Area:
78,133 sq km or 48,442 sq miles
Population:
5,114,600 (estimate 2000).
Population Density: 65.5 per sq km.
Capital:
Edinburgh Population: 453,400 (estimate
2000).
Geography : Scotland
is situated in the north of the United Kingdom.
The country consists of the southern Lowland area, a region of moorland
and where most of the population is concentrated and the northern
Highlands, dominated by the Grampian Mountains and Ben Nevis (1344m
or 4140ft), the highest mountain in the British Isles. The exceedingly
beautiful coastline is indented with lochs (particularly in the
north and west). Off the west coast there are a number of islands,
the largest of which are Skye and Lewis, the latter being part of
the Outer Hebrides. The Orkney and Shetland Islands lie to the northeast
of the mainland, across the Pentland Firth from John O’Groats.
Government :
Following elections in May of 1999, Scotland was granted its first
parliament in over 300 years. The new Scottish Parliament has a
considerable degree of autonomy, as shown by its tax-raising powers.
The UK government maintains control on defence and foreign policy.
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Head of Parliament:
First Minister Jack McConnell since 2002.
Language
: English. Gaelic is spoken by some, mostly in the West and Highlands.
Religion : Mostly Protestant
(Church of England), but many other Christian denominations also:
Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland, Baptist, Methodist and other
churches. There are sizeable Jewish, Hindu and Muslim minorities.
Time: GMT (GMT + 1 hour
from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity : 240 volts
AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are standard. |
