country occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain . Separated from England predominantly upland Cheviot Hills and r.Tuid . To the west of Scotland on the other side of the North Channel ( Strait of St. Patrick ) is Northern Ireland. The southern coast of Scotland turned to the Irish Sea and the Strait of Solway Firth . Scottish borders remain unchanged for almost 500 years . Scotland - part of the United Kingdom. Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Character of the Scottish people and its way of life is largely formed under the influence of natural environment : because of the predominance of mountains and hills only 1/ 5 of the territory was suitable for agriculture. In the south of the South Highlands almost all sides fringed coastal lowlands and river valleys . In Scotland widespread rocky hills and swamps , and in its central and western regions dominated by mountains . The very highest point - Mount Ben Nevis in Grampian Mountains - only reaches 1,343 m , several other peaks rise above 1,200 m
The population of Scotland was the result of the mixing of several races . The earliest inhabitants of the country were the Caledonians , or Picts , who inhabited most of the territory to the north of the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. In the southwest lived Britons related Welshmen . In Argyll approx. 500 BC Irish colony was founded , while the Angles left the European continent and landed on the south-east Britain. In the 8-11 centuries . Scandinavians visited almost the entire coast of Scotland , but settled on the north and west. In the 12th century . there came the Normans and Flemings . Many Irish immigrants arrived in the 19th century . Similarly proceeded migration between England and Scotland .
Many Scots Presbyterians and their religious life takes place within the Church of Scotland . Proponents of this church shall be 2/ 3 of all believers , it enjoys strong influence almost everywhere. Heresies and schisms which struck the Scottish Presbyterians in the 18th and 19th centuries . , For the most part overcome. Two surviving Presbyterian minority - Free Church and the Free Presbyterian Church - still has its supporters mainly in some mountain areas and in the Western Isles , where they were very conservative doctrine retains its appeal to the public. Reformation won most of the country , and in the late 17th century . In Scotland there were only about 12 thousand Catholics , who lived mainly in the mountains in the west of the main island and on one or two small islands . Up until the 19th century . The Roman Catholic Church has sought only to strengthen its influence in these areas. However, the Irish immigration , particularly hungry 1840s , contributed to the growth of the Catholic population in the industrial areas , mainly around Glasgow. Currently there are about 800 thousand Catholics. In the 18th century . strengthened the position of the Anglican Church in areas north of r.Tey . Now its role is diminished , except for the landed gentry , whose authority outside the cities is low.