United Kingdom

United Kingdom is located on the continent of Europe, it is classed as an island country and is positioned in Ireland, the Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, Irish Sea and North Sea in Northern Europe. There are seven continents in the world: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Australia (Oceania). Europe is the world's second smallest continent, spanning a total area of 10,180,000 km2. Europe has 51 countries, with some countries belonging to both Europe and Asia, and forms 6.8% of the world's landmass. United Kingdom is an island country that spans across a total area of approximately 242,900 km2. It is a medium size country that is separated from the European mainland by the North Sea and the English Channel.

The following border information provides details on the length of United Kingdom's borders:
Coastline 12,429 km, Ireland 443 km.

The United Kingdom has a temperate climate characterized by cold winters and warm summers with adequate rainfall throughout the year. Northern regions tend to receive lower temperatures and more rainfall than southern areas. The geography of the United Kingdom is formed of low mountainous regions, hills, rolling plains, forests, rivers, lakes and coastal regions. The lowest point of United Kingdom is the Fens at -4m, and the highest point of elevation is Ben Nevis at 1,343m.

The official language of United Kingdom is English, which is spoken by the majority of the population.

The main religion of United Kingdom is Christian at approximately 59% of the population. Christian religions practised in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland include Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist. Around 4% are Muslim and 1% Hindu. The rest of the population either belongs to other religions or no religion at all.

Natural resources are materials and substances that can be found occurring naturally on Earth. Natural resources are very important across the world, and can be exploited for economic gain. The level of natural resources present in an individual country depends on varying factors which are influenced by the geography, climate and location of that country. Some countries, such as Russia, The United States, Saudi Arabia and Canada, have many natural resources, where as some other countries have limited to none. Food, transport and construction are three of the primary uses of natural resources. For example, fish is a naturally occurring resource that can be caught for food consumption. Crude oils can be refined into different types of fuels in order to power vehicles/cars. Wood/timber from forests can be used to build homes and furniture. The natural resources of United Kingdom include coal, natural gas, petroleum, iron ore, zinc, lead, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, and arable land suitable for growing crops.

Each country has its own individual culture, history and identity. Flags, emblems, symbols, mottos, colors, anthems and songs represent the national pride and identity of countries worldwide. These national symbols are created through the unique history of a nation and can portray both hardship and prosperity, embodying freedom, strength and unity. Flags, emblems, colors, songs and mottos reflect the past, present and future aspirations of a country, and create an important image to the rest of the world. National symbols can include a mixture of things that are symbolic to a country such as animals, birds, flowers, trees, geographical features, tools of agriculture, crops, and tools of war. Here are some important facts on the symbols, songs and colors of United Kingdom: