NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Geography of Scotland

Although Scotland is a relatively small country, with a land area of 78 772 km², its geography is highly varied, from the rural lowlands, to the barren highlands, and from large cities to uninhabited islands. Modified CIA-sourced map of Scotland File links The following pages link to this file: Scotland Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... Modified CIA-sourced map of Scotland File links The following pages link to this file: Scotland Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 kmÂ² 1. ... The Scottish Lowlands, although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland not referred to as the Highlands (or GÃ idhealtachd), that is, everywhere due south and east of a line (the Highland Boundary Fault) between Stonehaven and... The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ...

Location and Context

Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, located in Western Europe. Scotland comprises the northern third of the island of Great Britain, together with numerous smaller islands. Mainland Scotland lies between around 54°38' and 58°40' north, with the Shetland Islands at almost 61°, and between 1°46' and 6°13' west, with St. Kilda at 8°30' west. A common understanding of Western Europe in modern times. ... The Shetland Islands, also called Shetland (archaically spelled Zetland) formerly called Hjaltland, comprise one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Mercator projection map of the St Kilda Island group with inset of the British Isles. ...

Scotland's only land border is with England, and runs for 96 km (60 miles) between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. The island of Ireland lies around 30 km (20 miles) off the southwest tip of Scotland, and Norway is around 400 km (250 miles) to the northeast. Scotland lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages None official English de facto Capital None official London de facto Largest city London Area â€“ Total Ranked... There are other rivers with this name: see Tweed River The River Tweed at Abbotsford, near Melrose The River Tweed at Coldstream The River Tweed (156 kilometres or 97 miles long) flows primarily through the Borders region of Scotland. ... Map of Solway Firth. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...

Physical Geography

The land area of Scotland is 78 772 km² (30,414 square miles), roughly 30% of the area of the United Kingdom (UK). The mainland of Scotland has 9 911 km (6158 miles) of coastline.

The geomorphology of Scotland was formed by the action of tectonic plates, and subsequent erosion arising from glaciation. The major division of Scotland is the Highland Boundary Fault, which separates the land into 'highland' to the north and west, and 'lowland' to the south and east. The Highlands of Scotland are largely mountainous, and form the highest ground in the UK: they are bisected by the Great Glen into the Grampian Mountains to the southeast and the Northwest Highlands. The Scottish Lowlands can be further subdivided into the Southern Uplands, an area of rolling farmland and high moorland, and the lowland farmland of the Central Belt and eastern Scotland. Surface of the Earth Geomorphology is the study of landforms, including their origin and evolution, and the processes that shape them. ... The tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. ... A glaciation (a created composite term meaning Glacial Period, referring to the Period or Era of, as well as the process of High Glacial Activity), often called an ice age, is a geological phenomenon in which massive ice sheets form in the Arctic and Antarctic and advance toward the equator. ... The Highland Boundary Fault traverses Scotland from Arran to Stonehaven. ... The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ... The Great Glen, also known as Glen Albyn or Glen Mor is a series of valleys in Scotland running 100 kilometers from Inverness on the Moray Firth to Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe. ... The Grampian Mountains or Grampians are one of the three major mountain ranges in Scotland. ... The Scottish Lowlands, although not officially a geographical area of the country, in normal usage is generally meant to include those parts of Scotland not referred to as the Highlands (or GÃ idhealtachd), that is, everywhere due south and east of a line (the Highland Boundary Fault) between Stonehaven and... The Southern Uplands is the southernmost of Scotlands three major geographic areas (the others being the Central Belt and the Highlands). ... Moor may refer to: A high altitude form of heathland habitat widespread in northern Britain; see heath (habitat). ... The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. ...

Geology

See main article Geology of Scotland Scotland has an incomparable variety of geology for an area of its size. ...

Scotland has an incomparable variety of geology for an area of its size. It is also the origin of many significant discoveries and important figures in the development of the science. Geology (from Greek Î³Î·- (ge-, the earth) and Î»Î¿Î³Î¿Ï‚ (logos, word, reason)) is the science and study of the Earth, its composition, structure, physical properties, history and the processes that shape it. ...

