The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles consist of two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, and about five thousand small islands.The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their capitals are London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast respectively. The British Isles are separated from the continent by the North Sea and the English Channel. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. The mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the warm waters of Gulf Stream influence the climate of the British Isles.The UK is a highly developed industrial country. It's a constitutional monarchy. The country is ruled by the elected government with the Prime Minister at the head.