Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain, with a border with England to the southeast, and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast, the Irish Sea to the south, and more than 790 islands, including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.

Etymology

The name "Scotland" derives from the Latin Scotia, land of the Scots, a Celtic people from Ireland who settled on the west coast of Great Britain about the 5th century AD. The name Caledonia has often been applied to Scotland, especially in poetry. It is derived from Caledonii, an old Latin name for a group of tribes in the northern part of what is now Scotland.

Geography

Scotland comprises the northern third of the island of Great Britain, off the coast of North West Europe. The total area is 78,772 km² (30,414 sq mi), comparable to the size of the Czech Republic. Scotland's only land border is with England, and runs for 96 kilometres (60 mi) between the basin of the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west.

History

The History of Scotland is known to have begun by the end of the last glacial period (in the paleolithic), roughly 10,000 years ago. Prehistoric Scotland entered the Neolithic Era about 4000 BC, the Bronze Age about 2000 BC, and the Iron Age around 700 BC.

Culture

Scotland has a rich culture which has been shaped by its history, geography and people. This includes its music, literature, sport, food, drink, social activities and festivals.

Economy

The Economy of Scotland is the 43rd largest in the world with an estimated nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of up to £152 billion in 2015. Scotland has a mixed economy closely linked with the rest of the UK and the wider world.

Education

Education in Scotland is overseen by the Scottish Government and has a history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from those in the other countries of the United Kingdom.

Politics

Politics of Scotland operates within the framework of a devolved parliamentary democracy, whereby Scotland is a constituent nation of the United Kingdom, and the Scottish Parliament has a range of devolved powers over areas such as health, education and the environment.