Famous Citizens of England

England has many famous citizens that have influenced the world. Sir Isaac Newton has influenced the study of Science, Music has been influenced by popular singers like Adele and William Shakespeare has inspired authors to write for centuries!  There are so many English celebrities that I couldn't possibly blog about all of them! These are my favourite famous people from England.

I couldn't possibly blog on this topic without mentioning the Spice Girls.  The band orginanted from England and was created on January 1, 1994.  The members of the all-girl band included Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown, Victoria Adams (now Victoria Beckham), Melanie Chisholm, and  Emma Bunton. They instantly had chart-topping singles and when "Wannabe" was released, it added more success to the already successful band. Unfortunatly, the girls disbanned fourteen years later on January 1, 2008.  The Spice Girls made amazing music and they have obviously brought "Girl Power" to England.

This person is somebody I owe all of my childhood too. She changed my view on life and made me realize it is important to always look for the good in others.  Joanne Kathleen Rowling, aka JK Rowling, is most famous for writing the Harry Potter Series.  Rowling first thought of the idea on a train ride from Manchester to London in 1990 where she had thought of some of her first chracters.  JK Rowling is the first author to become a billionare and she is one of the richest people in the world! Rowling is currently working on another book separate from Harry Potter called A Current Vacancy and her main character is Barry. Coincidence... I think not!

Although they were before my time, I think the Beatles were the best English musicians!  The band was made up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison.  Not only was the band involved in music but art, literature, film and fashion as well.  Their songs about peace, love and help have changed the world of pop culture as we know it and "Yellow Submarine" gave us a good campfire song.  The Beatles have been recognized as "The Beatles" since 1960 but John Lennon and Paul McCartney were already playing together since 1957. George Harrison joined them in 1958. Unfortunately, the band split up on December 31, 1970.  The Beatles are undoubtedly the most successful band of all time and England is lucky to have such wonderful muscians originate from there. 

There are so many other celebrities from England like four out of the five members of One Direction and most of the cast from Harry Potter.  However, these people mentioned above are the ones who influenced different areas of my life.

 Websites Used:

 http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Spice_Girls/Biography/

http://www.biography.com/people/jk-rowling-40998

hhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm1397313/bio

England's Economy

England has one of the largest economies in the world!  England consists of a private sector and a government sector making it a mixed economy.  The popular industries in England include aerospace, arms and manufacturing software. Although the social welfare is imporatant to the English,  tourism also plays a major part of their economy since over a million tourists come to England annually.  Oil, gas and coal are also major industries of England.

The currency of England is called the pound sterling and they do not use the euro like many other European countries. However, euros are accepted in some stores in England but they are not comnmonly used.  The pound is split up into 100 pence like the dollar is split up into 100 pennies. Penny is actually the short form of pence! The pounds are split up into bills called Pound Notes except for the 1 pound and 2 pounds which are coins, like the pence. One Canadian dollar is equal to 0.64 pounds.

As of 2009, England was ranked 10th in the world for exporting goods to different countries.  England's main exports are fuels, chemicals, food, beverages and tobacco but they are especially well-known for their manufactured goods because they are a very industrilized country.  England's biggest exporting partner is the US followed by Germany and the Netherlands.

England mainly imports manufactured goods, machinery, fuels and food.   Most of their products are imported from Germany, United States and China.

Websites Used:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/money.html

http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/england/

http://www.translatum.gr/converter/currency.htm

http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/england/export-import.html

Engalnd's Tourist Attractions

England  has many interesting tourist attractions. However, according to www.visitbritainshop.com,  the number one tourist attraction in England is the Tower of London located in London, England.  The Tower of  London was founded by William I, aka William the Conqueror, in 1066 to protect the people of  London. It was built around the River Thames and has also been used as a prison since 1100!  The Tower is the home of the crown jewels, the Traitors Gate and the ravens, which as legend has it, the birds won't leave until the tower falls down.  The Tower of London is also a famous example of art and horror.  There are many ghosts that still haunt the tower today!

Another famous attraction in England is Stonehenge. The English started creating the man-made landmark over 5000 years ago and, to make the marvellous attraction, the English dragged each rock into place!  The rocks are not the same type of rock. Bluestone, sarsen, and welsh sandstone make up the circle in Wiltshire.  Believe it or not, tourists are not allowed to walk among Stonehenge except on special occasions. Nobody knows the true reason why Stonehenge was built but it is truly one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

One of the most famous tourist attractions in England is the White Cliffs of Dover.  These white cliffs have been welcoming sailors from their journeys for centuries.These beautiful cliffs are 351 feet tall and face France and the Strait of Dover.  They are made up of a soft, fine-grained chalk texture and flint and quartz is commonly found within the chalk siding.  The Cliffs are being eroded at least 1 cm every year and sometimes large amounts of rock crumble from the sides. In 2001, a piece of rock the size of a soccer field fell from the cliff!  Since then, tourists are advised to stay away from the sides of the cliffs.

One of the most popular landmarks in England is Buckingham Palace, the home of the British Royal family since 1837!  The palace has a garden around the perimeter that is 40 acres and inside, there is a total of 775 rooms! There are 19 state rooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms and 52 Royal and guest bedrooms! The building is 108 metres long across the front and is 24 metres high.  The palace owns some of the most priceless works of art but it is not an art gallery or a museum.  Tours are given on a regular basis and the Royal Family is sometimes present during these tours!

There are lots of exciting tourist attractions in England.  The ones I mentioned are just a few of what England has to offer. Tourists should not forget to visit the London Eye (which is a giant Ferris-wheel) Big Ben, Kings College, The Palace of Westminster, and St. Paul's Cathedral just to name a few.  Who knows, maybe one day you'll see me having afternoon tea with the Queen herself inside Buckingham Palace!

 Websites Used:

http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/culture/top-ten-attractions

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/488

http://www.topstravel.net/the-white-cliffs-of-dover/

http://www.royal.gov.uk/theroyalresidences/buckinghampalace/buckinghampalace.aspx

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/landmarks.htm

http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/

England's Climate

England has a diverse climate. The western side of the country near, the Atlantic Ocean, receives the mildest temperatures but also receives lots of precipitaion and experiences lots of wind. On the eastern side of England, the climate is cooler but also drier and less windy.  England is also very hot during the summer.  On average, the sun shines 1340 hours in England with the southern part of the country receiving the most sun because of the prevailing winds that prevent the clouds from covering the sky.  The northern, western and the mountain ranges of England receive the most cloud cover.

In the spring, the climate is cool and dry and ranges from 0-10 degrees Celsius. However, there is a significant chance that it will reach a fairly warm temperature at noon.  In the spring, snow is still possible until the middle of April. (YUCK!)

From June until August is the summer time in England.  It is during these months that the climate is at its driest but in the southern,eastern and central parts of the country, thunderstorms allow the gardens to remain perfectly watered. The summer is in fact the warmest in England in comparison to the other counties in the United Kingdom. July is also England's driest month.  In the Southeastern regions, the temperatures can reach around 30 degrees Celsius by noon while the rest of the country's temperatures range from 17-20 degrees Celsius.

During the autumn season the climate fluctuates. The different pressure systems and the cool air produce mass amounts of precipitation.  The temperature ranges from 1-13 degrees Celsius.

The winter season is wet and windy and it is normal to see snow throughout the country of England.  The temperature can be from 0 degrees to 10 degrees with very cold winds.  Since the Atlantic Ocean borders England and it has cooled down, the coastal region's climate is more stable than it is during the autumn months.

 

Websites Used:

http://www.england.org.za/englands-climate.php