Everything you need to know about Scotland. Interesting facts about Scotland, which you did not even know! History of sports in Scotland

Learn more about Scotland, known for its clans, plaid skirts and medieval castles.

Until May 1, 1707, the Kingdom of Scotland was an independent state. Despite widespread protests from the Scots, the Treaty of Union was signed on that day, uniting Scotland with the Kingdom of England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. Since then, Scotland has become part of the UK, along with Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Scotland covers approximately 79,000 square kilometers, the capital of Scotland is the city of Edinburgh. Scotland is famous for its mountain scenery, lakes, streams and amazingly beautiful coastline.

The motto of Scotland is "Nemo me impune lacessit", which in Latin means "No one touches me with impunity".

The word "Scotland" comes from the Latin word "Scoti", which was used to refer to the Gaels, and later the word "Scotia" came to mean "the land of the Gaels". The word "Scotia" originally referred to Ireland, but around the 11th century it began to be applied to the Gaelic tribes who settled in Scotland north of the River Forth (Forth). The words "Scots" (Scots) and "Scotland" (Scotland) came into use at the end of the Middle Ages.

In Scotland, the word "loch" is used in the sense of "enclosed body of water", it comes from the Gaelic word "lochan", which translates as "small lake" or "pond". Scotland has over 950 square kilometers of freshwater lakes. The largest lake in Scotland is Loch Lomond, its area reaches 72 square kilometers, and the largest lake in terms of water volume is Loch Ness. Legend has it that a huge sea monster lives in the depths of Loch Ness.

Here are some interesting and lesser known facts about Scotland.

It is believed that in the era of the mainland Pangea, Scotland was completely separated from England. More than a million years ago, they collided and stopped in this position, and even today their geological structure is very different from each other.

According to the 1909 census, the Scots were the tallest race in Europe. But after World War I, by 1930, the average height of men in Scotland had fallen by 9 inches.

During the First World War, Scotland lost the highest number of soldiers per capita.

Scotland is a predominantly Protestant country. Despite this fact, the Catholic Church of Scotland has the largest number of holidays dedicated to patron saints in the world.

Since Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, the head of state in Scotland is the monarch of the United Kingdom, namely Queen Elizabeth II. In July 1999, Queen Elizabeth II opened a meeting of Parliament, which was held for the first time in 300 years. Parliament is responsible for health care, social work and local government.

The official language of Scotland is English, and only about 1.5% of the total population speaks Scottish Gaelic.

The official animal of Scotland is the unicorn. The unicorn is also depicted on the coat of arms of Great Britain, where it supports the heraldic shield, but

chained, because in medieval times it was believed that only a virgin could tame this wild animal.

The flag of Scotland depicts the Cross of St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, on a white background.

The volume of banknotes in Scotland in circulation is 1.5 billion pounds.

The population of Scotland in June 2006 was approximately 5,200,000 people.

Although Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, it is not the largest city. The largest city in Scotland is Glasgow.

Scotland attaches particular importance to the all-round education of its citizens. It became the first country, after Sparta in classical Greece, where a system of universal education was introduced. Moreover, there are 14 universities in Scotland and some of them are the oldest in the world.

The climate in Scotland varies from temperate to oceanic, and the weather is often very changeable. The average air temperature here is lower than in the rest of the United Kingdom.

The laws in Scotland are very unique, in criminal cases they allow for three sentences: "guilty", "not guilty" and "crime not proven".

As you can see from the above, Scotland has it all - beautiful scenery, great weather, picturesque lakes, and a rich and diverse culture. We hope that this article has aroused your interest in this country, and you will visit it soon.

Stereotypes about Scotland are a land of green hills, kilt-clad pipers and crumbling castles. All this is in Scotland, but there are also amazing facts that you may not have known.

Fortingall Yew - 5000 year old tree

In the heart of Scotland grows one of the oldest trees in Europe - Fortingall U. Experts believe that the tree may be 5000 years old. It is named after the small village in which it is located - Fortingall, in Perthshire.
The land surrounding Fortingall contains some of the most amazing archaeological sites in Scotland.
The tree is famous not only for its age, but also for its intriguing folklore: legends, legends, myths, legends.
One legend says that Pontius Pilate, the judge and Roman procurator who sentenced Jesus to be crucified, was born under this tree and played in its shade as a child. This is just a legend, and besides, it is unlikely that it is true.
It is authentically known that since the time of the Druids, the tree was considered sacred and various rituals were performed under it.
Now the tree is badly damaged and some branches had to be cut down.

redhead people


There were rumors floating around the net that redheads might disappear in a hundred years.
In southeast Scotland, 40 percent of the population is redheaded. That is why the annual festivals of the Reds are held here. There is no big population migration there, so you don't have to worry about redheads.

