Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. It is situated in the northeastern part of the island of Ireland including Rathlin Island and several smaller offshore islands. The country is washed by the North Channel and by the Irish Sea. The population of Northern Ireland is about 1.7 million people.
Northern Ireland consists of 26 districts and 6 counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone. They are also known as Ulster, though the territory does not include the entire ancient province of Ulster.
Northern Ireland has a temperate maritime climate. It’s wetter in the west than in the east of the country, although cloud cover is persistent across the region. Most of the land of Northern Ireland is covered in rich green grass, which is a result of damp climate and extensive deforestation in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. Among other major cities we can mention Armagh, Derry, Lisburn and Newry.
Northern Ireland has always had an industrial economy with shipbuilding, rope manufacture and textiles being the main industries. However heavy industry has been replaced by services. Tourism also plays an important role in the local economy. In recent time the economy has benefited from major investment by lots of multi-national corporations into high tech industry.
Northern Ireland has developed its own culture. There are lots of theatres and cinemas in the country. There are two national museums: the Ulster Museum in Belfast, which houses a collection of Irish antiquities and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. The Ulster Symphony Orchestra is among the leading orchestras of Britain.