Partner to Bear Pair - BC Bear (Canada) - I decided to bring together these two nations which have shared so much and continue to do so.
The United Kingdom is - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It has a combined population of 63.20 million compared to Canada with 35.20 million.
1) The UK’s long coastline is around 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometres). The geography ranges from green meadows and woodland to rugged moorland and mountains. The highest mountain is Ben Nevis in Scotland at just over 1,340 metres.
2) The UK is close to 95,000 square miles (245,000 square kilometres), stretching from the Shetland Islands off the north coast of Scotland, down to the Isles of Scilly in south west England, and across the sea to Northern Ireland.
3) English is spoken throughout the UK, but there are other official languages too, such as Welsh, Scots and Gaelic. However, there are numerous local dialects, many of which are sadly in decline. In the UK, accents change noticeably about every 25 miles (40km).
4) The UK has a fascinating history dating back to 6500 BC. All over the UK you’ll find monuments marking its history, from Stonehenge to Buckingham Palace. The UK is also home to over 28 cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Heritage Cities including Edinburgh, Bath, Canterbury, Chester, Durham, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and York.
5) Despite having only one per cent of the world’s population, Britain is the fifth largest trading nation in the world.
6) The flag of Britain, commonly known as the Union Jack (which derives from the use of the Union Flag on the jack-staff of naval vessels), embodies the emblems of three countries under one Sovereign. The emblems that appear on the Union Flag are the crosses of three patron saints: the red cross of St. George, for England, on a white ground; the white diagonal cross, or saltire, of St. Andrew, for Scotland, on a blue ground and the red diagonal cross of St. Patrick, for Ireland, on a white ground. Wales is not represented in the Union Flag because, when the first version of the flag appeared, Wales was already united with England. The national flag of Wales, a red dragon on a field of white and green, dates from the 15th century and is widely used throughout the Principality.
7) The name Wales comes from the Cymraeg word Gwalia, meaning in English "Homeland". It later became Latinized as Walia, then by the Normans to something like Wal~es....then Wales. It has a population of 3,074,067, a total area of 20,782 sq kms (8,024 sq miles) with 5 AONB and 3 National Parks.
8) Scotland has some 790 islands - 130 inhabited. It covers 78,772 km² (30,414 sq mi), and has a population of 5.2 million. Tourism is one of Scotland’s most lucrative assets, focusing on such attractions as golf, walking and a rich history.
9) In the UK, all horses, ponies and donkeys must have a horse passport.
10) Slavery was not made a statutory offense in the UK until April 6, 2010.
11) Northern Ireland had an area of 5,459 square miles and a population of 1,700,000. It's capital city is Belfast and its highest point is Slieve Donard mountain 848 m (2782 ft).