The oldest rocks of Scotland are the Lewisian gneisses, which were laid down in the Precambrian period, up to 3,000 Ma (Millions of years ago). They are among the oldest rocks in the world. During the Precambrian, the Torridonian sandstones and the Moine were also laid down. Further sedimentary deposits were formed through the Cambrian period, some of which metamorphosed into the Dalradian series. The area which would become Scotland was at this time close to the south pole. The Precambrian is an informal name for the eons of the geologic timescale that came before the current Phanerozoic eon. ... In geology, Torridonian describes a series of proterozoic arenaceous sedimentary rocks, extensively developed in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, and particularly in the district of upper Loch Torridon, a circumstance which suggested the name Torridon Sandstone, first applied to these rocks by James Nicol. ... Moine is the French word for Monk. ... Two types of sedimentary rock: limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... The Cambrian is a major division of the geologic timescale that begins about 542 Ma (million years ago) at the end of the Proterozoic eon and ended about 488. ... Metamorphic rock is the result of the transformation of a pre-existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means change in form (from the Greek prefix meta, after, and the noun morphe, form). The protolith is subjected to heat (greater than 150 degrees Celsius) and extreme... Dalradian, in geology, a series of metamorphic rocks, typically developed in the high ground which lies southeast of the Great Glen of Scotland. ...

During the Silurian period (439-409 Ma), the area which became Scotland was part of the continent of Laurentia. Across the Iapetus ocean to the south, was the continent of Baltica. The two continents gradually collided, joining Scotland to the area which would become England and Europe. This event is known as the Caledonian Orogeny, and the Highland Boundary Fault marks this stitching together of continents. Silurian rocks form the Southern Uplands of Scotland, which was pushed up from the seabed during the collision. The highlands were also pushed up as a result of this collision, and may have been as high as the modern day Alps at this time. The Old Red Sandstones were laid down in low-lying areas during this period. Volcanic activity occurred across Scotland as a result of the collision of the tectonic plates, with volcanoes in southern Scotland, and magma chambers in the north, which today form the granite mountains such as the Cairngorms. The Silurian is a major division of the geologic timescale that extends from the end of the Ordovician period, about 443. ... North American craton. ... The Iapetus Ocean was an Ocean that existed in the Southern Hemisphere between Scotland, England and Scandinavia between 400 and 600 million years ago. ... Baltica is the craton beneath northwestern Eurasia. ... The Caledonian orogeny is a hypothetical series of events in geologic history explaining a group of highland formations that are very similar in composition, stratigraphy and fossils: the mountains and hills of northern England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and west Norway. ... The Highland Boundary Fault traverses Scotland from Arran to Stonehaven. ... The Southern Uplands is the southernmost of Scotlands three major geographic areas (the others being the Central Belt and the Highlands). ... The West face of the Petit Dru above the Chamonix valley near the Mer de Glace. ... The Old Red Sandstone is a rock formation of considerable importance to early paleontology. ... A volcano is a geological landform usually generated by the eruption through a planets surface of magma, molten rock welling up from the planets interior. ... The tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. ... A magma chamber is a chamber typically between 1 km and 10 km beneath the surface of the Earth formed as rising magma forms a reservoir if it is unable to rise any further. ... Quarrying granite for the Mormon Temple, Utah Territory. ... The Cairngorms: Ben Macdhui seen from Carn aMhaim This article is about the Scottish mountain range. ...

During the Carboniferous period (363-290 Ma), Scotland lay close to the equator. Several changes in sea level occurred during this time. The coal deposits of Lanarkshire, and further sedimentary deposits, date from this time. More volcanic activity formed Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, among other hills. By the Triassic, Scotland was a desert, the origin of large sandstone outcrops of the southwest. Although large deposits of Cretaceous rocks would have been laid down over Scotland, these have not survived erosion, as have the chalks of England. The Carboniferous is a major division of the geologic timescale that extends from the end of the Devonian period, about 359. ... Coal (previously referred to as pitcoal or seacoal) is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining). ... Lanarkshire (Siorrachd Lannraig in Gaelic) is a traditional county of Scotland. ... Arthurs Seat in a cloudless summer evening Arthurs Seat is the main peak of the group of hills which form most of Holyrood Park, a remarkably wild piece of highland landscape in the centre of the city of Edinburgh, about a mile to the east of the castle. ... Edinburgh (pronounced ), DÃ¹n Ãˆideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ... The Triassic is a geologic period that extends from about 245 to 202 Ma (million years ago). ... Sandstone near Stadtroda, Germany Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ... Cretaceous period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic period, about 146 million years ago (Ma), to the beginning of the Paleocene epoch of the Tertiary period (65. ... The Needles, part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation For other uses, see Chalk (disambiguation). ...

