UK GEOGRAPHY AND CULTURE
The UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is an insular state which includes the island of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and other smaller islands. It is made up of four constituent countries (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) It is delimited by the North Sea in the east, by the Atlantic Ocean and the Ireland Sea in the west and north and by the English Channel in the south.
Britain geography is various and is the result of the orogenetic and climatic events. Thanks to the melt of glaciers, the coasts are so indented that no place is farther than 125 km from the sea. For this reason, people are greatly bound with it. Ancient population built also artificial islands called crannogs, made of stone and wood.

ENGLAND
England is the southern part of Britain. Its name derives from Englaland, a Germanic term which means "land of the Angles". It is mainly a flat region and for this reason is the most suitable part of Britain for farming. Previously, the region was covered by marshlands and forests, but later it was drained and deforested to obtain farmable land and pastures. The climate is mild compared with its latitude. Therefore, it is the most populous and the most multicultural region of Britain. Indeed, it was more influenced by Roman culture and some cities still show the urban planning and the name of Roman military camps. Besides, the biggest cities and the capital of the country are settled there.

WALES
Wales is a small and mountainous region. Its name derives from the Germanic term Wahla, which means "foreigner". Indeed it refers to the region where native population was confined by the Anglo-Saxon invaders. In Wales survives the old language of Celtic population, the Welsh. Welsh speakers indicate Wales with the term Cymru, which means "countryman" and derives from the first king of the region, Kamber. The area was romanised only in the southern part. The climate is mild and strongly affected by the sea. The population is not distributed equally, but is concentrated in the old carbon districts (South). Its capital is Cardiff.

SCOTLAND
Scotland is the northern part of Britain, with capital Edinburgh. It can be subdivided into three parts:

• The Highlands: the northern part of Scotland. It is a mountainous region covered with moor. Its coast is indented by deep fjords. It includes many lakes and the highest mountains of UK. Because of its climate and conformation, it is poorly populated.
• The Lowlands: the middle part of Scotland. It is mainly a flat area, rich of coal and metals which fuelled Scotland's industrial revolution. It is the most populate zone of the nation.
• The Southern Uplands: the southern part of Scotland. It is a range of hills alternated with broad valleys.

The climate is quite harsh, because of the frequent rainfall and low temperatures.
In Scotland survives a form of the old Celtic language, the Gaelic, along with a particular form of English called SSE (Scottish Standard English). Indeed the native Celtic population took refuge there from Anglo-Saxon invaders. However, the Gaelic is spoken only in some parts of the Highlands and is gradually disappearing.
The Scottish culture is particular and specific, since the climate and the region conformation has maintained the isolation from the rest of the country.

NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland is the part of Ireland under the government of the UK. It is situated in the north-east of Ireland. It consists of a deforested plain with a lake (Lough Neagh) in its centre. The northern Ireland is particularly important, because it was the base from which the Scottish colonists spread and populate the rest of Ireland. Its capital is Belfast.
Up to 1922, the entire Ireland was part of UK; then, because of internal contrasts, it was separated into two parts with independent administration. The southern proclaimed itself Republic of Ireland and became independent. On the contrary, in the northern part contrasts continued; some people wanted to belong to Ireland (the Nationalists), while other people preferred to belong to UK (the Unionists). The opposition between the two parts created even armed conflicts, which risked to break out in a civil war and involve also Ireland and Scotland. Now the two parties still exists, but the hostilities seem to be ceased.