Volgograd.

Volgograd is a world-known hero-city. It was founded in 1589 as a fortress guarding the trade route along the left bank of the Volga. The city took its first name from the island on which it was originally built. The Tatars called the island

Sary-Chin, or Yellow Sand at the beginning of the 17^th century Tsaritsyn was burnt to the ground and then rebuilt on the right bank of the river.

The city has changed its name twice. In 1925 it was renamed Stalingrad. Since 1961 it has been known as Volgograd, that is the city on the Volga.

Volgograd is an industrial and a cultural centre of one of the largest regions in the Russian Federation with an area of 114 000 sq. km. It lies in the south-last of the European part of the country. Volgograd streches 80 km. along the Volga. It’s steppe and semi-desert. The climate is continental.

The population of the Volgograd Region is 2,5 million. Volgograd itself has a population of more than 1 million.

Volgograd makes a significant contribution to the development of some of the country’s most important industries. There are more than 130 plants and factories of different types producing tractors, steel, aluminium, oil products, timber, ceramics and various consumer goods. The Tractor plant is one of the greatest. It has been a major producer of tractors for nearly half a century.

Volgograders like their city which is rich in sights. It has become famous for the heroic defence during the Battle of Stalingrad which lasted 200 days. The victory at Stalingrad was a turning point in the war on the Russian front and had a decisive influence on the course of the Second World War as a whole. A lot of historical monuments of the city remind us of its hard war past. Of particular interest is the Mamayev Hill, the Panorama «The Battle of Stalingrad», the Destroyed Mill and the Pavlov House.

Also popular places to be visited in Volgograd are the Fallen Fighters’ Square with the Eternal Fire, the Central Department Store, the New Experimental Theatre, the Embankment, the Planetarium and some others.

Volgograd is growing day by day and warmly welcomes tourists from home and abroad.

Text 1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The UK occupies most of the territory of the British Isles. It consists of 4 main parts which are: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Edinburgh< Cardiff and Belfast.

The UK is an island state. The two main islands are Great Britain (in which are England, Wales and Scotland) to the east and Ireland (in which are Northern Ireland and the independent Irish Republic) to the west. They are separated by the Irish Sea.

The UK is a small country (it is twice smaller than France or Spain), with an area of some 244,100 sq. km. Its population is over 57 million people. The climate of the country is mild and humid. There is much rain and fog here. The weather is so changeable that the English often say that they have no climate but only weather.

The UK is a highly developed industrial country with very few mineral resources. English is the official language. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the official name of the state which is sometimes referred to as Great Britain or Britain (after its major isle), England (after its major historic part) or the British Isles.

Of the four parts which make up Great Britain England is the largest industrial and most densely populated country. Over 46 million people live in England. The coasts of England are Washed by the North Sea the Irish Sea, the English Channel and the Strait of Dover.

There are many rivers in England. The longest is the severn, the most important is the Thames. The rivers are of great importance for communication and especially for carrying goods.

England is known for the wool industry of Leeds and Bradford, the cotton industry of Manchester, metal goods of Birmingham, heavy machinery and shipbuilding industries of Newcastle and other cities.

Each part of England is different. There are upland regions in the north and the southwest, but the rest of England is almost flat.

The Lake District in Northern England with its lakes, mountains and valleys is a favourite holiday area.

The Midland plain makes good farm land.

In Southern England are found some of the oldest British settlements and traces of ancient monuments such as Stonehenge.

London, the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, is in Southern England.

The red rose is the national emblem of England.