The United Kingdom was the first country in the world,
which became highly industrialized. During the rapid industrialization of the
19th century, one of the most important factors was that coal deposits were
situated near the ground surface, which made mining easy. Coal mining is one of
the most developed industries in Great Britain. The biggest coal and iron mines
are in the northeast of England, near Newcastle, in Lancashire and Yorkshire;
in Scotland near Glasgow; in Wales near Cardiff and Bristol.
Until recent times, Britain’s heavy industry was mainly
concentrated in the centre of England and in the London region. Such towns as Birmingham,
Coventry and Sheffield produced heavy machines, railway carriages and
motorcars.
In the 20th century new branches of industry have appeared:
electronics, radio, chemical industry and others. Of great importance for Britain
is shipbuilding industry. It is concentrated in London, Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool
and Belfast. Great Britain produces a lot of wool, and woollen industry is
developed in Yorkshire. British woollen products are exported to many
countries.
Seaports play a great role in the life of the country.
London, Liverpool and Glasgow are the biggest English ports, from which big liners
go to all parts of the world. Great Britain exports industrial products to other
countries and imports food and some other products.
Sheepfarming, cattlefarming and dairyfarming are also
important branches of Great Britain’s economy. Chicken farms produce a great
number of chickens and eggs for the population.
The south of England is often called the “Garden of
England”, because there are many gardens and orchards there. In the orchards
peop le grow apples, pears, cherries, plums and other fruits, and there are
also large plantations of different berries.