Nevst?
Highest mountain in Great Britain
Ben Nevis 1344 m.
Big Ben
Highest mountain in Great Britain
Ben Nevis 1344 m.

The national flag of Great Britain.

Great Britain (Great Britain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) - a state in Western Europe; consists of four historical areas: England (39 counties and 7 metropolitan counties), Wales (8 counties), Scotland (9 districts) and Northern Ireland (26 counties). A special regime has been established for the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Great Britain heads the Commonwealth of Nations (called the British Commonwealth of Nations until 1947), created in 1931. Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state (and also the head of the Commonwealth) is Queen Elizabeth II. Legislative power in the country belongs to the monarch (purely formally) and parliament, consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords; actual power is concentrated in the hands of the government, headed by the prime minister. Two parties are actually fighting for power - Conservatives and Labor.

London. Buckingham Palace is the main residence of British monarchs; was built according to the design of the architect John Nash. First half of the 19th century. The first monarch to live in the palace was Queen Victoria.

The population of Great Britain is 60.7 million people, predominantly English (80%), as well as Scots, Welsh (indigenous residents of Wales), and Irish. The stability and prosperity of the country attract numerous immigrants from different parts of the world. In most large cities there are neighborhoods inhabited by Indians and Pakistanis, Chinese, and immigrants from Arab countries. Most of the population is concentrated in the most industrialized southern and central regions of England, where the largest cities are located - London (the agglomeration called Greater London), Portsmouth, Southampton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield. The UK is one of the highly urbanized countries. Most English people belong to the Anglican Established Church (one of the largest branches of Protestant Christianity), and there are also many Catholics and Methodists in Wales.

Queen of Great Britain Elizabeth II Windsor.

Geography

Great Britain is located in the north-west of Europe, on the British Isles (the island of Great Britain is the largest, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, numerous small ones: the Hebrides, Shetland, Orkney, etc.). Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the North and Irish seas, the English Channel (locally called the English Channel), Pas-de-Calais, North and St. George. The coastline is strongly dissected by numerous bays (fjords in the north and river estuaries in the south), forming large peninsulas Wales and Cornwall.

Parts of the country differ significantly in topography and climate. Predominant in the north and west mountainous terrain- North Scottish Highlands (the highest peak in Great Britain is Ben Nevis, its height is 1343 m), South Scottish Highlands, Pennine and Cambrian mountains. These mountain systems have plateau-like peaks and gentle, vegetated slopes. The eastern and southern parts of the country are occupied by hilly plains framed by rocky ridges (cuestas). The mountains are dominated by peat bogs, heathland and meadows used for pasture. Forests consisting of oak, beech and birch occupy about 8% of the country's territory.

There are a large number of rivers in Great Britain, many of which are navigable and connected by canals. Among the largest rivers are the Thames, Severn, and Trent. The north of the country is replete with lakes, the largest being Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland, Loch Ness and Loch Lomond in Scotland. Near the north-western spurs of the Pennines lies the vast Lake District. Great Britain, especially Scotland, is called the land of fog and rain.

The island position and the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream determine the climate of Great Britain: soft and humid, oceanic. Negative temperatures are rare even in winter. The wettest cities are Liverpool and Manchester; it rains here 220–230 days a year. There are also a lot of rainy days in London - 180 a year, but this does not mean that it rains from morning to evening. In spring and summer, the weather is changeable, and rain clouds quickly give way to sparkling sunshine.

In the mountains, especially in the north - in Scotland - frosts are common in winter, and snow on many slopes lies from November to April-May. On the peaks and slopes of mountains facing the sea, in many places along the coast, the cold is aggravated by constant winds. Scotland would lose some of its flavor without the cloudy low skies and biting winds.

Scotland. Loch Ness.

Loch Ness in Scotland is famous primarily as the abode of Nessie - a semi-mythical monster (either a descendant of dinosaurs, or even a fabulous beast), which, according to legend, lives in the depths of the lake, sometimes appearing on the surface.

Great Britain. Lake District. Lake Windermere.

Lovers of lakes and water recreation should visit the Lake District (Lancashire and Cumbria), where England's largest national park is located. The steep coastal cliffs of the Hebrides Islands, cut by fjords, are attractive, the most beautiful of them is the island of Iona. The Orkney Islands are well worth a visit, including the bird sanctuary on the "bird island" of Bass Rock.

Fans of mountain tourism, alpine skiing and rock climbing will be attracted by the mountains of Scotland: the Ilond Hills (Walter Scott's favorite walking place), the Cairngorms, the Pennines, especially the Peak District at their southern tip on the border of England and Wales.