By the Tertiary period, the tectonic plates were again moving, separating into modern-day North America and Europe with the creation of the Atlantic Ocean. The split occurred to the west of Scotland, leaving a chain of former volcanic sites through the Hebrides, including Skye and St. Kilda. This was the last period of rock formation in Scotland. Since then, several ice ages have shaped the land through glacial erosion, creating u-shaped valleys and depositing boulder clays. In the present day, Scotland continues to move slowly north. The Tertiary period was previously one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, from the end of the Cretaceous period about 65 million years ago to the start of the Quaternary period about 1. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... The Hebrides The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, and in geological terms are composed of the oldest rocks in the British Isles. ... looking towards Quiraing, Skye. ... Mercator projection map of the St Kilda Island group with inset of the British Isles. ... Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400 000 years For the animated movie, see Ice Age (movie). ... A glaciated valley is one formed by the process of glaciation. ... Boulder clay in geology, is a deposit of clay, often full of boulders, which is formed in and beneath glaciers and ice-sheets wherever they are found, but is in a special sense the typical deposit of the Glacial Period in northern Europe and America. ...

Climate

See main article Climate of Scotland The climate of Scotland is temperate, and tends to be very changeable, with no extremes. ...

The climate of Scotland is temperate, and tends to be very changeable. It is warmed by the Gulf Stream from the Atlantic, and as such is much warmer than areas on similar latitudes, for example Oslo, Norway. However, temperatures are generally lower than in the rest of the UK, with the coldest ever UK temperature of -27.2°C recorded at Braemar in the Grampian Mountains, on January 10, 1982 and also at Altnaharra, Highland, on December 30, 1995. Winter maximums average 6°C in the lowlands, with summer maximums averaging 18°C. The highest temperature recorded was 32.9°C at Greycrook, Scottish Borders on August 9, 2003. In general, the west of Scotland is usually warmer than the east, owing to the influence of the Atlantic currents, and the colder surface temperatures of the North Sea. Italic text For the usage in virology, see temperate (virology). ... For the album by Ocean Colour Scene, see North Atlantic Drift (album) The Gulf Stream is orange and yellow in this representation of water temperatures of the Atlantic. ... The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of the earths surface. ... County Oslo NO-03 District Viken Municipality NO-0301 Administrative centre Oslo Mayor (2004) Per Ditlev-Simonsen (H) Official language form Neutral Area - Total - Land - Percentage Ranked 224 454 kmÂ² 426 kmÂ² 0. ... A degree Celsius (Â°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ... Braemar (Scottish Gaelic, Baile a Chaisteil BhrÃ igh MhÃ irr) is a village in the Aberdeenshire Highlands, Scotland, around 58 miles west of Aberdeen, the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee. ... The Grampian Mountains or Grampians are one of the three major mountain ranges in Scotland. ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Altnaharra (Ordnance Survey grid reference NC567352) is a small hamlet in Sutherland in the Highland region of northern Scotland. ... The Highland unitary authority area (Roinn na GÃ idhealtachd in Gaelic) is a local government area in the Scottish Highlands and the largest local government area in Scotland. ... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Greycrook is a place in the Scottish Borders. ... Scottish Borders (CrÃ¬ochan na h-Alba in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. ... August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ...

In common with the rest of the UK, wind prevails from the west, bringing warm wet air from the Atlantic. Rainfall varies widely across Scotland. The western highlands of Scotland are the wettest place in the UK, with annual rainfall exceeding 3 000 mm (120 inches). In comparison, much of Scotland receives less than 800 mm (31 inches) annually, and eastern and southern parts of the country receive no more rainfall than the driest parts of England. In fact, eastern Scotland lies in the rain shadow of the western uplands. Snowfall is not common in the lowlands, but becomes more common with altitude. Braemar experiences an average of 59 snow days per year, while coastal areas have an average of less than 10 days. // A rain shadow (or more accurately, precipitation shadow) is a dry region on the surface of the Earth that is leeward or behind a mountain with respect to the prevailing wind direction. ... Braemar (Scottish Gaelic, Baile a Chaisteil BhrÃ igh MhÃ irr) is a village in the Aberdeenshire Highlands, Scotland, around 58 miles west of Aberdeen, the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee. ...

