Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery2019.3(3):297-302

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Citation：Liu, C., Zhang, Y. H., Shi, R. X., et al.British Isles, United Kingdom[J]. Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery,2019.3(3):297-302 .DOI: 10.3974/geodp.2019.03.11 .

Global Change Data Encyclopedia

British Isles, United Kingdom

Liu, C.1*  Zhang, Y. H.1  Shi, R. X.1  Shen, Y.1  Chen, L. J.2

1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;

2. National Geomatics Center of China, Beijing 100830, China

Keywords: British Isles; Great Britain; Ireland; Europe; data Encyclopedia

 

The British Isles, the geographic term for the group of islands, is located northwest of Europe. Between the Europe and the British Isles are the English Channel and Strait of Dover, southeast of the British Isles. Its geo-location is 49°51′48″N–60°50′46″N, 10°40′53″W– 1°45′46″E[1] (Figure 1, Figure 2).

Figure 1  Map of British Isles (.shp format)

Figure 2  Map of British Isles (.kmz format)

There are 11,918 islands in the British Isles, including small islands, isles and independent rocks with area bigger than 10 m2. Together England, Wales, and Scotland constitute Great Britain, the larger of the two principal islands, while Northern Ireland and the republic of Ireland constitute the second largest island, Ireland. The Great Britain Island area is 219,126.00 km2 and its coastline is 13,197.60 km. the Ireland area is 83,473.40 km2 and its coastline is 7,261.43 km. Besides the two large islands, there are some isles in the British Isles such as the Isles of Scilly off the southwest coast, the Isle of Wight off the souther–n coast, the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands off the northern coast, the Hebrides off the northwestern coast, the isle of Anglesey off the western coast, and so on. A series of small islands are also included[2], which are Islay, South Ronaldsay, Arran, Baleshare, Yell, Keel, Hoy, Unst, Rum, Tiree, Coll, Vatersay, Raasay, Sanday, Westray, Rousay, Colonsay, Stronsay, Foulness Island, Coral Strand, Eigg, Orkney Island, Shapinsay, Bressay, Lismore, and so on. The total area of the British Isles is 315,813.97 km2 and the total coastline of it is 35,152.00 km (Table 1).

Table 1  Geo-location, area and coastline of main islands of the British Isles

Name of island

Geo-location

Center of island

Area

(km2)

Coastline (km)

