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England.

Of the four parts which make up Great Britain England is the largest, the most industrial and most densely populated part of the UK. Over 46 million people out of the population of the UK live in England.

The greatest concentrations of population are in London, Birmingham and northwest industrial cities. The coasts of England are washed by the North Sea, the Irish Sea, the English Channel and the Strait of Dover. No part of England is more than 120 kilometres from the sea.

It is interesting to note that the sea has been important in the history of England. It was a good protection against the attacks of outside peoples. Fishing has always been an important industry, especially in the east. The sea also has a great effect on England’s climate.

There are many rivers in England. The longest is the Severn (388 km), the most important is the Thames (354 km). The rivers are of great importance for communication and especially for carrying goods.

England is mostly a lowland country. There are upland regions in the north and the southwest, but the rest of England is almost flat.

Northern England, Midlands and South England – each part of England is different. Lake District in Northern England with its lakes, mountains and valleys is a favourite holiday resort. On either side of the Pennines the plains of Yorkshire and Lancashire stretch to the sea. Swift rivers that flow from the hills into valleys are called “ dales ”.

The wool industry is centred in Leeds and Bradford, the cotton industry in Manchester, the iron ore goes to the steel, heavy machinery and shipbuilding industries of Newcastle and other cities. The industries of Midlands with Birminghan as its chief city produce metal goods, from motor cars and railway engines to pins and buttons. The Midland plain makes farming land.

In South England between Highlands lie Lowlands. In this part of England are found some of the oldest British settlements and traces of ancient monuments such as Stonehenge. London is the chief city of South England.

Dale – горная речка (желоб)

Yorkshire [΄jo:k∫iə]– Йоркшир (графство в Англии)

Lancashire [΄læŋkə∫iə]– Ланкашир (графство в Англии)

Bradford [΄brædfəd]– г. Брадфорд (крупный промышленный город)

Stonehenge [΄stoun΄hendз]– Стоунхендж (один из самых больших и известных в мире кромлехов; сооружен в 1900-1600 гг. до нашей эры; состоит из огромных отдельно стоящих каменных глыб в виде круглых или квадратных оград; использовался для астрономических наблюдений и определения времен года)