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An independent homeland for much of its history, the wild and beautiful
Scotland is one of the four national units that make up the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A separate national
identity; Scotland is supported by separate legal and educational
systems, a national church, a parliament with wide-ranging powers,
and other national symbols and institutions.
The seemingly untouched highlands of Scotland display the list
of architectural /historical interest. However, Scotland doesn't
posses the large and impressive cathedrals of England, but if you
are traveling here, make sure to visit the mass of beautifully sited
ruins and historical areas besides the untamed lands. The lists
of attractions are endless including St. Andrew's Cathedral, the
elaborately carved Rosslyn Chapel, the wonderful landscapes and
many more.
Your eyes won't believe all you see. Besides the highlands have
a charm of their own.
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| Present-day Scotland was called
the Caledonia after the Roman invasion of Britain. The Picts, the
ancient Caledonians, successfully resisted conquest by the Romans,
whose great general, Gnaeus Julius Agricola, led the first invasion
of Caledonia late in the 1st century A.D.
Two decades later another rampart, called the Antonine Wall, was
constructed from the Firth of Clyde. The territory between the two
walls served as a defense area against the Caledonians during Roman
occupation.
In 685, a large Northumbrian army invaded territory north of the
Firth of Forth. An overwhelming Pictish victory permanently weakened
Northumbrian power in Caledonia.
About 730 Angus MacFergus, king of the Picts, subjugated Strathclyde
and Dalriada. Relative peace followed until the late 8th century,
when Vikings from Scandinavia began to raid the Caledonian coasts.
Taking advantage of Pictish preoccupation with the invaders, the
Scots and Britons soon regained their independence. |
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Location
Scotland, one of the four national units, makes up the United Kingdom
of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland. The other units are England, Northern
Ireland, and
Wales. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and Glasgow is its
largest city.
Population: 5,054,800
Geographic size: The total land area of Scotland,
including the islands, is 78,790 sq km (30,420 sq mi).
Capital: Edinburgh
Climate:
The country experiences temperate winters and cool summers with
rare extreme seasonal variations. Low temperatures, however, are
common in mountainous parts of the interior during the winter months.
Culture
The Scottish population has very diverse origins resulting in historic
cultural differences divided between Celtic Scots of the Highlands
and Anglo-Saxons of the Lowlands.
Besides, the Scots have made many outstanding contributions to the
arts and sciences over the centuries. Well-known Scottish painters
include the portraitists George Jameson, Allan Ramsey, Sir Henry
Raeburn,
Furthermore, Scotland has a rich musical heritage. The traditional
instruments of Scotland include the fiddle, clarsach (the Celtic
harp), and bagpipes, an ancient instrument that was probably brought
to Scotland by Romans. Scottish music is noted for the wide use
of a five-tone, or pentatonic, scale.
Language:
English is the main language spoken in Scotland, although 30 percent
of the Population claims to use the Scottish language, a dialect
of the English language. Fewer than 100,000 Scots (mainly inhabitants
of the Highlands and island groups) also speak the Scottish form
of Gaelic, part of the family of Celtic languages.
Extra Useful Links:
Scottish tourist Board
Guide to scotland
Scotland Information
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