North East Region

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The North East is one of the smallest of the English regions in the area it covers (8,573 sq. km) and has the smallest population (2.6 million).

The two main centres of population are the conurbations that are grouped around the three main rivers. In the North of the region the rivers Tyne and Wear on which the cities of Newcastle and Sunderland lie. In the South of the region the river Tees on which Middlesbrough and Stockton are placed. The region currently has ten unitary/metropolitan councils, thirteen district councils and two county councils.The Government announced in July 2007 proposals for Durham and Northumberland to be governed by a county-wide unitary with the intention the authorities will be fully operational in 2009.

Two thirds of the region is rural, a third is designated as a National Park (Northumberland and part of the North York Moors) or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (North Pennines and the Northumberland Coast). In addition the region has two World Heritage Sites in Durham Cathedral and Hadrian’s Wall.

The major routes into the North East are the A1(M), A1 and A19 which run North-South and the A69(T) and A66(T) providing the East - West connections. The region is well served with frequent rail links to London and Edinburgh. There are two international airports in the region, Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley.

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Places to Visit in North East Region

» Gateshead » Hartlepool

» Middlesbrough » Newcastle

» Sunderland