The South West

Major counties: Cornwall, Devon (tourism), Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire (Stonehenge, military range)

Major cities and towns: Plymouth, Bristol, Exeter, Bath, Swindon

The SW represents almost 10% of the total UK territory.

The area is relatively prosperous with the third highest income per capita (after the South East and East Anglia).

Yet, Cornwall and Devon are the poorest areas in the UK (as poor as Portugal & Spain).

Bristol is a major seaport located deep in the Bristol Channel & its prosperity has been linked with the sea since its earliest days.

The city’s economy today is also reliant on the aerospace industry, defense and information technology.

Overall, the aeronautical (авиационная) industry is a major segment of the region’s economy. Its major employers are British Aerospace, Rolls Royce and Westland.

Other regional industries include engineering (машиностроение), shipbuilding, electronics and food processing (переработка).

Plymouth is another major commercial shipping port that grew throughout the Industrial Revolution, handling imports & passengers from the Americas.

Because of its coastal location the economy of Plymouth has traditionally been maritime, in particular, the defense sector with over 12,00 people employed.

Devonport Dockyard is the UK’s naval base that refits nuclear submarines, & the Navy estimates that the Dockyard generates about 10% of Plymouth’s income.

Swindon is home to many new industries such as computers. Japanese car manufacturer “Honda” has an important car plant just outside Swindon.

The region used to be famous for its tin (олово) mines which operated from Roman times until the last mine was closed in 1998.

Apart from tin, copper mining was also the mainstay (опора) of the economy. It all had ended by the 1990s.

Today china clay (каолин – фарфоровая глина) extraction has got some prominence.

The area is noted for its wild moorland landscapes (болотистая местность, вересковая пустошь), long and varied coastline and very mild climate.

The natural beauty of the SW makes it very attractive for tourists in the summer time.

All these factors contribute to the region having a rather strong service sector - with its numerous seaside resorts & the railways arrived in the 19^th century.

Particularly popular is the West Country – so are called the counties of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

The Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks are located in the area, attracting lots of visitors. The largest bog of Dartmoor is Aune Mire (Болото Онь).

Cornwall is known for its pasties – a savory (пряный) dish made with pastry.

The SW of England is known for producing Cheddar Cheese, named after Cheddar gorge. Bristol produces cider.

Traditionally fishing (particularly, pilchards - сардины) and agriculture have been the other important sectors of the economy.

The South is the major agricultural centre of the UK.

Market gardening and fruit farming are also important for the area to cater demands of Greater London.