Facts About Scotland

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Scotland is situated within Europe, it is progressive country built on creativity, vitality and the remarkable warmth of its people. Tourism is one of Scotland’s most rewarding assets, such as golf and walks through a rich history. Industrially, the country is innovative and resourceful. Key businesses are of life sciences, energy, financial services and electronic technologies.

Scotland also has a thriving export market with an inspiring global reach, particularly in food and drink – which includes Scotland’s renowned whisky – and chemicals.

1. Founded in 1695, The Bank of Scotland, is the oldest bank surviving in the UK. It is also the first bank in Europe which initiated to print its own banknotes, it is a function that  still performs today.

2.In 1824, Edinburgh became the first city in the world with its own fire brigade.

3.Robert Owen philosopher and pedagogue in 1816, in New Lanark opened the world’s first infant school.

4. In 1413, The University of St Andrews, founded as the third oldest university in the UK, ranking after Oxford and Cambridge. In 1862, it welcomed Britain’s first female student. In 1882, it hosted the world’s first students’ union into existence, in 1889 was built, the world’s oldest students’ union building which was purpose-built known as Teviot Row at Edinburgh University.

5. Until 1603, Scotland was an independent country. Later, the King of Scotland became the King of England but until 1707 the two countries did not merge their governments to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.

6. In the 15th century the contemporary game of golf originated in Scotland. In 1457 it was first mentioned as ‘gowf’, originally played on a course of 22 holes. In 1764, it was first limited to 18 holes at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and other courses followed. St Andrews is named the “home of golf” and worldwide exercises legislative authority over the game (except in the United States and Mexico).

7. A group of arts and cultural festivals takes place in summer known as The Edinburgh Festival form the cultural festival which is the largest annual event in the world. The original elements of festivals are the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The latter is in its own way is the world’s largest arts festival, with the 2011 event covering 25 days counting over 2,500 international shows in 258 venues from 60 nations.

8. Scottish place names in previous British colonies and in the entire USA are found unevenly in the ratio of one Scottish name to every four of English origin. Amongst major cities with Scottish names we discover Dallas, Houston and Knoxville in the USA, Hamilton and Calgary in Canada, and Perth and Brisbane in Australia. There are over 40 sites around the world called Albany, originating from Alba (Gaelic for Scotland) and the title of Duke of Albany, 22 called Dundee and 34 named Aberdeen.

9. The world’s shortest scheduled flight is one-and-a-half miles long from Westray to Papa, Westray is in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. The complete journey takes 1 minute 14 seconds.

10. In North America there are as many Scottish people living as in Scotland, with censuses in the Canada and United States identifying around five million people who claims to be Scottish ancestry.

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