The United Kindom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The United Kindom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political name of the country which is made of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (sometimes known as Ulster). Several islands off the British coast are also part of the UK (for example, the Isle of Wight, the Orkneys, Hebrides and Shetlands, and the Isles of Scilly), although the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not. However, all these islands do recognize the Queen.
The British Isles is the geographical name that refers to all the islands off the north-west coast of the European continent: Great Britain, the whole of Ireland (Northern and Southern), the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. But it is important to remember that Southern Ireland – that is the Republic of Ireland (also called “Eire”) – is completely independent.
Britain is one of the world’s smallest countries with an area of some 244,100 square kilometers; with some 56 million people, it ranks about 14th in terms of population. About half the people live in a large belt stretching north-westwards from London across England. Other large concentrations of population are in the central lowlands of Scotland, south-east Wales and the Bristol area, parts of north-east England and along much of the English Channel coast.
The climate is generally mild and temperate. The average range of temperature between winter and summer is greatest in inland, in the eastern part of the country. During a normal summer the temperature occasionnaly rises above 30°C in the south: winter temperatures below -10°C are rare. January and February are usually the coldest months, July and August – the warmest.
The landscape is rich and varied, sometimes showing marked contrast within short distances, particularly on the coasts. Most of the land is agricultural, of which over one third is arable, growing various crops, and the rest pasture and grazing. Woodlands cover about 8% of the country. Britain has neither towering mountain ranges, not impressively large rivers, plains or forests. But this doesn’t mean that its landsape is boring. What it lacks in grandeur it makes up for in variety. The south and east of the country is comparatively low-lying, consisting of either flat plains or gently rolling hills. Mountainous areas are found only in the north and west, although these regions also have flat areas.