The mountains and coasts of Wales are extremely beautiful - especially in the northern part, where the highest mountain in England and Wales is located - Snowdon (1085 m), the surrounding Snowdonia National Park is overflowing with numerous mountain streams, waterfalls, and wooded valleys. In southwest Wales there are sulfur, salt and other mineral springs.

Fans of paleontology will undoubtedly be interested in seeing the Devonian limestone deposits, where ancient fossil organisms have been found. Thanks to the discoveries made in its depths, an entire geological era began to be named after this county!

Story

The British Isles have been inhabited since antiquity. Tin has been mined here since prehistoric times; the Phoenicians and Greeks called them the Tin Islands. Archaeological excavations discovered sites ancient man Paleolithic (40,000–10,000 BC) in Wales and Derbyshire, Neolithic monuments (3400–1600 BC) in barrows on the chalk hills of southern and eastern England, in South Wales, Gloucestershire, Norfolk and many other places, remains of settlements , defensive structures of the Bronze and Iron Ages (up to 450 BC) throughout the country. The most amazing and famous monument is Stonehenge.

Salisbury. Cromlech. Stonehenge.

The builders of Stonehenge did not leave their name to their descendants. We know the name of their successors - the Celts. The Celts came here in the second half of the 1st millennium BC. e. We know about them mainly from the descriptions of Julius Caesar, who conquered Britain. The Romans established themselves here very precariously, and there were frequent uprisings. However, it was the Romans who founded many cities, including the capital - London, then Londinium. The Romans failed to conquer all the islands (and they did not need the relatively cold northern lands). To keep out the barbarians from the north, they built a series of fortifications, the most famous of which survives is Hadrian's Wall, separating England from Scotland (built by Emperor Hadrian in 122–130). The city gates in Lincoln, the gates in Colchester, the baths in Bath, and numerous ruins of Roman military fortifications have survived to this day.

Great Britain. Andrianov Val.

The Romans brought Christianity to the Celts and merged with the local population. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Celts arose their own kingdoms. One of the kings, Arthur from the Pendragon dynasty, became famous not so much as a real historical figure, but as a hero of later legends. Until now, researchers are looking for historical truth in the legends of the Arthurian cycle. There are memorials associated with Arthur in Cornwall, and his supposed grave (looted in the Middle Ages) is at Glastonbury. The Celts succumbed in the 6th century. to the conquerors the Angles and Saxons - the peoples of the Germanic group. The Anglo-Saxons (in the north of the country they were also joined by the Jutes) were soon baptized. And not from the Celts, but from Augustine sent from Rome. Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury and under him the construction of the main cathedral began. And to this day the Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of the Anglican Church.

The Aglo-Saxons founded several kingdoms, sometimes uniting with each other, sometimes at war. Their boundaries generally coincide with the boundaries of the historical counties. Aglo-Saxon is the basis of modern English. Among the Saxon legends is the legend of King Lear, later used by Shakespeare. The epic Beowulf has also been preserved from the Saxons. In Scotland, Ireland, Wales and partly in Cornwall, Celtic populations remained.

For a long time, the Angos-Saxons paid tribute to the Vikings - “Danish money”. King Alfred the Great (c. 849-900) unified the country and stopped paying tribute. However, after his death, King Canute I the Mighty united England with the countries of Scandinavia. Close ties with the Vikings continued later. After the death of the childless King Edward the Confessor (1066), three claimants claimed the right to the throne: from the Anglo-Saxons - Harold, from the Vikings from Norway - also Harold (who, by the way, was married to one of the daughters of Yaroslav the Wise), from Normandy - William. William's troops, having crossed the English Channel, fought with the Anglo-Saxons and England began to be ruled by the Plantagenet dynasty. These kings spoke French and a lot of French words. Even the famous Richard the Lionheart did not speak English.

The English literary language was born at the end of the 14th century with the publication of The Canterbury Tales by J. Chaucer. At this time, the country was experiencing the Hundred Years' War, in which England was largely successful, but ultimately lost, losing its continental possessions. The Plantegenet dynasty was replaced by the Tudors as a result of the Wars of the Roses. In the same war, almost the entire old nobility was killed; the new gentry nobles became the support of the new dynasty. During the reign of Henry VIII (1491-1547), two great things began that had a huge impact on the history of the country: the enclosures that drove the peasants off the land and the Reformation, the formation of the Anglican Church. Henry's daughter Elizabeth I (1533-1603) made England a great power with her wise and cautious policies. She paid special attention to the development of the fleet and sent her people to found colonies.

