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Britain : geography

Union Jack : flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The Republic of Ireland : patron saint : St Patrick

The British Isles ? Britain ? Great Britain ? United Kingdom ? England ? HELP !!! Names can be  pretty confusing. So let us help you ... Geographically speaking ... The British Isles (= islands) consist of 2 large islands : * Great Britain                                                                               * Ireland                                                                         and a lot of smaller ones. Politically speaking ... There are 2 states in the British Isles :                                                   * The Republic of Ireland (also called "Eire", "Ireland"                          or simply "The Republic"), which became                          independent in 1922.                        * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern                           Ireland (mostly called the UK or Great Britain) There are 4 nations in the British Isles : * England                                                                                                                    * Wales                                                                  * Scotland                                                           * Ireland

Scotland : patron saint : St Andrew

England : patron saint : St George

Ireland (Northern Ireland) : this is the Cross of St Andrew

early English flag

Wales : this is the Dragon of Cadwallader patron Saint : St David

Here's a list of the smaller islands surrounding Great Britain and Ireland : * Isle of Man (a Crown Dependency) * the Channel Islands (a Crown    Dependency) : e.g. Guernsey and Jersey * the Shetland Islands * Orkney * the Hebrides * the Isle of Wight * Rockall (a very small island, see picture below)

Note : Ireland and Great Britain are divided by St George's channel.

Note : Crown Dependencies have complete internal self-government. They have their own Parliament and tax system. They are ruled by a Lieutenant Governor.

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