Scotland, one of four constituent nations of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), occupies the northern part of the island of Great Britain.

Scotland, divided into three main regions; the Highlands, the Midland Valley and the Southern Uplands, includes 787 islands, of which most belong to groups known as the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland. Tay, Spey, Clyde, Tweed, Dee, Don and Forth are famous rivers of Scotland.

Edinburgh is the capital, Glasgow is the largest city, and Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Stirling are the other major cities of Scotland. English is the official language, although Gaelic is spoken, primarily in the North and West of Scotland.

The capital of Scotland— Edinburgh is located in the Lothian Region on the south side of the Firth of Forth, in the Central Belt region of the country.

Edinburgh, popularly known as the Athens of the North, grew up around a castle built in the 11th century by King Malcolm III, successor to Macbeth.

Edinburgh became the capital of Scotland in 1437. The city developed into an important literary and cultural center and venue of an annual international festival of the arts.

Affectionately known as “Auld Reekie”, Lowland Scots for “Old Smoky” and “Embra,” the city of Edinburgh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom. The city is known for its rare scenic beauty.