BRITISH ISLES, THE

name for the area, occupied by the United Kingdom; extensive arch i go on the continental shelf W. of the Continent of Europe (excluding Channel Islands, separated from Continent by North Sea, Straits of Dover, and the English Channel; consists of two large islands and some 5,000 small islands and islets, occurring either singly or in groups. The largest island is Great Britain (England and Wales; Scotland); the other large island is Treland. Among single islands are Isle of Man, Angle sea, and Isle of Wight; amongst the groups are Orkney and Shetland Islands and: Hebrids (to N.,and W. and N.W. of Scotland respectively); Scilly Islands Bristol Channel port Sy, é seed Bride “ from E Orecowlch 2 (S.W. of England); there are numerous groups of small islands round the Irish coast, in the Scot. firths, etc. The Channel Islands belong politically to the U.K., but are physically part of ae Total area, 121,390 sq. m.; pop. 42,857,144 excepting Ireland for which ai, no census was taken. See Map Britis Isuzs. IMG:map473.jpg: