1. A map of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Where is the UK? The UK is situated northwest of the European continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. It has a total land area of 244,100 square kilometres, of which nearly 99% is land and the remainder inland water. From north to south it is about 1,000 kilometres long. The UK part of Europe and is a member of the European Union (EU).

What is the official name of the UK? The official name of the UK is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". The name refers to the union of what were once four separate nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (though most of Ireland is now independent).

The United Kingdom is made up of:

England - The capital is London. • Scotland - The capital is Edinburgh . • Wales - The capital is Cardiff. Northern Ireland - The capital is Belfast. •

•

What is the capital city of the UK? The capital of the UK is London.

Why is the whole of Ireland not in the UK? Before 1922 the UK included Ireland in the definition, but when the Irish Free State ceased to be part of the Union the title changed to include 'Northern Ireland'.

When was the UK formed (made)? The United Kingdom (UK) was formed in on January 1, 1801 and constitutes the greater part of the British Isles.

What are people called in the UK? People in the UK are called British although they have different nationalities. The Union Flag, popularly known as the Union Jack, symbolises the union of the countries of the UK. It is made up of the individual flags of three countries in the Kingdom • • •

England, Scotland and Ireland.

What is Great Britain

Great Britain Great Britain is the official name given to the two kingdoms of England and Scotland, and the principality of Wales. It is an island lying off the western coast of Europe, comprising the main territory of the United Kingdom.

Great Britain is made up of: • • •

England - The capital is London. Scotland - The capital is Edinburgh . Wales - The capital is Cardiff.

Great Britain is divided into small regions called counties.

Is Great Britain the same as the UK? No, Great Britain and the United Kingdom refer to different areas. Great Britain is very often, but incorrectly, used as a synonym for the sovereign state properly known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK).

Great Britain

United Kingdom

Great Britain is a political term which describes the combination of England, Scotland, and Wales, the three nations which together include all the land on the island. It is also a geographical term referring to the island on which the greater parts of England, Wales and Scotland are situated.

England

Wales

Scotland

History of the making of the UK

Scotland and England had separate Monarchs until 1603, when Queen Elizabeth I died without any heirs. The next in line of succession to the English throne was James VI, King of Scots who became known as James I in England. James was also King of Ireland and of France at the same time. He is the King that Guy Fawkes and the other members of the Gunpowder plot tried to kill on November 5th 1605, which is why we remember on Guy Fawkes night. Scotland and England, together with Wales united by the Act of union passed by the Scottish Parliament and Westminster in 1707 to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. The Irish Parliament voted to join the Union in 1801 when the then Kingdom of Great Britain became the United Kingdom of

Great Britain and Ireland. The full name of the UK then changed in 1922 when most of the Southern counties in Ireland choose independence and ultimately became what is now the Republic of Ireland, leaving the UK as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The story of the Union Flag. A flag containing three other flags.

The Union Flag - the flag of the United Kingdom (UK)

The Union Flag, popularly known as the *Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is the British flag. It is called the Union Flag because it symbolises the administrative union of the countries of the United Kingdom. It is made up of the individual Flags of three of the Kingdom's countries all united under one Sovereign - the countries of 'England, of 'Scotland' and of 'Northern Ireland' (since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom). As Wales was not a Kingdom but a Principality it could not be included on the flag.

EMBLEMS OF BRITAIN Each country in Britain has its own patron saint and floral emblem: England - St. George and the Rose The national flower of England is the rose. The flower has been adopted as England’s emblem since the time of the Wars of the Roses - civil wars (1455-1485) between the royal house of Lancaster (whose emblem was a red rose) and the royal house of York (whose emblem was a white rose).

Scotland - St. Andrew - the Thistle and Scottish Bluebell The national flower of Scotland is the thistle, a prickly-leaved purple flower which was first used in the 15th century as a symbol of defence. The Scottish Bluebell is also seen as the flower of Scotland.

Wales - St. David and the Daffodil The national flower of Wales is the daffodil, which is traditionally worn on St. David’s Day. The vegetable called leek is also considered to be a traditional emblem of Wales.

Northern Ireland - St. Patrick and the Shamrock The national flower of Northern Ireland is the shamrock, a three-leaved plant similar to clover. An Irish tale tells of how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

History of England - timeline and facts Thousands of years ago, Great Britain was joined to Europe and was covered with ice. About 15,000 years ago, the weather became warmer. The ice melted and the sea level rose. Great Britain became an island about 8000 years ago. Celtic people called Britons settled in Britain. They were warriors and farmers who were skilled metal workers. They built villages and hill forts, and used iron weapons and tools. Celts called Gaels lived in Ireland. Prehistoric Britain BC

Roman Britain 43 AD

Anglo Saxon Britain 450

Viking Britain 793

Medieval Britain 1066

Tudor Britain 1485

Stuart Britain 1603

Georgian Britain 1714

Victorian Britain 1837

Modern Britain 1902 +

Henry VIII of England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Henry VIII King of England and Ireland

Reign Coronation Predecessor Successor Wives

21 April 1509 – 28 January 1547 24 June 1509 Henry VII Edward VI Catherine of Aragon m. 1509, ann. 1533 Anne Boleyn m. 1533, ann. 1536 Jane Seymour m. 1536, dec 1537 Anne of Cleves m. 1540, ann. 1540 Catherine Howard m. 1540, ann. 1542 Catherine Parr m. 1543, wid. 1547

Who runs the UK? The government runs the UK. Great Britain (UK) is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional Monarch as Head of State The principle behind British democracy is that the people elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons in London at a general election, held no more than five years apart. Most MPs belong to a political party, and the party with the largest number of MPs in the House of Commons forms the government.

Governmental regions of England England is divided into nine governmental regions.