Hadrian's Wall


The famous Hadrian's Wall was built in the 2nd century by the Emperor of the Roman Empire Hadrian built the wall to protect against the Scots. The construction lasted 15 years, 117 km long and 3 meters wide, the height in different sections was from 5 to 6 meters. Although there is still debate about what the wall was built for, the Scots believe that Adrian was simply afraid of them.

Edinburgh catacombs


Under the streets of the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, there is a series of underground catacombs, which today are called the Edinburgh Caverns.
They are located under the South Bridge, on which the shops were located, and warehouses underground.
Over time, illegal immigrants from Ireland began to hide in these former warehouses. This place was even nicknamed Little Ireland in the mid 1800s.
Today, the Edinburgh catacombs are considered one of the most mysterious places.
A haunting legend has it that the famous West Port killers of the 1820s, Burke and Hare, stored the bodies of their 16 victims here before selling them to Edinburgh doctor Robert Knox for use in an anatomy class.

Violence


Glasgow has long been known as the capital of murder. In fact, it ranks third in Europe. There are 2.7 homicides per 100,000 population. Over the past 10 years, the crime rate has dropped significantly, but there is a thriving crime based on religious hatred, poverty and sports rivalry. Violent fights of football fans are becoming more and more furious. The most terrible rivalry between the fans of the two teams Rangers and Celtic. Fights after matches are common.

inventions


Scotland claims numerous inventions that we take for granted today.
Kirkpatrick Macmillan invented the bicycle pedal.
Alexander Bain began work on the first fax machine back in the 1840s.
James Clerk Maxwell developed the basic principles of the microwave oven in the mid-1800s.
Artificial refrigeration was invented by William Cullen in 1748. Then it was considered useless in everyday life and only later was used in refrigerators.
John Logie Baird invented the first television in 1926 and the first color television in 1928.
Alexander Cummingham patented the first toilet with the design it is now in 1775.

Viking influence


The Vikings had a great influence on Scottish culture.
In the 11th century, they conquered the small Scottish islands, and then the entire country. The Vikings brought their customs and culture.
A Norwegian traveler in the 1200s portrayed Scotland as a dangerous place.

Unicorns


The revered animal in Scotland is the unicorn, which is not surprising, since the Scots are very fond of legends.
Unicorns were revered by the Celts as a symbol of grace, purity and happiness.
The first image of a unicorn on gold coins appeared in Scotland in the 15th century during the reign of James the Third.
There were two unicorns on the Scottish royal arms and the unicorn is still part of the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom along with the lion of Scotland.
Of the modern animals associated with Scotland, the Loch Ness Monster is best known, the first photograph of which was taken in 1934, although the myths about it are much older.

Games


Scotland is considered the birthplace of golf, where it was invented in the 15th century. Golf was so popular that King James II banned it so that golf would not interfere with the population to prepare for war.
In 1424, King James the First banned football because he considered it rude and injurious to players.
In 1872, the first international football game took place in Scotland.

Today in Scotland there is a referendum in which the inhabitants of this country decide whether to remain part of the united kingdom or not.
So what is Scotland? For those who are interested, read this post.

1. Unicorn - an animal that is depicted on the coat of arms of Scotland.

2. The shortest scheduled flights in the world are in Scotland. The flight is a mile and a half from Westray to Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands. The journey lasts 1 minute 14 seconds.

3. Scotland has approximately 790 islands, 130 of which are uninhabited.

4. Skara Brae - Neolithic settlement located on Bray Island, Orkney, is the oldest building in the UK, which dates back to 3100 BC. e.

5. Hamilton's Mausoleum in South Lanarkshire has the longest echo in the world - it lasts 15 seconds.

6. Scotland has over 600 sq. miles of freshwater lakes, including the most famous Loch Ness.

7. The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh, is the second largest city after Glasgow.

8. Edinburgh became the first city in the world to have its own fire brigade.

9. Like Rome, Edinburgh was built on seven hills. The city has the largest number of architectural monuments than anywhere else in the world.

10. Until 1603, Scotland had its own monarch. After Elizabeth I died, James VI of Scotland also took over both Scotland and England, as a result he also became James I of England.

Balmoral Castle, where the royal family loves to relax.

