The Geography of the UK.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK) is the official name of the state which is situated in the British Isles.

The UK is an island state, it is composed of some 5,500 islands, large and small.  The two main islands are Great Britain (where England, Scotland and Wales are situated) in the east and Ireland in the west. Northern Ireland and the independent Irish Republic are there. The two islands are separated by the Irish Sea.

The UK is separated from the continent by the English Channel (or La Manche) and the Straits of Dover. Once the British Isles used to be a part of the continent. The nearest point to Europe is the Straits of Dover. The UK is also washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and the North Sea in the east.

The population of the UK is over 57 million people. The UK is inhabited by the English, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish who constitute the British nation. English is not the only language. Scottish, Welsh and Irish are also used.

The highest mountain top is Ben Nevis in Scotland. The chief rivers of Great Britain are: the Severn, separating England and Wales, the Thames (the longest and the deepest). The swiftest flowing river is the Spray.

There are many lakes in Great Britain. The Lake District is the most beautiful.

The largest cities are London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Cardiff.