Great Britain

49°57′28″N–58°40′20″N,

6°13′42″W–1°45′46″E

53°56′38″N,

2°31′21″W

219,126.00

13,197.60

Ireland

51°26′51″N–55°23′2″N,

10°28′48″W–5°25′56″W

53°25′33″N,

7°53′5″W

83,473.40

 7,261.43

Isles of Lewis

57°43′39″N–58°30′59″N,

7°8′11″W–6°8′6″W

58°7′59″N,

6°39′31″W

 2,169.36

  934.16

Isles of Skye

57°1′3″N–57°42′30″N,

°47′23″W–5°38′51″W

57°21′41″N,

6°14′49″W

 1,655.27

  628.33

Isle of Mull

56°15′50″N–56°39′25″N,

6°23′9″W–5°38′45″W

56°26′48″N,

6°1′16″W

  898.55

  395.66

Islay

55°34′43″N–55°56′20″N,

6°31′34″W–6°1′8″W

55°45′39″N,

6°14′45″W

  625.12

  244.22

South Ronaldsay

58°43′46″N–59°9′16″N,

3°22′5″W–2°42′10″W

58°59′28″N,

3°5′38″W

  581.85

  368.51

Isle of Man

54°3′12″N–54°25′5″N,

4°47′40″W–4°18′29″W

54°13′42″N,

4°32′16″W

  571.65

  167.40

Arran

55°26′1″N–55°43′17″N,

5°23′52″W–5°4′44″W

55°34′18″N,

5°14′15″W

  432.41

   98.56

Isle of Wight

50°34′29″N–50°46′3″N,

1°35′12″W–1°4′9″W

50°40′30″N,

1°17′51″W

  383.55

  158.51

Baleshare

57°29′48″N–57°44′21″N,

7°32′59″W–7°3′46″W

57°36′6″N,

7°17′23″W

  337.69

  438.12

Yell

60°28′58″N–60°44′3″N,

1°12′19″W–0°58′52″W

60°36′23″N,

1°5′37″W

  212.92

  186.70

Keel

53°52′25″N–54°1′52″N,

10°15′32″W–9°54′51″W

53°57′59″N,

10°2′12″W

  153.25

  121.03

Hoy

58°46′17″N–58°55′57″N,

3°26′12″W–3°7′47″W

58°51′5″N,

3°17′39″W

  146.38

   95.42

Unst

60°40′11″N–60°50′46″N,

0°59′4″W–0°45′28″W

60°45′32″N,

0°52′56″W

  122.03

  124.82

Rum

56°56′5″N–57°3′38″N,

6°27′38″W–6°14′17″W

57°0′1″N,

6°20′7″W

  108.52

   54.04

Isle of Sheppey

51°21′16″N–51°26′57″N,

0°43′18″E–0°57′3″E

51°23′49″N,

0°50′4″E

   91.06

   54.02

Tiree

56°26′23″N–56°33′24″N,

7°0′28″W–6°43′24″W

56°30′3″N,

6°53′5″W

   82.37

   96.47

Coll

56°33′45″N–56°41′30″N,

6°42′38″W–6°27′2″W

56°37′44″N,

6°33′40″W

   77.36

  102.52

Vatersay

56°54′31″N–57°3′33″N,

7°34′58″W–7°22′30″W

56°58′42″N,

7°28′43″W

   72.62

  125.82

Raasay

57°19′42″N–57°30′24″N,

6°5′19″W–5°58′42″W

57°24′8″N,

6°2′21″W

   62.29

   63.35

Sanday

59°11′2″N–59°18′48″N,

2°42′6″W–2°23′22″W

59°15′28″N,

2°33′56″W

   52.40

  106.90

Westray

59°13′39″N–59°21′37″N,

3°4′24″W–2°50′11″W

59°17′46″N,

2°57′38″W

49.15

79.36

Rousay

59°7′35″N–59°12′1″N,

3°7′14″W–2°57′8″W

59°9′38″N,

3°2′13″W

48.07

36.34

Colonsay

56°1′41″N–56°8′2″N,

6°16′56″W–6°7′58″W

56°4′32″N,

6°12′18″W

42.30

57.57

Stronsay

59°4′11″N–59°9′45″N,

2°41′27″W–2°31′34″W

59°6′30″N,

2°36′32″W

37.29

65.84

Foulness Island

51°33′22″N–51°37′31″N,

0°49′58″E–0°57′39″E

51°35′29″N,

 0°53′24″E

31.84

