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• Great Britain is the largest island in Europe and contains the largest portion of the territory that makes up the United Kingdom. England, Scotland and Wales all lay claim to a portion of the island and have their respective capital cities located there.

• Fast Facts

  1. Area: 80,823 square milesNationMaster Encyclopedia: Great Britain
  2. Eighth largest island in the worldNationMaster Encyclopedia: Great Britain
  3. Highest point: Ben Nevis at 4,406 feet above sea levelVisit Fort William: Ben Nevis
  4. Largest city: London, England
  5. Island population: Approximately 60 million (2007)National Statistics Online: Population Estimates
  6. The term Great Britain first used in 1603
  7. Also referred to as the British mainland

• Confusion in the Name

  In modern times, the name Great Britain is often used to refer to the United Kingdom of Great Britain, rather than the island itself. Other times it may be used colloquially as a reference to the country of Britain all by itself. It is even used at times to encompass all of The British Isles, although it is the largest of thousands of islands within the archipelago. NationMaster Encyclopedia: Great Britain

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  United Kingdom | England | Scotland | Wales | Elizabeth Adeney

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