Location: Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France

Area: Total: 244,820 sq km
Land: 241,590 sq km
Water: 3,230 sq km
Note: Includes Rockall and Shetland Islands

Land boundaries: Total: 360 km
Border countries: Ireland 360 km

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 -4 m
Highest Point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m

Natural Hazards: Winter windstorms; floods

Geography - Note: Lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters.

Source: The World Factbook

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