15. Read and translate the text. London

The capital of Great Britain is London. It is one of the world’s biggest cities. The population of London is 7 million people, and 9 million people including suburbs. London is an ancient city. It was founded more than 20 centuries ago by Romans.

London is situated on both banks of the river Thames about 40 miles from the sea. It stretches for nearly thirty miles from north to south and the same distance from east to west.

London is the administrative, political, highly-developed industrial, commercial and cultural 77enter of England. It is also the largest seaport in the world. London consists of many parts and they differ from each other. The smallest district is the City, it is only one square mile in area. But it is the 77enter of commerce and trade, the financial and business 77enter of Great Britain. Banks, offices and agencies are situated there.

To the east from the City is the East End, the great indust­rial area of London. There are many factories and plants in this district. The working people live there. The port of Lon­don is here.

To the west of the City is the West End, the district where rich people live. There are the best shops, hotels, clubs, restau­rants and parks there. Here you will find the finest theatres, cinemas, concert halls and museums. The most beautiful London park – Hyde Park – is in this district too. Hyde Park covers 360 acres. The famous “Orators’ Corner” is in this park. It is for public meetings, and any person may make a speech there.

The London underground is the first in the world. It was built in 1863 and had a distance of 4 miles.

The London airport is one of the most modern in the world today and unique in its layout.

There are many places of interest in London. The central part of London is Westminster where most governmental buildings are situated. From the Westminster bridge a visitor gets the best view of the Houses of Parliament. On one of the tall towers of the Houses there is Big Ben, the finest time-keepers in the world. Westminster Abbey is the place where many outstanding poets, writers and scientists are buried. The main feature of Trafalgar Square is the tall Nelson monument, 185 feet high, with the figure of the seaman on the top. Admiral Nelson is Britain’s national hero, who destroyed the French fleet at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

To the north of Nelson’s Column the National Gallery extends almost for the entire width of the Square. It houses a collection of works from the British, French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish artists. The National Portrait Gallery is behind the National Gallery.

The British Museum was opened in 1739. It’s one of the largest museums in the world. It comprises a great library with a collection of six million books, Natural History museum and a museum of antiquities and ethnography.

These are only a few of numerous places of interest in London. Thousands of tourists from all parts of the world come to see them.