11. The city of St. Andrews is considered the "birthplace of golf". It has been played here since the 15th century.

12. It is believed that Queen Victoria smoked cigarettes during her visit to the Scottish Highlands to ward off midges.

13. Edinburgh was the birthplace of Skye Terrier Bobby Greyfires, who won the hearts of everyone who knows his story.

After the death of the owner, Bobby every day for 14 years went to the cafe where he used to be with the owner, received a bun and returned to the owner's grave in the cemetery. There he met his death and was buried. In Edinburgh there is a fountain with a skye terrier sculpture. The monument was erected in 1872 after the death of Bobby, who earned a reputation as the most faithful dog in the world.

14. Scotland is currently the second largest country in the UK after England.

16. The motto of Scotland is “Nemo me impune lacessit”, or “No one touches me with impunity”. It is used by the Order of the Thistle and also in later versions of the royal coat of arms.

17. Scotland is the favorite country of the royal family, who loves to relax in Balmoral Castle on the banks of the River Dee.

18. In the northeast of the country, girls are called quines, and boys are called louns.

19. The first recorded appearance of the Loch Ness monster was in 565 AD, when the monster attacked one of the followers of St. Columba.

Saint Columba - Irish holy monk, preacher of Christianity in Scotland. Saint Columba is considered one of the twelve apostles of Ireland. In 563, St. Columba founded the first monastery in what is now Scotland and was the abbot there.

20. The Scottish city of Aberdeen is known as the oil capital of Europe, as well as the Granite City.

The Fortingall yew is the oldest tree in Europe.

21. The deepest lake in Scotland, Loch Morar, reaches a depth of 328 meters and is considered the seventh deepest lake in the world.

22. Scotland's smallest distillery, Edradur in Pitlochry, has 100,000 visitors a year but produces only 90,000 liters of malt whisky.

23. Scotland is the birthplace of the oldest tree in Europe, the Forthingale yew, which is approximately 3 thousand years old. According to local legend, Pontius Pilate was born in the shade of this yew tree and played there when he was little.

24. The raincoat was invented in 1824 in Scotland. It was invented by Charles Mackintosh, a chemist from Glasgow. In the UK, the raincoat is still called "Mac".

25. The state religion of Scotland is Christianity.

26. Scotland gained independence in 1314 when Robert the Bruce defeated an English army at the Battle of Bannockburn.

27. The Kingdom of Scotland remained independent until May 1, 1707, when, by an Act of Union, Scotland joined England, forming a single state - the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

29. The territory of the country occupies 78,772 km².

30. The population of the country is about 5.2 million, which is approximately 8.5% of the total population of the UK.
31. Population density - 65.9 people / km².

32. About the same number of Scots live in North America as in Scotland itself, while, according to the US and Canadian censuses, about 5 million people claim to have Scottish roots.

33. Scotland has its own judicial system, distinct from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Juries can return guilty, not guilty, and not proven guilty verdicts.

34. The Bank of Scotland, founded in 1695, is the oldest existing bank in the UK. It was also the first bank in Europe to start issuing its own banknotes.

35. Notable Scottish inventors include John Logie Baird, who invented television in 1925, Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone in 1876, and Alexander Fleming, who invented penicillin in 1928.

36. The first university hospital in America, the Baltimore Infirmary, was founded by Glasgow surgeon Granville Sharp Pattison in 1816.

37. Scotland has three official languages: English, Scottish and Gaelic, which is spoken by only 1% of the population.

38. There are 19 universities and institutes in Scotland, including the University of St. Andrews, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, met.

39. The area of ​​Scotland is approximately equal to the area of ​​the Czech Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Panama, the state of Maine in the USA or the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

40. The first two prime ministers of Canada, John Macdonald (1815-1891) and Alexander Mackenzie (1822-1892) were Scottish.
41. One of the most famous products produced in Scotland - whiskey - was invented in China. First it was distilled by monks in Ireland at the beginning of the 15th century, and only 100 years later whiskey came to Scotland.

42. The most infamous dish in Scotland is haggis. It is prepared from lamb giblets - liver, heart and lungs, cooked in a lamb stomach. It is not known where it originated, but a similar dish was mentioned in Greece 2,500 years ago.

43. Scotland is the birthplace of many great thinkers including Adam Smith, James Watt, David Hume and John Stuart Mill.

44. Famous Scottish inventions include logarithms (1614), asphalt (1820) and the pneumatic tire (1887).

45. Many famous Scottish inventions - kilts, tartan (checkered pattern) and bagpipes - were not invented in Scotland. Kilts originated in Ireland, checkered ornaments were discovered in Bronze Age Central Europe, and bagpipes came from Central Asia.

