Geography of UK

The UK has a total area of approximately 245,000 km², almost a quarter-of-a-million square kilometres.The UK is an island nation in Western Europe just off the coast of France. The mainland areas lie between latitudes 49°N and 59°N and longitudes 8°W to 2°E. The UK lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, and comes within 35 km (22 miles) of the northwest coast of France, from which it is separated by the English Channel. Northern Ireland shares a 360 km international land boundary with the Republic of Ireland. The Channel Tunnel bored beneath the English Channel, now links the UK with France.

The UK is made up of:

• Great Britain (the formerly separate realms of England and Scotland, and the principality of Wales. )
  
• Northern Ireland (also known as Ulster)
  
• Numerous smaller islands including the Isle of Wight, Anglesey, and the Scilly, Orkney, Shetland, and Hebridean archipelagos.