|
Du bist hier: Referate Datenbank | Erdkunde
| Scotland
Scotland
Scotland
? Topography of Scotland:
Physiograohic Regions:
Scotland is occupying the northern third of the
British island and it is mainly divided into three different parts, called
Highlands, Central Lowlands and Southern Uplands.
The Highlands are a thinly populated mountainous area
north of Stirling and west of Aberdeen. More than one-half of the surface of
Scotland is occupied by the Highlands, the most rugged (dt. felsig)
region on the whole island. But this area is also known for their scenic
grandeur (dt. landschaftliche Herrlichkeit). Moorland plateaus, mountain
lakes, sea lochs, swift-flowing (dt. schnell fließend) streams, and
dense thickets (dt. dichtes Dickicht)are common to the Highlands.
Furthermore the Highlands are divided into two parts by a depression known as
the Glen More, or Great Glen, which extends from Moray Firth to Loch Linnhe.
Southeast of this cutting line the topography is highly diversified. This region
is traversed by the Grampian Mountains, the principal mountain system in
Scotland. The highest peak of the Grampians is called Ben Nevis (1343m), which
is also the highest summit in Great Britain.
In the South of the Highlands there are the Lowlands, a
narrow belt comprising (dt. umfassen) only about one-tenth of the area of
Scotland, but containing the majority of the country’s population. The
Lowlands include most of the county’s cultivated farmland and a few chains
of rolling hills as well.
The terrain of the Southern Uplands is much less
elevated and rugged than the Highlands. It consits largely of a moorland
plateau traversed by rolling hills and broken by mountainous outcroppings.
Adjoining (dt. angrenzend) the Southern Uplands region along the boundary
with England are the Cheviot Hills.
Situated off the north and west coasts of Scotland are
the Islands, the main groups being the Orkneys and Shetlands off the north coast
and the Hebrides off the west coasts. The largest of the other islands is Arran.
All of the islands are sparsely (dt. spärlich)
populate.
Rivers and Lakes:
Scotland is charcterized by an abundance (dt.
Reichtum) of streams and lakes, which are called lochs. Lochs are
especially common in the central and northern regions, e.g.: Loch Lomond (the
largest) or the famous Loch Ness.
Many of the rivers in the west are just small streams,
generally of little commercial importance. The longest river of Scotland is the
Tay. However, these rivers are not really impotant.
The coastline of Scotland is very irregular. The western
coast in particular is deeply penetrated (dt. durchdrungen) by numerous
arms of the sea, which are called firths (dt. Fjord). The Firth of Clyde,
which is the principal navigational stream, site (dt. Platz) of the port
of Glasgow, the Firth of Lorne and Solway Fith are the main
firths.
Climate:
The climate of Scotland is influenced by the surrounding
seas. Extreme seasonal variations are rare, as a ressult of the moderating
influences. The outstanding climatic features are temperate winters and cool
summers. In the western coastal region, which is subjected to the moderating
effects of the Gulfstream, conditions are somewhat milder than in the east. The
precipition (dt. Niederschlag), which is marked by regional variation,
ranges from 3800mm in the west to 635mm in certain eastern
areas.
Vegetation and Animal life:
The most common species of trees in Scotland are oak
(dt. Eiche) and conifers (dt. Nadelbaum), like fir (dt.
Tanne), pine (dt. Kiefer) or larch (dt. Lärche) .
However large forrest are not widely spread. They are mainly situated in the
southern and eastern Highlands. Except in these wooded areas, vegetation consits
largely of heather (dt. Heidekraut), ferns (dt. Farn), mosses, and
grasses. Nearly all of the cultivated plants of Scotland were imported from
America or the European continent.
There are not many different species of animals living
in Scotland. The most typical one is the deer. Both the red deer and the roe
(dt. Reh) deer can be found in the Scottish forests. The reed deer is
especially common in the Highlands. Other mammals (dt. Säugetiere)
are the hare (dt. Wildhase), rabbit, otter, ermine (dt. Hermelin),
pine marten (dt. Marder), and wildcat. The birds include grouse (dt.
schottische Moorschneehuhn), blackcock, ptarmigan (dt.
Alpenschneehuhn), and waterfowl (dt. Wasservogel). One animal,
Scotland is famous for, is the salmon (dt. Lachs), who is living in the
streams and lakes of Scotland. Many other species of fishes can be found in the
coastal waters as well.
