Green forests, high mountains, vast lakes and vivid culture create this spectacular country! Join us for the bonnie adventure in our facts about Scotland …
Facts about Scotland
Official name: Scotland, Alba
Form of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital city: Edinburgh
Largest city: Glasgow
Population: around 5.2 million
Monetary unit: Pound sterling (GBP)
Official languages: English/Gaelic/Scots
Area: 78,772 km² (30,414 sq mi)
Major mountain ranges: Southern Uplands, Central Lowlands, Grampian Mountains, North West Highlands
Major rivers: River Tay, River Spey, River Dee, River Tweed, River Clyde
Scottish flag
Map of Scotland
Geography of Scotland and its landscape
Scotland is a country in Europe and is part of Great Britain (the largest island of Europe) alongside England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This lush, beautiful country is full of greenery, lush forests, high mountains and large lakes (the Scottish word for lakes!).
The country can roughly be divided into three areas – lowlands, highlands and islands. These lowlands are famous for their fertile farmland and dense forests, highlands, vast moors and deep lakes, as well as islands due to their dense wild landscapes, beautiful beaches and distant sea views.
Scottish nature and nature
With so many habitats in Scotland there are plenty of fascinating wildlife. You will find inhabitants of rivers such as otters, salmon and trout as well as red squirrels and birds, such as capercaillies, which find shelter in dense forests.
In the mountains and on the moors you can see majestic deer or mountain hares, while the islands are an ideal place to recognize seals and seabirds, such as puffins.
Many species of animals are protected in Scotland and there are two national parks – the Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond National Park and The Trossachs – as well as numerous beautiful nature reserves that have been established to protect the land and animals living there. .
Scottish history
Scotland has been populated for 12,000 years, and has a rich and complex history. In 43 AD the Romans successfully invaded Britain and fought frequently with the native Scots, called the Caledonians.
From the 1200s to the 1300s the Scottish clan system became firmly established in the Highlands. Ruled over by a clan chief, these clans were like tribes and were made up of family members and people who had a loyalty to the chief. Each clan held a particular territory and clan members could be distinguished by the clothes they wore – the origins of what we now know as Scottish clan tartan!
In 1707 the Act of Union was signed, meaning Scotland, England and Wales were now a single state with one monarch (known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain).
In 1745 Charles Edward Stuart, or ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ as he is often known, travelled to Scotland to reclaim the thrones that his grandfather, once king of England, Ireland and Scotland, had lost in 1668. He had support from lots of Scottish clans but despite their early victories, they were defeated at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
Following the battle, the British government was determined to bring the Highlanders under their control and harsh laws were passed to eradicate all aspect of Highland culture, including the Gaeliclanguage and traditional clothing. This signalled the end of the Highland clan system.
Despite these uncertain times, the 1700s also saw the beginning of one of the greatest periods in Scotland’s history – the Scottish Enlightenment. From the mid 1700s to the early 1800s educated Scottish people, such as professors, doctors and writers, began to question what was previously believed and instead formulate new theories and ideas. The discoveries and advances that were made during this time went on to shape the modern world as we know it.