Her reign is the golden age of English culture, whose decoration was the work of Shakespeare. Elizabeth was childless and left the throne to her relative James Stuart, the son of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Elizabeth executed Mary, accusing her of attempting to assassinate herself, and thereby created a precedent for regicide in Europe. The reign of the Stuarts united England and Scotland. James (James) I's son, King Charles I, was executed during the Revolution in 1649. England was a republic for almost two decades. Here religious strife broke out between different branches of Protestantism. Despite their slight difference in faith, the Puritans and Independents destroyed each other, and many others along the way. With the restoration of the monarchy (Charles II, on the throne since 1660), religious disputes were stopped and many customs that the Puritans had prohibited were restored. Hence the British love for the holiday of Christmas, which was banned during the revolution.

The Stuart dynasty was not particularly popular and was replaced by another, the Hanoverian. Already in the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution began in England. The first one was created here steam engine J. Watt, the world's first spinning machines and weaving machines appeared. Although the discovery of porcelain was made in England even later than in Russia, England became the birthplace of the original "stone masses", varieties of ceramics, the center of production of which was and remains the historical county of Staffordshire. In the 18th century Britain lost colonies in North America, which separated and formed the United States (but Canada remained), but began to populate Australia and conquer India. During the reign of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), the country became Great Britain, creating an empire on which the sun never set. The Victorian age became a period of prosperity for English culture. And the names of cultural figures are not so striking with their greatness or deep psychologism, but with their inimitable ability to captivate the reader with a plot, create surprisingly believable images of heroes, scare, make them laugh and warm them with descriptions of home comfort.

The Victorians are Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, Arthur Conan Doyle. Under Queen Victoria, the basic rule of British state life finally took shape: the queen reigns, but does not rule. There is no constitution in the country, but its role is played by a whole set of laws, starting with the famous “Habeas Corpus” and the “Bill of Rights”. The leading role belongs to the parliament; the party that wins the parliamentary elections forms its own government headed by the prime minister. During the reign of Queen Victoria, Whigs (liberals) and Tories (conservatives) fought for power. At the beginning of the 20th century, a new political force emerged in the country - the Labor (Workers) Party. Influenced by the impressions of the October Revolution of 1917, changes were made to legislation in order to improve the situation of workers and employees. If the London “bottom” of the 19th century. was considered a gathering place for criminals and beggars, then from the beginning of the 20th century. it is gradually being put in order.

Two world wars contributed to the collapse of the colonial system. After experiencing a period of stagnation (especially in the 1950s), the UK became a founding member of the European Coal and Steel Union, from which the European Union has now grown.

Architecture and landmarks

The English are unique architectural styles. The Romanesque style of the Anglo-Saxons, which dominated architecture until the mid-11th century, was distinguished by the simplicity of architectural and construction techniques: simple semicircular arches, gable roofs, borrowed from the usual wooden architecture. The Norman Romanesque style that replaced it lasted until the end of the 12th century. It was distinguished by an abundance of identical powerful columns, round decorated window openings and ceiling vaults, narrow windows, and not very powerful buttresses.

Edinburgh. Lock.

Outstanding Norman castle buildings are Hedingham in Essex and Conisbrough in Yorkshire. Part of the buildings of Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is made in the same style. Early Gothic is characteristic of buildings of the 13th century, their general appearance is determined by the significant height and vastness, long windows reaching the base of the building (the facade of Lincoln Cathedral, fragments of Ely and Peterborough Cathedrals).

Or. Gothic cathedral. 14th century

In the 14th century, early English Gothic, otherwise called decorative, was replaced by early Gothic - in such architecture a characteristic emphasis was placed on individual elements of ornament: huge lancet windows with complex openwork stone carvings, heavy buttresses, pillars with tightly connected ribs, sculptures entwined with leaves, cornices, floral ornaments. This style is best represented by the cathedrals of York, Norwich and Lincoln, and individual elements of Westminster Abbey.

London. Westminster Abbey. Gothic church 1245-1745, chapel of Henry VII - 1503-1519. The site of the coronation of English kings since William the Conqueror. Since the 13th century, Westminster Abbey has housed the tomb of English kings (the last of them is George II, 1760; since then burials have been made in Windsor Castle), statesmen, famous people. Legends attribute the founding of the abbey to the Saxon king Sibert (7th century), the first Christian Saxon.

