EnglandEngland is a focal point of global business and is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. With more than 50 million people, it is the largest and most populous segment of the UK. Located in the south and eastern parts of the UK, England is characterized by its deeply indented coastline.

London, a mecca for industry, commerce and the arts, is the nation's capital and the largest city in England. It is referred to by many as the "Crossroads of the World". It is also the capital of the UK and headquarters of the Commonwealth of Nations.

For centuries, England was one of the largest empires in the world; its monarchy held political and economic power over dozens of countries around the globe.

ScotlandScotland, with a population of about 5 million people, is situated in the northern extreme of the UK. The capital city of Edinburgh is built on hills and valleys and is embellished by Victorian architecture. The country's largest, and Britain's third largest city, Glasgow is home to most of the country's industry. Famous for ironworks and steelworks, Glasgow has seen its economic fortunes rise and fall. For decades, the city struggled with unemployment and high poverty. More recently, it has experienced revitalization and, in 1990, was named, "European City of Culture" by the European Community.

With more than one half of Scotland's geography in the Highlands, the country is mostly mountainous. The Grampian Mountains constitutes the principal range. However, the country is also characterized by its irregular coastline and Central Lowlands. This combination of landscapes—along with Scotland's many castles and sea lochs (long narrow inlets)—makes for spectacularly scenic country.

Considering the small size of the country, Scotland has produced many great individuals: Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexander Graham Bell, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Burns, to ame a few.

WalesSurrounded by sea on three sides, Wales is in the west of the UK. The capital, Cardiff, is a principal seaport and shipbuilding centre. Much of the terrain of Wales is mountainous, with the highest peak being Mount Snowdon. Out of the four divisions of the UK, the Welsh segment has held onto more Celtic culture then the other regions. Both English and Welsh are official languages.

Northern IrelandThe province of Northern Ireland, the six counties commonly referred to as Ulster, was created in 1922 when the primarily Catholic south of Ireland became the self-governing Irish Free State and the primarily Protestant north chose to remain a part of the UK. At the last census in 2001, the population was 1.685 million which represented 2.87% of the UK population.

Much of the province’s history since its creation has been defined by the struggle, sometimes violent, between the majority Protestant population and the minority Catholic population to maintain or gain what each considers its appropriate rights.

The most recent step toward resolving these issues was the Good Friday Agreement of April 1998. It was signed by both the British and Irish Governments, endorsed by most Northern Ireland political parties as well as the voters of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Calling for a new model of power-sharing, the Agreement was suspended due to an inability amongst all the parties involved to accept its terms.

United Kingdom's National Anthem
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