South West West Midlands

South East East Midlands

London North West

East of England North East

Yorkshire and the Humber

NATIONAL DAYS IN THE UK

The Royal Family Tree

Queen Elizabeth II b. 1926 m. Philip, Duke of Edinburgh son of Prince Andrew of Greece

The Queen's sons and daughter

Charles Prince of Wales b. 1948 m. Lady Diana Spencer (divorced 1996) (d. 1997) m. Camilla Parker Bowles

Anne Princess Royal b.1950 m. Captain Mark Phillips (divorced 1993) m. Commander Timothy Laurence

Andrew Duke of York b. 1960 m. Sarah Ferguson (divorced 1996)

Edward Earl of Wessex b. 1964 m. Sophie RhysJones

The Queen's Grandchildren

Prince William of

Peter Phillips

Princess Beatrice of

Lady Louise Windsor

Wales

York b. 1977

b. 1982

Prince Harry of Wales b. 1984

b. 2003 b. 1988

Zara Phillips

b. 1981

Princess Eugenie of York b. 1990

Viscount Severn

b. 2007

How many grandchildren does the Queen have? The Queen has 8 grandchildren: William, Harry, Peter, Zara, Beatrice, Eugenie, Louise and James

National Days are not celebrated in the same extent as National Days are in a number of other countries. Only St Patrick's Day in Northern Ireland (and the republic of Ireland) and St Andrew's Day in Scotland (from 2007) are taken as an official holiday. All the other national days are normal working days.

Each part of the United Kingdom has its own Saint's Day: Wales

Northern Ireland

England

Scotland

St David

St Patrick

St George

St Andrew

1 March, St David's Day, is the national day of Wales. St David's Day is celebrated in Wales on 1 March, in honour of St David (Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales. He was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. He spread the word of Christianity across Wales. St David's Day is commemorated by the wearing of daffodils or leeks. Both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems.

17 March, St Patrick's Day, is the national day of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. This is the flag of St Patrick. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Born in Britain, he was carried off by pirates and spent six years in slavery before escaping and training as a missionary. The day is marked by the wearing of shamrocks (a clover-like plant), the national emblem of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

23 April, St George's Day, is the national day of England. A story dating back to the 6th century tells that St George rescued a maiden by slaying a fearsome fire-breathing dragon. The Saint's name was shouted as a battle cry by English knights who fought beneath the red-cross banner of St George during the Hundred Years War (1338-1453). Some people wear a red rose on St Georges Day.

30 November, St Andrew's Day, is the national day of Scotland. St Andrew was one of Christ's twelve apostles. Some of his bones are said to have been brought to what is now St Andrews in Fife during the 4th century. Since medieval times the X-shaped cross upon which St Andrew was supposedly crucified has been the Scottish national symbol.

Queen Elizabeth II Born: 21 April, 1926. Queen since 6 February 1952 Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) was born on April 21, 1926 at 17 Bruton Street, London. Her birthday is officially celebrated in Britain on the 3rd Saturday of June each year. Queen Elizabeth II is a 'constitutional monarch'. This means that although she is officially the head of the state, the country is actually run by the government, led by the Prime Minister. Where does the Queen live? The Queen lives at Buckingham Palace. Interesting Fact: There has not been a Queen of England since 1603. Elizabeth I was the last ever King or Queen of England. From 1603, the monarch, although living in England, has been known as either the Monarch Great Britain (as Queen Anne was) or of the United Kingdom (as Queen Victoria was). When Elizabeth I died, King James VI of Scotland became king of England as well as Scotland, thus uniting the kingdoms of England and Scotland for the first time.

The Official Title of the Queen Her Majesty The Queen's title in the United Kingdom is: 'Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. When did Queen Elizabeth come to the throne?

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI. Her Coronation, at Westminster Abbey, followed on June 2, 1953. (A new king or Queen begins to rule as soon as their succession to the throne has been announced. But the coronation - when the crown is placed on the monarch's head - may not happen until months later.) The queen celebrated her Golden jubilee (50 years since her accession) in 2002. Head of State Queen Elizabeth II is the United Kingdom's Head of State. She is queen of 16 former British colonies, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand; and head of the Commonwealth, a multinational body created after the dissolution of the British empire. What jobs does the Queen do? Who is the Queen married to? The Queen as married to the HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the son of Prince and Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark. They married on 20 November 1947. The Duke is Queen Elizabeth's third cousin; they share Queen Victoria as a great-great-grandmother. What is Queen Elizabeth's surname? The Queen does not normally use a surname (she doesn't need a passport or a driving license for example), but on the few occasions where it has been necessary, i.e. when serving with the ATS during World War II, she has used the surname 'Windsor'. The British royal family changed their last name from SaxeCoburg-Gotha to Windsor in 1917. Why? World War One broke out in 1914 and anti-German sentiment was its height in 1917. In protest, King George V renounced all the German titles belonging to him and his family and adopted the name of his castle, Windsor.

Royal Homes Among the official royal residences are Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St. James Palace, Balmoral Castle, Frogmore House, The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Sandringham House and Kensington Palace.

Interesting Facts about the Queen. The Queen is the fifth longest serving British monarch. Only four other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 54 years or more. These are: Queen Victoria 1837-1901 (63 years) King George III 1760-1820 (59 years) James VI of Scotland, 1567-1625, James I of England 1603- 25 (58 years) King Henry III 1216-1272 (56 years) Every Tuesday the Queen is visited by the Prime Minister As Head of State, The Queen maintains close contact with the Prime Minister, with whom she has a weekly audience when she is in London. Over the reign, Her Majesty has given regular Tuesday evening audiences to 10 Prime Ministers. They are: • • • • • • • • • • •

Winston Churchill 1951-55 Sir Anthony Eden 1955-57 Harold Macmillan 1957-63 Sir Alec Douglas-Home 1963-64 Harold Wilson 1964-70 and 1974-76 Edward Heath 1970-74 James Callaghan 1976-79 Margaret Thatcher 1979-90 John Major 1990-97 Tony Blair 1997-2007 Gordon Brown 2007 - present

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh have been married for 60 years.

They were married on 20 November 1947 in Westminster Abbey. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are both great, great grandchildren of Queen Victoria. The Queen is a direct descendent of Queen Victoria’s oldest son King Edward VII and the Duke of Edinburgh is a direct descendent of Queen Victoria’s third child Princess Alice. The Queen has two birthdays The Queen's real birthday is on 21 April, but it is celebrated officially in June. Every year the Queen opens Parliament The Queen has opened Parliament every year except 1959 and 1963, when she was expecting Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively. The Queen favourite pets are her Corgis The Queen has owned more than 30 corgis during her reign, starting with Susan who was a present for her 18th birthday in 1944. A good proportion of these have been direct descendants from Susan. Her Majesty currently has five corgis - Monty, Willow, Holly, Emma and Linnet. The Queen is 5'4" (64 inches or 160cm) tall. The Queen has 9 Royal Thrones One at the House of Lords, two at Westminster Abbey, and six in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.

