Auteur/autrice : Alice Armandi

Scotland the brave!

Alice Armandi

Famous for kilts, bagpipes, haggis and outstanding natural beauty, Scotland is a country that boasts much culture and tradition.

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Along with England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland is part of the United Kingdom and is the most northerly country in the UK.

Scotland has an amazing coastline as well as many lakes, mountains and an abundance of islands off its mainland – over 790 to be precise! It is also home to the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, and a capital city, Edinburgh, which attracts thousands of tourists every year.

Top 10 facts

1. Scotland is part of the United Kingdom along with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

2. It is the most northerly country in the UK.

3. Scotland shares a border with England.

4. The region situated at the North of Scotland is called the Highlands. It is a mountainous region.

5. The thistle is Scotland’s national symbol.

6. Scotland’s flag is called the Saint Andrew’s Cross. It has a white cross on a blue background which represents the cross of Scotland’s patron saint, Saint Andrew.

7. The population of Scotland is 5.5 million* (2023 census).

8. There are more than 790 islands in Scotland; the most famous are the Orkney, Shetland and Hebrides islands.

9. Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital city but Glasgow is the largest city. Other major cities include Aberdeen and Dundee.

10.  Ben Nevis is Scotland’s highest mountain, standing at a height of 1344 metres (4409 feet). It is also the highest mountain in Great Britain. Every year around 400,000 people visit the mountain and 100,000 of them climb to the top!

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A magic Island

Alice Armandi

A few facts

  • Population: about 5.2 million people live in the Republic of Ireland (2021)
  • Capital: Dublin with 1.2 million inhabitants
  • Name: Ireland (or Éire in Gaelic)
  • Nickname: Emerald Isle
  • Government: Parliamentary Republic
  • Languages: English, Irish Gaelic
  • Religion: mainly Christians, 78% are Roman Catholics
  • Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents
  • National Anthem: ‘Amrán na bhFiann‘ (The Soldier’s Song)
  • National Holiday: 17 March – Saint Patrick’s Day
  • National Symbol: harp, shamrock (young clover leaf), blue and green (national colours)
  • History: Celtic tribes settled on the island of Ireland from 600 BC. Later Normans invaded the island in the 12th century. The big famine (hunger) in Ireland led many people to emigrate. Ireland was neutral in World War II. Independence from the UK was gained in 1921, then the republic became part of the Irish Free State. Since 1949 Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is part of the EU (European Union).
Irish landscape in West Cork
Irish Landscape in West Cork

Geography

  • The Republic of Ireland is a country in Western Europe and located on the island of Ireland.
  • The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland that belongs to the UK share the island of Ireland which is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Map of the island of IrelandMap of Ireland
  • The Republic of Ireland shares a border with Northern Ireland, that belongs to the UK.
  • The border between the two countries is about 490 km/ 304 miles long. Take note that Northern Ireland’s land area is about five times smaller than that of the Republic of Ireland.
Ireland's Kilkenny castle with roses and gardenKilkenny Castle
  • Ireland is well known for its green pastures, the many medieval monuments and castles such as Kilkenny Castle, the shamrock, a young clover leaf, which is one of the national symbols and Saint Patrick, the national patron saint.
  • Ireland’s nickname is ‘Emerald Isle’ due to the lush vegetation, green pastures and soft rolling hills.
Ireland, nicknamed the Emerald Isle, with white cliffs and turquoise sea in sunshine with some white fluffy clouds
Ireland – ‘Emerald Isle’
  • Ireland’s name ‘Éire’ comes from the Gaelic language. ‘Eriu’ is the name of the goddess of the country.