2.  The British isles are separated
from the European continent
by the North Sea and the
English Channel. The western
coast of Great Britain is
washed by the Atlantic
Ocean and the Irish Sea. The
surface of the British Isles
varies very much. The north
of Scotland is mountainous
and is called Highlands,
while the south, which has
beautiful valleys and plains,
is called Lowlands. The north
and west of England are
mountainous, but all the rest
- east, center and southeast
- is a vast plain. Mountains
are not very high. Ben Nevis
is the highest mountain.

3.  The United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern
Ireland is situated on the
British Isles. The British
Isles consist of two large
islands, Great Britain and
Ireland, and above five
thousand small islands.
Their total area is over 244
000 square kilometers. The
United Kingdom is made
up of four countries:
England, Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland. Their
capitals are
London, Edinburgh, Cardiff
and Belfast respectively.

4.  There are a lot of rivers in GB, but they are not very long.
The Severn is the longest river, while the Thames is the
deepest and the most important one.

 The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters if
Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles. The
weather in GB is very changeable. A fine morning can change
into a wet afternoon and evening and the wrong side out. The
English people say: "Other countries have a climate; in
England we have weather." The English also say that they
have three variants of weather: when it rains in the
morning, when it rains in the afternoon or when it rains all day
long.

5.  The most
unpleasant aspect
of English weather is
fog and smog. This
is extremely bad in
big cities especially
in London. The fog
spreads
everywhere so cars
move along slowly
and people can't
see each other.
They try not to be
run over by a car
but still accidents
are frequent in the
fog.

6.  British nation is considered to be the most
conservative in Europe. It is not a secret
that every nation and every country has its
own customs and traditions. In Great Britain
people attach greater importance to
traditions and customs than in other
European countries. Englishmen are proud
of their traditions and carefully keep them
up. The best examples are their
queen, money system, their weights and
measures.

7.  British people think that the Grand
National horse race is the most exciting
horse race in the world. It takes place
near Liverpool every year. Sometimes it
happens the same day as the Boat
Race takes place, sometimes a week
later. Amateur riders as well as
professional jockeys can participate. It
is a very famous event.

8.  Halloween is a day on
which many children
dress up in unusual
costumes. In fact, this
holiday has a Celtic
origin. The day was
originally called All
Halloween's
Eve, because it
happens on October
31, the eve of all Saint's
Day. The name was
later shortened to
Halloween. The Celts
celebrated the coming
of New Year on that
day.

9.  On November 5,1605, a man called Guy Fawkes
planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament
where the king James 1st was to open Parliament
on that day. But Guy Fawkes was unable to realize
his plan and was caught and later, hanged. The
British still remember that Guy Fawkes' Night. It is
another name for this holiday. This day one can see
children with figures, made of sacks and straw and
dressed in old clothes. On November 5th, children
put their figures on the bonfire, burn them, and light
their fireworks.

10.  Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom.
 In a monarchy, a king or queen is Head of State. The British monarchy is known as
a constitutional monarchy. This means that, while The Sovereign is Head of
State, the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament.
 Although the British Sovereign no longer has a political or executive role, he or
she continues to play an important part in the life of the nation.
 As Head of State, The Monarch undertakes constitutional and representational
duties which have developed over one thousand years of history. In addition to
these State duties, The Monarch has a less formal role as 'Head of Nation'. The
Sovereign acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of
stability and continuity; officially recognizes success and excellence; and
supports the ideal of voluntary service.
 In all these roles The Sovereign is supported by members of their immediate
family.

11.  British Library - After fifteen years of
problems and millions of public money
spent, the library finally opened its doors
to the public in the spring of 1998. The
sheer number of books inside will take
your breath away. This is actually the
largest library in London. Location -
Euston Road (near St Pancras Station).

12.  - In the City of London
you will come upon St
Paul`s Cathedral. The
present structure is the
fifth cathedral to be
built on the site. The
weddings of the Prince
and Princess of
Wales, the funeral of Sir
Winston Churchill and
many other occasions
have graced this
spiritual centre. Built of
Portland stone with a
Dome that rises to 365
feet and with Great
Paul, the largest bell in
England, this has to be
one of THE MUST SEE
sights in London.

13.  The most famous
London sights,
Westminster Abbey - it
has been so closely
connected with the
Crown and the
nations history. The
coronation of every
king and queen
(apart from two)
spanning 900 years
has been held here.
The magnificent
Gothic building seen
today dates from the
11th century.