Geography.
England is made up of about 65% of the island of Great Britain as well as the Isle of Wight and the
Isles of Scilly. Scotland borders England to the north and Wales to the west. The Irish Sea, Atlantic Ocean and North Sea surround England, granting it an extensive coastline. This contributes to its natural abundance, popularity amongst locals and tourists and transport system.
England covers approximately 130 410 square kilometres or 50 356 square miles and has a population of just under 60 million people.
Relief.
England makes extensive use of its inland waterways, such as its rivers. The Thames River, Mersey River and Tyne River are particularly important as they have formal ports in London, Liverpool and Newcastle respectively. When the tide is high, ships can travel along these rivers and into the ports. The Thames River is also the country.s longest at 346 kilometres in length.
The Pennines Mountain Range is the oldest of its kind in England, being dated at 300 million years of age. This mountain range measures approximately 400 kilometres or 250 miles in length. The whole area of the Pennines is diverse, boasting valleys, rivers and stark cliff faces as part of its topography. The highest peak in all of England is Scafell Pike (Cumbria), at an amazing 3209 feet or 978 metres above sea level.
England.s climate is described as being .temperate maritime.. Winter temperatures seldom plummet below zero degrees Celsius, while summer highs can reach about 30 degrees Celsius. January and February are coldest and usually experience snowfall, while July is the hottest month. England is a relatively wet country due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. This, in turn, has created a lush land of greenery and blooms.
Of the total land area of England, urban development makes up about 21%, crops and fallow land about 30%, grasses and grazing area 36%, other agricultural land 5% and forests about 8%.
Tradinional Holidays.
JANUARY
1 January - New Year.s Day
1 January - The New Year's Day Parade London (over 10 000 performers travel around London offering impressive dancing, acrobatics, cheerleading and musical acts)
5 January - Twelfth Night (Christian)
6 January - Epiphany (Christian)
12 January - Plough Monday (the start of the new farming year)
15 . 17 January - Straw Bear Festival at Whittlesey
FEBRUARY
2 February - Candlemas Day (Christian)
3 February - Chinese New Year
14 February - St Valentine's Day (a Christian festival associated with love and romance)
MARCH
Pancake Day (a Christian carnival on the eve of Ash Wednesday to start Lent, which is a time of fasting and devotions)
5 March . St Piran.s Day Cornwall
8 March - The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race
9 March - Ash Wednesday (the start of lent)
14 March - Commonwealth Day
APRIL
1 April . April Fool.s Day (traditionally the day of practical jokes and trickery)
3 April . Mothers. Day
3 April - Simnel Sunday
17 April - Palm Sunday (Christian)
21 April - Maundy Thursday (Christian)
21 April . The Queen.s birthday
22 April - Good Friday (Christian)
23 April . St George.s Day (a church festival)
24 April - Easter Sunday (Christian)
25 April - Easter Monday (Christian)
25 April - Hop Monday
30 April . 2 May . Rochester Sweeps Festival
MAY
1 May - May Day
2 May - Early May Bank Holiday
30 April - 2 May - Rochester Sweeps Festival
24 May . Empire Day
29 May . Oak Apple Day (the birthday of Charles II)
30 May . Spring Bank Holiday
30 May . Cheese Rolling (in Gloucestershire)
JUNE
2 June - Ascension Day (Christian)
2 June . Coronation Day: Gun Salute
12 June . Pentecost / Whitsuntide (Christian)
19 June . Fathers. Day
JULY
5 July - Tynwald Day (the national holiday of the Isle of Man)
15 July - St. Swithun's Day
TBC - Swan Upping (a census of swans on the River Thames)
AUGUST
1 August - Lammas Day
1 August - Yorkshire Day
26 . 28 August - Reading Festival
27 . 29 August - The Glenn Miller Festival (the largest jazz, swing and Jive festival in the United Kingdom)
28 . 29 August - Notting Hill Carnival
29 August - Late Summer Bank Holiday
SEPTEMBER
4 September . 8 November - Blackpool Illuminations
5 September - The Great River Race, London
TBC - Heritage Open Days (free entry to several National Trust properties)
OCTOBER
11 October - Apple Day
11 October - Trafalgar Day
17 October - Punky Night (children sing through the streets and at residential doors)
31 October - Halloween
NOVEMBER
1 November - All Saints Day (Christian)
1 November - London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
2 November - All Souls Day (Christian)
5 November - Guy Fawkes
5 November - Lewes Bonfire Night
11 November . Armistice Day
13 November - Remembrance Sunday
14 November - The Prince of Wales' birthday
20 November - Stir-up Sunday (last Sunday of the Christian Church Year)
27 November - Advent Sunday (Christian)
DECEMBER
TBC - Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
24 December - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
24 December - Christmas Eve
25 December - Christmas Day (Christian)
26 December - Boxing Day
26 December - St Stephen's Day
31 December - New Year.s Eve
Major Rivers of England.
•The River Thames
This river’s source is in Gloucestershire, but it passes through the southern England counties of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Essex, Kent and Greater London too.
•The Mersey River
The Mersey River is important due to its having a port in the city of Liverpool. It is approximately 112 kilometres (or 70 miles) long and passes through the counties of Merseyside and Cheshire. Its basin measures 4 680 square kilometres, which equals about 1 807 square miles. This river is made up of three major tributaries; namely the rivers Goyt, Etherow and Tame. Officially and according to modern definitions, the Mersey begins where the Tame River and the Goyt River converge.
•The Tyne River
This river’s main source is situated in Alston Moor, while its mouth is in South Shields. It measures 100 kilometres (or 62 miles) in length and its basin is 2 145 square kilometres (or 828 square miles) in area. The Tyne River is formed by the coming together or the North Tyne and South Tyne rivers, which converge in Northumberland.
•The Severn River
The Severn River is the longest river that flows through England and measures 354 kilometres or 220 miles in length. Its basin has an area of 11 420 square kilometres or 4 409 square miles. This river passes through the middle of Wales as well as the West Midlands and South West England.
