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Great Britain is geographically and historically divided into three parts：England in the south，Scotland to the north of England and Wales to the west of England.Separating from Great Britain，Northern Ireland lies to the west of Scotland across a body of water known as the North Channel.England is the most populous，the wealthiest and the most culturally influential part of the United Kingdom，so people sometimes refer to the whole country as England，much to the dismay of many in Scotland，Wales，and Northern Ireland.
In addition to Great Britain and Northern Ireland，the United Kingdom includes many small islands such as the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands off the northern coast of Scotland，the Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland，Anglesey to the northwest of Wales，and the Isle of Wight in the English Channel.
Great Britain is located between 50° and 60° north latitude，and between 2° east longitude and 10° west longitude，with the prime meridian（zero degrees longitude）running through London.Apart from the Republic of Ireland which borders Northern Ireland，no other country shares a border with the United Kingdom.To the north of the British Isles are sea routes leading to Iceland and Norway.Across the North Sea，Great Britain faces Norway，Denmark，Germany and the Netherlands.And to the southeast across the English Channel，it faces France，its second⁃closest neighbor after Ireland.To the south across the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay are Spain and Portugal，while the United States and Canada lie to the west beyond the Atlantic.
The United Kingdom has a coast line of some 12，000 kilometers.In the south，it is separated from continental Europe by the English Channel，which is only 34 kilometers wide at the Strait of Dover.The North Sea washes Great Britain in the east.In the west，the country adjoins the Atlantic Ocean，the North Channel and the Irish Sea.The North Channel，which is only about 20 kilometers wide at its narrowest point，runs from the Atlantic to the Irish Sea and separates Northern Ireland from Scotland.Great Britain measures about 500 kilometers from east to west at its widest point，and less than 1，000 kilometers from north to south.No place in the United Kingdom is more than 125 kilometers from the sea.
Map of UK
The United Kingdom has many dependent territories such as Gibraltar，the Falkland Islands，the British Virgin Island and Bermuda.These dependencies are remnants of imperial Britain.They are typically small in territory and are scattered around the world.The dependencies are not technically part of the United Kingdom，but they have maintained a special relationship with the British Government.They are largely self⁃governed，but the British monarch appoints a Lieutenant⁃Governor for each territory，whose responsibility is largely ceremonial.
There are disputes over the sovereignty of some of these territories such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands，which are claimed by Spain and Argentina respectively.In the case of the Falkland Islands，the dispute caused a war between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982.
Geographically，Great Britain is broadly divided into two parts：the Highland Zone in the north and the Lowland Zone in the south.The Highland Zone includes the Highlands of Scotland，the Central Lowlands of Scotland，the Southern Uplands，the Pennines，and the Lake District of Cambria.
The Highlands of Scotland include chains of great mountains located in the northern part of Scotland.Many of these mountains are very old and have been weathered down by time to become plateaus.This region includes the country’s highest mountain，Ben Nevis which is 1，343 meters high.As the land here is generally too hilly and barren to grow crops，it is mostly used for grazing animals.The Highlands are among the least populated areas in Great Britain.
The Central Lowlands of Scotland is a valley that lies to the south of the Highlands.The valley was once lush with swamp forests which were later turned into coalfields.This region is the most important part of Scotland，as most of the industrial centers，farmland and three quarters of the Scottish population are all located here.
The Southern Uplands of Scotland are located just to the south of the Central Lowlands.It is a hilly region composed of the remains of former great mountain ranges，running from the southwest of Scotland towards the northeast.This area is characterized by expansive moorland and woodlands.
The Pennines are a chain of hills that begin at the English⁃Scottish border and run about 120 kilometers southwards to central England.They are often referred to as the“backbone of England”because their length，vertical orientation and centrality resemble that of the backbone within a human body.Like the Southern Uplands，the Pennines are mostly moorland.
The Lake District of Cambria is located on the west side of the Pennines.This region offers some of the most picturesque views in Great Britain.The area was home to a group of famous poets in the 19th century，including William Wordsworth and Samuel Coleridge，who drew inspiration from its beautiful landscape.Because of this，they are called the Lake Poets.
The Lowland Zone comprises the southern and eastern parts of England.In contrast to the Highland Zone，it contains large areas of flat land，and most of the region is less than 250 meters above sea level.It includes such areas as the Midlands，the Plain of Lancastria，and the Northeastern Lowlands.
The Midlands of England surround the southern end of the Pennines on three sides.The northeastern lowlands lie to the east of the Pennines.Together with the Plain of Lancastria on the west of the Pennines，these regions form a broad lowland belt that has the most fertile soil in Great Britain and therefore is well⁃suited for agriculture.
Northern Ireland is full of rugged mountain scenery，although the region is generally much lower in elevation than the Scottish Uplands.The outpouring of basaltic lava in prehistoric times has turned the land into a huge plateau.Northern Ireland’s Lake Lough Neagh，which has a surface area of 396 square kilometers，is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles.
Great Britain is a country of many rivers and lakes，but none of them are very long.The longest river in the country is the River Severn，which is 355 kilometers long.Second to it is the 332⁃kilometer Thames，which is the main river in Southeastern England.It has many tributaries，so that the total drainage area of the Thames amounts to nearly 7，000 square kilometers.The Thames is well known to the world because it flows through London before it empties into the North Sea.Other important rivers that drain into the North Sea include the Trent，the Humber，the Tyne and the Tees.In the northwest of England，the Eden and Mersey are important rivers that flow westward into the Atlantic.