The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic off the north-western coast of continental Europe that consist of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, Orkneys, Shetlands and over six thousand smaller isles.
The British Isles are home to two countries:
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (often referred to as just the United Kingdom, or the UK), and
Republic of Ireland (often referred to as just Ireland)
Great Britain is the name of the island that consists of England, Scotland and Wales.
In the UK, England, Scotland and Wales are referred to as countries, while Northern Ireland is often referred to as a province. Northern Ireland has no history of being an independent country or a nation in its own right.
Some of the northern islands of Scotland have been left off the map so that I can present you with a larger map.
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