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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 [[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]].

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 and Northern Ireland]] and the [[Republic of Ireland]] (often refreed to simply as ''Ireland''). 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 are known as [[Northern Ireland]] (or sometimes ''Ulster'').