Britain No Truer Friend. (World).

Once a global superpower, Britain still makes its presence felt today.

How would you like to visit Great Britain? If you see the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, you'll enjoy your own on-screen tour! London's Australia House is the setting in the movie for Gringotts bank. Oxford University's Bodleian Library becomes the Hogwarts School library. And the grounds of Alnwick Castle are turned into a Quidditch field for Harry and his teammates.

The movie was shot in Britain--and Brits say that's the perfect setting. "Harry Potter is something that is weirdly about us," says Steve Norris, head of the British Film Commission. "It's culturally British, and the thought of it being made anywhere but here sent shudders down everyone's spines." For the same reason, British kids were chosen for the roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

Author J. K. Rowling's book follows a long British tradition of taking the world by storm Whether it's the work of William Shakespeare the might of the British Navy, the rock 'n' roll rhythms of the Beatles, or the wiles of fictional wizards, Great Britain continues to leave it mark on the world stage.

Great Britain is an island comprising England, Scotland, and Wales (see map, p. 9). When you add British-controlled Northern Ireland to that group you have the United Kingdom. This Oregon-sized country of 60 million people is only 20 miles from mainland Europe at its closest point.

Britain's small size gives it a unique character, says Lana Williams, 14. Lana lives in Lincolnshire, about 200 miles north of London. "All different kinds of people live here and I think that's really good" says Lana. "And when you add up England Scotland and Wales it's not very big so you get a lot of interaction." You get to learn about tall the different cultures."

Lana also enjoys the mix of urban and country in Britain. "You go to London and it's very city. Then go to the open countryside and it's totally different."

The British Empire

The mix of people owes a lot to Great Britain's past. There was a time when people said that "the sun never sets on the British Empire." With its combination of commercial (business) and military might, and its powerful navy, Britain established colonies all over the world. These included--at various times--the 13 American Colonies, Canada, Australia, India and Pakistan, Hong Kong, and many colonies in Africa. People from all these lands have migrated to "Mother England," creating a human mosaic of different ethnic backgrounds and religions.

The British Empire reached the height of its power in the late 1800s. As the U.S. grew in wealth and power in the 20th century, Britain's influence in the world decreased.

Great Britain lost most of its colonies after World War II and is no longer the military and economic power it once was. Today, the country faces serious challenges in such areas as unemployment, education, and health care. School test scores are falling.

"One of our biggest challenges is Europe," says Elaine Cross, a geography teacher in England. "Some people fear that by joining more closely with the other countries in the European Union, the UK will lose some of its sovereignty [power to rule itself]."

Still, Brits take a reserved (shy) pride in their homeland. "I've never really thought about our country as being great, although...I think Great Britain is cool!" says Hannah Elder. 10. Hannah lives on the south coast of England. "There is lots of history to see--like a ruined castle--Corfe Castle--that we like to visit very near our house. And there's the beach!"

On the World Stage

In their long history, the British have made huge contributions to literature and the arts. Kids around the world have grown up with Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Romeo and Juliet, and the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand."

Nowadays, in addition to Harry Potter, there's the pop band Atomic Kitten, and, of course, international heartthrob Prince William, 19, heir to the British throne and a student at St. Andrew's University.

Great Britain still plays a big role in international politics. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been an articulate (well-spoken) leader in the current campaign against terrorism. U.S. leaders give Blair a great deal of credit for helping to organize and hold together a coalition (group) of countries in the war on terrorism.

Americans and the British have long enjoyed a strong bond. Besides sharing the English language, the two countries have been close allies in two world wars.

"America has no truer friend than Great Britain," U.S. President George W. Bush said in a major speech after the terrorists struck New York and Washington.

That alliance is now stronger than ever. Blair has said that the U.S. and Great Britain stand "shoulder to shoulder" against terrorism. British ships and troops are working alongside their American counterparts to destroy terrorist networks in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Great Britain may not be as great as it once was. It faces its own difficulties in these uncertain times. But Great Britain still is one of the world's leading countries. And to Americans, a fine friend and ally.

RELATED ARTICLE: Terrorism at Home

For decades, Northern Ireland has been torn by fighting between Catholics and Protestants. The Catholics want British control to end, while Protestants want Britain to stay. About 3,600 people have been killed in the fighting, many as victims of terrorist acts.

In recent years, peace efforts seemed to be making headway. But the Irish Republican Army (IRA)--a group responsible for numerous terrorist attacks--refused to give up its weapons. Negotiations fell apart, and the conflict seemed ready to explode again.

Now, following the September11 attacks in the U.S., the IRA has agreed to disarm. Its members have already begun destroying some of their weapons. "We were told this day would never happen, and it has happened," says David Trimble, a Northern Ireland Protestant leader.

UNITED KINGDOM

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a rather small country--about the size of the state of Oregon. The UK includes the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) plus Northern Ireland

The UK once ruled a huge global empire, as the world map below shows. People used to brag that "the sun never sets on the British Empire." But today, UK territories consist only of a few islands and territory in Antarctica.

FACTS TO KNOW

AREA: 94,548 square miles.

POPULATION: 60,000,000; 90% urban.

GOVERNMENT: Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II. Head of government: Prime Minister Tony Blair, leader of the Labour Party.

ECONOMY: Important manufacturing and trading country. The UK imports one third of its food and many raw materials. The UK exports steel, heavy machinery, and electronic equipment and is a major producer of petroleum, coal, and natural gas.

PER CAPITA GDP: $22,800.

CURRENCY: British pound, worth about $1.42 U.S.