NORTHERN IRELAND, an integral part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, located in the northeast of. Ireland. Sometimes the name Ulster is used, since Northern Ireland occupies most of the territory of this historical province. Includes six counties: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Ferman, Londonderry (Derry) and Tyrone, and 26 counties. Hilly hills surround the central lowlands where the lake lies. Loch Ney, the largest in the British Isles. The coastline is distinguished by its strong dissection and extends from the Loch Foyle Bay to the Morne Mountains. Coastal landscapes are very picturesque. The climate of Northern Ireland is temperate, with mild winters and cool summers. The amount of precipitation is quite large, with more precipitation in the west than in the east. Although Northern Ireland occupies an area of 14,138 square kilometers, Km, or 1/6 of the total area of Ireland, but there is a third of the population of the island. The highest level of industrial development is also characteristic. The capital of Belfast is the main industrial center. Northern Ireland has traditionally been an agricultural province, but currently the industry is ahead of agriculture in terms of income and employment. The population of Northern Ireland is 1,570,000 (1991), ca. Half of them live in cities. The largest city of Belfast (281 thousand inhabitants in 1991), followed by Londonderry, or Derry (68 thousand in 1984). Cities with a population of more than 10 thousand people - Newtownabbi, Bangor, Lisburn, Portadown, Lergan, Larn, Ballimina, Coleraine, Newtownards, Newry, Armagh, Carrickfergus and Oma. In Northern Ireland, the proportion of young people and the elderly is large relative to the number of able-bodied people. Such distribution by age is the result of high fertility and longevity. Religion and language. About 3/5 of the population of Northern Ireland are Protestants and more than 2/5 are Catholics. The latter constitute the majority of the population in Londonderry and the counties of Ferman and Tyrone. The residences of the heads of the Anglican and Catholic churches throughout Ireland are located in the ancient religious center of Armagh, where, according to legend, St. Patrick founded his church. Most Protestants advocate the continuation of the union of Northern Ireland with the United Kingdom, while Catholics prefer the union with the Republic of Ireland. Religious beliefs are almost completely identified with political views and reflect a deep schism in society. The modern population still reflects the consequences of the settlement of Ireland by the English and Scots in the 17th century. This campaign was conducted within the framework of the British colonization policy: the land was alienated from Irish landowners and was transferred to English and Scottish settlers. Residents of the eastern regions of Northern Ireland show a great similarity in language and customs with the population of the plains of Scotland, while in the south and west some signs of English origin are traced. In general, the population of the western counties has better preserved the Irish roots. The official language of Northern Ireland is English, although some Catholic schools teach Gaelic