Natural Resources:
Like the rest of the British island, Scotland is known
for his significant reserves of coal and zinc. The soil is generallly rocky,
except for that of the central Lowlands. There it is possible to do some
farming. In the North of Scotland you can find a great potential of
hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power plants are likely to see
there.
? Population of Scotland:
Population Characteristics:
The people of Scotland are descendants (dt.
Nachkommen) of various racial stocks, including the Picts, Celts,
Scandinavians and Romans. Scotland has become a mixed society. Scots divide
themselves into Highlanders, who consider themselves of purer Celtic blood and
retain (dt. bewahren) a stronger feeling of clan, and Lowlanders, who are
largely of Teutonic blood.
Population Characteristics:
Currently over 5 Mio. people live in Scotland. The
population density is about 66 person per sq km. The highest density is in the
central Lowlands, where nearly three-fourth of the Scots live. This also the
area, where the big cities are situated.
Principal Cities:
The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh(420,000
inhabitants), which is also the administrative center. But Edinburgh is not the
biggest city in Scotland, which is Glasgow with over 750,000 people. Furthermore
Glasgow has the major impact on the Scotish industry. Together with Clayside it
forms a big conurbation (dt. Ballungsgebiet), where the largest
shipbuilding and engineering center is situated. Other important industrial
cities are Dundee(170,000) and Aberdeen(190,000).
Language:
English is the official language, but still fewer than
100,000 Scots, which are mainly inhabitants of the northern Highlands, also
speak the Scottish form of Gaelic.
? Religion:
The Church of Scotland is often seen as the mother
church of Presbyterianism in English-speaking countries. Presbyterianism is a
system of church government based on the Calvinist belief, that all church
members are equal in the eyes of god. Furthermore it is a democratic society
with elections, what means, that every church elects their minister. Also the
Presbyterianism does not have bishops or archbishops. The church is governed by
democratically elected groups at local, regional and national
level.
John Knox was the man, who introduced the system of
Presbyterianism to Scotland. He beliefed in the studies of John Calvin, who
lived in Geneva, where Knox spent several years. One major idea of the
Calvinists is the idea of predestination, which means, that God has planned that
it is the destiny of some people to be saved, wheras the rest is condemned to
eternal damnation. Furthermore it encouraged the people to put their trusts in
God’s decision.
? Culture:
Before talking about Scotland’s culture, you have
to consider, that Scotland was not one country, but two – the Highlands
and the Lowlands. The Lowlands were poorer than England, but more prosperous
than the Highlands.
The Highlands lived in a system of rural economy based
on cattle and goats (dt. Ziegen) even the Highland soil and climate did
not encourage the economy. It was often compared with the “Wild
West” of America, a lawless society, where murder, looting (dt.
plündern) and the theft (dt. Diebstahl) of cattle (and wifes)
were common. The society was dominated by the clans and their chief’s,
who’s authority was absolute. Furthermore the Gaelic language was widely
spread in the Highlands. Today still 100,000 people are able to speak Gaelic.
The Highlands dress is the kilt, with a pattern called tartan, which consists of
the colours of the clan. They were especially worn in the military. Today also
Lowlanders are allowed to wear the famous kilt.
The Lowlands were, compared to the Highlands, more
advanced in their economy and in their agricultural structure. Presbyterianism
was widely spread in this area, wheras many Highlanders remained
catholic.
The result of this differences was animosity (dt.
Feindschaft) and prejudice. Highlanders looked down on Lowlanders as
gloomy cabbage eaters dressed in dark clothes contrasting with the heroic
Highlander in his bright tartan. Lowlanders considered Highlanders to be lazy,
uncivilized people, who stole honest Lowlanders cattle.
Despite of the controverse Highlanders against
Lowlanders and their cultural belief, bagpipes are a famous Scottish tradition.
This instrument is usually associated with Scottish music, but was probably
introduced by the Romans, who acquired them in Middle East.
One of the most clebrated days is the 25th of
January, where people think of Robert Burns, who was a famous Scottish writer.
On this day people are playing their bagpipes and wearing kilts. The dish is
brought into the room accompanied by a piper. Furthermore people drink a toast
to Robert Burns, and they also consume plenty of whisky.
? Education:
The Scottish people take education very seriously. By
1864, one out of every 205 Scots went to secondary class, contrasting with one
in 1300 in England. Furthermore Scotland’s univeristies attracted much
more students than the English. While Okford and Cambridge were just for rich
people, students in Scotland didn’t have to be well off to go to
university.