The furthest west of the Hebrides are some of the sunniest places in the UK. 329 hours of sunshine were recorded on Tiree in May 1946 and again in May 1975. On the longest day of the year there is no complete darkness in the north of Scotland. Lerwick, Shetland, has about four hours more daylight at midsummer than London, although this is reversed in midwinter. The Hebrides The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, and in geological terms are composed of the oldest rocks in the British Isles. ... Tiree shown within Argyll Tiree is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides south west of Coll. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Illumination of Earth by the sun on the northern hemisphere summer solstice The summer solstice is an astronomical term regarding the position of the sun in relation to the celestial equator. ... Location within the British Isles The Market Cross,Central Lerwick Lerwick is the only town and main port of the Shetland Islands, found more than 160km (100 miles) off the north coast of Scotland. ... The Shetland Islands, also called Shetland (archaically spelled Zetland) formerly called Hjaltland, comprise one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Midsummer celebration, Ã…mmeberg, Sweden Midsummer, or Litha as it was known by the ancient Germanic peoples, refers the period of time centered upon the summer solstice and the religious celebrations that accompany it. ... This article is about the British city. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of the northern hemisphere winter solstice Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of the southern hemisphere winter solstice In astronomy, the winter solstice is the moment when the earth is at a point in its orbit where one hemisphere is...

Natural environment

Alpine-type ecosystems occur in the highlands of Scotland. Remnants of the ancient Caledonian Forest, dominated by native Scots Pine, can be found in places. Alpine may refer to: Alpine, a breed of goat. ... The Caledonian Forest is the name of a type of woodland that once covered vast areas of the Scottish Highlands, Scotland, UK. Today, however, all that remains is a mere 1% of the original forest in 35 isolated locations. ... Binomial name Pinus sylvestris L. The Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris; family Pinaceae) is a common tree ranging from Great Britain and Spain east to eastern Siberia and the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as Lapland. ...

Geographical features

Extreme points

The most extreme points of Scotland, including outlying islands, are: Looking west from the cliffs at Easter Head, towards Cape Wrath, in 2002. ... Caithness (Gallaibh in Gaelic) is a traditional county and former administrative county within the Highland area of Scotland. ... Peterhead is a town in Scotland with a population of approximately 18,000. ... The traditional county of Aberdeenshire (Siorrachd Obar Dheathain in Gaelic) borders Banffshire and Inverness-shire to the west, Perthshire, Angus and Kincardineshire to the south, and the North Sea to the north and east. ... The Mull of Galloway is the southernmost point of Scotland. ... Dumfries and Galloway (DÃ¹n Phris agus Gall-Ghaidhealaibh in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland. ... Corrachadh Mor, Ardnamurchan peninsula, Highland, Scotland is the western point of the British mainland and not the Point of Ardnamurchan. ... Ardnamurchan is a 50 mile long peninsula in North West Scotland, noted for being very unspoilt and undisturbed. ... Lochaber (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Abar) refers to a large area of the central and western Scottish Highlands. ...

Out Stack or Oosta is the northernmost of the British Isles, lying immediately to the north of Muckle Flugga and 3 km north of the island of Unst. ... Unst shown within Shetland Islands The worlds most comfortable bus shelter? Unst is one of the North Isles of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. ... The Shetland Islands, also called Shetland (archaically spelled Zetland) formerly called Hjaltland, comprise one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... Bound Skerry is the easternmost point of Scotland. ... The Outer Skerries, often called the Out Skerries or just The Skerries (although this may lead to confusion with the Ve Skerries), are a island group in Shetland, Scotland. ... Rockall, a small, isolated rocky islet in the North Atlantic Ocean Rockall is a small, rocky islet in the North Atlantic but is probably better known as one of the British Sea Areas named in the Shipping Forecast broadcast on BBC Radio 4. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1972 calendar). ... Inverness-shire (Siorrachd Inbhir Nis in Gaelic) is one of the traditional counties of Scotland. ... Soay (Gaelic:Soaigh, from the Old Norse so-Ã¸y meaning sheep island) is an uninhabited island in the St Kilda archipelago (Outer Hebrides, Scotland, ) in the North Atlantic, about 2 km northwest of Hirta. ... Mercator projection map of the St Kilda Island group with inset of the British Isles. ... Western Isles redirects here. ...

Mountains

See main article Mountains and hills of Scotland Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 431 KB) Ben Nevis, Scotland. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 431 KB) Ben Nevis, Scotland. ... Map sources for Ben Nevis at grid reference NN166713 Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. ... Scotland is the most mountainous region of the United Kingdom. ...

The ten highest mountains in Scotland are also the ten highest of the UK. All Scottish mountains over 3000 feet (914 m) are known as Munros, after Sir Hugh Munro who first catalogued them. Sgurr Fiona and the Corrag Bhuide pinnacles of An Teallach A Munro is a Scottish hill with a height over 3000 feet (914. ... Sir Hugh Thomas Munro (1856-1919) was born in London, but brought up in Scotland on the family estate of Lindertis near Kirriemuir. ...

