About the Country:
OFFICIAL NAME: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 
CAPITAL: London
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Monarchy 
AREA: 244,103 Sq Km (94,249 Sq Mi)
ESTIMATED 2000 POPULATION: 58,991,500

LOCATION & GEOGRAPHY:United Kingdom is located off the northwestern coast of Europe between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. It is separated from the continent by the Strait of Dover and the English Channel, and from the Irish Republic by the Irish Sea and the St. Georges Channel. The United Kingdom is comprised of four constituents, England, Wales and Scotland which alone form Great Britain and combined with Northern Ireland and several island groups, form the United Kingdom. Most of England consists of low plains and downs with the major hill regions situated to the north, west and southeast where elevations do not rise above 305 metres (1,000 feet) at any point. The Cheviot Hills run east to west along the Scottish border, while from the Scottish border to Derbyshire in Central England lie the north to south Pennine Range. The Central Midlands, a plains region that consists of low, rolling hills and fertile valleys is located south of the Pennines. The Eastern Coast is protected by embankments from gales or high tides, although most of the low-lying coast is below 5 metres (15 feet) above sea level. Scafell Pike, England's highest point is located in the northwest with an elevation of 978 metres (3,210 feet). Its principal rivers are the Severn, Thames, Humber, Tees, Tyne, Tweed, Avon, Exe and Mersey. Scotland is divided into three topographical regions. (1.) The Northern Highlands which occupy the northern half of the country and contains the highest point in the British Isles, Ben Nevis at 1,343 metres (4,406 feet). (2.) The Central Lowland which contains the valleys of the Tay, Forth and Clyde Rivers, and also has and average elevation of 152 metres (500 feet). (3.) The Southern Uplands with moor land that is cut by rivers and valleys, and rises Merrick Peak at 842 metres (2,764 feet). Wales is a country of hills and mountains with high plateaux and ranges dissected by river valleys. In the south, west and north, there are narrow coastal plains while the Cambrian Mountains occupy most of the land area and include Wales' highest point, Mount Snowdon at 1,085 metres (3,560 feet). Northern Ireland consists mostly of low lying plateaux and hills while the Mourne Mountains in the southeast include Northern Ireland's highest point, Slieve Donard at 852 metres (2,796 feet). Lake Neagh lies in a central depression of Northern Ireland and is the Kingdom's largest lake. Major Cities (pop. est.); Greater London 6,933,000, Birmingham 1,012,000, Leeds 725,000, Glasgow 682,000, Sheffield 532,000, Bradford 488,000, Liverpool 477,000, Edinburgh 442,000, Manchester 433,000, Bristol 398,000 (1993). Land Use; forested 10%, pastures 46%, agricultural-cultivated 25%, other 19% (1993).

CLIMATE: The United Kingdom has a mild and temperate climate which is influenced by the North Atlantic Drift and the southwesterly winds. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year with March to June the driest period and September to January the wettest. Average annual precipitation varies from 1,600 mm (63 inches) in the mountainous areas of the north and west to less than 800 mm (32 inches) over central and eastern areas. Average temperature ranges in London are from 2 to 6 degrees Celsius (36 to 43 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 13 to 22 degrees Celsius (55 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit) in July.

CURRENCY: The official currency is the Pound Sterling (PdSt) divided into 100 New Pence.

ECONOMY:  Gross National Product; USD $1,042,700,000,000 (1993). National Debt; PdSt 223,877,000,000 (1993). Imports; PdSt 145,059,000,000 (1994). Exports; PdSt 134,465,000,000 (1994). Tourism Receipts; USD $13,451,000,000 (1993). Balance of Trade; PdSt -12,029,000,000 (1994). Economically Active Population; 28,271,000 or 48.6% of total population (1993). Unemployed; 10.2% (1993).