The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or Great Britain, Great Britain), or commonly known as the United Kingdom, also known as the United Kingdom, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European continent. The United Kingdom is an archipelago consisting of the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and a number of smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only region of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign country, the Republic of Ireland. Additionally, the UK’s land borders are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, English Channel and Irish Sea.