About Scotland

Scotland occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. It is part of the United Kingdom and shares a land border to the south with England. It is bounded by the North Sea to the southwest. In addition to the mainland, Scotland consists of over 790 islands including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.The capital is Edinburgh: It is one of the Europe,s largest financial centres.

It was the hub of the Scottish Enlightment of the 18^th century, which saw Scotland become one of the commercial, intellectual and industrial powerhouses of Erope: Scotland largest city is Glasgow, which was one of the world,s leading industrial metropolises, and now lies at the centre of the Greater Glasgow conurbation whitch dominates the Scottish Lowlands. Scottish waters consist of a large sector of the North Atlantic and the North sea, containing the argest oil reserves in the European Union. The Kingdom of Scotland was an independent state until 1 May 1707 whe it joind in a poltical union with the Kingdom of England o create a united Kingdom of Great Britain: This union was the result of the treaty of Union agred earlier and putinto effect by the Acts of Union that were passed by the Parliaments of both countries despite widespread protest across Scotland.

Scotland's legal system continues to be separate from thoseof England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Scotland still constituesa distinct jurisdiction in public and in private law. The continued independence of Scots law. The Scottish education system,and the church of Scotland have all contributed to the continuation of Scottish culture and Scotish national identity since the Union. Although cotland is not a separate,sovereign state, the constitutional futura of Scotland contnues to give rise to debate. Modern Scotland is subdivided in various ways depending on the purpose. For local government, there hve been 32 council areas since 1996 whose councils are unitary authorities responsible for the provision of all lacal government services. For the Scotish Parliament,there are 73 constituiencies and eihgt regions. For the Parliament of the United Kingdom there are 59 constitucies.

Scotland has a western style open mixed economy which is closely linked with that of the rest of Europe and the wider world. Traditionaly the economy has been dominated by heavy industry undrpined by the shipbuilding in Glasgow; coal mining and steel industries. Scotld,s primary exportsare whiskey, electronics and financial services. It has a very well-developed transport structure.

The flaf of Scotland,known as the saltire or St.Andrew's cross, dates from the 9^th century. Lower of Scotand is popularlely held to be the National Anthem o Scotland, ad s played at events such as football and rugby.