tegration with continental Europe. A member of the
EU, it chose to remain outside the European Monetary Union for the time
being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. The
Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern
Ireland Assembly were established in 1999.

Geography United Kingdom

Location: 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

Geographic coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references: Europe

Area: total: 244,820 sq km water: 3,230 sq km note: includes Rockall
and Shetland Islands land: 241,590 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: Ireland 360 km

Coastline: 12,429 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf
orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries exclusive fishing
zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the
North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains
in east and southeast

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Fenland -4 m highest point: Ben Nevis
1,343 m

Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone, iron
ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica, arable land

Land use: arable land: 26% permanent crops: 0% other: 74% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,080 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: winter windstorms; floods

Environment - current issues: continues to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990
levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move towards a
domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the Government
aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed
of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at
least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between 1998-99
and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to 10.3%

Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty,
Biod