User:Ben MacDui/Scotland/Geography redraft
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Suggestions for redraft:
Contents |
[edit] Structural issues
The inadequacies of the current version include:
a) The historical introduction is long-winded.
b) A confused set of sub-divisions which place far too much emphasis on the islands.
c) Trivia.
d) No geology at all.
e) An absence of references.
I have incorporated 'demographics' into 'Human Geography' to avoid repitition. (I have belatedly noticed that some of the 'demographics' references are poorly sourced and I am attempting to fix them). Currently language and religion are, absurdly, sub-sections of demographics. This requires amendment.
'Subdivisions' should be renamed 'Geographical sub-divisions' and placed within the 'Geography' heading.
I have created a short flora and fauna section below. It could be a Geography sub-section or possibly a sub-section of say 'Climate, flora and fauna'.
[edit] Geography, geology and demographics
Scotland comprises the northern third of the island of Great Britain, which lies off the coast of north west Europe. The total land mass is 78,772 km2 (30,414 mi2).[1] Scotland's only land border is with England, and runs for 96 kilometres (60 miles) between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west. The Atlantic Ocean borders the west coast and the North Sea is to the east. The island of Ireland lies only 30 kilometres (20 mi) from the south western peninsula of Kintyre, Norway is 400 kilometres (250 mi) to the north east, and the Faroes and Iceland are to the north.
The territorial extent of Scotland is generally that established by the 1237 Treaty of York between Scotland and England[2] and the 1266 Treaty of Perth between Scotland and Norway.[3] Exceptions include the Isle of Man, which is now a crown dependency outside the United Kingdom, and the 15th century acquisitions of Orkney and Shetland.[1]
[edit] Geology & Geomorphology
The whole of Scotland was covered by ice sheets during the Pleistocene ice ages and the landscape is much affected by glaciation. From a geological perspective the country has three main sub-divisions. The Highlands and Islands lie to the north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault, which runs from Arran to Stonehaven. This part of Scotland is largely comprised of ancient rocks from the Cambrian and Precambrian which were uplifted during the later Caledonian Orogeny. These foundations are interspersed with many igneous intrusions of a more recent age, the remnants of which have formed mountain massifs such as the Cairngorms and Skye Cuillins. A significant exception to the above are the fossil-bearing beds of Old Red Sandstones found principally along the Moray Firth coast. The Highlands are generally mountainous and are bisected by the Great Glen. The highest elevations in the British Isles are found here, including Ben Nevis, the highest peak at 1,344 metres (4,409 ft). Scotland has over 790 islands, divided into four main groups: Shetland, Orkney, and the Hebrides, sub-divided into the Inner Hebrides and Outer Hebrides. There are numerous bodies of freshwater including Loch Lomond and Loch Ness.
The Central Lowlands is a rift valley mainly comprised of Paleozoic formations. Many of these sediments have economic significance for it is here that the coal and iron bearing rocks that fuelled Scotland's industrial revolution are to be found. This area has also experienced intense vulcanism, Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh being the remnant of a once much larger volcano active in the Carboniferous period some 300 million years ago. Also known as the Midland Valley, this area is relatively low-lying, although even here hills such as the Ochils and Campsie Fells are rarely far from view.
The Southern Uplands are a range of hills almost 200 km (125 miles) long, interspersed with broad valleys. They lie south of a second fault line running from Stranraer towards Dunbar. The geological foundations are largely comprised of Silurian deposits laid down some 4-500 million years ago.[4][5][6]
[edit] Human Geography & Demographics
The population of Scotland in the 2001 census was 5,062,011. This has risen to 5,094,800 according to July 2005 estimates.[7] This would make Scotland the 112th largest country by population if it were a sovereign state. Although Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland it is not the largest city. With a population of 629,501, this honour falls to Glasgow. Indeed the Greater Glasgow conurbation, with a population of 2.2 million, is home to almost half of Scotland's population.[8][9]
The Central Belt is where most of the main towns and cities are located. Glasgow is to the west whilst the other three main cities of Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen lie on the east coast. The Highlands are sparsely populated although the city of Inverness has experienced rapid growth in recent years. In general only the more accessible and larger islands retain human populations and fewer than 90 are currently inhabited. The Southern Uplands are essentially rural in nature and dominated by agriculture and forestry.[10][11]
Due to immigration since World War II, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee have significant Asian and Scottish Asian populations.[12] Since the recent Enlargement of the European Union there has been an increased number of people from Central and Eastern Europe moving to Scotland, and it is estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 Poles are now in living in the country.[13] As of 2001, there are 16,315 ethnic Chinese residents in Scotland.[14]
[edit] Climate and natural history
Remove or amend inaccurate info about Tiree. It is 'one of' the sunniest places.
[edit] Flora and Fauna
Scotland's wildlife is typical of the north west of Europe although several of the larger mammals such as the brown bear, wolf and walrus were hunted to extinction in historic times. A population of wild cats remains.[15] There are important populations of seals and internationally significant nesting grounds for a variety of seabirds such as northern gannets.[16] The golden eagle is something of a national icon, and white-tailed eagles and ospreys are recent re-colonisations. The Scottish crossbill is Britain's only endemic bird.[17] The flora of the country is varied incorporating both deciduous and coniferous woodlands, and moorland and tundra species. Significant remnants of the native Scots Pine forest, can be found in places.[18]
- ^ a b Whitaker's Almanack (1991) London. J. Whitaker and Sons.
- ^ National Archives. [1] Retrieved 21.11.06
- ^ Mackie, J.D. (1969) A History of Scotland. London. Penguin.
- ^ Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London. HarperCollins.
- ^ Murray, W.H. (1973) The Islands of Western Scotland. London. Eyre Methuen
- ^ Murray, W.H. (1977) The Companion Guide to the West Highlands of Scotland. London. Collins.
- ^ Scotland's Population rises for the third year in a row. General Register Office for Scotland April 2006
- ^ Strathclyde Passenger Transport [2]
- ^ TalentScotland, Scottish Enterprise [3]
- ^ Clapperton, C.M. (ed) (1983) Scotland: A New Study. London. David & Charles.
- ^ Miller, J. (2004) Inverness. Edinburgh. Birlinn.
- ^ Urdustan. net 2004 Scotland speaks Urdu
- ^ The Pole Position (August 6, 2005). Glasgow. Sunday Herald newspaper.
- ^ Scottish Executive, Statistics [4]
- ^ Matthews, L.H. (1968) British Mammals. London. Bloomsbury.
- ^ Fraser Darling, F. & Boyd, J.M. (1969) Natural History in the Highlands and Islands. London. Bloomsbury.
- ^ Gooders, J. (1994) Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland. London. Kingfisher.
- ^ Preston, C.D., Pearman, D.A., & Dines, T.D. (2002) New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora. Oxford University Press.
