The people of Scotland are amazing! But the country itself is no less surprising: there are stunning landscapes, untouched nature: emerald hills and lakes hide behind foggy haze, endless valleys dotted with flower heather.
The homeland of checkered kilt, bagpipes, whiskey and golf is incredibly distinctive. Not everyone succeeds in trying the excellent cuisine, visiting castles and seeing the sights - Scotland is recognized as one of the most expensive countries to visit, so the rest here is hard on the wallet. Mostly Americans and representatives of wealthy countries of Western Europe come here.
Who knows, maybe one day you will visit this unique country. In the meantime, let's find out some interesting facts about Scotland.
10. Homeland of the oldest tree in Europe
This tree is called the Fortingel yew, which spans 18 meters. Some scientists claim that this tree is approximately 5000 years old! It seems that time has no power over him ...
This long-liver is located in the village of Fortingall near the local church - tourists are happy to come to see the attraction. It is worth noting that yews - an integral part of the landscape of gardens of British churches - for many centuries, trees were planted along with the foundation of the church.
Interesting fact: this tree is considered sacred. According to one legend, Pontius Pilate (12 BC - 37), the druid advised him to sit under the yew for a while in order to gain power over the world.
9. The largest number of red-haired people in the world
Scotland is the leader in the number of red-haired people! Since we have redheads - a rarity, we treat them with interest, but this fact is nothing more than a feature of weather conditions.
Located in a climate zone where clouds and cloudiness are the norm, in Scotland there simply cannot be people of a different appearance. A person needs vitamin D (its production occurs under the influence of sunlight), and in Scotland it is cloudy. Therefore, the country, due to the lack of sun, is rich in representatives of people with red hair and hemp.
An interesting fact: it is believed that red-haired people have supernatural abilities, and according to ancient Scottish legend, the variety of fairies that live underground have a fiery red hair color. And red-haired people walking on the ground, relatives of these fairies.
8. Haggis - a national dish
Probably something completely different appeared to you from the name, however haggis is Scotland's national dish. The birthday of the poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) - a national holiday, does not appear without a haggis.
This national dish especially appeals to the Scots on frosty January evenings - by the way, whiskey perfectly complements it.
Let's see what this dish is all about. In order to cook it, culinary specialists use lamb entrails: heart, liver and lungs. First, they are boiled until fully cooked, and then chopped together with greens and interior fat. At the end, they are mixed with crushed oatmeal.
Top with this dish sprinkled with nutmeg, watered with lemon juice and other spices. The resulting mass is filled in a cleaned stomach, after which it is tightly tied and cooked.
Now you know how to cook a Scottish national dish - cook it to surprise your loved ones!
7. Country in which TV and telephone were invented
Scotland is a country that has gifted talented inventors to the world. Our life cannot be imagined without a TV and a telephone, but who invented these important things for us? Let's find out.
In 1926, John Loughy Byrd (1888-1946), an engineer from Scotland, demonstrated a mechanical television system of his own design in a London laboratory. John Byrd is the first person to transmit a monochrome image of an object in the distance. What a pity that his name is forgotten ...
Second Scot Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) became the founder of telephony. He invented a device that could transmit voice from a distance. It’s a paradox, but the discovery of the researcher happened by chance - he was not at all going to invent the phone, but “harmonic telegraph”, Which would greatly facilitate the task, transmitting simultaneously 7 telegrams around the city.
6. There is a Loch Ness monster
The possibility of the Loch Ness monster is saturated with myths and legends originating in the Middle Ages.
In ancient times, a story was spread among the people about monsters living in the water, which aggressively perceived people. Then they bore the names - kelpie, because of them, as a child, the inhabitants of Scotland were forbidden by their parents to go to the lake.
In the 20th century, witnesses appeared telling that they had observed a strange huge creature in the waters of Loch Ness. It is curious that everyone gave similar descriptions of this monster, which is a black snake. What do you think, is there a Loch Ness monster or is it just a fiction?
5. Over 700 islands
Scotland is a country that occupies the northern part of the island of Great Britain. This is one of the most beautiful places in Britain, famous for its unsurpassed landscapes, picturesque hills, fields and forests, and, of course, islands.
Visiting at least one of the 700 islands of the country is the dream of every tourist. They beckon with their open spaces, a beautiful sunset against the backdrop of mountainous landscapes, desert areas ... Consider a few of them.
Mull Island is located off the west coast of Scotland - there are castles Torossay and Duart, which are the island's attraction.
Islay is known for making smoky whiskey on this island. Distilleries of famous brands are located here, here are a few of them: “Bannahavein”, “Ardbeg” and “Bowmore”.
On the island of Khoy is a famous attraction - the cliff Old Man of Hoi. Scientists believe that a rock washed by the sea is waiting for a sad outcome - it will fall into the water.
4. The Bank of Scotland was the first in Europe to print its banknotes
The business bank located in Edinburgh began in the 17th century - it is the second oldest bank in Britain (the Bank of England was founded a year earlier). It is the only commercial organization that still exists.
Also it is the first bank in Europe to print its own banknotes - He continues to print his own pounds banknotes in accordance with mechanisms that allow some banks in Britain to print money.
3. St. Andrews - "the birthplace of golf"
As we already know, Scotland is the birthplace of whiskey, bagpipes and golf. We will talk about the latter in more detail. The ancient university city of St. Andrews is known as "homeland of golf ".
In this picturesque town, named after St. Andrew, the patron saint of the country, there is much that you can (and need!) To see: the Cathedral (in the Middle Ages it was the center of pilgrimage), the castle (the former residence of the bishop), the Tower of St. Rula, Dominican Chapel, etc., and you can also play golf at one of the oldest golf courses.
2. Aberdeen - the oil capital of Europe
Aberdeen is a city located in the north-east of Scotland (it has the second name "Granite city»), A busy seaport. Since the discovery of an oil field in the North Sea, Aberdeen has become the European oil capital.
The city benefited as much from the oil boom in the North Sea at the end of XX as no other city in Scotland won: more than 200 companies were created here, intensive construction of offices, housing and educational institutions took place, and thousands of foreign residents came to the city.
It is interesting that the city is called granite for the reason that all its buildings are built of local granite, so that Aberdeen is unique in its appearance.
1. Edinburgh - the record holder for the number of architectural monuments
Traveling around Scotland, you can not ignore Edinburgh, which is the record holder for the number of architectural monuments. I want to know more about each, and good to consider. Let's find out at least some monuments - but keep in mind that if you go to this city, you won’t be able to go around all the sights in one day.
The sculpture "African Woman and Child", which is located on Lothian Road, was built in 1986, a woman with a child were a symbol of Edinburgh's solidarity with the oppressed against apartheid.
The statue “Braveheart” was erected in honor of the national hero, by the way, the story about which was told in the film “Braveheart” by Mel Gibson.
At the Cathedral of St. Gilles there is a monument to “Adam Smith”, who, without a doubt, was an outstanding person - he managed to enter the university at the age of 14, which speaks of his genius. You can read a lot about his scientific activities on the Internet.