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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland comprises Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland, along with a number of overseas territories. Also known as simply United Kingdom (UK), it is situated just off the north-western coast of mainland Europe, surrounded by the North Sea, the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean.

History

Main article: History of the United Kingdom

Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one quarter of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. The UK is currently weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it has chosen to remain outside of the Euro for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. Regional assemblies with varying degrees of power opened in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 1999.

The United Kingdom is a member of the European Union and NATO, and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

See also: Monarchs; history of Britain; history of England; history of Ireland; history of Scotland; history of Wales.

Politics

Main article: Politics of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom uses a form of democracy known as a constitutional monarchy and is governed from its capital, London. The UK's head of state is Queen Elizabeth II who was crowned in 1953, although her role is mainly ceremonial. (See /Government; see also: Law of the United Kingdom.)

Countries, Regions, Counties, Areas and Districts

Main article: Subdivisions of the United Kingdom

The Kingdom is divided into the four countries England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Westminster Parliament has overall responsibility for the whole Kingdom, but each of the countries apart from England has its own governmental body responsible for in varying degree for internal matters.

England is divided into nine Government Office Regions - North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, Eastern, London, South East, South West. Each Region is made up of Counties and/or Metropolitan Counties, apart from London which consists only of Greater London. There is growing support for the Regions to be empowered via democratically elected assemblies - particularly in the Northern regions and the West Midlands.

Scotland is divided into 32 Council Areas.

Wales is divided into 22 Unitary Authorities.

Other articles: Cities of the United Kingdom, Local government in England

Wales:

• Clwyd
• Dyfed
• Mid Glamorgan
• South Glamorgan
• West Glamorgan
• Gwent
• Gwynedd
• Powys

Northern Ireland:

• Antrim
• Armagh
• Down
• Fermanagh
• Londonderry
• Tyrone

The Isle of Man and Channel Islands are not legally part of the United Kingdom; they are British crown dependencies, though the United Kingdom is responsible for their external affairs. The United Kingdom also has many dependent territories throughout the world, which are legally part of the UK.

Geography

Main article: Geography of the United Kingdom

Most of England consists of rolling terrain, but the country is more mountainous in the north, the dividing line between terrain types is usually indicated by the Tees-Exe line. The main rivers are the Thames and the Severn, major cities London, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne and Birmingham. Near Dover, the Channel Tunnel links the United Kingdom with France.

Wales is mostly mountainous, the highest peak being the Snowdon, at 1,085 m above sea level. North of the mainland is the island of Anglesey. Main and capital city is Cardiff, located in the south of Wales.

Scotland's geography is various, with lowlands in the south and highlands in the north, including Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain (1343 m). There are many long and deep see arms, or lochs. A multitude of islands west and north of Scotland are also included, notably the Hebrides, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands. Main cities are Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Northern Ireland, making up the northeastern part of Ireland, is mostly hilly. Main cities are Belfast and Londonderry.

Economy

Main article: Economy of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom, a leading trading power and financial center, deploys an essentially capitalistic economy, one of the largest of Western Europe. Over the past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanised, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance.

The Blair government has put off the question of participation in the euro system, often citing five tests that would need to be met before such a thing were possible.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the United Kingdom

The primary language spoken is English. Other languages include Welsh, Gaelic and various Scottish dialects. Recent immigrants from elsewhere in the Commonwealth speak other languages, including Urdu.

Culture

Main article: Culture of the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has two of the most famous universities in its borders, Cambridge and Oxford, and has brought forth famous scientists such as James Watt and Alexander Fleming.

Writer William Shakespeare is arguably the most famous author in the world; other famous writers include the Brontë sisters, Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens and J. R. R. Tolkien.

Composers Byrd,Tallis,Taverner,Blow,Purcell, Elgar,Walton, Britten and Tippett have made major contributions to British music, and are known internationally. Living composers include Tavener,Birtwhistle,Knussen.

Britain (England) has been described as a land without music, but it supports a number of major orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and its several music colleges have helped to teach many well known musicians. Because of its location and other economic factors London is one of the most important cities for music in the world, and has several important concert halls and is also home to the Royal Opera House, one of the world's leading opera houses.

The United Kingdom is one of three countries which have a profitable recorded music industry, based mostly on popular music, the others being the USA and Sweden.

The United Kingdom also has a vibrant tradition of theatre, and London has many theatres which put on plays and musicals, including the National Theatre.

See also British film.

Miscellaneous topics

• Climate
• Coins
• Communications
• Transportation
• Military
• Transnational issues
• Dependent Territories
• Conservation in the United Kingdom
• Official name spoken in English
• British cuisine

External links

• The United Kingdom Parliament
• Number 10 Downing Street
• Gateway to UK governmental services and websites
• The British Monarchy
• Office of National Statistics
  • UK 2002 Factbook

European Union:
Austria  |  Belgium  |  Denmark  |  Finland  |  France  |  Germany  |  Greece  |  Ireland  |  Italy  |  Luxembourg  |  Netherlands  |  Portugal  |  Spain  |  Sweden