Under the influence of the Gulf Stream North Atlantic current the climate is humid temperate-oceanic, with mild winter and cool summer.

The country’s most fertile and arable lands are located in southeastern England, and the Cornwall Peninsula, which is deeply jutted out into the Atlantic Ocean is in the southwest.

A great number of the main cities have emerged around the rivers: London – on the Thames, Newcastle – on the Tyne, etc. The longest river in Great Britain is the Severn (354 km).

There are many picturesque glacial lakes – Loch Ness in Scotland, the Lake District in Northern England, Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland.

There are a small number of forests. The largest mammal – the reindeer, is only found in Scotland and in the Exmoor National Park.

Great Britain has a leading position according to energy resources reserves – high quality coal in Yorkshire and oil and natural gas in the North Sea shelf.

Canary Wharf is the tallest building in Great Britain (244 m). It has become the symbol of the harbour zone of London.

The huge Ferris wheel “The Eye of London” rises at 135 m above the Thames. Over 15,000 people can have a ride on it daily.

London is the first city in the world with an underground railway (metro), which was opened in 1863.

Another landmark in London is the Greenwich observatory. A brass strip in its yard marks the Zero meridian that separates the Earth into Eastern and Western hemisphere.

On the Zero meridian in Greenwich lies the Millennium dome – the world’s largest monument, marking the change of the two millennia. Of the vast museum with many departments the greatest interest is aroused by the “Human body”. The exposition represents a human body larger than the Statue of Liberty. Passing through numerous entrances, the visitor sees how the human body functions.

The Edinburgh castle towers on a vast volcanic rock in the centre of the Scottish capital Edinburgh. For centuries on end it was a residence of the Scottish kings.

The official Head of State of Great Britain is Queen Elizabeth ІІ, but the executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister.

At present Great Britain is the fourth most developed country in the world, with leading positions in the international trade.