Cumbria (/ˈkʌmbriə/, locally /ˈkʊmbriə/) is a non-metropolitan county in North West England, United Kingdom. Cumbria came into existence as a county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. The county consists of six districts, and in 2008 had a total population of just under half a million.
Cumbria, the third largest ceremonial county in England by area, is bounded to the north by the Scottish council area of Dumfries and Galloway, to the west by the Irish Sea, to the south by Lancashire, to the southeast by North Yorkshire, and to the east by County Durham and Northumberland.
A predominantly rural county, Cumbria contains the Lake District and associated Lake District National Park, considered one of the most beautiful areas of England. The area has provided inspiration for generations of British and foreign artists, writers and musicians. Much of the county is mountainous, with the highest point of the county (and of England) being Scafell Pike at 978 metres (3,209 ft). All the mountains in England that are over 900 metres (3,000 ft) above sea level are in Cumbria. Parts of Hadrian's Wall can be found in the northernmost reaches of the county, in and around Carlisle.