The United Kingdom Geography and Climate The islands comprising the United Kingdom includes the countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. More precisely, the United Kingdom encompases the 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. The English Channel, the Straits of Dover, and the North Sea separate the islands from the Continent. At the closest point, they are only 17 miles from the French coast. The capital city of London is in the southeast and lies on the same latitude as Winnipeg, Canada. The UK has a total land area of 94,217 square miles, roughly the size of Oregon. The British Isles have a complex geology with a rich variety of scenery and impressive contrasts in topography. Highland Britain contains the principal mountain ranges which vary from 4,000 to 5,000 feet and occupy most of the north and west of the country. Lowland Britain, almost entirely composed of low, rolling hills and flatlands, lies to the southeast. Prevailing southwesterly winds, influenced by the Gulf Stream, make Britain's climate temperate and equable year round. Weather patterns frequently change, but few temperature extremes occur. Temperatures range from an average of 40 degrees Fahrenheit in winter to about 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. A low of 20 degrees Fahrenheit sometimes occurs in the winter. A high of 90 degrees Fahrenheit may rarely occur in the summer. The average annual rainfall is about 30 to 50 inches, usually distributed evenly throughout the year. Cloud cover is persistent, however, limiting sunshine to an average of about 6 to 7 hours a day in the summer and 1 to 2 hours a day in the winter. Index: Placenames Around the World