Things The Queen was first to do In 1953–54 H.M. Queen Elizabeth II became the first monarch to circumnavigate the globe on a six month around-the-world tour with H.R.H Prince Philip also becoming the first to visit Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Queen Elizabeth II is the first monarch to send her children to boarding schools in order to remove them from the everprobing media. Queen Elizabeth II was the first, and so far only, female member of the royal family to actually serve in the armed forces, though other royal women have been given honorary ranks. Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch since the Act of Union, in 1801, to be out of the country at the moment of succession, and also the first in modern times not to know the exact time of her accession (because George VI had died in his sleep at an unknown time). She was in Kenya. Buckingham Palace was opened to the public for the first time Queen Elizabeth II was the first British Monarch to visit China when she visited in 1986.

The Queen's Homes Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace is the Queen's official and main royal London home, although the Queen regularly spends time at Windsor Castle and Balmoral in Scotland.

Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is an official residence of The Queen and the largest occupied castle in the world. The castle was the inspiration for the Royal family's surname.

William the Conqueror built the castle in 1080 and it has remained a royal palace and fortress for over 900 years. Windsor is the oldest royal home in Britain and, covering 13 acres, it's the largest castle in the world that is still lived in.

Each year, the Order of the Garter ceremony is held at Windsor Castle, and the Queen occasionally hosts a "dine and sleeps" for politicians and public figures.

Balmoral Castle Balmoral Castle is the private residence of The Queen. It has remained a favourite residence for The Queen and her family during the summer holiday period in August and September. The Castle is located on the large Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Some 85,000 people visit Balmoral each year, and the estate maintains and restores footpaths throughout the property for visiting hikers.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh is The Queen's official residence in Scotland. It was also the home of many Scottish royals. The Queen holds receptions, state functions, and investitures within its walls, and each year during Holyrood Week Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip invite 8,000 Scottish guests to the Garden Party.

Sandringham House The Royal family’s private country retreat in Norfolk. Every Christmas is spent at Sandringham House, which has been the private home of four generations of sovereigns since 1862.

Other Royal Family Homes Kensington Palace Kensington Palace was the favourite residence of successive sovereigns until the death of George II in 1760. When William III bought the Jacobean mansion in 1689 it was known as the Nottingham House, and

during his ownership he outfitted it for royalty. It was the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria and her primary residence until she moved into Buckingham Palace. Kensington Palace was the London residence of the late Princess Diana.

St. James Palace Built between 1532 and 1540 by Henry VIII. St James Palace was the official residence of the British Sovereign until the death of William III in 1837. Since then Buckingham Palace.

Clarence House Clarence House, stands beside St James's Palace. It is The Prince of Wales's current official London residence and former London residence of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Buckingham Palace is where the Queen lives.

Buckingham Palace is the Queen's official and main royal London home. It has been the official London residence of Britain's monarchy since 1837. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live there.

Who lives in Buckingham Palace today?

Buckingham Palace is not only the home of the Queen and Prince Philip but also the London residence of the Duke of York (Prince Andrew) and the Earl and Countess of Wessex (Prince Edward and his wife) and their daughter.

Buckingham Palace is also an office Buckingham Palace is used also for the administrative work for the monarchy. It is here in the state apartments that Her Majesty receives and entertains guests invited to the Palace. .

The Queen's other Homes The Queen has other homes too including Windsor Castle and Balmoral in Scotland.

Royal Flag

When the Queen is at home, you can see her royal flag flying from the flag pole on top of Buckingham Palace. This flag is called the Royal Standard. The flag is split into four quadrants. The first and fourth quadrants represent England and contain three gold lions walking (passant) on a red field; the second quadrant represents Scotland contains a red lion standing on the left hind foot (rampant) on a gold field; the third quadrant represents Ireland and contains the gold Coat of arms of Ireland on a blue field. In flag protocol, the Royal Standard is supreme. It must only be flown from buildings where the Queen is present. It flies above

the British Union Flag (Union Jack), Standards of other Royal Family members, and other British flags.

Standing guard outside Buckingham Palace

Foot Guards Five regiments of Foot Guards guard the Palace. They wear red jackets and tall, furry hats called bearskins. When the guards come on duty, there is a ceremony called the Changing of the Guard.

Changing of the Guard A familiar sight at Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard ceremony that takes place in the forecourt each morning. The monarch and the royal palaces have been guarded by the Household Troops since 1660.

Inside Buckingham Palace The Palace has around 600 rooms, including 19 State rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 78 bathrooms, 92 offices, a cinema and a swimming pool. It also has its own post office and police station. About 400 people work at the Palace, including domestic servants, chefs, footmen, cleaners, plumbers, gardeners, chauffeurs, electricians, and two people who look after the 300 clocks.

Buildings and Landmarks in London

Tower of London

For over 900 years the Tower of London has been one of the capital's most prominent landmarks and a world-famous visitor attraction. Throughout its long history, the Tower has served as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, an arsenal, royal mint, menagerie and jewel house.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is one of the oldest buildings in London and one of the most important religious centres in the country. Many kings and Queens and famous people are buried or commemorated there. Its founder, Edward the Confessor, was made a saint after his death and he is buried in a special chapel dedicated to him. Every King and Queen has been crowned in Westminster Abbey since William the Conqueror in 1066.

The Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament)

The Palace of Westminster, known also as the Houses of Parliament, is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) conduct their sittings. It is the place where laws governing British life are debated and passed. The Queen rides in a State coach to Westminster to open each new session of Parliament, usually in the second week in November. From the middle of the 11th century until 1512, the Palace of Westminster was the royal home to the Kings and Queens of England, hence the name. The Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) contain the bell Big Ben that strickes each quarter of an hour. A light in the clock tower tells when the House of Commons is in session.

Big Ben

Big Ben is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. The clock tower is situated on the banks of the river Thames and is part of the Palace of Westminster. Officially "Big Ben" does not refer to the whole clocktower (also known as St Stephen's Tower), but to the huge thirteen ton bell that strikes the hour. The Big Ben bell has the following measurements: 9'-0" diameter, 7'-6" high, and weighs cwts 3 qtrs 13,760 Kg.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is one of the most popular landmarks in London. It is the London home of the British Royal family. The 600 room palace is surrounded by a 40 acre garden. 40,000 tulips are planted each year in front of Buckingham palace.

