British Isles facts for kids
A 2012 NASA satellite image of the British Isles, excluding Shetland and the Channel Islands which are out of the frame
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| Geography | |
| Location | North-western Europe |
| Coordinates | 54°N 4°W / 54°N 4°W |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Atlantic Ocean |
| Total islands | 6,000+ |
| Area | 315,159 km2 (121,684 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,345 m (4,413 ft) |
| Highest point | Ben Nevis |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 71,891,524 (2019) |
| Pop. density | 216 /km2 (559 /sq mi) |
| Languages | English, Welsh, Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, French, Guernésiais, Jèrriais, Sercquiais, Shelta, Ulster-Scots, Angloromani, British Sign Language, Irish Sign Language |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| • Summer (DST) | |
| Drives on the | left |
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The British Isles are a large group of islands located in the Atlantic Ocean. They are off the northwest coast of continental Europe. The main islands are Great Britain, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. There are also over six thousand smaller islands.
These islands cover a total area of about 315,159 square kilometers (121,683 square miles). Around 72 million people live here. The British Isles include two independent countries: the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Channel Islands are also usually considered part of the British Isles.
Contents
The British Isles: An Island Group
The name "British Isles" is a geographical term. It describes a group of islands. It is not a political name for a single country. In Ireland, some people do not like the term. They prefer "Britain and Ireland" or "these islands."
Where are the British Isles?
The British Isles are located in North-western Europe. They sit on the edge of the continental shelf. This means the land under the sea around them is quite shallow.
How were the islands formed?
The oldest rocks on the islands are 2.7 billion years old. You can find them in Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. Over millions of years, different land masses collided. This created the mountains and hills we see today.
The islands have been shaped by many ice ages. The last one ended about 8,000 years ago. As the ice melted, sea levels rose. This separated Great Britain from Europe and Ireland from Great Britain.
The highest mountain is Ben Nevis in Scotland. It is 1,345 meters (4,413 feet) tall. Most of the islands are quite low. The lowest point is in Ireland, below sea level.
What is the climate like?
The British Isles have a mild and wet climate. This is called a temperate oceanic climate. Winters are cool, and summers are warm. There are no extreme temperatures.
The North Atlantic Current helps keep the islands warm. It brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico. This makes temperatures much higher than other places at the same latitude. This current also brings a lot of rain.
Plants and Animals of the Isles
The islands have many different plants and animals. They are similar to those found in northwest Europe. However, Ireland has fewer species than Great Britain. This is because animals and plants mostly moved to Ireland from Great Britain. This happened before the ice bridge melted.
Long ago, most of the islands were covered in forests. People started clearing these forests around 6000 BC. Today, most land outside cities is farmland. But there are still large forests in Scotland and southeast England. Common trees include oak, elm, ash, and pine.
What animals live here?
Many large animals like wolves and bears are now gone. But you can still find red deer. Smaller mammals are common. These include rabbits, foxes, badgers, and hedgehogs. Beavers have been brought back to parts of Scotland.
The coasts have many grey and common seals. About 250 types of birds live here regularly. The most common are the wren, robin, and house sparrow. Rivers and lakes have fish like salmon and trout.
There are not many reptiles or amphibians. Only three types of snakes live in Great Britain. No snakes are native to Ireland. Great Britain generally has more wildlife than Ireland.
People and Languages
England has a very high population density. Almost 80% of all people in the British Isles live there. Other large cities are in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. London is the biggest city. It has over 9 million people.
The population of England grew quickly in the past. But Scotland and Wales have not grown much recently. Ireland's population dropped a lot after the Great Irish Famine in the 1800s. Many people left the island then.
What languages are spoken?
The British Isles have a rich language history. Twelve languages from different groups are spoken here. English is the main language. But other languages are still spoken.
These include Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic. Also, Welsh and Cornish are spoken. The Channel Islands have languages like Guernésiais and Jèrriais, which are similar to French.
A Brief History of the British Isles
Ancient Times and Early Settlers
Humans first lived in Great Britain about 840,000 years ago. The first signs of people in Ireland are from 12,500 years ago.
Around 2,000 years ago, different tribes lived on the islands. They spoke Celtic languages. The Roman Empire conquered southern Great Britain. They built Hadrian's Wall to mark their northern border. Ireland was not conquered by the Romans.
Kingdoms and Conflicts
In the 5th century AD, the Anglo-Saxons arrived. They took control of much of what is now England. Ireland became Christian during this time. It also had a "golden age" of learning.
Vikings started invading in the 9th century. They settled in parts of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. In 1066, the Normans from France conquered England. Later, they also invaded parts of Ireland.
By the end of the Middle Ages, Great Britain had two kingdoms: England and Scotland. Ireland had different rulers. In 1603, the King of Scotland also became King of England and Ireland.
The 17th century was a time of big changes and wars. There were conflicts over religion and power. This led to a republic in England for a time. Later, the monarchy was restored.
Modern History and Changes
In 1707, the Kingdoms of England and Scotland joined to form Great Britain. In 1801, Ireland joined too. This created the United Kingdom. The Isle of Man and Channel Islands remained separate.
The 19th century saw many people leave the islands. This was due to poverty and events like the Irish Famine. In the early 1900s, most of Ireland left the United Kingdom. Six counties stayed as Northern Ireland.
Fun Facts and Culture
The United Kingdom and Ireland have their own media. But people in Ireland often watch British TV and read British newspapers. Irish TV and newspapers are also available in Northern Ireland.
Many popular sports started in the British Isles. These include golf, football, cricket, and rugby. Football is very popular across all the islands.
Popular Sports
Rugby union is also widely played. There are national teams for England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The British and Irish Lions team is chosen from players across the islands. They tour other countries every four years. Ireland plays as one team, with players from both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
In golf, the Ryder Cup used to be played between the United States and a team from Great Britain and Ireland. Now, it includes all of Europe.
Getting Around the Islands
London Heathrow Airport is Europe's busiest airport. The flight route between Dublin and London is one of the busiest in Europe. The seas around the islands are also very busy.
The Channel Tunnel connects Great Britain to France. It opened in 1994. There have been ideas to build a tunnel or bridge under the Irish Sea. This would connect Great Britain and Ireland. But these projects would be very long and expensive.
Images for kids
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The British Isles in relation to the north-west European continental shelf
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Some female red deer in Killarney National Park, Ireland
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The Alfred Jewel (9th century)
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James VI of Scotland (James I of England)
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One Day Cricket International at Lord's; England v Australia 10 July 2005
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Pádraig Harrington teeing off at the Open Championship (golf) in 2007
See also
In Spanish: Islas británicas para niños
