Over the map of UK

Britain lies off the northwest coast of the Europe across the English Channel, the Strait of Dover and the North Sea between 50o North and 60o North latitude, and the prime meridian of 0o passes through the old observatory at Greenwich.
It consists of two large islands (Great Britain and Ireland) and about 5000 smaller ones (e.g. the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England, the Isles of Scilly off the extreme south-west, the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, Anglesey off North Wales, western Scotland is surrounded by numerous islands the Hebrides and to the far north the Orkneys and Shetlands. We also must not forget the Channel Islands near the French Coast. Its neighbours are Ireland to the west and France to the southeast.
It covers the area of about 2.500 square kilometres. Britain consists of four geographic and historical parts (countries): England (London), Scotland (Edinburgh), Wales (Cardiff) and North Ireland (Belfast). London, the capital is the centre of government for the whole of Britain but local authorities are also partly responsible for education, health care, roads, the police and some other things.

The surface of British Isles can be divided into two main regions, Highland and Lowland Britain. England is mostly rolling land, rising to the Uplands of southern Scotland. The main mountain regions here are the Cornish Heights (south-west England), the Cumbrian Mountains (in the Lake District), the Pennines (form the Backbone of England).
The western part of Britain is Wales. Wales is mountainous region. There are the Cambrian Mountains with the high peak Snowdon - 1085 m, around it is Snowdonia park, where are beautiful valleys, streams and waterfalls. The rest of countryside is lowland.
The Cheviot Hills are on the border between England and Scotland. Well known from this region is the Hadrian's Wall built by Romans in the second century. The highest mountains are in Scotland. There are Caledonian mountains, Grampians (the highest peak of these mountains is Ben Nevis - 1343 m)

Rivers in Britain are quite short but the longest of them are the Severn (354 km) and the Thames (336 km) in England, while Scotland's chief river is the Clyde. Rivers are very important as sources of energy (Tweed).
As for the lakes, the best known are those in the Lake District (where the most famous are Windermere and Derwentwater) and those in Scotland (in Scotland they are called lochs - Loch Lomond and Loch Ness which became famous because of the "Loch Ness monster"). Lakes are not important for freight transport but they are a big tourist attraction. Britain also has a dense network of canals, which are important for freight transport- Manchester Ship canal.

British Isles have milder climate due to the Gulf Stream, which comes from the Gulf of Mexico to Western Europe. That is why winter temperatures are higher and summer temperatures are lower. During a normal summer the temperature occasionally rises above 27oC, winter temperatures below -7oC are rare.
The British Isles as a whole (including the Irish Republic) have an annual average rainfall of over 1016 mm and rain is fairly common throughout the year.
British economy is based largely on private enterprise. The private sector creates 3/4 of the Gross National Product. The coal industry and railways are publicly owned.
Britain exports about 30 per cent of its gross domestic product.
It is among the largest exporters of aerospace products, motor vehicles, electrical equipment, machinery, chemicals and textiles.
Britain is also one of the world's largest importers of agricultural products, raw materials and semi-manufactured goods. It is self-sufficient in oil.
The European Union is now the main trading partner. The main Britain's trading partners are Germany, the USA, France and the Netherlands.
Britain is a member of European Union, an association of democratic states. The Union defines its aims as the harmonious development of economic activities, balanced economic expansion, and an accelerated rise in standards of living.
Britain has an open economy in which international trade plays a vital part. Half Britain's trade is with its Union partners.
Britain's overseas trade does not consist entirely of exports of manufactured goods in exchange for food and raw materials. She does more trade with countries, who, like her, are also manufactured.
Britain is very rich in coal. Oil and natural gas have also been discovered but other resources are less significant.
Britain was the world's first industrialized country. Its industry is highly developed.
It comprises heavy and light engineering, electrical and electronically engineering, aeroengines, shipbuilding, chemical industry, consumer goods and textile industry, and fish processing factories. The north has always been associated with heavy industries, coalmining, iron, steel and textiles, but these are now declining and new industries must be developed.

The most important towns are:
Newcastle (north-east) - shipbuilding and chemicals
Liverpool (in Lancashire) - shipbuilding and chemicals
Manchester (in Lancashire) - textile industry
Leeds (in Yorkshire) - clothing industry
Birmingham (in the area called Midlands) - irons and steels industries
Scotland is famous for its whisky destilleries.

The government takes the responsibility for funding research in basic science, money is distributed in the form of grants to universities and other institutions. Major areas for research are physics, space, biology, biotechnology and engineering.
The British were the first to identify the hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica.
The UK is mostly industrial and commercial. But agriculture also plays an important role in its national economy. British agriculture is noted for its high productivity. Although less than 3 per cent of the working population are engaged in agriculture and fishing they feed nearly two thirds of Britain's inhabitants. The remaining agricultural supplies are imported.
The main field crops are wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, sugar beet and oil seed rape. In Scotland barley is used destilling whiskey. Vegetables are widely grown throughout the country. Horticulture is concentrated especially in Kent.
Britain has a long tradition of sheep breeding. Sheep are raised both for meat and for wool. Worldknown British cattle and sheep breeding earn a lot of money.
Poultry meat production has considerably increased.
Britain is one of Europe's most important fishing nations. Fishing industry is a source of employment and income in number of ports.
Population is about 57 million people. The density is one of the highest in the world. Most inhabitants live in urban areas. The majority of people speak English. There are minority languages, which are of Celtic origin - Welsh, Scottish and Irish Gaelic.
The density of population is varied. Industrial towns and London are densely populated. The largest cities are: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

2 - Over the map of United Kingdom