Canary Wharf Tower

The Tallest building in the UK is in Canary Wharf, part of the London Docklands. It is 244 metres high and covered in stainless steel.

St Paul's Cathedral

The first St Paul's Cathedral was built in 604 AD but burnt down in 675. The rebuilt cathedral was again burnt down in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The present St Paul's Cathedral was built between 1675 and 1711 by Sir Christopher Wren. The photo on the left shows the main entrance to St Paul’s. You can see the distinctive dome of St Paul's from miles away. The dome of St Paul’s Cathedral is the second biggest dome in the world, after St Peter's in Rome.

The Millenium Dome

The Millennium Dome in London is the largest dome in the world, covering over 180 acres; it is 320m in diameter and 50m

high with support towers reaching 100m. It can accommodate Nelson's Column standing upright and the Eiffel Tower placed horizontally. It was built on the Greenwich Meridian (0 degrees longitude) to commemorate the new millennium.

The London Eye

The London Eye, next to County Hall, is another of London’s most modern landmarks. It is the world’s biggest wheel, and will carry 800 passengers at a time on a thirty-minute ride. From its highest point of 450 feet, it promises views of up to 25 miles.

30 St Mary Axe

30 St Mary Axe opened on 27 April 2004, although its official opening was not until the end of May 2004. Infamously known as 'the Gherkin' due to its 3D oval shape, it is one of the first landmarks to become visible when you're travelling into London from many different places. The outside of the building consists of 24,000 square metres of glass arranged in diamond-shaped panes.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square was built in honour of Admiral Lord Nelson after his victory in 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar. Britain's most famous sea Lord, Nelson died in this famous battle against Napoleon.

The Monument

The Monument was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and erected between 1671 and 1677, it commemorates the Great Fire of London in 1666. The tower is 62m high and 62m away from the baker's shop in Pudding Lane, where the fire began. There are 311 stairs to the top of the monument where you can step out onto the viewing platform for an all round view of the City of London.

Tourist Attractions in the UK. There are an estimated 6,400 visitor attractions in the United Kingdom. The most popular in the following categories are: Museums and galleries National Gallery, London greatest

The National Gallery was founded in 1824 to house one of the

collections of European painting in the world. Free admission to house one of the greatest British Museum, London Tate Modern, London Tate Modern is home to the Tate's collection of international modern art from 1900 to the present day. Victoria and Albert Museum, London The Victoria and Albert Museum has one of the largest collections of arts and crafts including furniture, jewelry, ceramics and textiles. Science Museum, London London's Science Museum displays the technology of yesterday, today and the future. Madame Tussauds, London. The globally famous wax museum is one of the most visited attractions in London. The London Planetarium is adjacent to Madame Tussaud's, inside you are invited to discover the basics of astronomy under its green copper dome.

London Dungeons Historical houses and monuments Tower of London The Tower of London is home to the Crown Jewels

Windsor Castle Roman Baths, Bath Somerset House, London

Buckingham Palace Tours, London - Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of Her Majesty The Queen Theme parks Blackpool Pleasure Beach Pleasureland Theme Park, Southport Legoland, Windsor Pleasure Beach, Great Yarmouth Flamingo Land Theme Park Thorpe Park Chessington World of Adventures, Surrey Alton Towers - boasts some of the world's scariest rides

Churches and cathedrals St Paul's Cathedral, London Built after the Great Fire of London St Paul's Cathedral is perhaps one of Sir Christopher Wren's finest buildings. It took 40 years to build it. Photo of St Paul's Cathedral London

York Minster Canterbury Cathedral Westminster Abbey, London Chester Cathedral Other Tourist Attractions London Eye

Yeomen Warders

State dress uniform

Normal everyday uniform

The guards at the Tower of London are called Yeoman Warders. In principle they are responsible for looking after any prisoners at the Tower and safeguarding the British crown jewels, but in practice they act as tour guides and are a tourist attraction in their own right. There are twelve Yeomen Warders. While their role is usually confined to the Tower of London, the Yeomen Warders do take part in one State ceremony. At Coronations, they form a guard of honour inside the annexe at Westminster Abbey. Their nickname is Beefeater. Where d oes the n ame Beefeater orig inate fr om? The name Beefeaters is often thought to come from the French word 'buffetier'. (Buffetiers were guards in the palace of French kings. They protected the king's food.) However, the name

Beefeater is more likely to have originated from the time when the Yeomen Warders at the Tower were paid part of their salary with chunks of beef. This took place right up until the 1800s.

Yeomen of the Guard The Queen's Body Guard, known as the Yeomen of the Guard, are a bodyguard of the British Monarch. There are 73 Yeomen of the Guard, all of whom are former officers and sergeants of the British Services. It is the oldest of the Royal bodyguards and the oldest military corps in existence in Britain. Yeomen of the Guards are also often called Beefeaters. The Yeomen of the Guard have a purely ceremonial role. They accompany the Sovereign at the annual Royal Maundy Service, investitures and summer Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace, and so on. Their most famous duty is to 'ceremonially' search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster prior to the State Opening of Parliament, a tradition that dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up Parliament.

Facts about London • • • • • • • • • • •

London is the biggest city in Britain and in Europe. London occupies over 620 square miles London has a population of 7,172,036 (2001) About 12 per cent of Britain’s overall population live in London London has the highest population density in Britain, with 4,699 people per square kilometre, London is in the southeast of England. London is the seat of central government in Britain. The tallest building in London is the Canary Wharf Tower. London was the first city in the world to have an underground railway, known as the 'Tube'. Some of the most important people from countries all over the world visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace. There are over 100 theatres in London, including 50 in the West End. London theatre accounts for 45% of all UK theatre admissions and over 70% of box-office revenues.

Parks in London London has a lot of green and open space. In fact the city has 1,700 parks in an area of around 70 square miles. It's possible to walk from the Houses of Parliament to Olympia, a distance of 3 miles, through parkland alone. Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James' park form an unbroken line of greenery making this possible.

The most popular London Parks are:

Hyde Park Hyde Park is the most prominent and famous London park. It was once part of a wild and ancient forest, inhabited by wolves, wild bulls and boar. It was fenced off as a royal deer park in Tudor times, and later open to the public. It consists of 360 acres. In summer time there is option of renting a small boat and gently paddling in the Serpentine boating lake, having refreshing drink or maybe fishing in certain allocated places. The famous Speakers Corner, where you can let your soul out and scream at the whole world or have normal debate with strangers about topics that interest you, is part of the park. Another section of the park is Kensington Gardens where you can see Kensington Palace.