The richest ornamentation reached perfection in the building art of the late Gothic, or "perpendicular" style (late 14th century - 15th century), characterized by a special predilection for vertical planes (King's College in Cambridge, St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle and Henry VII's Chapel in Westminster Abbey ). In the 16th and early 18th centuries, Renaissance and Baroque styles dominated Britain, and their elements were often mixed in the same building. The most important monument of the style called “English Baroque” is St. Paul's Cathedral in London, built in the last third of the 17th century according to the design of Sir Christopher Wren, one of the largest English architects. The external appearance of this building contains spatial scope, unity, and fluidity of complex curvilinear forms.

In the 19th century, the monumental Georgian style was replaced by Victorian. One of the world's most famous buildings, Buckingham Palace, was built in this style. Having withstood the trials of fate (on September 9, 1940, a German bomb fell on the palace, three days later it was attacked again), it appears before us in all its grandeur and beauty. Later styles - from proto-Byzantine (Westminster Cathedral in London) to Art Nouveau and Constructivism did not change the existing architectural appearance of most cities in Great Britain, although they sometimes added an irresistible charm to their urban development. New

National characteristics

The British adherence to traditions is manifested not only in politics, but literally at every step, in the most ordinary life: the British adhere to their system of weights and measures (in the pub - English beer bar- you will always be served a pint of beer, not half a liter), drive on the left (when crossing the street, look to the right, then to the left). Of course, many purely “nutritious traditions” remained only in wonderful novels and films based on them. Bacon and eggs breakfast is not as popular due to non-compliance with the rules " healthy eating”, puddings and meat pies survive only in a few “points” with local cuisine. Many are even sounding the alarm about the onset of varied continental (French, Mediterranean) cuisine and inexpensive catering establishments with Indian, Chinese, Thai and other Asian cuisine.

Tea with milk has long been the national drink of the British, their indispensable everyday “five o’clock tea” - “five o’clock tea” - is not just strictly set time meal, and above all a reason to communicate with relatives, friends, and colleagues. This famous English tradition has spread to Europe and the USA. Nowadays, tribute to tradition is not just decoration. If near Edinburgh Castle you see a guard in an operetta-like Scottish skirt, in the eyes of a modern European, then the carbine in his hands, you can rest assured, is not a toy at all. And the Scots Guardsman himself is not an actor hired to entertain tourists, but a young man serving in a guard company, necessarily from the ancient Gordon family, who has long been granted the privilege of guarding the castle of the kings of Scotland. Old-fashioned cabs and omnibuses on the streets of London are just as functional, and clerks hurrying to the City of London in the morning carry all the folders with papers in their arms.

National cuisine

Real British cuisine is different either high quality and high cost, or, if you are content with simple food, it is inexpensive and is included in the menu of any of the cafes found at every step. The pubs will offer a variety of the best varieties beer and high-quality inexpensive food, and most importantly the opportunity to socialize, relax and feel the breath of English traditions.

Wine bars are popular - something between a pub and a restaurant. In all major hotels, it is customary to serve “Afternoon tea” (five-o "clock tea), accompanied by a special ritual. If desired, a guest of London can perform a real culinary " trip around the world" The menu of the city's 14,000 restaurants most often includes Indian cuisine; Chinese restaurants are also famous; continental African and Middle Eastern cuisine is offered. In sandwich cafes and bars you will be offered an “English breakfast”, which usually consists of a huge sandwich, a light snack, tea or cappuccino coffee. These cafes are open from early morning until noon.

Chippie (open from 11.00 to 23.00) serves hearty and mouth-watering dishes: fish and potatoes fried in boiling oil, grilled chicken, sausages and pies. The best chippie, according to Londoners, is the Upper Street Free Shop on the street of the same name. The brasserie has an excellent selection of drinks and a variety of light snacks. The most visited in London are Soho Brasserie on Old Compton Street, La Brasserie on Brampton Road, L'Oreil on Sloan Square. As for restaurants, the best roast beef in London can be enjoyed at Simpson-in-the-Strand, the best dishes of English cuisine - at the Ritz Hotel. Roast beef, English leg of lamb, English pork pies, English trifle (pastries) are famous. The British also love lobster (lobster salad, lobster butterflies). Alcohol is sold on Sundays only after 19.00.

The shops

It's hard not to get shopping fever in London. The latest designs from the world's best couturiers can be found in the shops at Knightsbridge and Brompton Cross, Bond Street and Sloane Street. Trendsetters are concentrated around Beauchamp Place, and decent clothes can be bought at reasonable prices in the shops on Oxford Street. Avant-garde and exotic clothing is sold on King's Road, as well as at Kensington Market on High Kensington Street. During seasonal sales (Sales) in late January - early February and late June - early July, prices drop quite significantly.

