covers an area of 244,805 sq km.

- 4 countries:

England - London Scotland - Edinburgh Wales - Cardiff Nothern Ireland - Belfast

-Surface:

Islands:there are many smaller islands

  • The Isle of Wight [wait]
  • The Isles of Scilly [sili]
  • The Isle of Man
  • Anglesey
  • The Hebrides [hebridi:z]
  • The Orkneys
  • The Shetlands [šetlands]
  • The Channel Islands

Rivers:there are not many rivers (not

long, but deep) :

in England - the Severn (the longest)

  • the Thames (the biggest)
  • the Trent

in Scotland – the Clyde

  • the Tweed

Lakes : - are situated in Lake District (Jezerní oblast)

  • Windermere
  • in Scotland – Loch Lomond
  • Loch Ness

High mountains:

  • The Scottish Highlands
  • The Pennines
  • The Cambrians in Wales
  • The Cheviot Hills
  • The Cumbrian Mountains
The highest mountain is Ben Nevis (1,342 m in Scotland) Snowdon (1,085 m in Wales)

- People:

  • population is about 57 million people
  • ethnic groups: the English, the Scottish, the Irish, the Welsh

- Languages:

  • English – the main language
  • Welsh
  • Gaelic – in Northern Scotland (80,000 people)

- Climate:

  • a temperate
  • a humid
  • mild winters, not very hot summer
  • grass is constantly green
  • English weather – changes very often

- Political System:

  • constitutional monarchy
  • the head of the state is Queen Elizabeth II. (the second) from 1952

- Economy:

  • GB was the workshop of the world
  • GB´s industry is highly developed : very rich in coal, oil, gas

- England´s most important industries are:

o chemical industry o textile industry o iron and steel industry o mining idustry o shipbuilding

Industrial towns : Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham

- Agriculture:

  • 30% of land suitable for the main agriculture
  • the main agricultural products are: grains, fruits, vegetables, sugar beet, hay, potatoes

Other places of interest in Great Britain:

Birmingham – the centre of the engineering industry Brighton – the largest seaside resort in England Cambridge – has had a university since the early 13th century, it is the second oldest university in Britain Canterbury – an old town, with a majestic cathedral Coventry – an old town, in the sguare stands a statue of Lady Godiva whose legend is very popular there (11th century), car and bicycle industry Cambridge Edinburgh – is the capital of Scotland and an industrial and a cultural centre. The oldest building in Edinburgh is the Castle. It was made of stone during 11th century. Glasgow – an industrial city, it is the biggest city, the city has also some of the finest mseums and galleries in Europe. Liverpool – an important port and the city of the Beatles, steeplechase Loch Lomond – the largest freshwater Scottish lake (39 km long with the area of 70 sqkm Edinburgh Loch Ness – is the most famous lake in the Highland region. The lake is 36 km long and 229 m deep. It is famous for „Loch Ness Monster“ Manchester and Leeds – the centres of the textile industry Oxford – the oldest English university from 12th century Sheffield – is famous for its steel industry Stonehenge – a monument dating from About 2,800 B.C. in

Salisbury, a large circle of standing stones built by early inhabitants Stratford – upon – Avon – is probably the second most visited town in England. There is a house where Shakespeare was born and the school he attended. Winchester – is an old cathedral town. Once it was the capital of England Windsor – the summer residence of the Queen´s family

- Questions:

  • 1. What is Great Britain´s geographical position ? (area, population)

2. When we speak about GB, which countries do we mean?

3. Are there many rivers in GB?

4. What is the climate like?

5. Which is the highest mountain?

6. What languages are spoken in GB?

7. What kind of political system does England have?

8. What do you know about industry and agriculture?

9. Some interesting places, big towns.

10. What would you like to visit in GB and why?

- Dictionary:

agriculture [ae grikalč] – zemědělství coal [ keul] – uhlí canstantly [konstentli] – stále, pořád deep [di:p] – hluboký economy [ikonami] – hospodářství gas [gaes] – plyn grain [grein] – obilí, zrno humid [hju:mid] – vlhký industry [indastri] – průmysl inhabitants [inhaebitent] – obyvatelstvo island [ailend] – ostrov main [mein] – hlavní mild [maild] – mírný monarchy [moneki] – monarchie oil [oil] - olej political [pelitikl] – politický, státní suitable [su:tabl] - vhodný sugar beet [šugebi:t] – cukrová řepa surface [se:fis] - povrch system [sistim] - systém temperate [temperet] - mírný workshop [we:kfop] - dílna