46. ​​Famous representatives of literature - Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

47. The flag of Scotland is an image of the St. Andrew's Cross.

48. Thistle is a symbol of Scotland.

49. Scotland has the most redheads in the world. About 13% of the Scottish population are redheads, and 40% of the population are carriers of the recessive gene.

50. The first official international football match was played in 1872 in the West of Scotland between England and Scotland.

Scotland is a country of legends, a country with picturesque lakes and an extinct volcano. A country where everything smelled of heather and shrouded in mist. The smell of the Middle Ages, history and traditions hovers in its air.

Scotland was an independent state for a very long time (until the middle of the 18th century). The United Kingdom of Great Britain was formed on May 1, 1707. Only about 5 million Scots live on an area of ​​​​about 79 thousand square kilometers.


There are three recognized languages ​​in the country: Scottish, Scottish Gaelic (spoken by 1% of the population) and English.

Redheads are in fashion

Scotland is a country where a very large number of people with bright hair color live. Approximately 40% of the world's redheads live in the southeast. In Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, redhead parades are held periodically. The pigment that is responsible for this hair color usually appears in people with very fair skin. And light skin is an advantage for people living in the north, where there is a lot of fog and cloudy weather.

The symbol of the country is the unicorn

The animal that represents the country is the unicorn. It was officially printed on coins from 1466-1488, during the reign of King James III. During the reign of King James V, another symbol of the country, the red lion, was adopted, but it did not take root. This happened, probably, because the unicorn is positioned as a freedom-loving animal, responsible for healing and happiness. This direction is very close to the Scottish people.

Nature and the oldest tree in Europe

The nature of Scotland is very interesting: mountains of various colors (because of the growing heather) - only the indigenous people can pronounce their names, beautiful lakes and elongated valleys.


Lovers of mystery and adventure will love the Orkney Islands. Here you can go down into the catacombs and inspect the Gothic blocks.

Visiting Edinburgh you can see the only extinct volcano in Europe.


One of the famous places to visit in Scotland is the churchyard of the village of Fortingal in Perthshire. One of the oldest trees in Europe grows there. Tisu is believed to be between two and five thousand years old.

There is an old beautiful legend that Pontius Pilate was born and played under this tree, who sentenced Jesus Christ to be crucified. So, the history of Scotland was connected with the ancient Christian teaching.

In general, yews are an integral part of the most beautiful landscape design of churchyards. At the moment, this tree is badly damaged, but still alive. Fortingall yew is a reminder of the eternal, which attracts many tourists.

Musical instruments

There is one more thing that is associated only with Scotland. it bagpipes. Hearing its piercing sound, all the enemies fled, and the strength of the mountaineers going on the offensive increased significantly. An interesting fact is that, being the national musical instrument of Scotland, it got there from Asia. Due to its piercing sound and magical effect on the highlanders, it was banned by the British Kingdom for a very long time.

harsh architecture

The architecture of Scotland is very peculiar. She impresses with her arrogance and severity. The ancient castles of the Middle Ages are especially famous for their gloomy splendor (there are about 3 thousand of them throughout the country). Many of them are museums, others - hotels. Worth to visit:

• Edinburgh castle.
• Lochleven Castle (listen to the story of Mary Stuart).
• Cotachi Castle (an entertaining story about a ghost - a drummer who warns the owner of the castle about the expected death).
• Huntly Castle.
• Inverari Castle (you can see the revived ghosts and phantoms of military events).
• Dunnottar Castle.
• Balmoral Castle (there is a chance to try real tea).
• Urquhart Castle (you can only look at the ruins located near the famous Loch Ness).

The most beautiful lakes

There is a famous in Scotland great glen valley. There are three of the most beautiful lakes in the country. The biggest and most beautiful is Loch Lomond, and the most famous and popular is Loch Ness .;


Loch Ness is a very deep lake that never freezes and is said to be home to the mythical animal Nessie. Nessie emerges from the water only when the weather is fine, which is rare in Scotland.

Sport games

Several exotic sports have taken root in Scotland. One of them was polo on elephants (came from Asia). During the game, two people sit on the elephant: the mahout for the elephant and the player. The ball is used standard.


This country became the ancestor of golf in the XIV. The game was so immediately liked that King James II imposed a ban on it (it interfered with the preparation of fighters for war). For the same reason, such a game as football was banned (in 1424). In 1872, the first international meeting was played in Glasgow.

