Edinburgh: Geography, Climate and Key Facts

1. Edinburg

EDINBUR
G

2. Geographic location

GEOGRAPHI
C LOCATION
Edinburgh is the capital city of
Scotland. It lies on the southern
shore of the Firth of Forth, an
estuary that leads into the North
Sea. The city is located in the
south-east of the country and
forms its own administrative area,
known as the City of Edinburgh.
The landscape is special because
of three old volcanoes that are no
longer active: Castle Rock,
Arthur's Seat, and Calton Hill.

3. scenery

SCENERY
Edinburgh is famous for its
beautiful views. The city's shape
comes from three old volcanoes:
Castle Rock, Arthur's Seat, and
Calton Hill. They look over the
Firth of Forth. The centre of the
city has two main parts. There is
the Old Town from medieval times
with its castle. Then there is the
New Town from Georgian times
with its old-style buildings. To the
south, you can see the green
Pentland Hills.

4. climate

CLIMATE
The weather in Edinburgh is mild.
It is never too hot or too cold. The
weather often changes. Winters
are cool but not very cold. The
average temperature is around 3–
5°C. Summers are mild and
pleasant. The average is around
13–15°C. Hot days above 21°C
are rare. It rains often all year.
October is usually the wettest
month. The city does not get a lot
of sun, but the sky is often very
beautiful and changes quickly.
This makes Edinburgh special.

5. Flora and fauna

FLORA AND
FAUNA
Edinburgh has many different
plants and animals. The Royal
Botanic Garden has over 13,000
kinds of plants. In the Water of
Leith, you can find otters and
herons. The Pentland Hills are
home to red grouse and
peregrine falcons. The islands in
the Firth of Forth have the largest
colony of gannets in the world.
They also have the biggest puffin
population in Scotland.

6. population

POPULATIO
N
Edinburgh's population in mid2024, about 520,000 people lived
in Edinburgh. This makes it the
second biggest city in Scotland.
The city has many young people
and a large number of students.
Edinburgh's population is growing
almost three times faster than the
rest of Scotland. This growth is
mostly because people move
here from other places. The city is
becoming more diverse. Many
people come from Poland, India,
China, and the United States.

7. Main industries

MAIN
INDUSTRIES
Edinburgh's economy is strong. It
is based on several big industries.
Finance is very important.
Technology is also growing fast.
This sector is worth $6 billion. A
well-known tech company here is
Skyscanner. Life sciences
research in the city is worldleading. Tourism is another key
part of the economy. Many
visitors come for big events like
the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

8. Places of interest

PLACES OF
INTEREST
There are many famous places to
visit in Edinburgh. Edinburgh
Castle sits high on Castle Rock.
At the other end of the Royal Mile
is the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
You can climb Arthur's Seat for a
beautiful view over the whole city.
Calton Hill has well-known
monuments to see. The Royal
Botanic Garden has over 13,000
kinds of plants. In the port area of
Leith, you can visit the Royal
Yacht Britannia.