Scotland
island of Ireland lies 30 kilometres (20 mi) from the southwest tip of the Scottish mainland. Norway is located
305 kilometres (190 mi) to the northeast of Scotland across the North Sea. The Atlantic Ocean, which fringes
the coastline of western and northern Scotland and its islands, influences the temperate, maritime climate of the
country.
The topography of Scotland is distinguished by the Highland Boundary Fault a geological rock fracture
which traverses the Scottish mainland from Helensburgh to Stonehaven. The faultline separates two
distinctively different physiographic regions; namely the Highlands to the north and west and the lowlands to
the south and east. The more rugged Highland region contains the majority of Scotland's mountainous terrain,
including the highest peak , Ben Nevis. Lowland areas, in the southern part of Scotland, are flatter and home to
most of the population, especially the narrow waist of land between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth