THE England is a European country located on the island of Great Britain, being part of the political union known as United Kingdom. Its capital is the city of London.
The English population is currently 56 million inhabitants, concentrating the largest share of UK residents. England is among the most developed countries in the world, acting as a regional and international economic and financial center.
Read too: What are the European countries?
Summary about England
England is located on the island of Great Britain and is part of the United Kingdom on the European continent.
Its capital is the city of London.
It separates from mainland Europe by the English Channel, connecting to France by the Eurotunnel, a 50 km submarine path.
It has a temperate climate and relief composed of gentle undulations, with terrains below 900 meters of altitude on average.
It has more than 56 million inhabitants, which is equivalent to 84% of the entire population of the United Kingdom.
It represents the economic and financial center of the United Kingdom, with a large share of the tertiary sector in the composition of GDP.
England, along with the United Kingdom, formalized its exit from the European Union in the year 2020.
England general data
Official name: England.
Gentle: English.
Territorial extension: 130,278 km².
Localization: UK, Northern Europe.
Capital: London.
Climate: seasoned.
Government: parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
Administrative division: regions, counties, districts and parishes.
Language: English.
Religions: Anglicanism, Catholicism, Presbyterianism, Methodist, Islam, Hindu.
Population: 56,550,138 inhabitants.
Demographic density: 434 inhab./km².
Human Development Index (HDI): 0,932.
Currency: pound sterling.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $3.12 trillion.
per capita GDP: US$46,340.
Gini: 0,351.
Timezone: GMT +1 hour.
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External relations:
UN;
OECD;
world Bank;
British Commonwealth;
G7.
England's flag
england history
You first peoples to occupy the island of Great Britain, where England is located, were the celts. Foreign rule over British territories continued with the Roman Empire around the 1st century BC. C., of which the country was part until at least the beginning of the 5th century of the current era.
From then on, the anglo-saxons played an essential role in shaping the English territory as we know it today, directly influencing its sociocultural and political formation, a process that was not interrupted even by the invasion of the vikings in the eighth century.
Political and territorial disputes marked English history, culminating in events such as the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) and the War of the Roses (1455-1487). O century XVI was characterized by the English territorial expansion and for the formation of a unified kingdom that brought together England, Wales and Scotland under the same political system. Northern Ireland came together only in the early 19th century, forming the United Kingdom.
In the meantime, started in England Industrial Revolution, which caused profound changes in production and in the way of working around the world, in addition to placing the country at the center of the international economy at the time.
Along with the UK, the England established colonies on the African and Asian continents between the 19th and 20th centuries in what became known as neocolonialism. Shortly thereafter, he became involved in the conflicts of the two world wars.
England is now considered one of the most developed countries in the world and a major international financial centre, playing a central role in UK politics and economy.
Read too: The relationship between the Law of Enclosures and the English pioneer in the Industrial Revolution
Differences between England and the United Kingdom
The use of the terms England and United Kingdom as synonyms is not uncommon, which can often confuse the reader. It is important to make a distinction between the two, sincerelate to different territorial orders.
England refers to a state (or country) which is located on the island of Great Britain and forms part of the political and territorial union that is called the United Kingdom. O The United Kingdom is made up of four countries.. In addition to England, this set is also formed by Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The latter country is situated on the island of Ireland. To understand better, read: Difference between UK, England and Great Britain.
Map of England
England geography
England is a European country located on the island of Great Britain, in the northwest region of the continent, and its capital is the city of London. With an area of 130,287 km², it is also the largest country in the United Kingdom, the union of which it is a part.
the english territory borders:
north with Scotland,
to the west with Wales
and separates itself from continental Europe, more precisely from France, through the English Channel, which is to the southeast.
THE eastern part of England is crossed by the Greenwich Mean Time(or Prime Meridian, in English), the 0º meridian that divides the planet between the western and eastern hemispheres and represents the starting point of the time zones and zero mark in the counting of hours.
England weather
England's weather is typically oceanic temperate, with local variations that occur depending on the topography. Summers are mild and relatively drier than winters, when the average temperature can drop to 2°C.
Cloudiness in the country is intense and, despite this, precipitation is not homogeneous in the territory, which has the highest annual volumes (about 750 mm) recorded in the north and northwest.
relief of england
Most English land has gently undulating terrain and modest altitudes, which is due to the very old rocky substrate and intense action of erosive agents.
