Geography of the United Kingdom Map: Geography of the United Kingdom Part of the World Europe Region Western Europe Coordinates 54 °. w. 2 ° W. d. Area 78th in the world 243 809 km² land: 98.66% Water: 1.34% The coastline of 429 km about 12 The boundaries of 360 km (Ireland) The highest point of 1344 m (Ben Nevis) The lowest point of -4 m (East of England) The largest river Severn (354 km) The largest lake Lough Neagh (388 sq km) Britain occupies most of the British Isles United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom - a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It occupies the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), one-sixth of the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland), as well as many small islands nearby. The main area of the country is located between 49 ° N. and 59 ° N. (Shetland Islands located near 61 ° N.) And 8 ° W. and 2 ° E. Greenwich Observatory, located in the south-east London, is the beginning of reference geographic longitude, it passes through the zero meridian.