Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom.
Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it borders the south of England and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. As well as mainland Scotland it also consists of over 790 islands including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and the second largest city. It was the hub of the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century, which saw Scotland become one of the commercial, intellectual and industrial powerhouses of Europe.
Glasgow is Scotland's largest city.
The geographical centre of Scotland lies a few miles from the village of Newtonmore in Badenoch. Rising to 1,344 metres above sea level, Scotland's highest point is the summit of Ben Nevis, in Lochaber, while Scotland's longest river, the River Tay, flows for a distance of 190 km.