Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a country in north-western Europe. Sharing a 60 mile (96 km) long land border with England to the south, and separated from Northern Ireland by the North Channel of the Irish Sea, Scotland is surrounded by the bracing waters of the North Sea to the east, and the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and north. The capital is Edinburgh; the largest city is Glasgow. It is the most politically independent of the four home nations of the United Kingdom, boasting its own legal and educational systems, and since 1999, has had its own separately elected devolved government which deals with exclusively Scottish affairs. Apart from these and several other cities, the popular image of Scotland for most travellers, of course, centres on the Highlands and Islands - a wonderfully diverse land, Scotland has much to offer virtually any traveller. Scotland has six cities. Glasgow is the largest with a population of approximately 620,000 people (more than two million in the metro area) while the capital, Edinburgh, has around 450,000, with Aberdeen next at about 220,000 inhabitants. Edinburgh (Gaelic: Dùn Èideann) - the capital of Scotland, home to the World's largest Arts Festival every August and the First European City of Literature. Most of the city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aberdeen (Gaelic: Obar Dheathain) - Scotland's third largest city, the Oil Gas Capital of Europe, home to two universities. Dumfries (Gaelic: Dùn Phris) - main town in the southern Scotland/Borders area Dundee (Gaelic: Dùn Dè) - vibrant city with high population of students and one of the most distinct (incomprehensible) accents you'll hear. Glasgow (Gaelic: Glaschu) - Scotland's largest city and at one time the largest ship building industry in the world. Inverness (Gaelic: Inbhir Nis) - fast growing capital of the Highlands. Stirling (Gaelic: Sruighlea) - a royal fortress city with a vibrant modern outlook. It was granted city status in 2002