Climate of Great Britain
The climate of any country depends on its geographical position. Great Britain is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles lie to the west of the continent of Europe. The total land area of the United Kingdom is 244,000 square kilometres. The mountains are in the west and north of the country. There are lowlands in the south and east. There are many rivers in Great Britain but they are not long. The western coast of Great Britain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea. The eastern coast is washed by the waters of the North Sea. The English Channel, which is 32 kilometres wide, separates the south-east of Great Britain from France. So Great Britain is surrounded by water. Not far from the British Isles there is warm Golf Stream. All these facts influence the climate of the country. The climate of Great Britain is mild, temperate and wet. In the country it is not hot in summer and it is not very cold in winter. Spring is very beautiful season because everything is covered with flowers. Autumn is wet and cool. In January average temperature is from 3 to 7 degrees below zero and in July it is from 16-17 degrees above zero. It often rains in Great Britain. It does not often snow in Great Britain. The weather changes very quickly. In the morning it may be shining brightly and in the afternoon it may rain. That is why radio and television inform people about weather forecast very often. The British joke «In other countries it is climate, in Britain we have weather.»