Sightseeing in the United Kingdom

A TOUR OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

LECTURE 21

Obama

20.4.4.

The USA in the XXI century.

20.4.1. George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. He was sworn into office on January 20, 2001. President Bush was re-elected on November 2, 2004, and sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2005. On domestic issues, President Bush is also committed to job creation and economic growth, health care and welfare reform, improving the educational system, and the development of a comprehensive energy plan to promote energy efficiency and conservation.

20.4.2. In the 2004 presidential election there were two key issues. The well-being of the economy – economic growth, jobs, and the overall condition of U.S. fiscal policy – is traditionally an important topic in election years. The second major issue in the election campaign of 2004 was foreign policy. There were times, for example, when Americans cared very deeply about foreign policy. The attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC on September 11, 2001 changed the importance individual Americans attributed to national security. As a result of the "9/11" attacks, one of the major priorities of the Bush Administration is a broad international anti-terror strategy based on diplomacy, law enforcement, intelligence, financial investigation, military action, and humanitarian aid. One of the major recent domestic challenges in the United States was coping with the damages done by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in September 2005. This was one of the most serious natural catastrophes in U.S. history.

20.4.3. Other major international priorities include the Middle East Roadmap to Peace, the Millennium Challenge Account for developing countries and an emergency global HIV/AIDS program. Another important international initiative is the partnership between the United States, the so-called EU-3 – European Union members France, Germany and Great Britain – as well as Russia and other countries to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

21.1.1. For many decades Britainhas remained a tourist Mecca for people around the world. And the attractions Britain suggests have been diverse. Stonehenge is an archaeological site located about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Salisbury, in Wiltshire, England. Built in prehistoric times around 3100 BC, it is a monumental circular setting of large standing stones surrounded by an earthwork. The precise purposes of Stonehenge still remain a mystery. This most remarkable monument of Britain’s prehistory is considered to be the centre of religious, political and economic power of the early country’s inhabitants.

21.1.2. One of the major tourist attractions, Melrose Abbey, is considered one of Scotland’s most beautiful sights. Its fascinating history provides the visitor with a sense of romance. The Abbey was founded by King David I around 1136. The church was eventually burned by the English and the place got almost deserted in 1385. The former splendour was rebuilt over a period of about 100 years, and one person instrumental in the reconstruction was King Robert the Bruce. When Bruce was dying he requested that his heart be taken into battle, as he was unable to go on crusade. His wish was granted and his heart now lies in an unopened lead casket in Melrose Abbey. Throughout its working life Melrose Abbey was a favourite of the royalty. Today, Melrose Abbey, under the care of Historic Scotland, comprises the almost complete ruins of the Abbey Church.

21.1.3. Wales is famous for its spectacular mountain scenery and wonderfully preserved medieval castles. The Northern part of Wales is the most scenic, containing the Snowdonia National Park. The park contains over 800 square miles of mountains, forests, lakes and waterfalls. The highest mountain in England and Wales, Snowdon, lies in the park, although Snowdon is only about 3500 feet high and one can easily walk to the summit.

21.1.4. The Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage site, National Nature Reserve and Northern Ireland’s premier tourist attraction. The sight presents a great lot of basalt columns on the edge of the Antrim plateau some 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Londonderry. There are approximately 40,000 of these stone pillars, each typically with five to seven irregular sides, jutting out of the cliff faces as if they were steps creeping into the sea. Formed 50 to 60 million years ago, the Giant's Causeway resulted from successive flows of lava inching toward the coast and cooling when they contacted the sea. The pressure between the columns sculpted them into polygonal shapes that vary from 38 to 51 cm in diameter and measure up to 25 m in height. First documented in 1693, the formation has been intensively studied by geologists. The site is protected not only for its beauty but also because its cliffs, seashores, marshes, and grasslands are home to some 50 species of birds, as well as to more than 200 species of plants. Humans settled around the Giant's Causeway in the 19th century, but now the site is uninhabited.

Дата добавления: 2014-01-04