#The United Kingdom

State name: The British themselves call their country UK (United Kingdom) or Britain.

Location: Great Britain lies in the northwest of Europe. The main island is surrounded by several small islands. Surface area: 244. 820km²

Population: With about 63. 7 million inhabitants, the United Kingdom the third most populous state of the EU.

Border State(s): Ireland

Capital: London is one of the largest cities of Great Britain and therefore the capital. There are many places of interest in London, e.g. the Big Ben or Buckingham Palace. London is one of the largest trading centers in the world and therefore a cosmopolitan city. With around 8. 3 million inhabitants, London is the most populous country in the EU. Buckingham Palace in London is the official residence of the monarchs and the residence of Queen Elizabeth II. Another special feature: the zero meridian runs through Greenwich, part of London.

Entities: Great Britain is a union of

England: The largest part of Great Britain, it consists mainly of lowlands. There lies the capital London. This state covers more than half of Great Britain. The most important rivers are the Thames and the Severn, the largest cities are London, Manchester and Liverpool.

Wales: This state is located in the southwest of Great Britain. In the Cambrian Mountains in central Wales, the longest river in Great Britain, the Severn, rises. The highest mountain is the Snowdon. Some of Wales’; cities are Swansea, Newport, Barry.

Scotland: This state is located in the north of Great Britain. The state consists of three parts: Central Belt, Southern Uplands and the Highlands. In Scotland lies the highest mountain of Great Britain, the Ben Nevis.

Northern Ireland: The smallest state of the United Kingdom. It has about 1. 8 million inhabitants. The highest mountain in Northern Ireland is the Slieve Donard, the largest cities are Belfast and Derry.

Form of government: Parliamentary monarchy

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II.

Head of government: Prime Minister David Cameron

Currency: Pound Sterling (Pounds) and Pence

National anthem: God save the Queen

Telephone area code: +44

Languages: Mostly English, but also Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Ulster Scots and Welsh.

Longest river: Severn (354km) and Thames (346km)

Highest mountain: Ben Nevis (1344m)

Climate: The climate in Great Britain is humid and rather warm. In the south and east the climate is drier and warmer than in the north and west. The average rainfall in Great Britain is 900mm per year.

Economy: Great Britain is the seventh largest economy in the world and the third largest in Europe; converted into an average gross domestic product per capita in Great Britain of around 29,000€.

Religion: Most of the British are Christians. But Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism are also widespread in Great Britain.

Traditions: Typical for Great Britain are sporting competitions such as the Highland Games in Scotland. The afternoon tea is also very typical. The British are also known for reading a lot of newspapers. Among the most read daily newspapers are the Times, the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian. Theatre and literature also have a long cultural tradition in Britain. Famous British writers and poets include Graham Greene, Joanne K. Rowling, John Milton and Dylan Thomas.Traditional British dishes are Sunday roast (meat with fried potatoes) Fish and Chips (fried fish with French fries) and afternoon tea.

Some places of interest: Numerous castles, fortifications, palaces, churches, cathedrals, monasteries and country estates can be found throughout the United Kingdom. Some of the most famous sights are: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, Tower of London and Abbey Road.

Special features: Great Britain is the largest island state in Europe. Through Greenwich in London is the zero meridian. In addition, many world-famous bands such as the Beatles, Queen and Rolling Stones came from Great Britain.