The northern part of the island of Great Britain is Scotland. Scotland is about the size of the state of South Carolina that includes the two major island groups; the Orkney's, the Shetland Islands in the northwest, and the Hebrides in the west. The country is divided into three areas; the Northern Highlands, the Central Lowlands, and the Southern Uplands.
The highlands are wild and picturesque. Ice Age Glaciers and rainfall of many centuries chiseled their rocky barren summits. Purple heather covers the lower slopes in the summer.
South of the Highlands are the Grampian Mountains highest in the British Isles. Ben Nevis is the tallest peak rises 4,406 Ft. Better known is Ben Lomond which rises from the shores of Loch Lomond Scotland's largest lake.
The Central Lowlands are not large from South West to North East. The greatest distance is nearly 90 miles, but is only 30 miles narrow across the waist of Scotland. The soil is fertile and four coal fields lie underneath. Here is Scotland's largest farming district and also its largest cities; Edinburgh in the east and Glasgow in the west. 90% of Scotland's population lives in the lowlands. In the Southern Uplands the hills are less than 2, 000 Ft. High. Their rounded or flat tops are often covered with dark peat. Here is the Tweed Valley; it is the gateway to England
The winds are usually from the Southwest. It blows over the North Atlantic currents a continuation of the Gulf Stream. This makes it warmer than it normally would be for a country so far north. The average temperature in January is 40 degrees Fahrenheit and in July it is about 58 degrees Fahrenheit. The west coast gets the most rainfall averaging 171 inches yearly. The east is drier and sunnier. June is the finest month due to the longer days.
The Scots have their own law. It derives from the Roman Code and is quite different from that of England. The Supreme Civil Court Called the "House of Sessions" dates back to 1532.
The capitol of Scotland is Edinburgh
The national flower is the "Purple Thistle"
The National flag is a Blue Field with a White St. Andrews Cross
The Scottish motto is:
"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit"
meaning:
"No One Provokes Me With Impunity"
"Of all the small nations on this earth,
perhaps only the Ancient Greeks surpass
the Scots in their contribution to mankind."
Winston Churchill
