| Location |
|
Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France |
| |
| Area |
total: 244,820 sq km
land: 241,590 sq km
water: 3,230 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands |
| |
| Land boundaries |
|
Ireland 360 km
|
| |
| Climate |
temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
|
| |
| Natural resources |
|
coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
|
| |
| Geography - note |
|
lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters
|
| |
| Government type |
|
constitutional monarchy
|
| |
| Currency - Currency code |
British pound (GBP)
|
| |
| Internet country code: |
|
.uk
|
| |
| Internet users: |
|
25 million (2002)
|
|
Place Finder