The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousands small islands. Their total area is over 244 thousands square kilometers.
The British Isles are separated from European continent by the North Sea and the English channel. The western coast of GB is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish sea.
The surface of GB varies very much. The north Scotland is mountainous and is called the Highlands, while the south, which has beautiful valleys and plains, is called the Lowlands. The north and west of England has several mountains but they are not very high. Ben Nevis in Scotland is the highest mountain(1343m.).
There are a lot of rivers in GB, but they are not very long. The Severn is the longest, while the Thames is the deepest and the most important one.
The UK is one of the world’s smaller countries. Its population is over 57 million. About 87% of the population is urban.
The UK is a constitution monarchy. In law, the Head of State is the Queen. In practice, the Queen reigns, but does not rule. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head. The British Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It is known as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of machinery, electronics, textile, aircraft and navigation equipment. One of the chief industries of the country is shipbuilding.
The capital of GB is London. Its political, economic and commercial center of the country. It is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe.
