Geography of Great Britain

Also known as British geography, geography of Britain, geography of GB, Geography of the United Kingdom

Overview of the geography of Great Britain

Key facts

Continent: Europe
Region: Northwestern Europe
Coordinates: 54°0′N 2°30′W / 54.000°N 2.500°W / 54.000; -2.500
Area: Ranked 78th
Total: 244,376 km (94,354 sq mi)
Land: 99.3%
Water: 0.7%
Coastline: 12,429 km (7,723 mi)
Borders: 499 km (310 mi) land border with Republic of Ireland
Highest point: Ben Nevis 1,345 m (4,413 ft)
Lowest point: The Fens −4 m (−13 ft)
Longest river: River Severn 354 km (220 mi)
Largest lake

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Article

54°0′N 2°30′W / 54.000°N 2.500°W / 54.000; -2.500

The United Kingdom is a country located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. With a total area of approximately 244,376 square kilometres (94,354 sq mi), the UK occupies the major part of the British Isles archipelago and includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern one-sixth of the island of Ireland and many smaller surrounding islands. It is the world's 7th largest island country. The mainland areas lie between latitudes 49°N and 59°N (the Shetland Islands reach to nearly 61°N), and longitudes 8°W to 2°E. The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in south-east London, is the defining point of the Prime Meridian.