British Isles

:For an explanation of often confusing terms like (Great) Britain, United Kingdom and England see also British Isles (terminology).

Related Topics:
Great - Britain - United Kingdom - England - British Isles (terminology)

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:The "British Isles" is also an old name for the British and Irish Lions.

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The British Isles is a term given to the group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe including Great Britain (containing England, Scotland, and Wales), Ireland and the many smaller adjacent islands. Although the name has been used historically, it is considered offensive and outmoded in Ireland today because it implies British sovereignty over Ireland. It is also considered offensive to some in Wales and Scotland.

Related Topics:
Europe - Great Britain - England - Scotland - Wales - Ireland

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The area that the term British Isles refers to forms an archipelago of more than 6,000 islands, totalling 315,134 km² (121,674 square miles) of land. These islands were originally inhabited by the ancient Britons (hence the name "British Isles").

Related Topics:
Archipelago - Britons

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The name British Isles derives from terms used by classical geographers to describe the island group. Pliny the Elder, in his Natural History (iv.xvi.102) records of Great Britain, "It was itself named Albion while all the islands about which we shall soon briefly speak were called the Britanniae".

Related Topics:
Pliny the Elder - Albion

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