In Covent Garden, which is full of shops selling outlandish goods, you will certainly find something exotic, for which it is sometimes difficult to find a name. There you will also meet street actors, fakirs, and sword swallowers. One of the oldest covered markets in London is located in the same square. Shops are usually open from 9-10 am to 5-6 pm, some are open until late.

All goods sold in UK stores are subject to Value Added Tax of 17.5%, which is usually included in the price of the goods. If the purchase price exceeds £100, then when crossing the border within three months of purchase, you can claim a VAT refund of 11% of the price of the goods (for tourists from non-EU countries). In the store, when purchasing, you must ask for a certificate.

Currency

The country's currency is the pound sterling (GBP). The UK is part of the European Union, but not the euro area. One pound is equal to 100 pence. In addition to the Bank of England, five other banks issue pounds sterling in the UK: the Bank of Scotland, three Northern Irish banks and a bank on the island of Jersey. Each of them issues its own banknotes. A tourist may be given a non-convertible Scottish pound instead of an English pound. The Northern Irish pound can only be exchanged in the British Isles. Travelers are less likely to encounter the Jersey pound, but there are scammers who specialize in slipping such local pounds to foreigners.

Holidays

The country's national holiday is the birthday of the reigning Queen Elizabeth II. In fact, she was born on April 21st. On this day she is congratulated in the press. The official celebration is moved to the second Saturday of June. Christmas is celebrated on December 25, New Year on December 31 - January 1. At this time, the country is on Christmas holidays, which applies to most enterprises and institutions. December 26 (Boxing Day) is also a day off. Easter is a moving spring holiday. The day off is Good Friday on the eve of Easter. In Wales, the day off is St. David's Day (patron saint of the Welsh) - March 1st. In Scotland, November 30 is celebrated as St. Andrew's Day, the country's patron saint (shared with Russia). March 17 is the Day of St. Patrick, the Enlightenment of Ireland. In England, St. George's Day is celebrated (April 23). May 1 is an official holiday; since the 20th century it has been celebrated as Labor Day, but in fact it is one of the oldest pan-European holidays of the arrival of spring. October 31 is Halloween - the eve of All Saints' Day. On this day, children dress up as witches and various small evil spirits and ask for sweets and inexpensive gifts. November 5th is Guy Fawkes Day. This is not a hero, but a participant in the so-called Gunpowder Plot in 1605, when Catholics tried to blow up Parliament, where the king was supposed to speak. Since then, the effigy of Guy Fawkes has been ceremonially burned late in the evening.

Scafell Pike in southern Cumbria is England's highest mountain. Although the English homeland is considered a predominantly flat country, it still has several majestic mountains and hills beyond the highest peak. Most of England's high mountains are located in the Lake District, which adds to the region's tourism appeal. Below are the main mountains and highest peaks in England that attract lovers of mountaineering, rock climbing and mountain trekking.

Scafell Pike

The highest mountain in England is located in the Lake District National Park. Its height is 978 m. At the foot of this peak is the deepest lake in England - Wast Water (78.6 m). The highest mountain range surrounding the reservoir, Crag Tarn, is also located here, the height of which is 822 m above sea level.

Scafell Pike is particularly popular with climbers. Many mountain extreme sports fans come here during the National Three Peaks Challenge festival.

It is necessary to climb the 3 highest mountains in Great Britain within 24 hours: Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England) and Snowdon (Wales). Participants in the ascent ascend one by one to each of the peaks.

Mass tourism also has dire consequences for the ecology of this region. In recent years, there has been an increase in erosion processes and environmental pollution.

Helvellyn

This mountain is also located in the Lake District and, at an altitude of 950 m, is the second highest mountain in England. Helvellyn rises between the village of Patterdale to the east and Tirmer Reservoir to the west.

This mountain has an almost flat top, which allowed the first successful landing of a British aircraft here in 1926. The western slopes of this mountain in England were used for lead mining between 1839 and 1880, but this venture turned out to be financially unprofitable.

Mount Helvellyn is home to a variety of birds including crows, larks, buzzards and wheatears. The local flora is quite sparse and consists mainly of alpine meadow grass and Lapland willow, which grows on the top.

The mountain slopes have also long been used by local shepherds for grazing livestock. Many tourists go for walks along the Helvellyn mountain trails, but often such trips lead to death.

