The geography of Scotland is varied, from rural lowlands to unspoilt uplands, and from large cities to separate inhabited islands. Located in Northern Europe, Scotland comprises the northern one third of the island of Great Britain as well as 790 surrounding islands encompassing the major archipelagos of the Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands and the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Scotland’s only land border is with England, which runs around for 60 miles, or 97km, in a northeasterly direction from the Solway Firth In the west to the North Sea on the east coast. Separated by the North Channel, the island of Ireland lies 13 miles, or 21 km, from Mull of Kintyre on the Scottish mainland. Norway is located 190 miles, or 310 km, to the northeast of Scotland
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Although Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland Edinburgh is the capital and political center of the country. While the Lowlands are less elevated, upland and mountainous terrain is located across the Southern Uplands. An abundance of natural resources such as coal, iron and zinc contributed significantly to the industrial growth of Scotland during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, energy is a major component of Scotland’s economy, Whilst Scotland is the largest producer of petroleum in the EU (European Union) the production potential of renewable energy has emerged as an important economic and environmental issue in recent …show more content…
The mainland of Scotland has 6,160 miles, or 9,910 km, of coastline. The geomorphology, the origin of an area of land, of Scotland was formed by the action of tectonic plates, and subsequent erosion arising from glaciation. The major division of Scotland is the Highland Boundary Fault, which separates the land into ‘highland’ to the north and west, and ‘lowland’ to the south and east. The Highlands of Scotland are largely mountainous, and form the highest ground in the UK; they are bisected by the Great Glen into the Grampian Mountains to the southeast and the Northwest Highlands. The Scottish Lowlands can be further subdivided into the Southern Uplands, an area of rolling farmland and high moorland, and the lowland farmland of the Central Belt and eastern Scotland. Scotland has an incomparable variety of geology for an area of its size. It is also the origin of many significant discoveries and important figures in the development of the sience. The oldest rocks of Scotland are the Lewisian gneisses, which were formed in the Precambrian period, the earliest part of earth's history, up to 3 billion years ago. They are among the oldest rocks in the world. During the Precambrian, the Torridonian sandstones and the Moine were also laid down. Further sedimentary deposits were formed through the Cambrian period, some of which metamorphosed into the
Although Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland Edinburgh is the capital and political center of the country. While the Lowlands are less elevated, upland and mountainous terrain is located across the Southern Uplands. An abundance of natural resources such as coal, iron and zinc contributed significantly to the industrial growth of Scotland during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, energy is a major component of Scotland’s economy, Whilst Scotland is the largest producer of petroleum in the EU (European Union) the production potential of renewable energy has emerged as an important economic and environmental issue in recent …show more content…
The mainland of Scotland has 6,160 miles, or 9,910 km, of coastline. The geomorphology, the origin of an area of land, of Scotland was formed by the action of tectonic plates, and subsequent erosion arising from glaciation. The major division of Scotland is the Highland Boundary Fault, which separates the land into ‘highland’ to the north and west, and ‘lowland’ to the south and east. The Highlands of Scotland are largely mountainous, and form the highest ground in the UK; they are bisected by the Great Glen into the Grampian Mountains to the southeast and the Northwest Highlands. The Scottish Lowlands can be further subdivided into the Southern Uplands, an area of rolling farmland and high moorland, and the lowland farmland of the Central Belt and eastern Scotland. Scotland has an incomparable variety of geology for an area of its size. It is also the origin of many significant discoveries and important figures in the development of the sience. The oldest rocks of Scotland are the Lewisian gneisses, which were formed in the Precambrian period, the earliest part of earth's history, up to 3 billion years ago. They are among the oldest rocks in the world. During the Precambrian, the Torridonian sandstones and the Moine were also laid down. Further sedimentary deposits were formed through the Cambrian period, some of which metamorphosed into the