英美概况课时讲义Chapter One.doc

Chapter One Geographical Features & Natural ResourcesI. Names and Positions1. Full title: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland I. Names and Positions2. position:North:East:Southeast:West:I. Names and PositionsFour sections: 1) England - London2) Scotland - Edinburgh Great Britain3) Wales - Cardiff4) Northern Ireland - BelfastWhat is the difference between the British Isles, Britain, the United Kingdom and England?The British Isles consists of two large islands; one is called Ireland and the other Britain.Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands, and it is divided into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England.I. Names and Positions3. area: 244,820 sq km coastline: 12,429km 9 （longest in the world) south to north: nearly 1,000km west to east: 500km (at the widest part) Jurassic ParkII. Physiographic Features1. the Highland Zone (in the north and west)1) the Highlands of Scotland: Ben Nevis-highest mountain 1343m2) Middle Valley of Scotland3) the Southern Uplands4) the Pennies -“the backbone of England”5) the Lake District6) the Welsh MassifBen NevisThe backbone of EnglandThe PenninesmoorLake PoetsWilliam WordsworthSamuel Taylor ColeridgeRobert SoutheyII. Physiographic Features2. the Lowland Zone1) the Midlands of England2) the Plain of Lancastria3) the North Eastern LowlandsIII. Climate-Climate: refers to the average temperature, rainfall, wind, etc. of a place or area over the year or a season.-Weather: refers to the day-to-day conditions of sunshine, temperature, wind, rain, etc. over a particular place or area.It has been said that in no country other than England can one experience four seasons in the course of a single day. United Kingdom Weather ForecastUnited Kingdom ClimateTemperatures Precipitation London Edinburgh London Edinburgh Jan. 0C 0 C 50 mm 60 mm 7 C 6 C July: 11 C 10 C 60 mm 80 mm 22 C 19 C The average rainfall is about 1000 mm. In some places there are even over 260 rainy days a year. 100 F = 37.7C-20F = -28.8CBritains favorable maritime climate 1. features: changeable weathermild temperatureabundant rainfallIII. Climate2. factors: surrounding waters prevailing south-west winds or the Westerlies North Atlantic Drift Ocean Currents The major surface currents in the worlds oceans are caused by prevailing winds. The currents may be cold, as in the instance of the West Wind Drift, or warm, as the Gulf Stream. Currents circulate in paths called gyres, moving in a clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere and a counterclockwise direction in the southern hemisphere. IV. Rivers & LakesSevern River: longest, 355kmSevern River is the longest river in Britain (355km) Thames River: London, 338kmThames River is the second longest and most important river in Britain. (336km).Clyde River: Scotland, Glasgow, 170kmRiver Clyde is the most important river in Scotland.Lake District: 15 lakes radiating like the spokes of a wheel from a central hubLough Neagh:Lough Neagh is the largest lake in Britain which is located in Northern Ireland. (396 square kilometres). Loch Ness: NessieSevern riverThames River, LondonLough NeaghNessieNessieNessieThere are numerous theories as to Nessies identity, including a snake-like primitive whale known as a zeuglodon (械齿鲸), a type of long-necked aquatic(水生的, 水栖的) seal, giant eels(蛇形鱼类), walruses(海象), floating mats of plants, giant mollusks(软体动物), otters（水獭）, a paraphysical entity, mirages, a