Beliefs and giving

There are many more beliefs and legends about the beautiful country of Scotland:

• Scotch whiskey is the most recognizable alcoholic brand in the world.
• A black cat is good luck, and one found on the doorstep will bring prosperity and wealth to the house.
• The traditional clothing of the Scottish highlanders is the kilt, distinguished by clan colors.
• In 1824, the raincoat was invented.
• In the 17th century, one of the lieutenants joined the Russian army. He changed his last name Lermont to Lermontov. He was one of the great-grandfathers of the great Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov.
• Here there is the world's shortest flight lasting about two minutes.
• The first ATM was invented and installed in 1967.
• Edinburgh cellars - can be visited while trying to see ghosts.
• Hadrian's Wall or Val - a monument of antiquity, intended for guard duty.
• You can ride the well-known Hogwarts Express and plunge into the magical world of Harry Potter.

When visiting this country, the main thing is to choose the right clothes. And then you can not be afraid of dank and damp weather, but feel free to go on a journey through the harsh, but so beautiful Scotland.

After watching the video, you can see some more interesting facts about this country:

12 Sep

English topic: Scotland

Topic in English: Scotland with translation (Scotland). This text can be used as a presentation, project, story, essay, essay or message on the topic.

Part of the United Kingdom

Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom. It occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland is a very small country. Its length is 274 miles. The River Tweed and the Cheviot Hills form Scotland's southern border with England. The Northwest Channel separates Scotland from Northern Ireland in the southeast. In the north and west, the country is limited by the Atlantic Ocean. The east coast is washed by the North Sea, which separates Scotland from mainland Europe. It is also worth noting that Scotland includes over 790 islands. The population of the country is about 5 million people.

Major industrial cities

The main industrial cities of the country are Glasgow, the largest in Scotland, and Edinburgh, which is the capital of the country. Edinburgh is also one of the largest financial centers in Europe. The Scottish waters of the North Atlantic and the North Sea contain the largest oil reserves in the European Union. That is why Aberdeen is called the European Oil Capital.

The capital of country

Scottish cities are quite different from those in England. The capital of the country is one of the most attractive cities in Scotland. Despite being a modern city, Edinburgh is famous for its history. Edinburgh has 9 hills. On the largest one you can see Edinburgh Castle, which was the home of the Scottish royal family until 1603. The road that starts at the castle and goes east is called the Royal Mile, at the end of which is the palace of Holyroodhouse.

Scottish culture

As far as Scottish culture is concerned, its significant aspect is music. The famous traditional instrument is the big Highland bagpipe. Sport is another important element of Scottish culture. The Highland Games, or as they are also called the Scottish Olympics, are held in the country every year.

Flag of Scotland

The last interesting fact worth noting concerns the national flag of Scotland, known as the St. Andrew's Cross or St. Andrew's Cross. According to legend, its origin dates back to the 9th century. As such, it is considered the oldest flag still in use.

Conclusion

Scotland is truly worth visiting.

Free download Topic in English: Scotland

Scotland

Part of the United Kingdom

Scotland is an integral part of the United Kingdom. It occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Scotland is a very small country. It's about 274 miles long. The river Tweed and the Cheviot Hills form Scotland's border with England. The Northwest Channel separates Scotland from Northern Ireland in the southwest. In the north and in the west the country is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The eastern coast is washed by the North Sea, which separates Scotland from the mainland of Europe. It should also be mentioned that Scotland includes over 790 islands. The population of the country is about 5 million people.

Main industrial cities

The country’s main industrial cities are Glasgow, which is the largest one in Scotland, and Edinburgh, the capital of the country. Edinburgh is also one of the largest financial centers of Europe. Scottish waters of the North Atlantic and the North Sea contain the largest oil reserves in the European Union. That is why Aberdeen has been given the title of Europe's oil capital.

The capital of the country

Scottish towns are quite different from English ones. The capital of the country is one of the most attractive cities in Scotland. In spite of being a busy modern city, Edinburgh is famous for its history. There are nine hills in Edinburgh. On the highest hill one can see Edinburgh Castle, which was the home of Scotland’s royal family until 1603. The road which begins at the castle and goes eastwards is called Royal Mile, at the end of which there is the Palace of Hollyroodhouse.

Scottish culture

As for Scottish culture, music is its significant aspect. A famous traditional instrument is the Great Highland Bagpipe. Sport is another important element of Scottish culture. Highland games, or Scottish Olympics, as they are called, are held in the country every year.