Today the Scottish Education Departement administers
schools in Scotland. The pupils start going to school at the age of 7. The first
change is made at the age of 12, when they leave elementary school and join
secondary school(around 900,000 students). After this education Scotland
provides institutions(81,000 students) for a study beyond the secondary level,
for those students, who do not want to go to university, including colleges of
agriculture, art, commerce and science. Other students can go to one of the
eight Scottish universities(43,100 students).
? Government and Legislature
Legislature:
Scotland has developed its own system of law, which it
retained after the union with England in 1707. The Scottish law is based on the
civil law, which is derived (dt. abgeleitet) from ancient (dt. antik,
alt) Roman law. The other parts of Britain follow the common law, which
origin was England. Because of the different legal systems, seperate statues
must be enacted (dt. erlassen) by Parliament of
Scotland.
Government and Political
Parties:
In 1975 the local governments in Scotland were
reorganized. Counties and burghs (dt. Stadt mit Stadtrechten) were
abolished and replaced by nine regions and three island areas. The regions are
divided into districts, which total 53. Each of these units is administered by a
council (dt. Rat), who is elected to 4-year terms.
Two leading British parties, the Conservative party and
the Labour party, have shared seats in the Scottish parliament. The Scottish
Nationalist party, which was founded in 1927 in order to press for a complete
self government, has played a minor role.
Scottish Judicary:
The Scottish judiciary is organized separately to the
rest of Great Britain. The two higher courts are the High Court of Justiciary,
in charge of criminal acts, and the Court of Session for the civil acts. A panel
(dt. Komission) of 23 judges is provided for both courts together. Major
criminal trials (dt. Gerichtsverfahren) are held before 1 or 2 judges of
the High Court of Juticiary and a 15 member jury.
Each of the six sheriffdoms, into which Scotland is
devided, has a sheriff court for less important trials.
? Economy:
The economy of Scotland consists of two major parts,
agriculture and industry. The chief exports are petroleum, natural gas and
mnufactured goods like, clothing or whiskey. The major imports are food and
iron. The center of Scottish trade is the Scottish Trades Union
Congress.
Agriculture:
More than three-fourth of the land is used for
agriculture. The most important crops are cereals (dt. Korn), notably
wheat, oats (dt. Hafer) and potatoes. Also sheeps are raised, especially
in the Highlands. Scotland is also known for its beef, dairy cattle and for its
dairy products.
Fishing Industries:
Scotland is also famous for its fishing. The principal
fishing ports are Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Lerwick. The catch
consists mainly of whitefish (dt. weißer Wal), herring (dt.
Hering), crabs (dt. Krabben), and lobsters (dt.
Hummer).
Mining and Manufacturing:
Coal is an important raw material for the Scottish
economy. Nearly all major coal deposits can be found in the Central Lowlands.
Iron ores and other metals are already exhausted. North Sea petroleum and
natural gas are sent by pipeline to points in the Orkney and Shetland islands
and to the mainland.
Transportation and
Communications:
About 48,000km of highways and about 6400km of railroad
serve Scotland. Public buses provide tranportation throughout most of the
country, and many transatlantic flights use Prestwick Airport near Glasgow. Most
radio and television programs originate in England. About 17 daily newspapers
and 120 weeklies are published in the country.
? History: (major event)
The War of Independence
(1286-1328):
Constant tension lead to the war between England and
Scotland resulted in the Scots forming an alliance with France in the
12th century. Known as the “Auld Alliance”, it lasted
until the 16th century. During the War of Independence the Scots, led
by William Wallace and later by Robert Bruce, sucessfully resisted English
invasions.
William Wallace was the first leader of the Scots. He
faught with his recruited army in a guerilla warfare against the oppression of
England. Later on Wallace was betrayed (dt. verraten) to the English,
convicted of treason (dt. Verrat) and executed.
After Wallace’s death Robert Bruce became the
leader of the resistance movement. Even he has not been in favor of Wallace he
was crowned Robert I. In the following period he continued Wallace’s way
of guerilla warfare and tried to persuade the Scotish nobility to oppose
England.
In 1328 the war ended and Scotland was recognized as an
independent kingdom.
|
PDF-Format (84,20 KB)
ZIP
Archiv (9,94 KB)
(c) 2003-2012 ontaps GmbH