Great Britain

The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The total area is about 121 600 square miles. The largest islands are Great Britain proper (England, Scotland and Wales) and Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic). Britain is separated from the continent by the English Channel which in its narrowest part is only 33 km wide. Britain has a generally mild and temperate climate. All over the world Britain was notorious for its fogs. The smoke-fogs of the big towns usually in winter time, were exceedingly unpleasant, unhealthy and dangerous to movement, but now the situation is much better.