Kensington Gardens Kensington Gardens were created for William III, who lived at Kensington Palace. The palace is still used by the Royal family. You can visit part of it. Diana, Princess of Wales lived there. In Kensington Gardens there is a statue of Peter Pan statue and The Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Playground.

Green Park Green Park has a grand entrance facing Queen Victoria's memorial outside Buckingham Palace. This entrance is called Canada Gate. There is a memorial to Canadians who died in the two World Wars. Green Park is known for its tree lined avenues such as the Broad Walk and the Queen's Walk, which dates back to 1730.

St. James's Park

Saint James's Park has a large lake with an island in the middle. It is famous for the variety of ducks and geese and other birds which live on the lake. If you look across the lake, you can see the government offices of Whitehall in the distance.

Regent's Park Regent's Park is situated in northwest London. It was originally a royal hunting forest. It was landscaped by John Nash in the 1820s for the Royal Regent (later George the fourth). He surrounded it with elegant terraced houses, which you can still see today. Inside the park is boating lake where you can rent a boat and enjoy the beautifully cultivated flowers. The Park is also home to London Zoo.

Greenwich Park The Park is most famous for being bisected by the Greenwich meridian - the line to which time across the globe is referenced. Several historic buildings are in the park, including the Old Royal Observatory, the Royal Naval College and the National Maritime Museum.

Famous Landmarks found in England England is a land of ancient cities, royal palaces, massive cathedrals, and legendary sites. Mighty castles, stately homes, glorious gardens, and tiny picturesque villages

enhance the natural beauty of the countryside.

Stonehenge

This stone circle is called Stonehenge.

It is the most famous prehistoric monument in Britain and is situated on Salisbury Plain in the county of Wiltshire. People began building Stonehenge about 5,000 years ago, dragging each stone into place.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle has been a royal residence for over 900 years and today is one of the homes of Queen Elizabeth ll. The royal standard flies from the round tower of the Castle when the Queen is in residence.

Windsor Castle has dominated the river Thames for over 900 years. It was built by the Normans from timber and later rebuilt in stone.

Hadrian Wall

Hadrian's Wall, a stone wall barrier built to separate the Romans and the tribes in Scotland 2000 years ago. It allowed Roman soldiers to control the movements of people coming into or leaving Roman Britain. It was so well built that you can still see parts of it today.

King’s College, Cambridge

King’s College, founded in 1441 by Henry VI, is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.

The White Cliffs of Dover

The White Cliffs of Dover are truly one of the most famous English landmarks. These distinctive cliffs have been a welcoming site for returning sailors through the many

centuries.

Blackpool Tower

Blackpool Tower is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire in England which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. It is said to be the most famous seaside landmark in England.

Geography of the UK

The UK is made up of: •

Great Britain (the formerly separate realms of England and Scotland, and the principality of Wales. )

•

Northern Ireland (also known as Ulster)

•

Numerous smaller islands including the Isle of Wight, Anglesey, and the Scilly, Orkney, Shetland, and Hebridean archipelagos.

Where is the UK? The UK is in Western Europe just off the coast of France. The mainland areas lie between latitudes 49°N and 59°N and longitudes 8°W to 2°E. The UK lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, and comes within 35 km (22 miles) of the northwest coast of France, from which it is separated by the English Channel. Northern Ireland shares a 360 km international land boundary with the Republic of Ireland. The Channel Tunnel bored beneath the English Channel, now links the UK with France.

How big an area does the UK cover? The UK has a total area of approximately 245,000 km², almost a quarter-of-a-million square kilometres.

Interesting Fact No one in the UK lives more than 120 km (75 miles) from the sea.

Seas surrounding the UK The UK is made up of several islands. The only land border connecting the UK to another country is between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The UK is bordered by four seas: •

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to the south by the English Channel, which separates it from continental Europe to the east by the North Sea to the west by the

Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean

The Land The UK Landscape is very varied, ranging from the Grampian Mountains of Scotland to the lowland fens of England which are at or below sea level in places. Scotland and Wales are the most mountainous parts of the UK. A ridge of hills, the Pennine, runs down the centre of northern England. Many coastal areas are low-lying, especially in the east and south of England. These include the wetlands of the Somerset levels, that regularly flood during heavy rain. Most of the UK is made up of gently rolling hills with isolated areas of high ground such as Dartmoor in the south-west of England or the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland.

Lakes Northern Ireland is also home to the UK's largest lake, Lough Neagh, which covers an area of 396sq.km (153 sq miles). Other major lakes include Windermere in the English Lake District and Loch Lomond in Scotland. Another of Scotland's lakes, Loch Ness is famous for sightings of 'Nessie', a mythical monster!

UK Rivers Being a relatively small Island, the UK's rivers are not very long. The Severn, its longest river, is just 338 km in length, beginning in Wales and entering the Atlantic Ocean near Bristol in England. Other major rivers include the Thames, which flows through Oxford and London, and the Trent and Mersey rivers, which drain rainfall from large areas of central England.

What is the Climate like in the UK? Contrary to popular belief, it DOES NOT rain every day in England or in the rest of the UK! However, it is always advisable to bring some type of waterproof clothing and keep yourself psychologically prepared!

Britain is an island country and the surrounding sea gives England a varied climate. We never know what the weather will be like from one day to the other. It can be sunny one day and rainy the next. As we have such a variable climate changing from from day to day, it is difficult to predict the weather. In general we have warm summers and cool winters. Our summers are cooler than those on the continent, but the winters are milder.

Temperate Climate The overall climate in England is called temperate maritime. This means that it is mild with temperatures not much lower than 0ºC in winter and not much higher than 32ºC in summer. It also means that it is damp and is subject to frequent changes.

Warmest and coldest months

July and August are normally the warmest month in England. Around the coasts, February is normally the coldest month, but inland there is little to choose between January and February as the coldest month.

Best months to travel to England Probably the best months to travel in England are May, June, September and October. These months generally have the most pleasant temperatures and less rain. July and August are the warmest months, but they are also the wettest. The sunniest parts of the Britain are along the south coast of England.

