Location : Western Europe

Population : 60,270,708 (July 2004)

Capital : London

Climate : Temperate;moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic current. More than one half of the days are overcast.

Terrain : mostly rugged hills and low mountains;level to rolling plains in east and southeast.

Elevation extremes : Lowest Point : The Fens (-4m), Highest Point : Ben Nevis (1343m)

Natural Resources : coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, slate, arable land.

Languages : English, Welsh, Scottish (Gaelic).

Government : Constitutional Monarchy