UNITED KINGDOM, IRELAND,NETHERLANDS

FOR SUCH A SMALL COUNTRY, THE UNITED KINGDOM'S (UK) IMPACT ON WORLD EVENTS HAS BEEN ENORMOUS. Because of its role in the administration of a huge empire in the past, the English language is today spoken on every continent. Factory production on a grand scale didn't appear here until the late 1700s, but the Industrial Revolution that started here quickly spread over the world. Traditional industries in the UK are in steep decline. Increasingly, this urbanized society depends on service sectors like banking and insurance to meet its needs, while the North Sea's massive oil deposits meet most of the country's energy requirements.

INTERNATIONAL AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS

Since the 1950s, the United Kingdom's culture has become increasingly diverse and open. After the United Kingdom lost its colonies in Africa, the West Indies, and the Indian Subcontinent, many of the displaced peoples moved to the United Kingdom, where they have since established their own communities and brought their own cultures and traditions to enrich everyday life in Britain.

LONDON

The Romans established London as a settlement in AD 43; today it is one of the greatest cities in Europe, with a population of over seven million. The nation's capital ranks high on lists of the best places to visit for art, business, and leisure. The city of London attracts millions of tourists every year who come to see the city's numerous museums, historic landmarks, and stage productions. The tourism business in Britain is rapidly expanding. The medieval cities of Bath and York, as well as the west coast of Scotland, attract tens of thousands of tourists every year.

Dwellings Suburbs on the outskirts of British cities are home to a large population. Suburbs are ideal because they facilitate easy commuting to city centers, offer more space and a cleaner environment, and are farther distant from traffic. The home plays a significant role in British society. Homes rather than flats predominate, and DIY home improvement and gardening are common interests.

Welsh Mining

Many communities in Wales were once entirely dependent on coal mining for their economic well-being. Mines throughout the UK have closed as a result of the industry's collapse, and large quantities of coal are being imported. Former mining communities in Wales were struck particularly hard, leading to high rates of unemployment. However, certain urban areas have been successful in enticing new businesses, and the region's picturesque mountain scenery is attracting an increasing number of visitors each year.

The British populace has a strong affinity for sports. In the colder months, sports like soccer and rugby are more common, while in the warmer months, cricket and golf are more common. English soccer rules derived from those used in the sport's origin—the English boys' schools—just as did rugby, cricket, and golf.

IDENTITY AS A NATION

A referendum was held in order to form a distinct Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. Both of these bodies, which have some powers that have been "devolved," were elected for the first time in May 1999. Westminster, which is located in London, England, serves as the administrative nerve center for the United Kingdom. Traditional forms of artistic expression and cultural activities, as well as connections to the past in terms of both culture and history, play a vital role in the formation of robust national identities.

INDUSTRY In the UK, the heavy industry was historically one of the primary employers; however, this pattern has begun to shift. Currently, light engineering goods, equipment, autos, and weapons make up the majority of exports, while a sizeable portion of the population is employed in the financial and service industries. They were able to strengthen an economy that was floundering thanks, in part, to the fact that the United Kingdom had to import a significant share of its food supplies and raw resources. In addition, this location is home to a number of powerful worldwide firms, many of which have branches located in different parts of the world.

IRELAND DEEP IN NATURE

Since the 1960s, violent violence has been a persistent problem in Northern Ireland and its capital city, Belfast (above). While the dominant Protestant community, which is descended from British settlers, wants to remain inside the UK, Irish Catholics, who have endured discrimination in the job and property markets, want to join southern Ireland. On the other hand, southern Ireland wants to join the UK. As both sides continued their terrorist actions, the Catholic Irish Republican Army also carried out bombing attacks against the British mainland. The signing of a peace treaty took place on Good Friday in April of 1998; nevertheless, the distribution of political authority between the two communities has proven difficult.

IRELAND DARK GREEN Ireland has a warm and rainy climate, which helps the country's grasslands grow well. Britain used to be in charge of Ireland. In 1922, southern Ireland, which made up two-thirds of the island, became an independent country. Northern Ireland, on the other hand, stayed a part of the United Kingdom. There aren't many natural resources, and a lot of people have worked in agriculture in the past. But a sharp rise in tourism and light industry has changed people's lives in a big way and made Ireland one of Europe's most recent economic success stories.

REGIMENTAL LIFE

People in Ireland are religious, and the Catholic Church has a big impact on daily life. There are regular religious processions, and the country is full of shrines, many of which are for the Virgin Mary, who was Jesus' mother. The Church is in charge of hospitals, schools, and the social life of the country. It is also against both abortion and birth control. Before 1995, you couldn't get a divorce in Ireland.

