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Scottish steel has long been used chiefly by the heavy industries of the Glasgow area, where shipbuilding has been paramount. For a time Clydeside was the most famous shipbuilding district in the world. Shipyards extended along both banks of the Clyde estuary for about 30 km.

Glasgow (715,600) is Scotland’s most populous city and third largest in the

British Isles. It stands at the lowest bridging point on the river Clyde and has thus become the outstanding market centre for western Scotland, and commercially and industrially dominates Clydeside.

The industrial picture in Glasgow has rather changed. Engineering has not shrunk to the same extent as coal mining and shipbuilding. But nowadays practically as many workers are in the service industries as in manufacturing. Of the latter, textile and clothing production has long been important, and carpets are among woolen goods. Food products, furniture and office equipment are also manufactured. An activity which is extremely important in Scotland’s export trade is the blending of Scotch whisky produced in Highland distilleries.

Glasgow is also the home of two well-known football clubs, Glasgow Rangers and Celtic.

In the New Towns which emerged in the 1960s to the east of Glasgow new engineering industries developed, especially electronics.

Edinburgh (438,700) has long been recognized as the capita of Scotland, in spite of being second in size to Glasgow. The latter began to overtake Edinburgh in population with the Industrial Revolution. While Glasgow led the development of heavy industry, Edinburgh remained the country’s political and cultural centre. It is also the centre of government and commercial life.

Several factors have made Edinburgh the outstanding centre of tourism in

Scotland. Its picturesque surface features led to its being called “The Athens of the North”. On the cultural side, a great number of visitors is attracted to the city by the annual Edinburgh International Festival in the late summer. Edinburgh has a castle on a high rock, Holyrood Palace, the ancient residence of the Scottish Kings, the University and many famous schools. The capital of Scotland is famous for rubber manufacturing and engineering and also for her biscuit industry.

Every citizen in Edinburgh checks his watch by the One O’Clock Gun which is fired every day in Edinburgh Castle.

paramount – первостепенный estuary – устье реки, дельта

shrink (shrank, shrunk) – сокращать(ся)