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Line 1: − [[Image:british-isles.gif|right|250px|thumb|Map of the British Isles]]+ − − ==Overview== − − The British Isles is an [[Archipelago]] or group of islands off the North West coast of continental Europe. The British Isles are comprised of [[Great Britain]], [[Ireland]] and a number of smaller islands including the [[Scottish]] Islands in the North and some of the [[Channel Islands]] in the South. − − It is worth noting that the term "British Isles" is somewhat controversial in the [[Republic of Ireland]] and [[Northern Ireland]] for historical reasons and [[Irish]] nationalists may find it offensive. − − 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 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''). − − − − ==Geography of the British Isles== − − 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]]. − − 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 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. − − ==History 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 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 football (or [[soccer]]). [[Rugby]], [[darts]], [[snooker]], [[horse racing]] and [[cricket]] are also popular sports, both spectated and participated in by many. − − 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 British Isles 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. − − ==Links of Interest== − − http://www.the-british-isles.com/ − − http://www.geograph.org.uk/ − − [[Category:Geography]]
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