Skiddaw

At 931m it is the third highest mountain in England. It is located north of Keswick, surrounded by flat valleys, which makes it seem especially majestic.

Among the other mountains of the Lake District of England, Skiddaw is a single peak of non-volcanic origin, which consists entirely of marine sediments. This is a relatively easy peak to climb and is particularly attractive for mountain trekking in England.

Great Gable or "Great Gable"

This 898 m high mountain is also located in the Lake District of England. It is particularly popular among tourists and climbers, and also attracts rock climbing enthusiasts from all over the world. No special skills are required to conquer it, but you should still be careful when hiking in the mountains.

18-04-2014, 10:09

Mountains of Northern Ireland

Mourn
Granite mountain range in Ulster County Down in south-eastern Ireland. The surrounding area is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and was the first to be proposed as a national park in Northern Ireland (although there is controversy around this due to the fact that it employs around a thousand farmers and the proposal would have a general impact on local communities, bureaucracy and housing prices).
Slieve Donard
A peak in the Morne Mountains in County Down, Northern Ireland. Slieve Donard is the highest point in the Morne and province of Ulster.

Peaks of the Yorkshire Dales

Ingleborough
The second highest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales. Part of the Three Peaks of Yorkshire. The mountain has a relative height of 428 meters and an absolute height of 724 meters. The name of the mountain comes from the Old English word "burh" meaning "fortified place". On the north and east slopes of the mountain you can see the remains of Celtic fortifications created back in the Iron Age. On the South Slopes of Ingleborough is the famous Yawning Jill Cave.
Pen-y-Ghent
The third highest mountain in the Yorkshire Dales. Part of the Three Peaks of Yorkshire. The mountain has a relative height of 306 meters and an absolute height of 694 meters. The name of the mountain comes from the Cumbrian phrase, which translates as “hill at the border” or “hill of the winds.”
Three Peaks of Yorkshire
Three mountains in Northern England - Whernside (736 m), Ingleborough (724 m) and Pen-y-Ghent (694 m). They are part of the Pennines. They are composed mainly of limestone and sandstone. The River Raibel rises in the vicinity of the Three Peaks of Yorkshire. The area in which the Three Peaks of Yorkshire are located is part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Three Peaks Walks hiking trail runs through the area, about 39 km long.
Whernside
The highest among the mountains in the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire. Part of the Three Peaks of Yorkshire.
The mountain has a relative height of 408 meters and an absolute height of 736 meters. It has an elongated shape from north to south.

Mountains of Scotland

Ben Lomond
Mountain in Scotland. The height of the peak is 974 m.
Ben Nevis
Mountain in the Grampian Mountains (Highland region, Scotland). It is the highest point of the British Isles. Locals call the mountain for short – Ben.
Gotfell
Mountain in Scotland in the North Ayrshire region. The highest point on the Isle of Arran is 874 meters. Currently, the mountain and nearby Brodick Castle are under the care of the National Trust for Scotland.
Grampian Mountains
One of the three main mountain ranges of Scotland, occupying the south-eastern part of the Scottish Highlands. The Grampians are the highest mountains in Great Britain. The mountains are home to Britain's two highest peaks, Ben Nevis (1,344 meters) and Ben Macdui (1,309 meters). The mountains are composed of granite, gneiss, slate, marble and quartzite.
Lammermoor Hills
A range of hills in south-eastern Scotland that forms the natural southern boundary of the East Lothian region, separating it from the Scottish Borders. The Lammermoor Hills are not high, the highest point, Mount Meikle Says Law, reaches only 535 m. However, the rather steep slopes of Lammermoor and the lack of natural passes greatly complicate communication between Edinburgh and the border cities. Historically, sheep breeding and wool production were highly developed in this region. To this day, the hills of Lammermoor are one of the popular tourist destinations in Scotland.
Morwen
A gentle mountain in the north of Scotland. Located in Caithness, Highland region.
Rhona's Hill
A mountain in the northern part of Mainland Island in the Shetland Islands archipelago. The highest point of the Shetland Islands. The height of the mountain is 450 meters above sea level. It is located in the northern part of the Northmavin Peninsula, connected to the main part of Mainland by a narrow isthmus. The eastern slope of the mountain faces the Yell Sound, the northwestern slope faces the Atlantic Ocean.
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands region of Scotland, occupying approximately 2/3 of this autonomous region, is one of the five main Scotch whiskey producing regions identified by the Scotch Whiskey Association. It is divided by depressions, the largest of which is Glen More, into a number of plateaus and ridges: the Grampian Mountains, the North-West Highlands, etc. To the south it passes into the Lowlands of Scotland. The area contains Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis (1344 m), Loch Ness, Loch Lochy and Loch Lomond; The center is the city of Inverness.