Map sources for Ben Nevis at grid reference NN166713 Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. ... Ben Macdhui (also spelled Ben Macdui, Ben MacDui and Beinn MacDuibh) is the second highest mountain of Great Britain. ... Braeriach is the third highest mountain in Scotland, surpassed only by Ben Nevis and Ben Macdui. ... Cairn Toul is the fourth highest mountain in Scotland, surpassed only by Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui and Braeriach. ... Sgor an Lochain Uaine is a mountain in the Cairngorms, Scotland. ... Cairn Gorm is a mountain in the United Kingdom. ... Aonach Beag is a mountain in the Highlands of Scotland. ... CÃ rn Mor Dearg is the eighth highest of the Scottish Munros. ... Aonach MÃ²r is a mountain in the Highlands of Scotland. ... Ben Lawers is one of the highest mountains in the southern part of the Scottish Highlands. ...

Coastline

Mainland Scotland has 9 911 km (6158 miles) of coastline. Including the numerous islands, this increases to some 16 490 km (10,246 miles). The west coast in particular is heavily indented, with long promontories separated by fjordlike sea lochs. The east coast is more regular, with a series of large estuarine inlets, or firths, and long sandy beaches, for example at Aberdeen. Sognefjorden, Norway A fjord (or fiord) is a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes, which results from marine inundation of a glaciated valley. ... A loch is the name given to a body of water in Scotland or Ireland. ... Firth is the Scots word used to denote various coastal waters in Scotland. ... This article is about the Scottish city. ...

Firths of Scotland include the Solway Firth, Firth of Clyde, and Firth of Lorne on the west coast, and the Cromarty Firth, Moray Firth, Firth of Tay, and Firth of Forth on the east coast. The Pentland Firth is not an inlet, but the strait that separates the Orkney Isles from the mainland. Map of Solway Firth. ... Map of the Firth of Clyde and area The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. ... The Firth and other nearby waterways The Firth of Lorne is a body of water on Scotlands west coast. ... External link Cromarty Firth Port Authority Categories: 1911 Britannica | UK geography stubs | Geography of Scotland | Special protection areas in the UK | Ports and harbours of the UK ... The Moray Firth is a roughly triangular area of the North Sea, north and east of Inverness. ... The Firth of Tay is a firth in Scotland between the regions of Fife and City of Dundee into to which Scotlands largest river in terms of flow, the River Tay empties. ... The Firth of Forth from Calton Hill The Forth Bridges cross the Firth Satellite photo of the Firth and the surrounding area The Firth of Forth (Abhainn Dhubh [Black River] in Scottish Gaelic) is the estuary or firth of Scotlands River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea... The Pentland Firth, which is actually more of a strait than a firth, separates the Orkney Islands from Caithness, which is in the far north of the Highland area of Scotland. ... Simplified diagram A strait is a narrow channel of water that connects two larger bodies of water, and thus lies between two land masses. ... The Orkney Islands form one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland, and are a Lieutenancy Area. ...

Major sea lochs include Loch Fyne, Loch Long, Loch Ryan, Loch Linnhe, Loch Torridon, Loch Ewe, and on the Isle of Lewis, Loch Seaforth. Loch Fyne is a sea loch on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. ... Loch Long is a body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. ... Loch Ryan is a Scottish sea loch that furnishes a natural sheltered anchorage for ships. ... Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. ... Liathach, the highest of the Torridon hills Torridon (Scottish Gaelic: Toirbheartan) is a small village in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. ... Looking towards the Uplands in the centre of the Island of Lewis Lewis (LeÃ²dhas in Scottish Gaelic), is the northern part of the main island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, the southern part of which is called Harris, however Lewis and Harris are treated by Scots as separate... Loch Seaforth (in Scottish Gaelic, Loch Shiphoirt) is sea loch in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. ...

Islands

See main article List of islands of Scotland This is a list of the islands of Scotland, the mainland of which is part of the island of Great Britain, as well as a table of the largest Scottish islands. ...