RainFall Rain is fairly well distributed throughout the year, with late winter/spring (February to March) the driest period and autumn/winter (October to January) the wettest. The Lake District is England's wettest region, receiving and average of 130 inches (330 centimeters) of precipitation each year. The western and northern hills receive about 40 inches (102 centimeters) of rain, while the east coast receives about 20 inches (51 centimetres).

What influences the weather? The main influence on our climate is our close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, our northern latitude, and the warming of the waters around the land by the Gulf Stream (a warm current of the northern Atlantic Ocean). Our island is small compared with the other land masses in the northern hemisphere – hence Britain is more influenced by the ocean compared with other European countries, and the Gulf Stream helps to keep winters milder compared with other landlocked nations with a similar latitude.

During the months of shortest daylight (November, December and January) sunshine is at a minimum, with an average of an hour a day in northern Scotland and two hours a day on the south coast of England.

Famous people in Britain.

Famous writers William Shakespeare - arguably the most famous writer in the world. Brontë sisters (Charlotte, Emily, and Anne), Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, J. R. R. Tolkien and Charles Dickens.

Famous Poets Lord Byron, Robert Burns, and Thomas Hardy.

Famous Composers William Byrd , Thomas Tallis , John Taverner , Henry Purcell , Edward Elgar, Arthur Sullivan , Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Benjamin Britten.

The Greatest Britons of all Time chosen by the people of Britain. In November 2002, the British public voted to find the Greatest Briton of all time. Over a million people voted. NB. The list contains a few non British entrants including two Irish nationals (Bono and Bob Geldof) and Freddie Mercury, who was born in Zanzibar to Indian Parsi parents. Here are the results:

1.

Sir Winston Churchill Winston Churchill was a politician, a soldier, an artist, and the 20th century's most famous and celebrated Prime Minister.

2.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Isambard Kingdom Brunel was an extraordinary Victorian engineer. He designed and built amongst other structures bridges, ships, railways and viaducts

3.

Diana, Princess of Wales From the time of her marriage to the Prince of Wales in 1981 until her death in a car accident in Paris in 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales was one of the world's most highprofile, most photographed, and most iconic celebrities.

4.

Charles Darwin Charles Darwin was a British naturalist of the nineteenth century. He and others developed the theory of evolution. This theory forms the basis for the modern life sciences. Darwin's most famous books are 'The Origin of Species' and 'The Descent of Man'.

5.

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was a playwright and poet whose body of works is considered the greatest in English literature. He wrote dozens of plays which continue to dominate world theater 400 years later.

6.

Sir Isaac Newton Isaac Newton was a mathematician and scientist who invented differential calculus and formulated the theory of universal gravitation, a theory about the nature of light, and three laws of motion.

7.

Queen Elizabeth I The daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Queen Elizabeth 1 reigned England from 1558– 1603. Her reign was marked by several plots to overthrow her, the execution of Mary Queen of Scots (1587), the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588), and domestic prosperity and literary achievement. Find out more about Elizabeth 1

8.

John Lennon John Lennon was a musician and composer who was a member of the Beatles, the biggest rock band of the 1960s.

9.

Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson Nelson is the greatest hero in British naval history, an honour he earned by defeating Napoleon's fleet in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.

10. Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell was a military, political, and religious figure who led the Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War (1642–1649) and called for the execution of Charles I. He was Lord Protector of England for much of the 1650s, ruling in place of the country's traditional monarchy. 11. Ernest Shackleton Ernest Shackleton was a British explorer of the South Pole who is best remembered for leading his crew to safety after the failed expedition of the Endurance (1914-16). 12. Captain James Cook James Cook was an explorer of the eighteenth century, known for his voyages to the Pacific Ocean. Cook visited New Zealand, established the first European colony in Australia, and was the first European to visit Hawaii. He also approached Antarctica and explored much of the western coast of North America. 13. Robert Baden-Powell British soldier who founded the Boy Scouts (1908) and with his sister Agnes (1858–1945) the Girl Guides (1910). 14. King Alfred the Great King of the West Saxons (871–899), scholar, and lawmaker who repelled the Danes and helped consolidate England into a unified kingdom.

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

15.

British general and politician. Commander of British troops during the Peninsular War (1808–1814), he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (1815), thus ending the Napoleonic Wars. As prime minister (1828–1830) he passed the Catholic Emancipation Act (1829).

Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher

16.

Margaret Thatcher was the United Kingdom's first woman prime minister, and she held the office of PM for longer than anyone in the 20th century. 17.

Michael Crawford Queen Victoria

-Actor

18. Victoria's nearly 64-year reign was the longest in British history.

Sir Paul McCartney McCartney was a singer, songwriter and guitarist for The Beatles, the biggest rock band of the 1960s.

Sir Alexander Fleming 19. British bacteriologist who discovered penicillin in 1928, for which he shared a Nobel Prize in 1945. 20. Alan Turing English mathematician whose works explored the possibility of computers and raised fundamental questions about artificial intelligence. During World War II he contributed to the allied victory by helping to decipher the German Enigma codes. 21. Michael Faraday British physicist and chemist who discovered electromagnetic induction (1831) and proposed the field theory later developed by Maxwell and Einstein. 22. Owain Glyndwr The last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales. 23. Queen Elizabeth II Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary), is the Queen regnant and Head of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and fifteen other Commonwealth countries. 24. Professor Stephen Hawking British theoretical physicist noted for his research into the origin of the universe. His work influenced the development of the big bang and black hole theories.

25. William Tyndale English religious reformer and martyr whose translation of the New Testament was the basis of the King James Bible. 26. Emmeline Pankhurst 27. William Wilberforce British politician. As a member of Parliament (1780–1825) he campaigned for the British abolition of slavery.

David Bowie 28. David Bowie, is a British rock and roll musician, actor, and artist who has had a profound influence on rock and roll from the 1960s to the present. 29. Guy Fawkes English conspirator who was executed for his role in a plot to blow up King James I and the Houses of Parliament (1570-1606) 30.

Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire of Woodall

31.

Eric Morecambe David Beckham

- comic

32. Beckham is a leading English footballer and a former star of the legendary team Manchester United. 33. Thomas Paine British-born American writer and Revolutionary leader who wrote the pamphlet Common Sense (1776) arguing for American independence from Britain. In England he published The Rights of Man (1791–1792), a defence of the French Revolution. 34. Boudicca Queen of ancient Britain who led a temporarily successful revolt against the Roman army that had claimed her deceased husband's kingdom. 35. Sir Steve Redgrave A British rower who won a gold medal at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000, as well as an additional bronze medal in 1988. As the only Briton ever to achieve this feat, he is widely considered to be Britain's greatest Olympian.