Mountains

White Cliffs of Dover
Cliffs framing the English coastline of the Pas de Calais. They are part of the North Downs. The cliff slope reaches 107 meters in height and has amazing view due to the fact that it contains chalk, emphasized by stripes of black flint. The cliffs stretch west and east from the city of Dover in Kent, an ancient and still significant English port. Thanks to the Cliffs of Dover bright color visible from the French Cape Gris-Nez (“Cape Gray”). Although such chalk cliffs are not uncommon in the south-east of England, it is the Dover ones that are the most popular.
Brown-Willy
Hill in Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, England. It is the highest point in Cornwall. The name is in Cornish "Bronn Wennili", meaning hill of the swallow, it is believed that the English name may have come from Conrian due to the similar sound.
Cumberland Mountains
Mountain range in western Great Britain. The highest point of the massif is Mount Scafell Pike (978 m). The massif is composed mainly of Paleozoic shales and quartzites with thick granite intrusions. The forms of glacial relief are clearly expressed, in particular, glacial lakes (Windermere and others), confined to tectonic fault lines. The climate in the Cumberland Mountains is humid and oceanic. On the slopes there are heathers, meadows and peat bogs, while oak-ash and birch forests grow in the valleys. The Lake District National Park has operated here since 1951.
Cambrian Mountains
A series of mountain ranges in Great Britain that separate Wales from England and occupy the bulk of the Welsh peninsula. The highest point is Mount Plainlimon.
Cross Fell
A mountain in northern England, the highest point of the Pennines. The top of the mountain is a rocky plateau, part of a low ridge stretching from northwest to southeast, which also includes two more peaks exceeding 800 m. The slopes decline sharply to the southwest and more gently to the northeast.
Pennines
Low (no more than 900 meters in height) mountains in Great Britain, located in northern England. They separate north-west England from Yorkshire and north-east England. The total length is about 350 km, height up to 893 m (Cross Fell Mountain). The rocks are mainly limestone and sandstone. There are peat bogs and coal deposits. The discovery of coal deposits in the 17th and 18th centuries, in particular the Yorkshire coalfield, stimulated the development of areas adjacent to the mountains, but the Pennines are still one of the least populated. The Peak District National Park is located in the Pennines.
Row Tor
Hill on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England. The height is about 400 meters. It is the second highest peak on Bodmin Moor, after Brown Willie, in Cornwall. Located 1.5 kilometers from Brown Willie. On the hill there are historical monuments of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. There are circles lined with stones on Row Tor, and there are also ancient burials and remains of ancient buildings.
South Downs
One of four areas of chalk deposits in southern England. Stretches from the east of Hampshire, through Sussex and culminates at the cliffs of Beachy Head. The South Range is England's newest National Park, created on 31 March 2010. The park contains many places of scientific interest. The area is relatively sparsely populated, although there is an almost unbroken chain of coastal towns in its southern part. The area is extremely popular with walking tourists.
Seven sisters
A group of chalk cliffs in Great Britain, a state park. The Seven Sisters are located along the English Channel coast in East Sussex between Seaford and Eastbourne and form part of the South Downs Chalk formations. South-east of Sisters is Beachy Head, the highest (162 m) chalk cliff in Great Britain. It is interesting that despite the name, there are not seven, but eight peaks in the group of rocks.
Scafell Pike
Mountain peak. Located in Cumbria, in the Lake District or Lake District National Park. It has an altitude of 978 m (3,209 ft) above sea level. Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England. Popular tourist site.
Snaefell
Mountain on the Isle of Man, the highest point of the island. The height of the peak of Snaefell above sea level is 2036 feet or 621 meters. The name of the mountain comes from the Old Norse language and means “snowy hill”. There is also a mountain with almost the same name in Iceland. The Isle of Man lies almost in the center of the British Isles, so on a clear day from the top of the mountain you can see England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales at the same time. In this regard, in the Isle of Man it is said that from the top of Snaefell one can see six kingdoms - the Isle of Man itself, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the kingdom of heaven. Sometimes the kingdom of Neptune, that is, the sea, is added to these kingdoms.
Walla Craig
Hill in the UK Lake District. The height above sea level is 379 m. The hill is located in the county of Cumbria in the north-west of England. At the foot is the town of Keswick and marshland. The slopes are covered with heather and forest.
Black Mountains
Highland in south-east Wales. The Black Mountains are a chain of hills in the counties of Monmouthshire and Powys, stretching into the English county of Herefordshire. Height above sea level - up to 811 m (Uain-Wah). This is the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The largest settlements in the territory are the cities of Abergavenny, Talgarth and Hay-on-Wye. The mountain area is popular among hikers and mountain bikers.