Scotland has some 790 islands, mainly off the west coast. The islands of Scotland can be divided into four main groups:

Shetland and Orkney, together with Fair Isle, and Stroma are often referred to as the Northern Isles. Outlying islands and groups include St. Kilda, Rockall; The Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde also contain several islands. The Shetland Islands, also called Shetland (archaically spelled Zetland) formerly called Hjaltland, comprise one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... The Orkney Islands, usually called simply Orkney, are one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. ... The Inner Hebrides are a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. ... looking towards Quiraing, Skye. ... Tobermory with 700 people, the largest settlement on Mull, is home to the only whisky distillery on the island. ... The Small Isles are a group of islands considered part of the British Isles, lying in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. ... Western Isles redirects here. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... The Minch is a body of water separating north-west mainland Scotland from the Isle of Lewis (the northern Outer Hebrides). ... Fair Isle (From Old Norse frioar-øy) is an island administratively part of the Shetland Islands, although in fact closer to North Ronaldsay island which is part of the Orkney Islands group. ... The island of Stroma, which in the Norse means ‘Island in the Stream’, is the southern of the two islands situated in the Pentland Firth between the Orkney Islands and Caithness on the Scottish mainland. ... The Northern Isles are a chain of islands off the north coast of Scotland. ... Mercator projection map of the St Kilda Island group with inset of the British Isles. ... Rockall, a small, isolated rocky islet in the North Atlantic Ocean Rockall is a small, rocky islet in the North Atlantic but is probably better known as one of the British Sea Areas named in the Shipping Forecast broadcast on BBC Radio 4. ... The Firth of Forth from Calton Hill The Forth Bridges cross the Firth Satellite photo of the Firth and the surrounding area The Firth of Forth (Abhainn Dhubh [Black River] in Scottish Gaelic) is the estuary or firth of Scotlands River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea... Map of the Firth of Clyde and area The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

Looking towards the Uplands in the centre of the Island of Lewis Lewis (LeÃ²dhas in Scottish Gaelic), is the northern part of the main island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, the southern part of which is called Harris, however Lewis and Harris are treated by Scots as separate... An Cliseam from the Abhainn Mharaig, just off the main road to Lewis. ... looking towards Quiraing, Skye. ... Shetland Mainland shown within Shetland Islands Mainland is the main island of Shetland, Scotland. ... Tobermory with 700 people, the largest settlement on Mull, is home to the only whisky distillery on the island. ... Islay shown within Argyll. ... The Mainland, Orkney shown within The Orkney Islands The Mainland is the main island of Orkney, Scotland. ... Arran shown within Argyll The Isle of Arran (Scots Gaelic: Eilean Arainn) is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde (430 km2). ... Jura shown within Argyll Satellite picture of Jura Jura (Scottish Gaelic DiÃ¹ra) is a Scottish island, in the Inner Hebrides. ... Looking along the beach and machair of the spit Corran Aird a MhÃ²rain. ... Looking west to Nicolsons Leap. ...

Rivers

See main article List of rivers in Scotland List of rivers in Scotland is a list of rivers in Scotland, organised geographically, taken anti-clockwise, from Berwick-upon-Tweed. ...

The River Tay looking eastwards from Perth The River Tay, in terms of flow (193 kilometres or 120 miles), is the longest river in Scotland. ... The River Spey is a river in Scotland that runs 107 miles (172 km) to the Moray Firth at Spey Bay, making it the second longest river in Scotland. ... The River Clyde, looking eastwards upstream, as it passes beneath the Kingston Bridge in Central Glasgow. ... There are other rivers with this name: see Tweed River The River Tweed at Abbotsford, near Melrose The River Tweed at Coldstream The River Tweed (156 kilometres or 97 miles long) flows primarily through the Borders region of Scotland. ... River Dee near Braemar The Linn of Dee, small gorge near Braemar The River Dee is a 90 mile (140 km) long river, that rises in the Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and flows into the North Sea at Aberdeen. ... The article is about the Don River in Scotland. ... The River Forth meanders over fertile farmlands near Stirling The River Forth, 47 km (29 miles) long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland. ... The River Findhorn (Scottish Gaelic: Uisge Eireann) is one of the longest rivers in Scotland. ... The River Deveron, known anciently as the Dovern is in north east Scotland. ... The River Annan flows from Moffat, in South West Scotland, past the town of Lockerbie, and to the sea in the fishing town of Annan. ...

Lochs

See main article List of lochs in Scotland Freshwater Lochs Loch Arkaig Loch Awe, the third largest loch by surface area, also the longest Loch Dochfour Loch Ericht Loch Katrine, an important water reservoir Loch Leven, site of Loch Leven Castle Loch Lochy Loch Lomond, the largest by surface area Loch Lubnaig, Loch Maree, the fourth largest by...