THE exception is in north central England, where the mountain range called the Pennines (or Montes Pennines) is located, a formation that extends to the border with Scotland. In this complex the altitudes reach 893 meters. In addition, the Cumbrian Mountains, in the northwest of the country, stand out, which is home to the highest point in England at 978 meters, known as Scafell Peak.
england vegetation
The vegetation of England consists of temperate forests, today greatly reduced due to the advance of urbanized areas and exploitation for economic purposes, and also due to characteristic formations of the tundra, observed in the northern lands.
hydrography of england
Extensive rivers, lakes and marshes form England's drainage system. The largest and one of the main waterways in the country is the River Thames, which rises in the south-central region of the territory. English and runs towards the east to empty into the North Sea, a route that crosses the capital, London.
demography of england
England has more than 56 million inhabitants, This contingent represents approximately 84% of the entire UK population. The English territory is, in addition to being populous, densely populated. Taking into account its area, it is estimated that the density demographic of the country is 434 inhab./km², almost double that recorded for the group of countries that make up the group.
Epicenter of the Industrial Revolution, England underwent a long and gradual process of urbanization, a scenario characteristic of developed countries. The urbanization rate in England is almost 83%, similar to that observed for the region.
London is the largest city in the country, and today has more than 9.1 million inhabitants. In addition to it, the cities of Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Southampton/Portsmouth stand out as major urban centers.
One of the demographic phenomena currently taking place in England reflects a trend that has been occurring mainly in Europe, which is the population-ageing. This means that the number of people aged 65 and over has increased compared to other age groups, which is due to the drop in birth rates and fertility, increased longevity and the offer of better quality of life to the population. The average life expectancy in the country is 80.7 years in 2020, a low value compared to 2019 due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19.
Check it out on our podcast: Population aging and economy
england economy
England concentrates the main economic activities of the United Kingdom and accounts for the largest share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the union, which today exceeds 3 billion dollars, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The country also stands out for having a high per capita income and also for the quality of life that is offered to its residents.
O country is no longer part of the European Union, which was formalized in 2020. This movement, known as Brexit, removed all UK countries from the group and resulted in the economic slowdown of these nations. More recently, a supply crisis hit British supermarkets and gas stations, further exacerbated by the shortage of manpower.
Financial, banking and insurance services play a key role in the English economy and also in the United Kingdom, concentrating its activities in the capital, London, which is recognized as a major economic and financial center International. The industry, which has England as its place of origin, is now focused on the production of electronic and communication equipment and on the pharmaceutical, automobile and microelectronics sectors. O primary sector is responsible for the production of wheat, potato, corn, rye, rapeseed, meat and milk.
England culture
England has a rich cultural tradition which is often treated as the totality of the UK's culture, given that this country concentrates the largest share of the British population. Some of the cultural aspects of the English are well known around the world, such as the issue of punctuality, tea as a greater consumption and the difference in road directions (the so-called British hand) and in the composition of cars, which have the driver on the right.
Artists from the most diverse areas and internationally known for the quality of their work come from England. In literature we have Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Tolkien, Charles Dickens and Agatha Christie, while in music, names such as David Bowie, Elton John, Amy Winehouse, the Beatles and many others stand out.
In gastronomy, some of the traditional English dishes are fried with fish, bangers and mash, made with mashed potatoes, peas and sausages, and pies like a banoffee, stuffed with bananas and caramel.
Read too: Big Ben — the story of one of London's most famous postcards
England's infrastructure
England offers a wide infrastructure to its residents, including those living in rural areas of the country. Despite being the richest country in the United Kingdom and the one that concentrates the main services of the union, it is also seen as the one where the cost of living is the highest, especially in the surroundings of its capital.
The country has a wide educational coverage and concentrates some of the best universities in the world, such as Cambridge, Oxford and the Imperial College of London. The English health system has similarities with the Brazilian one in the sense of being public, and is considered the oldest in the world in this model.
The displacements in the country are carried out mainly through highways and railroads. Was in England that the first railways appeared, the dense English network now accounts for most of the UK's railways. In addition to the union's largest airport, Heathrow, the island's physical connection with continental Europe, more specifically with France, is with the south-east of England. We refer here to the Eurotunnel, an undersea rail tunnel that stretches for 50 km under the English Channel.
government of england
England is under a parliamentary monarchic government, which it shares with all UK countries. In this system, the monarch is the head of state, and occupies a position whose succession is hereditary.
The main functions of the executive branch are attributed to the prime minister, who is the head of government. The English legislative power rests with Parliament.
The City of London is the capital of both England and the political union of the United Kingdom.
Fun facts about England
The monument of stonehenge, one of the oldest works in the world built by humans. Its construction took place at least 3 thousand years ago. C., in the period Neolithic.
Some of the most popular and famous sports in the world are of English origin, such as football and tennis.
The country also has some peculiar sports, such as the cheese race.
The postage stamp was invented in Birmingham, England, in the year 1839.
The city of Winchester was the first English capital.
By Paloma Guitarrara
Geography teacher