Changes

==Geography==

==Geography==

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. 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|EU]]. Of the six thousand islands in the group, the largest two are [[Great Britain]] and [[Ireland]]. Great Britain alone covers over half the total landmass of the British Isles, some 83,698 square miles. [[Ireland]] is located to the West of [[Great Britain]] and covers some 32,589 square mile. Other islands notable for their size are [[Orkney]] off the [[Scottish]] coast, [[Anglesey]] (Ynys Mon) off the [[Welsh]] coast and the [[Isle of Man]] between [[Great Britain]] and [[Ireland]].

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 6,000 [[island]]s covering a total land area of 121,674 square miles. 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|EU]]. Of the six thousand islands in the group, the largest two are [[Great Britain]] and [[Ireland]]. Great Britain alone covers over half the total landmass of the British Isles, some 83,698 square miles. [[Ireland]] is located to the west of [[Great Britain]] and covers some 32,589 square miles. Other islands notable for their size are [[Orkney]] off the [[Scottish]] coast, [[Anglesey]] (Ynys Mon) off the [[Welsh]] coast and the [[Isle of Man]] between [[Great Britain]] and [[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 [[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..

Lakes on the islands are all [[freshwater]], the largest being [[Lough Neagh]] in [[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 rivers [[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 islands share 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 islands share a temperate climate, with winters being cool and wet and summers milder and drier. [[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 predominantly [[Hill Farms]] concentrating on livestock.

==A note on terminology==

==A note on terminology==

The British Isles may be divided historically, geographically, or politically in any of several ways:

The British Isles may be divided historically, geographically, or politically in any of several ways:

*Large island masses: [[Ireland]] and [[Great Britain]]

* Large island masses: [[Ireland]] and [[Great Britain]]

*Modern politics: [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and the [[United Kingdom]]

* Modern politics: [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and the [[United Kingdom]]

[[Ireland]], the island on the West, is home to:

[[Ireland]], the island on the west, is home to:

*[[Northern Ireland]]

* [[Northern Ireland]]

*[[Republic of Ireland]] (or "Ireland") - writers must take care to avoid confusion here

* [[Republic of Ireland]] (or "Ireland") - writers must take care to avoid confusion here

[[Great Britain]], the larger island on the East, consists of:

[[Great Britain]], the larger island on the east, consists of:

*[[Scotland]]

* [[Scotland]]

*[[England]]

* [[England]]

*[[Wales]]

* [[Wales]]

==Culture of the British Isles==

==Culture of the British Isles==

The British Isles, being home to the [[English]], [[Welsh]], [[Scottish]] and [[Irish]] peoples has a very diverse culture. Perhaps the most unifying cultural aspect is the shared [[language]], [[English]] although there are a wealth of other languages spoken within the Isles. These include [[Irish]], [[Manx]], [[Scottish Gaelic]], [[Cornish]] and [[Welsh]]. It is worth noting that there are a great number of regional accents, dialects and variations of [[English]] spoken and that a [[Geordie]] (a native of [[Newcastle]]) will sound very different from a [[Cockney]] (a native [[London]]er).

The British Isles, being home to the [[English]], [[Welsh]], [[Scottish]] and [[Irish]] peoples, have a very diverse culture. Perhaps the most unifying cultural aspect is the shared [[language]], [[English]], although there are a wealth of other languages spoken within the Isles. These include [[Irish]], [[Manx]], [[Scottish Gaelic]], [[Cornish]] and [[Welsh]]. It is worth noting that there are a great number of regional accents, dialects and variations of [[English]] spoken, and that a [[Geordie]] (a native of [[Newcastle]]) will sound very different from a [[Cockney]] (a native [[London]]er).

The British Isles are predominantly [[Christian]] and are home to many beautiful [[Church]]es, [[Cathedral]]s and [[Abbey]]s.

The British Isles are predominantly [[Christian]] and are home to many beautiful [[Church]]es, [[Cathedral]]s and [[Abbey]]s.

A number of sports are popular throughout the British Isles, the most prominent of which is [[soccer]]. [[Rugby]], [[darts]], [[snooker]], [[horse racing]] and [[cricket]] are also popular spectator and participatory sports.

A number of sports are popular throughout the British Isles; the most prominent of which is [[soccer]]. [[Rugby]], [[darts]], [[snooker]], [[horse racing]] and [[cricket]] are also popular spectator and participatory sports.

The Public House (or [[pub]]) and the consumption of [[beer]] or [[Real ale]] is an important part of adult social life in all parts of the islands and pubs, along with [[church]]es, are the central point of many communities. The British Isles is home to a diverse range of foodstuffs and gastronomic traditions with the [[chip shop]] being found in all parts of the Isles and frequented by people from all walks of life. [[Fish and chips]] is the most well known dish traditional to the British Isles but has seen a decline in popularity in recent years due to the dwindling of [[North Sea]] fish stocks. Indeed, nearly all towns and villages will contain several [[pub]]s, several [[chip shop]]s, one or more [[churches]] and a football ground.

The Public House (or [[pub]]) and the consumption of [[beer]] or [[Real ale]] are an important part of adult social life in all parts of the islands and pubs, along with [[church]]es, are the central point of many communities. The British Isles are home to a diverse range of foodstuffs and gastronomic traditions, with the [[chip shop]] being found in all parts of the Isles and frequented by people from all walks of life. [[Fish and chips]] is the best-known dish traditional to the British Isles, but has seen a decline in popularity in recent years due to the dwindling of [[North Sea]] fish stocks. Indeed, nearly all towns and villages will contain several [[pub]]s, several [[chip shop]]s, one or more [[churches]] and a football ground.