Facts About Scotland

Scotland, one of the four national units that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The other units are England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and Glasgow is its largest city.

Scotland has an irregular and deeply indented coastline. The rugged western coast, in particular, is pierced by numerous inlets from the sea. Most of these inlets are narrow submerged valleys with steep sides, known as sea lochs. The larger and broader inlets are called firths. The principal firths are the Firth of Lorne, the Firth of Clyde (see Clyde), and Solway Firth. The major indentations on the eastern coast are Dornoch Firth, Moray Firth, the Firth of Tay, and the Firth of Forth (see Forth). Measured around the various firths and lochs, the coastline of Scotland is about 3,700 km (about 2,300 mi) long.

Like the rest of the United Kingdom, the climate of Scotland is subject to the moderating influences of the surrounding seas. Temperate winters and cool summers are typical, and extreme seasonal variations are rare. Low temperatures, however, are common in mountainous parts of the interior during the winter months. In the western coastal region, where the moderating effects of the Gulf Stream are strongest, conditions are somewhat milder than in the east. The average January temperature of the eastern coastal region is 3°C (37°F), and the average January temperature of the western coastal region is 4°C (39°F); corresponding July averages are 14°C (57°F) and 15°C (59°F). The average January and July temperatures for the city of Edinburgh are 3°C (38°F) and 14°C (58°F), respectively.

• Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre: Located beside Edinburgh Castle, the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre shows visitors the entire process of making scotch from malting to maturing. The tour of the facility includes tastings, a barrel ride, meeting the resident ghost, and films.
• Balmoral Castle: Open to the public for a few months during the year, visitors are able to view the grounds and castle, fish, and take guided pony treks throughout the surrounding property. It is located between Dundee and Aberdeen.
• Scottish Football Museum: Object belonging to famous football players and interactive sound and video clips are just part of the exhibits at the Scottish Football Museum. Fans of the sport can visit the reconstructed Hampden Changing Room and Press Box.

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