Freshwater bodies in Scotland are known as lochs, with the exception of the Lake of Menteith and one or two manmade "lakes". For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight. ... View across Loch Lomond, towards Ben Lomond. ... The Lake of Menteith, or, until the last century, the Loch of Menteith, is the only natural or large body of water in Scotland that is referred to as a lake (although there are two small artificial bodies of water known as lakes). ...

Loch Lomond Loch Lomond (pronounced LOW-mond) (Scottish Gaelic Loch Laomainn) is a Scottish loch located in both the western lowlands of Central Scotland and the southern Highlands. ... Loch Ness (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Nis) is a large, deep freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands () extending for approximately 37 km (23 miles) southwest of Inverness. ... Loch Awe is a large body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. ... Loch Maree is a body of water in the Ross and Cromarty region of the Scottish Highlands. ... Loch Morar is a body of fresh water on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. ... Loch Tay (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Tatha) is a freshwater loch in the central highlands of Scotland, in the district of Perthshire. ... Loch Shin. ... Loch Shiel is a 25km freshwater loch 120m deep situated 20km west of Fort William. ... Loch Rannoch is a large body of fresh water in Perthshire, Scotland. ... Loch Ericht (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Eireachd) is a freshwater lake (or loch) on the border between Perth and Kinross and the Highlands Council areas of Scotland. ...

Human Geography

Demographics

At the April 2001 census, Scotland's population was 5,062,011, just under 10% of the UK's population. The population density is around 64 people per square kilometre, taken as an average. However, the great majority of the population is concentrated in the Central Belt, the lowland strip which includes the chief cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the east coast between Dundee and Edinburgh. Only Aberdeen represents a significant population centre outside this zone. In the highlands, population is sparse and scattered in small towns, villages and isolated farmsteads or crofts. 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... Edinburgh (pronounced ), DÃ¹n Ãˆideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ... The Royal Burgh of Dundee (Gaelic: DÃ¹n DÃ¨agh) is Scotlands fourth largest city, population 154,674 (2001), and one of Scotlands 32 council areas. ... This article is about the Scottish city. ... A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable with a crofters dwelling thereon. ...

Around 95 of Scotland's islands are inhabited, the most populous being Lewis, with 16,782 people in 2001, mostly concentrated in Stornoway, the only burgh of the Outer Hebrides. Other island populations range down to only 1 on certain small isles. Looking towards the Uplands in the centre of the Island of Lewis Lewis (LeÃ²dhas in Scottish Gaelic), is the northern part of the main island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, the southern part of which is called Harris, however Lewis and Harris are treated by Scots as separate... Lews Castle in Stornoway Boats in Stornoway Stornoway from the ferry Another picture of Lews Castle Bayhead, Stornoway Stornoway (SteÃ²rnabhagh in Scottish Gaelic) is a burgh on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, with a population of about 8000 people. ... A sign in Linlithgow, Scotland. ... Western Isles redirects here. ...

Scotland's capital city is Edinburgh. Populations of Scotland's six cities at the 2001 census were as follows: Edinburgh (pronounced ), DÃ¹n Ãˆideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ...

While Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Stirling are growing, the populations of Glasgow and Dundee are falling, by 4.74% and 2.73% respectively between 1991 and 2001. Edinburgh's population grew by 7.13% in the same period, and Stirling's by 9.36%. Aside from the cities, the most population growth occurred in West Lothian, East Lothian, and Perth and Kinross. Eilean Siar (the Western Isles) saw a 10.47% fall in population in this decade. For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... Edinburgh (pronounced ), DÃ¹n Ãˆideann () in Scottish Gaelic, is the second-largest city in Scotland and its capital city. ... This article is about the Scottish city. ... The Royal Burgh of Dundee (Gaelic: DÃ¹n DÃ¨agh) is Scotlands fourth largest city, population 154,674 (2001), and one of Scotlands 32 council areas. ... Inverness (Inbhir Nis in Scottish Gaelic) is the only city in the Scottish Highlands. ... Broad St at the heart of Stirlings Old Town area called Top of the Town by locals on a rare snowy day Stirling Castle (Southwest aspect) The main courtyard inside Stirling Castle. ... West Lothian or Linlithgowshire (Lodainn an Iar in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. ... East Lothian (Lodainn an Ear in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. ... Perth and Kinross (Peairt agus Ceann Rois in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy Area. ... The Outer Hebrides or Western Isles (Scottish Gaelic: Na h-Eileanan Siar), also traditionally known as the Outer Isles, comprise an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. ... The Western Isles are an archipelago in Scotland. ...