36. Sir Thomas More English politician, humanist scholar, and writer who refused to comply with the Act of Supremacy, by which English subjects were enjoined to recognize Henry VIII's authority over the pope, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London and beheaded for treason. 37. William Blake British poet and artist whose paintings and poetic works, such as Songs of Innocence (1789) and The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (c. 1790), have a mystical, visionary quality. 38. John Harrison An English clock designer, who developed and built the world's first successful maritime clock, one whose accuracy was great enough to allow the determination of longitude over long distances.

King Henry VIII 39. Henry VIII is one of the most famous and controversial kings of England. His divorce from Catherine of Aragon, his first wife, compelled him to break from the Catholic Church by the Act of Supremacy (1534). 40. Charles Dickens - writer Charles Dickens wrote some of the most popular and widely read novels of the 19th century, from Oliver Twist to A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations. 41. Sir Frank Whittle English aeronautical engineer. Whittle was one of the first men to associate the gas turbine with jet propulsion. 42. John Peel John Peel was a disc jockey on BBC's Radio 1 whose 37 years of broadcasting out-of-the-mainstream acts helped popularise reggae, punk and hip-hop in Britain. 43. John Logie Baird A Scottish inventor, who in 1926 gave the first demonstration of true television 44. Aneurin Bevan Welsh-born British politician who as minister of health (1945–1951) was the chief architect of the National Health Service.

45. 46.

Boy George

- singer

Sir Douglas Bader

Sir William Wallace 47. Scottish patriot who led resistance against the English and briefly gained control of Scotland in 1298. 48. Sir Francis Drake English naval hero and explorer who was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world (1577–1580) and was vice admiral of the fleet that destroyed the Spanish Armada (1588). 49. John Wesley British religious leader who founded Methodism (1738). His brother Charles (1707–1788) wrote thousands of hymns, including “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.”

King Arthur 50. A legendary British hero, said to have been king of the Britons in the sixth century A.D. and to have held court at Camelot. 51. Florence Nightingale British nurse who organized (1854) and directed a unit of field nurses during the Crimean War and is considered the founder of modern nursing. (Although Florence was born in Italy, her parents were British and from the age of one, Florence lived in Britain). 52. T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) Welsh-born British soldier, adventurer, and writer who led the Arab revolt against the Turks (1916–1918) and later wrote an account of his adventures, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926). 53. Sir Robert Falcon Scott British explorer who reached the South Pole (January 1912) only to find that Roald Amundsen had discovered the spot one month before. 54. Enoch Powell 55. Sir Cliff Richard One of the UK's most popular singers of all time

Sir Alexander Graham Bell

56. Scottish-born American inventor of the telephone.

57.

Freddie Mercury

58. Dame Julie Andrews A British actress, singer, and author, best known for her starring roles in the musical films Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965). 59. Sir Edward Elgar 60. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother 61. George Harrison 62. Sir David Attenborough 63. James Connolly 64. George Stephenson 65. Sir Charlie Chaplin 66. Tony Blair 67. William Caxton 68. Bobby Moore 69. Jane Austen 70. William Booth 71. King Henry V 72. Aleister Crowley 73. King Robert the Bruce 74. Bob Geldof 75. The Unknown Warrior 76. Robbie Williams 77. Edward Jenner 78. David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd George 79. Charles Babbage 80. Geoffrey Chaucer 81. King Richard III 82. J.K. Rowling 83. James Watt 84. Sir Richard Branson 85. Bono (Born in Ireland) 86. John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) 87. Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein 88. Donald Campbell 89. King Henry II 90. James Clerk Maxwell 91. J.R.R. Tolkien 92. Sir Walter Raleigh 93. King Edward I

94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99.

Sir Barnes Wallis Richard Burton Tony Benn David Livingstone Sir Tim Berners-Lee Marie Stopes

UNITED KINGDOM

FULL OFFICIAL NAME: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: western Europe, between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea AREA: 244,820 square km (consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) POPULATION: about 60 million GOVERNMENT TYPE: Constitutional monarchy OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English, Cymraeg (Welsh), Gaidhlig (Gaelic) CAPITAL: London CHIEF CITIES: Birmingham, Glasgow, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Belfast THE HIGHEST PEAK: Ben Nevis (1,343 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: Thames, Ouse, Humber, Mersey, Severn CURRENCY: Pound Sterling = 100 pence POPULAR SPORTS: soccer, cricket, golf, horse racing OLYMPIC GAMES: London 1908 and 1948

ENGLAND

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: south part of the island of Great Britain (the largest unit of UK) AREA: 130,362 square km (50,333 sq. mi.) POPULATION: about 47 million POLITICAL DIVISION: 46 counties POLITICAL STATUS: Integral part of United Kingdom

CAPITAL: London CHIEF CITIES: Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester THE HIGHEST PEAK: Scafell Pike (978 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: Thames, Ouse, Humber, Mersey, Severn PATRON SAINT: Saint George (St. George's cross on the flag) FAMOUS ENGLISHMEN: William Shakespeare, Sir Francis Drake, Winston Churchill, Roger Moore, Queen Elizabeth II etc.

NORTHERN IRELAND

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: north-east section of the island of Ireland AREA:14,121 square km (5452 sq. mi.) POPULATION: about 1.6 million POLITICAL DIVISION: 26 districts POLITICAL STATUS: Constituent country of UK OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English, Irish Gaelic, Ulster Scots CAPITAL: Belfast (Beal Feirste) CHIEF CITIES: Derry, Newtownabbey, Bangor, Armagh, Omagh THE HIGHEST PEAK: Slieve Donard (852 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: Erne, Lagan, Foyle, Bann CHIEF LAKE: Lough Neagh PATRON SAINT: Saint Patrick FAMOUS PEOPLE: George Best, Gerry Adams, Lord Kelvin, Kenneth Branagh, Liam Neeson, etc.

SCOTLAND

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: north part of the island of Great Britain AREA: 77,174 square km (29,797 sq. mi.)

