Scotland

Scotland is a country within the United Kingdom, occupying the northern third of Great Britain. It borders England to the south and is surrounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and north, and the North Channel to the southwest; it includes many islands such as the Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland. The capital is Edinburgh, and Glasgow is the largest city. The monarch is the head of state; the Scottish Government and Parliament in Holyrood exercise devolved powers.

Scotland features the Highlands and Lowlands, with the Grampians and Cairngorms, Ben Nevis, and numerous lochs including Loch Ness. The coastline is varied and there are about 800 islands. The climate is temperate with weather influenced by the Atlantic.

History: Early medieval kingdoms, later union with England in 1707 to form Great Britain. Devolution in 1999 created the Scottish Parliament. The 2014 independence referendum rejected independence. Brexit has affected policy and economic links.

The political system in Scotland features its own legal framework and devolved powers over education, health, justice, transport, and taxation, while the UK Parliament retains powers on defence, foreign affairs, macroeconomic policy, and reserved matters.

Economy: Scotland has a diversified economy with finance and business services in Edinburgh and Glasgow, energy from North Sea oil and gas and renewables, manufacturing, tourism, and whisky.

Culture and society: Gaelic and Scots languages persist; there is a rich literary, musical, and artistic heritage, festivals, and traditional sports such as golf and football; symbols include the Saltire and the heraldic unicorn.