31.96

Coral Strand

53°13′8″N–53°17′6″N,

9°46′20″W–9°38′30″W

53°14′54″N,

9°41′20″W

31.27

58.40

Eigg

56°52′17″N–56°56′41″N,

6°12′40″W–6°6′42″W

56°54′15″N,

6°9′17″W

31.08

30.01

Orkney Island

59°8′16″N–59°15′4″N,

2°49′42″W–2°44′0″W

59°11′20″N,

2°46′30″W

28.91

40.79

Shapinsay

59°1′1″N–59°5′16″N,

2°56′7″W–2°47′53″W

59°2′56″N,

2°51′34″W

28.75

40.37

Bressay

60°6′9″N–60°11′22″N,

1°8′52″W–1°2′43″W

60°8′55″N,

1°5′40″W

27.99

40.19

Isle of Scalpay

57°16′22″N–57°19′36″N,

6°1′26″W–5°55′12″W

57°17′59″N,

5°58′16″W

25.83

22.92

Lismore

56°27′39″N–56°33′44″N,

5°35′56″W–5°25′35″W

56°30′40″N,

5°30′55″W

23.08

41.16

Whalsay

60°19′34″N–60°23′6″N,

1°2′20″W–0°53′59″W

60°21′19″N,

0°58′45″W

19.92

36.24

Aran Island

54°58′2″N–55°1′24″N,

8°34′12″W–8°29′3″W

54°59′29″N,

8°31′43″W

19.22

36.93

Canvey Island

51°30′23″N–51°32′50″N,

0°31′4″E–0°38′8″E

51°31′31″N,

0°34′28″E

18.97

30.60

Clare Island

53°47′19″N–53°49′44″N,

10°3′8″W–9°56′28″W

53°48′15″N,

9°59′44″W

17.53

29.16

Scarba

56°9′32″N–56°12′3″N,

5°45′9″W–5°40′12″W

56°10′36″N,

5°42′32″W

14.87

21.02

Isle of Gigha

55°38′45″N–55°43′48″N,

5°46′30″W–5°42′41″W

55°41′7″N,

5°44′40″W

14.77

44.21

Luing

56°11′16″N–56°16′16″N,

5°39′57″W–5°37′3″W

56°13′49″N,

5°38′29″W

14.64

28.39

Taransay

57°52′29″N–57°55′19″N,

7°5′24″W–6°59′14″W

57°53′56″N,

7°1′45″W

14.62

26.33

Inch Island

55°2′51″N–55°5′6″N,

7°31′60″W–7°27′0″W

55°3′57″N,

7°29′43″W

13.46

16.15

Foula

60°6′33″N–60°9′30″N,

2°7′3″W–2°2′23″W

60°8′12″N,

2°4′29″W

13.45

20.89

Canna

57°2′30″N–57°4′17″N,

6°36′47″W–6°29′5″W

57°3′29″N,

6°33′2″W

11.94

29.17

Inishbofin

53°36′20″N–53°38′14″N,

10°15′44″W–10°9′28″W

53°37′15″N,

10°12′43″W

11.72

39.85

Scarp

58°0′9″N–58°2′18″N,

7°10′21″W–7°5′56″W

58°1′16″N,

7°7′59″W

10.63

18.64

Inishmaan

53°3′53″N–53°6′11″N,

9°37′13″W–9°33′40″W

53°5′2″N,

9°35′24″W

10.47

15.27

Lettermore

53°16′45″N–53°18′35″N,

9°43′21″W–9°37′48″W

53°17′45″N,

9°40′38″W

10.42

21.49

Soay

57°7′43″N–57°9′57″N,

6°15′23″W–6°10′47″W

57°8′53″N,

6°13′8″W

10.41

18.27

Rona

57°30′52″N–57°35′2″N,

6°0′4″W–5°57′12″W

57°32′56″N,

5°58′35″W

10.18

42.29

Flotta

58°48′46″N–58°50′59″N,

3°8′55″W–3°3′50″W

58°49′46″N,

3°6′36″W

10.10

22.85

Iona

56°18′24″N–56°21′5″N,

6°26′42″W–6°22′51″W

56°19′45″N,

6°24′40″W

9.19

19.13

Papa Westray

59°19′23″N–59°23′11″N,

2°54′41″W–2°52′4″W

59°21′13″N,

2°53′27″W

8.95

19.24

Papa Stour

60°18′54″N–60°20′47″N,

1°44′17″W–1°39′39″W

60°19′53″N,

1°41′60″W

8.39

34.51

Fair Isle

59°30′41″N–59°33′15″N,

