Manchester is the second biggest city in Lancashire after Liverpool. It is the industrial capital of the North of England. The climate is not very cold or very hot. The highest summer temperature is 27° C, and the lowest winter temperature is –6° C.
Manchester is the fifth largest port in Great Britain, even though it is 56 km from the sea. It is connected to the sea by the Manchester Ship Canal. The city was founded in Roman times. Later, Manchester became the center of the cotton trade in Britain and all over the world. Today, its mills and factories produce machines, chemical and plastic materials, raincoats, and other products. Manchester also makes food, clothes, soap, and perfumes.
About 680,000 people live in Manchester. It was the first city in England to build its own airport in 1919. Now the Manchester airport connects the city with many foreign countries. Manchester is also an important cultural center. It is famous for publishing books and magazines and has many libraries, museums, and art galleries. The famous Halle Orchestra is in Manchester and gives concerts twice a week.
Manchester has good theaters. They often invite the Royal Ballet from London and the Royal Shakespeare Company from Stratford-upon-Avon to perform.
The city has many parks and sports grounds where people play sports.
