The United Kingdom is situated between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea and has a border with the Irish Republic. The country is a vast territory of islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland: it covers some 241,590 sq. km of land and some 3,230 sq. km of water. The UK also has a large number of overseas dependencies: some are situated close by, e.g. Guernsey or Jersey; others are farther afield, e.g. the Cayman Islands and the Falkland Islands.
- Coastline: 12,429 km
- Lowest point: The Fens -4 m
- Highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
- Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate and arable land
- Climate: a temperate climate with cool winters and mild summers
- Main rivers: the Severn, the Thames, the Trent, the Tweed, the Clyde, the Ouse, the Wye and the Bann
