Great Britain is a large island in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of continental Europe. It is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth largest island in the world. Great Britain is the world's third most populous island after Java in Indonesia and Honshu in Japan.
To the west of Great Britain, lies the island of Ireland, and these islands along with 1,000 smaller surrounding islands form the British Isles archipelago.
This island experiences a maritime climate with slight temperature differences between seasons. The term 'Great Britain' is often used to include the whole of England, Wales and Scotland, including their component adjoining islands.
This island is positioned on the European continental shelf, which is part of the Eurasian Plate. Great Britain is also connected with continental Europe via the Channel Tunnel - the longest undersea rail tunnel in the world. The landscape of the island is characterised by expansive countryside in the east and south, while the west and northern regions are more hilly and mountainous.
The official language of Great Britain is British English, which is developed from Old English, brought to the island by Anglo-Saxon settlers from the mid 5th century. Around 1.5 million residents speak Scots - a variety of English that is thought to be a distinct language. Christianity is the largest religion, and numerous religions are also practised, including Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism. Christianity was introduced under the ancient Romans, developing as Celtic Christianity.