1°39′38″W–1°35′48″W

59°31′60″N,

1°37′48″W

8.31

29.76

Pabbay

57°45′32″N–57°47′8″N,

7°16′5″W–7°11′56″W

57°46′21″N,

7°13′58″W

8.20

12.47

North Ronaldsay

59°20′50″N–59°23′34″N,

2°27′4″W–2°22′11″W

59°22′16″N,

2°25′4″W

8.10

20.45

Scalpay

57°50′59″N–57°52′45″N,

6°42′51″W–6°38′26″W

57°51′53″N,

6°40′33″W

7.77

26.06

Erriskay

57°3′9″N–57°5′55″N,

7°19′20″W–7°16′6″W

57°4′29″N,

7°17′35″W

7.70

22.68

St. Marys

49°54′10″N–49°56′17″N,

6°19′45″W–6°16′31″W

49°55′15″N,

6°17′55″W

7.37

23.48

Inisheer

53°2′40″N–53°4′9″N,

9°33′24″W–9°30′3″W

53°3′25″N,

9°31′43″W

6.75

11.71

Muck

56°49′25″N–56°51′13″N,

6°16′50″W–6°12′51″W

56°50′12″N,

6°14′49″W

6.35

23.43

Egilsay

59°7′26″N–59°10′13″N,

2°56′43″W–2°54′25″W

59°9′5″N,

2°55′35″W

6.35

14.07

Lundy

51°9′29″N–51°12′10″N,

4°40′53″W–4°38′56″W

51°10′41″N,

4°40′12″W

4.83

16.09

Sundray

56°52′48″N–56°54′9″N,

7°32′25″W–7°29′21″W

56°53′33″N,

7°30′58″W

4.57

13.92

Graemsay

58°55′11″N–58°56′28″N,

3°18′54″W–3°15′55″W

58°55′47″N,

3°17′26″W

4.16

 9.40

Stroma

58°39′59″N–58°41′50″N,

3°8′29″W–3°6′0″W

58°40′49″N,

3°7′7″W

4.04

11.96

Anna Island

55°0′35″N–55°3′11″N,

8°26′22″W–8°24′24″W

55°1′52″N,

8°25′17″W

3.88

21.39

Wyre

59°6′37″N–59°7′40″N,

3°0′48″W–2°57′4″W

59°7′6″N,

2°58′25″W

3.22

 9.67

Tresco

49°56′21″N–49°58′5″N,

6°21′8″W–6°19′9″W

49°57′16″N,

6°20′3″W

3.14

11.19

Fara

58°49′58″N–58°51′26″N,

3°10′55″W–3°8′57″W

58°50′37″N,

3°9′58″W

3.06

 7.94

Gairsay

59°4′18″N–59°5′31″N,

2°59′37″W–2°56′45″W

59°4′56″N,

2°58′18″W

3.01

10.42

Skomer

51°43′42″N–51°44′43″N,

5°18′54″W–5°16′8″W

51°44′13″N,

5°17′41″W

2.97

13.34

Boreray

57°41′59″N–57°43′12″N,

7°18′8″W–7°16′26″W

57°42′38″N,

7°17′18″W

2.63

 6.99

Ramsey

51°51′6″N–51°52′45″N,

5°21′13″W–5°19′47″W

51°51′58″N,

5°20′25″W

2.59

14.74

Caldey Island

51°37′46″N–51°38′39″N,

4°43′14″W–4°40′28″W

51°38′14″N,

4°41′33″W

2.30

10.26

Untitled Placemark

57°2′35″N–57°3′22″N,

6°30′56″W–6°27′56″W

57°2′56″N,

6°29′32″W

2.21

12.83

Ensay

57°45′4″N–57°46′31″N,

7°5′55″W–7°4′14″W

57°45′48″N,

7°4′58″W

2.08

 7.83

Brownsea Island

50°41′10″N–50°41′51″N,

1°59′17″W–1°57′21″W

50°41′29″N,

1°58′18″W

2.07

 5.97

Gola

55°4′49″N–55°5′46″N,

8°22′51″W–8°20′52″W

55°5′19″N,

8°21′56″W

2.04

10.26

St. Agnus

49°52′56″N–49°53′56″N,

6°21′26″W–6°19′30″W

49°53′30″N,

6°20′29″W

1.99

13.28

Achillberg Island

53°51′25″N–53°52′26″N,

9°58′8″W–9°56′33″W

53°51′58″N,

9°57′15″W

1.85

 7.32

Sanda

55°16′28″N–55°17′11″N,

5°35′52″W–5°33′55″W

55°16′51″N,

5°34′54″W

1.64

 6.37

Bryher

