United Kingdom

The UK is an island country in Western Europe covering 244,000 sq kms. The land mass can be divided north-east to south-west into a highland zone and a lowland zone. The most mountainous area is the Highlands of Scotland (highest peak, Ben Nevis). To the west of the north-west Highlands are the Hebrides and to the north-east are the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Wales is mountainous. The lowland zone of England forms a wide, fertile plain across the middle of the country and parts of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire are below sea level (fenland).

The climate is generally temperate. The Gulf Stream keeps the temperatures mild, especially along the west coast, where it is usually wetter and slightly warmer. Rainfall is slightly seasonal with most falling between Sept. and January. The south of the country is warmer than the north. London temperatures vary between 2°C in Jan. to 24°C in July.