Here are some facts about Scotland.
- Scotland is the northernmost country in the United Kingdom. England forms its southern border, and the rest of the country is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea.
- Scotland became independent in 1314 and then joined the UK in 1707. In September, 2014, in a closely fought referendum, Scotland voted to remain part of the UK.
- The Bank of Scotland, founded in 1695, is the UK’s oldest surviving bank.
- The country is also home to the oldest tree in Europe, the Fortingall Yew, which could be more than 3,000 years old.
- Scotland is known for its mountain scenery, whisky, porridge and bagpipes.
- Haggis is a popular Scottish food and is made from the lungs and heart of a sheep.
- The country is the birthplace of golf, the sport being played as far back as the mid-15th century. King James II banned the game as it had become more popular than archery.
- Edinburgh is the capital, although Glasgow is the largest city, with about 600,000 people. Most people live in the large towns and cities, including Inverness, Ayr, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee and Prestwick.
- Scotland is made up of almost 800 islands, as well as the mainland, although most are uninhabited. Barra airport on the Hebrides is the world’s only airport where planes take off and land on the beach.
- Scotland’s famous Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie has supposedly been seen regularly since the 7th century. Many photographs and films of Nessie have been proven to be fakes.Famous people from Scotland include the actors Deborah Kerr and Sean Connery, and the television presenter Nicky Campbell.
- John Logie Baird, the inventor of television, was also born there, as was James Watt, another inventor.
- The explorer, David Livingstone, was Scottish, as was Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, and Sir Walter Scott, the author of Ivanhoe.
- Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, was born on 25th January 1759. Many Scottish people celebrate his life by attending a Burn’s Night every year on his birthday.
- The patron saint of Scotland is Saint Andrew, and St Andrew’s Day is celebrated on 30th November.
- The Scottish flag is called the Saltire or St Andrew’s Cross. It is a white diagonal cross on a blue background.
- Scotland has the highest proportion of red headed people in the world, about 13 percent.
- There are as many Scottish people living in the USA and Canada, as there are living in Scotland.