49°56′30″N–49°58′2″N,

6°21′57″W–6°20′51″W

49°57′12″N,

6°21′22″W

1.61

13.32

Eday

59°12′6″N–59°13′39″N,

2°49′53″W–2°48′52″W

59°12′52″N,

2°49′26″W

1.58

 7.29

Owey Island

55°2′51″N–55°3′43″N,

8°27′45″W–8°26′19″W

55°3′16″N,

8°27′3″W

1.48

 8.28

Rutland Island

54°58′7″N–54°58′60″N,

8°28′7″W–8°26′44″W

54°58′31″N,

8°27′27″W

1.42

 5.97

Mealasta

58°4′18″N–58°5′15″N,

7°8′26″W–7°7′1″W

58°4′47″N,

7°7′36″W

1.40

 8.95

Swona

58°44′4″N–58°45′9″N,

3°4′26″W–3°2′59″W

58°44′33″N,

3°3′32″W

1.14

 6.09

Inishmurray

54°25′42″N–54°26′12″N,

8°40′25″W–8°38′39″W

54°25′58″N,

8°39′37″W

1.12

 4.89

Auskerry

59°1′29″N–59°2′21″N,

2°34′41″W–2°33′25″W

59°1′54″N,

2°34′11″W

1.07

 5.19

Cava

58°52′18″N–58°53′16″N,

3°10′46″W–3°9′23″W

58°52′42″N,

3°10′6″W

0.99

 4.95

Shetland Island

60°44′23″N–60°45′39″N,

0°47′60″W–0°47′4″W

60°44′55″N,

0°47′31″W

0.97

 8.04

Ailsa Craig

55°14′48″N–55°15′29″N,

5°7′28″W–5°6′24″W

55°15′8″N,

5°7′1″W

0.94

 3.82

Eighter Island

54°59′0″N–54°59′49″N,

8°28′47″W–8°27′9″W

54°59′23″N,

8°27′54″W

0.94

 8.26

Little Colonsay

56°26′46″N–56°27′22″N,

6°16′5″W–6°14′57″W

56°27′4″N,

6°15′33″W

0.88

 4.56

Inishsirrer

55°6′45″N–55°7′31″N,

8°21′2″W–8°19′14″W

55°7′9″N,

8°20′15″W

0.76

 6.86

Lunga

56°28′48″N–56°29′51″N,

6°26′9″W–6°25′0″W

56°29′18″N,

 6°25′30″W

0.74

 5.82

Inishmeane

55°5′58″N–55°6′33″N,

8°20′42″W–8°19′48″W

55°6′16″N,

8°20′15″W

0.65

 3.87

Inishkeeragh

54°57′11″N–54°57′46″N,

8°30′21″W–8°29′19″W

54°57′28″N,

8°29′49″W

0.63

 6.97

Inishdooey

55°11′11″N–55°11′50″N,

8°10′8″W–8°9′36″W

55°11′33″N,

8°9′51″W

0.45

 3.89

Rathlin O'Birne Island

54°39′38″N–54°40′7″N,

8°50′0″W–8°49′19″W

54°39′51″N,

8°49′40″W

0.39

 3.20

Tormarcus

55°3′36″N–55°3′59″N,

8°23′12″W–8°22′35″W

55°3′49″N,

8°22′53″W

0.28

 3.03

Illancrone

54°56′5″N–54°56′38″N,

8°29′10″W–8°28′29″W

54°56′24″N,

8°28′48″W

0.23

 3.61

Inishmeal

54°57′58″N–54°58′34″N,

8°26′27″W–8°25′55″W

54°58′16″N,

8°26′10″W

0.22

 4.47

Lahan Island

54°59′52″N–55°0′9″N,

8°27′48″W–8°27′9″W

55°0′0″N,

8°27′31″W

0.18

 2.59

Rinrainy Island

54°59′36″N–54°59′51″N,

8°27′34″W–8°26′52″W

54°59′43″N,

8°27′14″W

0.14

 3.30

Umfin Island

55°6′2″N–55°6′17″N,

8°22′14″W–8°21′44″W

55°6′8″N,

8°21′60″W

0.12

 1.77

Inishillintry

55°2′31″N–55°2′45″N,

8°24′56″W–8°24′34″W

55°2′38″N,

8°24′44″W

0.09

 1.70

Edernish

54°58′51″N–54°59′1″N,

8°27′35″W–8°27′6″W

54°58′56″N,

8°27′19″W

0.08

 1.57

Umfin Island

55°6′2″N–55°6′17″N,

8°22′14″W–8°21′44″W

55°6′8″N,

8°21′60″W

0.12

1.77

Inishillintry

