General information

Northern Ireland (known also as Ulster) occupies the

northern fifth of Ireland. It is a part of Great Britain.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

include England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

British countryside is divided to two types of landscape:

highlands and lowlands. Northern Ireland is famous for

it’s beautiful scenery. Belfast, capital on the southeaster

of country, offers good opportunity for shopping,

entertainment in theatres, cinemas, restaurants, and

operas and in many others attractions. Northern Ireland

has got together board with Republic of Ireland.

Total area: 14 120 km²

Population: 1 578 000 inhabitants

Capital: London (together with England, Scotland and Wales) and Belfast is district town and the biggest town in Northern Ireland

Language: English

Religion: Protestantism, Roman Catholicism

On the South we can found granite range Mourne (the highest mountain Slieve Donard – 852 metres above sea level.) On the North is basalt range Antrim. Along coast are deployed hundred of basalt towers, known as Giant’s Causeway. The biggest lake is Lake Neagh (396 km²)

History

Ireland has long been connected to Britain but the Irish Republic became independent in 1922 and Northern Ireland remained a part of Great Britain. The Irish Republic is also known as Eire. It is almost totally Catholic. Approximately two-thirst of the population of Northern Ireland is Protestant and the minority Roman Catholic. The life of people and the politics of North Ireland are dominated by religious and economic problems. Old hatreds between Protestants and Catholic are kept alive. In 1969 British troops were sent to keep order in Northern Ireland. But the basis for peaceful relationship between Protestant majority and the Catholic minority has not yet been created. Many human lives have been lost. Bomb explosions and terrorist actions, many of them aimed targets within Britain, especially London, have not yet been stoped.

Belfast

Belfast has got 279 000 inhabitants. Town is situated on the estuary of River Lagan and this is very apt for the international sea deal. You can find here Queen’s University, which was founded in 1845. The city is the shopping, educational, commercial, entertainment, and service centre of Northern Ireland. It is also an important port.

Climate

Climate is temperate and humid. It is influenced warm Golfs flow and winds from the Southwest. Average air temperature in winter is +4°C on the East and +7°C on the West and in summer +14-16°C.

Tourism

Gains from tourism make up the main part of profit of the country.

Transport

Northern Ireland has got 23 670 km of roads. The airport in Belfast supports the transit transport.

Agriculture

In Northern Ireland are many pastures. Here are grown feeding products for stock. This is basis of Ireland’s agriculture.

Industry

Industry is situated mainly in Belfast and in near environs. Industry is dependent on the import from abroad. Mostly are developed engineering, textile and food processing. Chief exports of Northern Ireland are ships, aircraft, linen textiles, and also agricultural product and livestock as the country is largely agricultural. There are small farms producing pigs, cattle milk and eggs. The principal crops are potatoes, barley and oats.

The exploitation of mineral resources and production of energy

Northern Ireland has got several collieries, but they have to import coal and petroleum for producing energy. Most of the energy (87%) is produced by the thermals. Turf (special title for Irish peat) is used like firing in houses in the country. In Northern Ireland is extract granite, sandstone, basalt, calcite, gravel, marble, some metals, especially zinc and slug.

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