Scotland is one of the most exciting parts of Britain.
Its magical landscapes attract millions of tourists from all around the world every year.
Besides tourism, Scotland has become one of the most attractive point in Europe for young people, who come here to get the best education, to live in an extremely attractive to the students cosmopolitan environment and last, but not least – to have fun.
Best Time to Visit Scotland
If you have decided to travel to Scotland it will be better to do it in the period from June to August, when the weather is warmer, because even in this part of the year the temperatures rarely exceed 20 degrees.
If you visit Scotland during these months you can see the best of the beautiful Scottish scenery.
During the other months the weather may be too cool and cloudy.
There is not danger to become very hot even at the height of the summer.
Quite the contrary.
Even if you have planned summer holiday in Scotland you will do well if you take and some warmer clothing.
Otherwise the standard clothing for the Scottish summer is typically for the spring – light and airy.
Weather
Scotland has a cool and humid temperate oceanic climate that is influenced very strongly by the warm Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean.
For this reason, the winters here are often much softer than elsewhere in the world on this latitude.
Often the people, who visit Scotland and those, who live there are joking that there are two seasons – winter and spring.
In the period from November to April, the weather is cool, with temperatures from 6 to 11°C.
From May to October the weather is mild and pleasant, but not very warm.
The daily temperatures in this period vary from 14 to 18°C.
The coldest month is January, when the daytime temperatures generally do not exceed 6°C.
The warmest month is August.
The daytime temperature is usually about 18°C.
In rare cases, the temperatures can reach 22-23°C.
The night temperatures are usually around 1°C in the winter and reach 10-11°C in the summer.
The rainfalls are heavy throughout the year and are relatively evenly distributed by month.
Vary from about 70 to 90 mm per month.
The driest month is April and the rainiest is August.
Snow falls rarely, but this is not excluded.
Here, unlike in the southern parts of Britain, not rarely the temperatures fall even below freezing.
Nature
The nature of Scotland is truly exceptional.
This is one of the most magnetic parts of the continent.
The first thing noticed, when the tourists arrive in these places is that everything is so green!
The reason is the cool and humid climate, which makes Scotland a real paradise for the plants.
Seen from an airplane, Scotland is a mosaic of dense forests, lakes with calm as a mirror surface and countless farms.
The local relief is picturesque. The plains are rare.
There is always a hill or mountain, which to “break” the silhouette of the horizon.
One of the greatest beauties of Scotland are its lakes. Most of them are glacial.
Loch Ness is one of most popular not only in the country, but also in the world.
Its fame is largely based to the mysterious creature that appears mysteriously from the dark lake waters.
It is known as “Loch Ness monster” or “Nessie”.
Over the years, have been made a number of pictures that shows something, but this “thing” can hardly be likened to a monster.
For someone this is a fin and for others – head with long neck and for third is just a rotten stump.
But whatever, the fact is that it attracts crowds of tourists, who come here hoping to catch a glimpse of something strange and unusual.
It should be noted that the atmosphere in Scotland prompted to a mysticism.
The dark and quiet surface of the lakes, the large areas, where you can only hear the howling of the wind, the playing with the clouds sun rays and the radiance, which are formed by the light, are unique.
Scotland is a land rich in water – surrounded by sea, dotted with lakes and crossed by countless rivers.
The reason is the frequent rainfall and the poor water vapours.
Geographical Location
Scotland covers an area of 78 772sq.km.
Scotland is bordered to the south with England and the Irish Sea, to the west and north it has a wide outlet to the Atlantic Ocean and to the east – by the North Sea.
This is the second largest historical and geographical region in the UK.
The southern part of Scotland is located at 54° north latitude and the northern part is located at 58°.
However, there are islands located northeast of the coast of Scotland and some of them are situated even on the 60th parallel.
It is situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere.
Scotland is a historical and geographical region of the UK, which although part of it, still has the right to local government.
Near by the coast of Scotland there are many islands, especially to the west and to the north.
Relief
Scotland has a mountainous or hilly terrain.
However, the mountains are not too high.
The highest point here and across the UK is Ben Nevis Peak, which rises to 1343 meters.
The coastline is highly indented, especially in the west, where the coast is of fiord type.
Overall, much of the relief of Scotland has formed during the last ice age.
The retreat of the ice has formed here beautiful and deep valleys and behind shrinking glaciers have left only crystal clear lakes.
Population and Settlements
The population of Scotland increased mainly due to the rush of young people from all around the world, who come to study here.
For every young person in Scotland is appealing because of different reasons, but all agree on one thing – this place is unique.
The fact is that many people, arrived to study here, later want to establish themselves permanently.
As a result of great interest today that raw land is home to about 5 200 000.
The largest city in Scotland is Glasgow.
It has a population of about 600 000.
This is the main economic center in the country.
The second largest city is Edinburgh.
It is home to about 500 000 people.
Although smaller, this city is the most attractive among those, who come to Scotland for studying.
It is assumed that there are more opportunities for entertainment and more prospects, although it is difficult to assess whether this is a fact, because the majority of the Scottish cities offer unprecedented prosperity and progress opportunity and huge number of jobs.
Edinburgh is also the main administrative center of Scotland and plays the role of its capital.
The third most important city in Scotland is Aberdeen, which has a population of about 200 000 people.
For the cities in Scotland as a whole can be said that they emit very aristocracy and elegance with its ancient stone buildings, and numerous castles, which are discarded as they have come from the pages of a novel.
Economy
Scotland’s economy is highly developed, and the local people have a very high standard of living.
The education and health are at very high level and are available to everyone.
The region is known for high quality whiskey, which exports worldwide.
It is highly sought after product in the international markets.
Another major source of income is the highly developed tourist industry, which relies strongly to the fame of Loch Ness.
Recently crucial role play the high technology, which develop very rapidly in the last few years.
Still a great part of the revenues come from the Scottish fishing, but it is very close the time, when this economic sector going to lose its significance for the local economy.
The major economic centers are Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.
Interesting facts
* Scotland is inhabited by over 5000 years.
* Except for the English language here is spoken also and the Scottish Celtic.
* In 843 year was founded the Scottish Kingdom.
* The most important product that is produced in Scotland is, of course, the whiskey.
* Scotland seek full independence from Britain.
* Scotland has some autonomy, as it has the right to approve laws in the health and education.
* The biggest attraction is Loch Ness, which is about 230 meters deep.
* The best souvenirs that can be purchased from Scotland are Scottish bagpipe and skirt of Scotch plaid.