55°2′31″N–55°2′45″N,

8°24′56″W–8°24′34″W

55°2′38″N,

8°24′44″W

0.09

1.70

Edernish

54°58′51″N–54°59′1″N,

8°27′35″W–8°27′6″W

54°58′56″N,

8°27′19″W

0.08

1.57

Go Island

55°4′37″N–55°4′48″N,

8°21′55″W–8°21′41″W

55°4′43″N,

8°21′48″W

0.07

1.11

Allagh Island

55°4′41″N–55°4′51″N,

8°22′18″W–8°22′5″W

55°4′46″N,

8°22′11″W

0.05

1.02

Fall Island

55°0′13″N–55°0′22″N,

8°27′20″W–8°27′7″W

55°0′17″N,

8°27′13″W

0.04

1.25

Illannanaff

54°59′51″N–54°59′60″N,

8°27′57″W–8°27′39″W

54°59′56″N,

8°27′47″W

0.04

0.97

Tullavane

54°58′35″N–54°58′45″N,

8°26′37″W–8°26′25″W

54°58′40″N,

8°26′32″W

0.03

0.96

Inishcoo

54°59′30″N–54°59′35″N,

8°27′56″W–8°27′39″W

54°59′33″N,

8°27′47″W

0.03

0.85

Tornacolpaph Island

55°6′6″N–55°6′15″N,

8°21′53″W–8°21′45″W

55°6′10″N,

8°21′49″W

0.02

0.65

Torboy

55°3′12″N–55°3′17″N,

8°25′56″W–8°25′47″W

55°3′14″N,

8°25′52″W

0.01

0.53

Illanglass

55°2′25″N–55°2′32″N,

8°23′25″W–8°23′20″W

55°2′29″N,

8°23′22″W

0.01

0.45

Gull Island

54°39′46″N–54°39′51″N,

8°50′5″W–8°49′59″W

54°39′49″N,

8°50′2″W

0.01

0.38

Tororragaum

55°5′54″N–55°5′58″N,

8°22′1″W–8°21′54″W

55°5′56″N,

8°21′57″W

0.01

0.41

Toratrave

55°3′4″N–55°3′8″N,

8°26′8″W–8°26′1″W

55°3′6″N,

8°26′5″W

0.01

0.39

Torbane

54°59′48″N–54°59′50″N,

8°27′44″W–8°27′38″W

54°59′49″N,

8°27′41″W

0.01

0.29

The dataset was developed based on the Google Earth and related maps and references, and its spatial vector data is from EU_I2_shoreline_m_gg_2015shp.rar of the Global Multiple Scale Shorelines Dataset Based on Google Earth Images (2015)[3]. The dataset is consisted of 15 data files and archived in the .kmz and .shp[4] data formats with the data size of 244 MB (Compressed to 101 MB in two files).

References

[1]        British Isles Terminology [OL]. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski. https://www.britannica.

com/place/United-Kingdom.

[2]        Liu, C., Zhang, Y. H., Shi, R. X., et al. British Isles [DB/OL]. Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository, 2019. DOI:10.3974/geodb.2019.05.06.V1.

[3]        Liu, C., Shi, R. X., Zhang, Y. H., et al. Global multiple scale shorelines dataset based on Google Earth images (2015) [DB/OL]. Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository, 2019. DOI: 10.3974/geodb.

2019.04.13.V1.

Data Computing Environment

[4]     ESRI. ArcGIS campus license of Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

URL for Data Downloading

http://www.geodoi.ac.cn/WebEn/doi.aspx?Id=1304.

Or search through: http://www.geodoi.ac.cn.

Co-Sponsors
Superintend