Climate. Vegetation and wildlife.

The climate of Britain is called temperate maritime. This means that it is mild with temperatures not much lower than 0ºC in winter and not much higher than 32ºC in summer. It also means that it is damp and is subject to frequent changes. Due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current washing Britain’s western shores, the UK enjoys warmer winters and cooler summers than other countries at the same latitude. July is the hottest month and January is the coldest one. During a normal summer, the temperature occasionally rises above 27 °C in the south, but is rarely above 30-32 C°. Extreme minimum temperatures depend largely on local conditions, but -7 °C may occur on a clear winter’s night, -12 °C is rare, and -18 °C or below has been recorded only during exceptionally cold periods.

The prevailing windsare south-westerly. Winds are generally stronger in the north than in the south of the British Isles, stronger on the coasts than inland, and stronger in the west than in the east. The strongest winds usually occur in winter.

Generally, all parts of the British Isles get a lot of rain in all seasons. On average, March to June are the driest months and September to January the wettest. Droughts are rare. The Lake District is England’s wettest region, receiving and average of 130 inches (330 centimeters) of precipitation each year.

Periods of settled weather are rare. One day may be different from the next and prediction cannot be made for more than a very short time ahead. Sunshine can rapidly change to rain, winds can alter their direction abruptly. It may be said that the British climate has three main features: it is mild, humid and changeable.

With its mild climate and varied soils Britain has a great variety of natural vegetation. When the islands were first settled, oak forests probably covered the greater part of the lowland. In the course of the centuries the forest area was progressively diminished. Now woodlands occupy about 10 % of the surface of the country, a lower figure than in any other European country except Ireland. The most common trees are oak, beech, ash and elm and, in Scotland, pine and birch. The Highlands with thin soil are largely moorland with heather and grasses.

The fauna of the British Isles is, in general, similar to that of north-western Europe. About 50 land mammals are still found in the UK. Different deer protected for sporting reasons flourish in Scotland and wooden areas of southern England. There are many foxes in most rural areas, and otters are found along many rivers and streams. Both common and grey seals may be seen on various parts of the coast. Smaller mammals include mice, rats, voles, shrews, hedgehogs, squirrels and moles. Birds and fish are numerous. All British wild birds are protected. About 30 kinds of freshwater fish (such as salmon, trout, pike) are found in the waters of Great Britain.

To protect the beauty of the land the national parks were created in many parts of the country. The oldest national park, the Peak District, at the southern end of the Pennine Chain, was founded in 1951. Now there are 15 national parks in the UK.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
Different names of the country. The capital of the country.	\|	Four geographic and historical parts of Great Britain. Brief descriptions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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