Scotland

Scotland is the second largest country of the United Kingdom. It is about three-eighths the size of its larger neighbor England, but is much less populous; most of the population lives in the central belt, a band across central Scotland between the capital Edinburgh and the city of Glasgow. Other cities are Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness.

Scotland includes the island groups of Orkney, Shetland, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the islands of the Firth of Clyde including Arran, Bute, Cumbrae & Wee Cumbrae and various other smaller islands.

Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom, is in the Scottish Highlands, as are most of the nations highest mountains. Those with heights above 914m (300 feet) are eponymously named Munros after Sir Hector Munro, the first person to compile such a list.^[1]

After the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1603, James VI of Scotland ascended to the Throne of England, becoming James I of England. He was the first monarch to call himself King of Great Britain. This is referred to as the Union of the Crowns. James was also at this time King of Ireland.

The Parliaments of Scotland and England were not united until 1707 and it is this date that is recognized as the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This is referred to as the Union of the Parliaments. The formation of the Irish Republic in 1922 resulted in the current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Scotland has its own Parliament of 129 members as well as sending 59 Members of Parliament(MPs) to represent its interests in the United Kingdom parliament which sits in London. Scottish MPs have historically been recognized for their political skills and appointed to the Cabinet in larger numbers than is proportionate. The current Chancellor of the Exchequer, and expected future prime minister Gordon Brown, is Scottish

Scotland is famous for its disproportionate amount of inventions and discoveries (as immortalized in Wha's Like Us), its world class universities, the Scottish Enlightenment, being the first country to adopt English as its official language decades before England^{[Citation Needed]}, being the one of the first industrial nations while still preserving some of the last great wildernesses of Europe, and being the home of golf and the Loch Ness Monster.

The symbol of Scotland is the thistle. The Scottish flag is the Cross of St. Andrew, a white diagonal cross on a dark blue background. The design originated in the 9th century and it is the oldest national flag still in use anywhere in the world. Other things associated with the country are kilts(tartan skirts worn by Scotsmen), and the haunting music of the bagpipes. Famous Scottish products include pies, haggis, toleys and Scotch whisky.

Scotland's motto is Nemo Me Impune Lacessit ("No-one provokes me with impunity")^[2] which translates as Wha daur meddle wi me? in Scots and in English as Who would dare mess with me?.

The national preoccupation is football (soccer). Other diversions include rugby union, lawn bowls, chanty wrassling (a native form of wrestling), pocket billiards, shinty (similar to hockey), cricket, curling, tossing the caber and, of course, golf - Scotland is the home of golf. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews is the governing body of world golf.

Scotland's 'other' national drink, Irn Bru (formerly "Iron Brew"), is a bubblegum-flavored carbonated drink manufactured by A.G.Barr of Glasgow, and claims to be "made in Scotland from girders". An advert for it uses the music and animation style of "The Snowman".

1. ↑ for a complete list of Munros see http://www.sol.co.uk/d/dickwall/munroes.htm
2. ↑ http://www.scotland-guide.co.uk/ALL_AREAS_IN_SCOTLAND/Glasgow/Areas/Centre/Mercat_Cross.htm