POPULATION: about 5.1 million POLITICAL DIVISION: 9 administrative regions and 3 administrative island areas POLITICAL STATUS: Integral part of United Kingdom CAPITAL: Edinburgh OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English and Scots Gaelic CHIEF CITIES: Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness THE HIGHEST PEAK: Ben Nevis (1343 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: Clyde, Dee, Spey PATRON SAINT: Saint Andrew (St. Andrew's cross on the flag) FAMOUS SCOTSMEN: Sean Connery, William Wallace, Dennis Law, John Logie Baird, Sir Walter Scott, Alexander Graham Bell, etc.

IRELAND (EIRE)

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: occupies southern, central and northwestern part of the island of Ireland AREA: 68,894 square km (26,600 sq. mi.) POPULATION: about 3.9 million POLITICAL DIVISION: 26 counties CAPITAL: Dublin (Baile Atha Cliath) CHIEF CITIES: Cork, Limerick (Luimneach), Dun Laoghaire, Galway, Waterford THE HIGHEST PEAK: Carrantuohill (1041 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: Bann, Boyne, Shannon, Barrow CHIEF LAKE: Conn, Mask, Ree PATRON SAINT: Saint Patrick NATIONAL HOLIDAY: March 17th (St. Patrick's Day) OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Irish, English CURRENCY: Irish pound POPULAR SPORTS:soccer; gaelic football; hurling FAMOUS IRISHMEN: George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, Pierce Brosnan, William Butler Yeats, Jonathan Swift, U2, etc. NATIONAL SYMBOLS: harp, shamrock

WALES (CYMRU)

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: west part of the island of Great Britain AREA: 20,761 square km (8016 sq. mi.) POPULATION: about 2.8 million POLITICAL DIVISION: 8 administrative counties POLITICAL STATUS: Prinicipality - integral part of United Kingdom CAPITAL: Cardiff (Caerdydd) OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English and Welsh CHIEF CITIES: Swansea (Abertawe), Newport (Casnewydd) THE HIGHEST PEAK: Snowdon (1085 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: Teifi, Clwyd FAMOUS FOR THE LONGEST SETTLEMENT NAME: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllandysiliogogogoch English translation of the above: Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave. FAMOUS WELSHMEN: Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta Jones, Ryan Giggs, Dylan Thomas, John Charles, Richard Burton, Henry Morgan etc. PATRON SAINT: Saint David NATIONAL HOLIDAY: March 1st (St David's Day) NATIONAL SYMBOLS: leek, daffodil, red dragon (Y Ddraig goch)

St. David's cross

USA

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: North America NEIGHBOURS: Canada (north), the Atlantic Ocean (east), Mexico & Gulf of Mexico (south), the Pacific Ocean (west) AREA: 9,375,720 square km (excl. Great Lakes - 3,619,969 sq. mi.)

POPULATION: about 260 million POLITICAL SYSTEM: federal republic POLITICAL DIVISION: 50 states and District of Columbia CAPITAL: Washington DC CHIEF CITIES: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Detroit, Dallas, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Antonio THE HIGHEST PEAK: Mount McKinley (6194 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Platte, Arkansas, Colorado, Columbia, Rio Grande CHIEF LAKES: parts of: Ontario, Erie, Huron, Superior; Michigan, Great Salt, Okeechobee CURRENCY: US dollar POPULAR SPORTS: football, basketball, baseball etc. OLYMPIC GAMES: Lake Placid 1932, 1980 (winter), Squaw Valley 1968 (winter), Salt Lake City 2002 (winter), St. Louis 1904 (summer), Los Angeles 1932, 1984 (summer), Atlanta 1996 (summer)

AUSTRALIA

FULL OFFICIAL NAME: Commonwealth of Australia NEIGHBOURS: Timor & Arafura Seas (north), Coral Sea (northeast), South Pacific Ocean (east), Indian Ocean (south & west) AREA: 7,686,884 square km POPULATION: about 18 million HEAD OF STATE: British sovereign POLITICAL DIVISION: 6 states and 2 territories CAPITAL: Canberra CHIEF CITIES: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart, Darwin, Adelaide THE HIGHEST PEAK: Mount Kosciusko (2228 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: Murray-Darling system, Fitzroy, Flinders CHIEF LAKE: Eyre CURRENCY: Australian dollar TYPICAL ANIMALS: kangaroo, dingo, platypus, emu, koala, Tasmanian devil FAMOUS AUSTRALIANS: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Ian Thorpe, Lleyton Hewitt, Ned Kelly POPULAR SPORTS: rugby, field hockey, soccer, surfing OLYMPIC GAMES: Melbourne 1956, Sydney 2000

CANADA

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: north part of North America NEIGHBOURS: bounded on north by Arctic Ocean, on east by the Atlantic Ocean, on south by the United States and on west by the States and the Pacific Ocean AREA: 9,976,185 square km (3,851,809 sq. mi.) POPULATION: about 28 million POLITICAL DIVISION: 10 provinces and 3 territories OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English, French, Inuktitut CAPITAL: Ottawa CHIEF CITIES: Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver THE HIGHEST PEAK: Mount Logan (6050 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: St. Lawrence, Columbia, Nelson, Mackenzie, Yukon CHIEF LAKES: parts of: Ontario, Erie, Huron, Superior and Lake of the Woods; Great Bear, Great Slave, Winnipeg CURRENCY: Canadian dollar FAMOUS CANADIANS: Wayne Gretzky, Leonard Cohen, Celine Dion, Mario Lemieux, etc. POPULAR SPORTS: ice hockey, curling OLYMPIC GAMES: Montreal 1976 (summer), Calgary 1988 (winter) and coming soon... Vancouver 2010 (winter)

NEW ZEALAND (Aotearoa)

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: group of islands on southwestern Pacific Ocean AREA: 268,676 square km (103,736 sq. mi.) POPULATION: about 4 million POLITICAL DIVISION: 13 regions CAPITAL: Wellington CHIEF CITIES: Auckland, Christchurch THE HIGHEST PEAK: Mount Cook (3764 m.) CHIEF RIVERS: Waikato, Rangitaiki, Wanganui

CHIEF LAKES: Taupo, Tekapo, Pukaki, Hawea, Wanata OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English & Maori CURRENCY: New Zealand dollar FAMOUS PEOPLE: Sir Edmund Hillary, Ernest Rutherford, Lucy Lawless, Ivan Mauger, Sam Neill, Peter Jackson, Russell Crowe TYPICAL FAUNA: sheep, kiwi, Moa (extinct)