Political geography

National

See main article Politics of Scotland Scotland is one of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ...

Scotland's territorial extent is generally that established by the 1237 Treaty of York between Scotland and England and the 1266 Treaty of Perth between Scotland and Norway. Exceptions include the Isle of Man, which is now a crown dependency outside the United Kingdom, Orkney and Shetland, which are Scottish rather than Norwegian, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, which was defined as subject to the laws of England by the 1746 Wales and Berwick Act. Originally an independent country, Scotland formally became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707 with the Act of Union, which dissolved the Scottish Parliament // Events Thomas II of Savoy becomes count of Flanders. ... Treaty of York 1237 Signed between Henry III and Alexander II, king of Scots (1214-1249), this treaty secured Englands northern border. ... For broader historical context, see 1260s and 13th century. ... The Treaty of Perth ended military conflict between Norway under Magnus the Law-mender and Scotland under Alexander III over the sovereignty of the Western Isles, the Isle of Mann and Caithness. ... Map sources for Berwick-upon-Tweed at grid reference NT9952 Berwick-upon-Tweed from across the river Berwick-upon-Tweed, (pronounced Berrick) situated in the county of Northumberland, is the northernmost town in England, situated on the east coast on the mouth of the river Tweed. ... // Events Catharine de Ricci (born 1522) canonized. ... The Wales and Berwick Act 1746 was an act of Parliament explicitly expressing that all future laws applying to England would likewise also be applicable to Wales and Berwick unless the body of the law explicitly stated otherwise. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Capital London Head of State King of Great Britain Head of Government Prime Minister Parliament House of Commons, House of Lords This article is about the historical state called the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707-1800). ... Events January 1 - John V is crowned King of Portugal April 25 - Allied army is defeated by Bourbonic army at Almansa (Spain) in the War of the Spanish Succession. ... The Acts of Union were twin Acts of Parliament passed in 1707 (taking effect on 26 March) by the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. ... For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ...

As one of the constituent parts of the United Kingdom, Scotland is represented by Members of Parliament at the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster, London. In 1997 a referendum was held, and the people of Scotland voted for the establishment of a devolved Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The new parliament has the power to govern the country on Scotland-specific matters and has a limited power to vary income tax. The United Kingdom Parliament retains responsibility for Scotland's defence, international relations and certain other areas. The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ... This article is about the British city. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... For devolution as a term sometimes misapplied to evolution, see devolution (fallacy) Devolution or home rule is the granting of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... In military science, defense (or defence) is the art of preventing an enemy from conquering territory. ... International Relations (IR), a branch of political science, is the study of foreign affairs of and relations among states within the international system, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations (MNCs). ...

Local

See main article Local government of the United Kingdom The subdivisions of the United Kingdom: Countries The United Kingdom is divided into four entities — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ...

Scotland has traditionally been divided into 33 counties, which are still popularly referred to, although they no longer have any administrative existence. For the purposes of local government, Scotland is divided into 32 unitary authority districts. These were established in 1995 to replace the two-tier system of large-scale regions. The traditional counties of Scotland are historic and cutural divisions of Scotland. ... Local governments are administrative offices of an area smaller than a state. ... For local government purposes, Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as Council Areas which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as Councils. They have been in use since April 1, 1996, under the provisions of the Local Government etc. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The nine Regions of Scotland were established under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as the uppermost tier of local government in Scotland. ...

Economy

See main article Economy of Scotland The Economy of Scotland is closely linked with that of the United Kingdom, and is essentially a capitalist economy with little government interference in private enterprise. ...

The Gross domestic product (GDP) of Scotland is US$90 billion, giving a per capita GDP of US$18,000. Major industries include banking and financial services, steel, transport equipment, oil and gas, whisky, and tourism. A regions gross domestic product, or GDP, is one of several measures of the size of its economy. ... This article is about general United States currency. ... For other uses, see Bank (disambiguation). ... The old steel cable of a colliery winding tower Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon being the primary alloying material. ... It has been suggested that black gold (oil) be merged into this article or section. ... Many stoves use natural gas. ... Scotch whisky Whisky (or whiskey) (from Irish uisce beatha and/or Scottish Gaelic uisge baugh, both meaning water of life, and ultimately a calque derived from Latin Aqua Vitae (see below)) is an alcoholic beverage distilled from grain, often including malt, which has then been aged in wooden barrels. ... Beautiful View of Machu Picchu, Peru More than 3 million tourists visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, India in 2004. ...

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