Changes

Geographically, the islands stretch from the [[Isles of Scilly]] in the South, to [[Shetland]] in the North and from [[Tearaght Island]] in the West, to [[Lowestoft Ness]] in the East. There are over than 6,000 [[island]]s covering a total land area of 121,674 square miles.

Geographically, the islands stretch from the [[Isles of Scilly]] in the South, to [[Shetland]] in the North and from [[Tearaght Island]] in the West, to [[Lowestoft Ness]] in the East. There are over than 6,000 [[island]]s covering a total land area of 121,674 square miles.

Although the British Isles is comprised of over six thousand individual islands, there are but two [[sovereign state]]s located on the islands, the [[United Kingdom]] of [[Great Britain]] (which includes [[Northern Ireland]]) and the [[Republic of Ireland]] (abbreviated to ROI). Also part of the group is the [[Isle of Man]], a [[United Kingdom]] Crown dependency and notable [[tax haven]]. With the exception of the [[Isle of Man]], both states are members of the [[European Union]] (abbreviated to [[EU]]). Prior to 1922 [[Great Britain]] and [[Ireland]] were part of the ''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland''. In 1922 (following the [[Irish War of Independence]]), twenty six counties of Ireland left the [[United Kingdom]] to become the [[Republic of Ireland]]. The remaining six counties remained part of [[Great Britain]] and became known as [[Northern Ireland]].

Although the British Isles is comprised of over six thousand individual islands, there are but two [[sovereign state]]s located on the islands, the [[United Kingdom]] of [[Great Britain]] (which includes [[Northern Ireland]]) and the [[Republic of Ireland]] (abbreviated to ROI). Also part of the group is the [[Isle of Man]], a [[United Kingdom]] Crown dependency and notable [[tax haven]]. With the exception of the [[Isle of Man]], both states are members of the [[European Union]] (abbreviated to [[EU]]). Prior to 1922 [[Great Britain]] and [[Ireland]] were part of the ''United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland''. In 1922 (following the [[Irish War of Independence]]), twenty six counties of Ireland left the [[United Kingdom]] to become the [[Irish Free State]] (from 1949 the [[Republic of Ireland]]). The remaining six counties remained part of the [[United Kingdom]] and became known as [[Northern Ireland]].

The islands are low lying with Southern [[Great Britain]] being at particularly low [[altitude]]. [[Ben Nevis]] in the Scottish [[Highlands]] is the highest [[mountain]] in the British Isles rising to 1,344 metres above [[sea level]]. Although other parts of the isles are mountainous (parts of Wales, Northern [[England]] and parts of [[Ireland]]), few mountains in these areas reach more than 1,000 metres above [[sea level]].

The islands are low lying with Southern [[Great Britain]] being at particularly low [[altitude]]. [[Ben Nevis]] in the Scottish [[Highlands]] is the highest [[mountain]] in the British Isles rising to 1,344 metres above [[sea level]]. Although other parts of the isles are mountainous (parts of Wales, Northern [[England]] and parts of [[Ireland]]), few mountains in these areas reach more than 1,000 metres above [[sea level]].

Lakes on the islands are all [[freshwater]], the largest being [[Lough Neagh]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. The largest lake in Great Britain is [[Loch Lomond]] although [[Lake Windermere]] and [[Loch Ness]] are both notable. Rivers are a prominent feature on the landscape and were once an important form of [[transport]]. The river [[Severn]] and the [[Shannon]] are the longest but perhaps the best known waterway is the river [[Thames]]. During the [[Industrial Revolution]], river transport was augmented by the building of many [[canals]] linking trade towns to ports. The best known example is the [[Leeds]] to [[Liverpool]] [[canal]] linking these two important trading cities.

Lakes on the islands are all [[freshwater]], the largest being [[Lough Neagh]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. The largest lake in Great Britain is [[Loch Lomond]] although [[Lake Windermere]] and [[Loch Ness]] are both notable. Rivers are a prominent feature on the landscape and were once an important form of [[transport]]. The river [[Severn]] and the [[Shannon]] are the longest but perhaps the best known waterway is the river [[Thames]]. During the [[Industrial Revolution]], river transport was augmented by the building of many [[canals]] linking trade towns to ports. The best known examples are the [[Leeds]] to [[Liverpool]] [[canal]] linking these two important trading cities, and the [[Grand Union Canal]] linking [[London]] and the [[Thames]] with the canal system of the industrial English Midlands..

The British Isles have a temperate climate with winters being cool and wet and summers milder and dryer. [[Rain]] is a common weather feature and is responsible for the long history of [[arable]] farming. Southern areas tend to be warmer than the Northern parts of the Isles and are thus more suited for [[arable]] farming. Northern farms are predomenantly [[Hill Farms]] concentrating on livestock.

The British Isles have a temperate climate with winters being cool and wet and summers milder and dryer. [[Rain]] is a common weather feature and is responsible for the long history of [[arable]] farming. Southern areas tend to be warmer than the Northern parts of the Isles and are thus more suited for [[arable]] farming. Northern farms are predomenantly [[Hill Farms]] concentrating on livestock.