The facts discussed in this article will not particularly strike your imagination. The UK is made up of several countries on the British Isles: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is nothing in the UK that is the biggest, longest, widest, deepest or tallest in the world. But, like any other country, no matter how big or small it is, there are geographical facts of national significance.

1. The highest mountain in Great Britain

Let's start our story about the geographical facts of Great Britain with the most high mountain Ben Nevis. This 1343 m high mountain is part of the Grampian Mountains located in Scotland. Scotland has the highest mountain ranges in the UK. Of the ten highest mountain points in the UK, all but one are in Scotland. The Scottish mountains are magnificent and loved by tourists for the beauty of the scenery and the opportunity to relax in the fresh air.

2. Britain's longest river

This fact applies to the River Severn, which has dual citizenship, flowing through England and Wales from its mouth on the Bristol Canal. You might be surprised to know that it is only 354 km long, compared to the mighty Nile, which is the longest river in the world at 6,670 km. The River Thames is the second largest with a length of 215 km.

3. The largest lake in Great Britain

Many people will think that we are talking about the English Lake District. This is not true - the UK's two largest lakes are actually in the northern part of the island. Lough Neagh is the largest and is actually 3 times larger than the next largest, Lower Lough Eme. Loch Lomond is the largest lake in Scotland, Lake Bala in Wales, and Windermere in England. If the UK's artificial reservoirs were included in the list of the largest bodies of water, many of them would be higher than many of the famous lakes.

4. Britain's tallest waterfall

You won't find any amazing geographical facts in Great Britain, but there is one relatively interesting one. The title of the highest waterfall in Great Britain belongs to the Scottish waterfall Eas a’ Chual Aluinn and is translated as “waterfall of beautiful braids”. Its height is 201 m - it doesn't sound very high, but it is 3 times higher than Niagara Falls. The difference is that Is Chual Aluinn is only a small stream.

5. Britain's Deepest Gorges

I've tried to find gorges worth looking at, but it's very difficult to do because the UK mountainous regions are nowhere near the American canyons. However, the UK has no shortage of spectacular gorges. Some of them are: Cheddar Gorge, where the famous Lydford cheese was invented, Avon Gorge and Gordale Scar, interestingly, they are all located in England.

6. Caves of Great Britain

The honor of being Britain's deepest cave belongs to Ogof Ffynnon Ddu in Wales, which consists of a network of passages 30 km long and extends to a depth of just over 1 km. The deepest cave in England is Peak Cavern (248 m), in Scotland - Nana's Cave (Cnoc nan Uamh) (83 m), and the deepest cave in the North Island is Reyford Pot (193 m).

7. The coldest place in the UK

Great Britain is world famous for its wet and cold climate. Summer almost never happens here. Many places in the UK have temperatures below freezing in winter, but there is one small village in the Scottish Highlands that is known as the coldest place in the UK. This village is called Altnaharra and is permanently buried under snow, and those recorded here low temperatures reach the values of the South Pole.

8. Britain's largest port

You've probably never heard of a place called Poole - it's a vibrant seaside town on the south coast of England. This town is home to the UK's largest port, but surprisingly, it is the second largest natural harbor in the world after Sydney Harbour. Unfortunately Poole lacks the grandeur of Sydney and has nothing to rival the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House.

9. Britain's longest beach

The longest beach in the UK is Chesil Beach, which is a 30-kilometer spit of pebbles on the south coast of England. It connects the Portland Peninsula to the mainland and is an obstacle to Fleet Lagoon. The longest sandy beaches are Burrough Beach in Somerset in England and SW Pendine Sands Beach in Wales. Burrow is considered to be the second longest stretch of sand in Europe.

10. UK National Parks

There are currently 15 national parks in the United Kingdom. One of them is located in Northern Ireland, England has the lion's share - ten parks, Scotland boasts three, and Wales two. National parks in the UK are not the same as everywhere else. National parks in other countries are generally controlled by the government and do not have a permanent population. In the UK they are managed locally and regulated by a dedicated National Parks Authority. The UK also has areas of the countryside that are classified as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. National parks include the Cairngorms (the largest), Snowdonia, Lake District and Peak District.