DUBLIN

Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is full of the history of the country. This small city was the center of the rebellion against British rule. In 1922, Ireland became a country. In the past few years, factories and service businesses have moved to Dublin, and many people from other parts of the country have moved here to find work.

PEAT

Ireland does not have a large quantity of natural resources such as coal or oil that may be used in the production of energy. In spite of this, it is home to several peat bogs. Peat is a combustible substance that is produced when dead and decaying plants are compacted and then heated. There are also enormous regions that belong to the government and are dug up by machines. These large areas also contain peat, although certain villages have their own peat supplies. These are processed into fuel for large power plants, which are the source of the electricity that we consume.

THE LOW COUNTRIES

BELGIAN, THE NETHERLANDS, AND LUXEMBOURG, THE THREE COUNTRIES LOCATED IN THIS REGION, ARE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE "LOW COUNTRIES" ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR FLAT AND LOW-LYING LAND.

As a result of the customs union that was founded in 1948 by the Low Countries, they are sometimes sometimes referred to as "Benelux." Although each nation in the Benelux union keeps its own tax system, the Benelux union does allow for the free movement of goods between the three countries. These are the countries in Europe with the highest population density, however the standard of living is high for the locals there. Even while traditional heavy industries such as coal mining are being phased out in the area, they are being succeeded by more modern industrial sectors as well as service activities like banking and administration.

The rivers of these countries are some of the most important waterways in Europe, linking the interior to the coast. As far as rivers go, the Rhine, Mosel, and Meuse are where the bulk of commerce and transportation takes place. Rotterdam sits on the mouth of the Rhine. The port's length of 12 miles (20 kilometers) along the river allows it to accommodate 300 cargo ships simultaneously. Ports can be linked to rivers and interior areas by canals as well.

FARMLAND

The low, flat plains of this region are utilized for a variety of agricultural purposes, including the cultivation of flowers and vegetables and the grazing of dairy animals. A significant percentage of the farmland that was once under water has been recovered by draining the water and encircling the regions in question with dykes or other earthen barriers. There are no other highlands in the region other than the forested Ardennes Mountains, which run through southern Belgium and continue on into Luxembourg.

NETHERLANDS

This little nation is often referred to by the names of two of its provinces: Holland and the Netherlands. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, Dutch merchant mariners and merchants traded goods like gold and spices all over the world. Between Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, they established a vast empire. Trade is still very important to the Netherlands today, and exports account for about half of the country's income, in large part due to the presence of several major global firms with Dutch roots. The Dutch are known for their open-mindedness and progressive outlook on life.

AMSTERDAM

The capital of the Netherlands and a city rich in history, this location attracts a large number of visitors every year. In the seventeenth century, Amsterdam served as a major hub for trade around the globe. The city's network of canals and the tall, slender structures that line the waterways were both created by merchants. Diamonds are being cut and polished in Amsterdam, which is quickly becoming a major hub in this industry.

CYCLING

Due to the country's exceptionally flat geography, cycling is one of the most practical and popular modes of transportation in the Netherlands. In rural places, long-distance bicycle routes are indicated on maps and prominently advertised. In lieu of automobiles, city centers are constructed for bicycles. Since there is less traffic, more people are able to reside in town centers, and small, family-owned businesses continue to thrive.

AGRICULTURE

The Dutch have developed ways to farm that make the most of their small but productive land. Some of the most important crops are potatoes, barley, and salad vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes. Bulb and flower exports, especially tulips, are probably the most well-known thing the Netherlands sells. Other important exports include meat and dairy products, especially cheeses like Gouda and Edam.

COLLECTIVE HERITAGE

The Netherlands became home to a large number of people originally from Southeast Asia who left the Dutch colonial empire in the 1940s and 1950s. Workers from southern Europe, Turkey, and Morocco began arriving in large numbers in the 1960s to replace them. Migrants now make up about 20% of the population in the largest Dutch cities. Most are naturalized Dutch citizens. The Dutch take great pride in their tolerant and open-minded treatment of foreigners.

RECLAMATION OF LAND

One-third of the land in the Netherlands was once under water but has now been reclaimed. These parts of land are called "polders." Most of the land that has been reclaimed is used to grow crops and raise dairy cows. About 25% is set aside for homes, roads, and open spaces. Because so much land is at or below sea level, flooding is a big problem. Huge barrier dams are built to keep the sea away, and the water level is always checked.