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Great Britain, formally known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of Great Britain, Ireland and some 5,500 smaller islands. The total area of the United Kingdom is 244,027 square kilometres. It is seventy-fifth in size among the countries of the world and it is less than two percent of the world’s land area. The population of Great Britain is over 58 million people. About four fifths of the population is urban. The largest island in north-west Europe – Great Britain – is separated from Ireland by the Irish Sea and from the Continent by the English Chan­nel (La Manche) and the Strait of Dover (Pas de Calais).

The surface of England and Ireland is rather flat. The highest mountain in the United Kingdom is Ben Nevis in Scotland (1343 m). There are many rivers in Great Britain but they are not very long. The rivers are deep and do not freeze in winter. The chief rivers are the Severn (220 miles) and the Thames (215 miles). Great Britain is known for its typically maritime climate with frequent rains, strong winds and continuous fogs.

Great Britain consists of four administrative parts: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. England is the heart of Britain. It is the richest, the most fertile and most populated in the country. The north and the west of England are mountainous, but all the rest of the territory is a vast plain. In Northwest England, there are many beautiful lakes with green, wooded or grassy shores and grey mountains all around. It is called Lake District. The national symbol of England is red rose.

Wales is the smallest land of the United Kingdom. The capital of Wales is Cardiff, an important industrial centre and port. Most people in Wales live in the costal plains. The national symbol of Wales is a leek or a daffodil.

Scotland is a land of mountains, wild moorlands, narrow valleys, famous lakes and no end of large and small islands off the coast. The Highlands of Scotland are among the oldest mountains in the world. One-third of the people in Scotland live in or near its capital, Edinburgh, and its great industrial centre, Glasgow. The national symbol of Scotland is a thistle.

Northern Ireland was a part of Ireland as a whole before the early 20th century. The territory is small. It is a land of lakes, rivers and a varied sea coast. The capital city is Belfast. The national symbol of Ireland is shamrock.

Great Britain is a parliamentary monarchy. Queen Eli­zabeth II is the head of the state. In practice she reigns but does not rule. The country is governed in her name by the Government. Parliament is the supreme legislative body. It consists of two Houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.The Prime Minister is usually the head of the party which is in power.

The UK’s flag is often called the Union Jack.

Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country. Shipbuilding is one of the principal industries of Great Britain. For centuries Britain has been the leading shipbuilder in the world.

Coal is the main source for the development of British industry. The biggest centres of iron and steel industries are situated in the neighbourhood of coal basins. They are Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Sheffield. The dis­trict around Birmingham is a land of factories and mines. Coal-mining, metallurgy, textile, shipbuilding are the older branches of industry. The new industries are the chemical, electrotechnical, automobile, aviation, and electronics. The new industries have developed hand in hand with science and technology and are equipped to meet present technical demands. London, Liverpool and Glasgow are the biggest English ports. The products of Britain’s economy, e.g. auto­mobiles, textile, machinery, electronic equipment and many others, are exported to many countries of the world.

Agriculture is one of the largest and most important activities in Great Britain. The greater part of the land here is used for sheep-, cattle -,and dairyfarming. Vegetables are grown in all parts of the country. The chief grain crops are wheat and barley.

Great Britain is a country of high culture. There are many universities, colleges and scientific institutes here. Such English scientists of the past as Newton, Faraday, Darwin, Rutherford and others greatly contributed toworld science. English writers Shakespeare, Byron, Dickens, B. Shaw and many others enriched world literature.