Welcome to the United Kingdom!
The United Kingdom is located in northeast Europe. It is actually an island, being surrounded five bodies of water: the North Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, the English Channel, Celtic Sea, and Irish Sea. It lies about 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest across the English Channel from France, and shares a border with Ireland. The UK is the world’s 78th-largest country, covering an area of 243,610 square kilometers (94,060 square miles). Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or time zone for the UK is UTC+0. The UK observes Daylight Saving Time.
The country’s official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is also referred to as the UK, Britain, and Great Britain. The UK is made up of four constituent countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The capital of the UK is London, which is also its largest city. The population of the UK is 66.9 million (2022 estimate). The UK’s official language is English.
The currency of the UK is the Pound Sterling (GBP). The country has a real GDP of US$3.136 trillion (2022 estimate). Exports include cars, automotive engines, medicines, petroleum, gas turbines, and gold.
The UK does not celebrate a specific national holiday.
What do the colors of the flag of the United Kingdom mean?
The colors of the flag of the United Kingdom, also called the Union Jack or Union Flag, are red, white, and blue. The flag is a combination of three different heraldic crosses: the red cross on the white background is the cross of St. George, patron saint of England. The white saltire on the blue background is the cross of St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland. The red saltire on the white background is the cross of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland.
For more information about the United Kingdom, see the World Factbook, Britannica, History, and Wikipedia.
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