Scotland
Alba
by Kenneth Antonio S. Galvante
Fast Facts
Official name: Scotland, Alba
Form of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital city: Edinburgh
Population: around 5.2 million
Monetary unit: Pound sterling (GBP)
Official languages: English/Gaelic/Scots
Area: 78,772 km² (30,414 sq mi)
Major mountain ranges: Southern Uplands, Central Lowlands, Grampian
Mountains, North West Highlands
Major rivers: River Tay, River Spey, River Dee, River Tweed, River Clyde
Geography
Scotland is a country in Europe and is
part of the island of Great Britain
(Europe’s largest island) alongside
England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This lush beautiful country is bursting
with green spaces, lush forests,
towering mountains and vast lochs
(the Scottish word for lakes).
Scotland Flag
The flag of Scotland
consists of a white saltire
defacing a blue field. The
Saltire, rather than the
Royal Standard of
Scotland, is the correct flag
for all private individuals
and corporate bodies to fly.
Climate
Scotland has a temperate oceanic climate, milder than might be expected from its latitude. Despite
its small area, there are considerable variations. Precipitation is greatest in the mountainous areas
of the west, as prevailing winds, laden with moisture from the Atlantic, blow from the southwest.
East winds are common in winter and spring, when cold, dry continental air masses envelop the
east coast. Hence, the west tends to be milder in winter, with less frost and with snow seldom lying
long at lower elevations, but it is damper and cloudier than the east in summer.
Language
Scotland’s linguistic heritage is
complex. The vast majority of the
population now speaks English, but
both Scottish Gaelic and the Scots
language have wide influence.
Languages such as Urdu and
Punjabicontinue to be spoken by
immigrant groups, and the Scottish
Parliament provides information in
different languages to meet these
needs.
Clothing
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Wild animals, birds, and river fishes are of minor importance as an economic resource, but deer
and grouse hunting, as well as fishing, provides employment in parts of the Highlands in which
other activities are hardly possible. Venison, including meat from deer farms, is exported to the
European mainland.
Christianity in Scotland
Scotland has been home to some of the most renowned missionaries and theologians in
Christendom, including David Livingstone, Mary Slessor, Robert Moffatt, and Eric Liddell. Even
in the face of violent oppression from English leaders and doctrinal schisms with the Catholic
faith, the church still stands as it did one thousand years ago. However, there is an urgent need
for a revival to take Scotland back to its scripturally grounded roots and radical faith.
Membership in churches is half of what it was fifty years previous, and there is a severe
shortage of clergy to meet the spiritual needs of the people. There is still a hunger for the word
of God in this nation, and God will not fail to fill them fully with the wisdom and peace that they
so desperately crave.
Prayer Points
• Pray for the re-evangelization of Scotland by a passionate band of believers who long for a
fresh revival in the land.
• Pray for those plagued by alcohol, drugs, and other social ills to be lovingly reached by
Christians.
• Pray for the church to commit herself to Scripture-based spiritual renewal.
References
https://www.natgeokids.com/za/discover/geography/countries/facts-about-scotland/
https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland