West Midlands (region) - Geography

Geography

England
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
England
Governance
  • Sovereign
    • Elizabeth II
  • Governance of England
    • Department for Communities and Local Government
    • Department for Education
    • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
    • Department of Health
  • West Lothian question
  • Devolution proposals
English Regions
  • Local Authority Leaders' Board
  • Regions of England
    • East Midlands
    • East of England
    • London
    • North East
    • North West
    • South East
    • South West
    • West Midlands
    • Yorkshire and the Humber
Law and justice
  • Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • Courts of England & Wales
  • English Law
England in the UK Parliament of the United Kingdom
  • Elections
  • Constituencies
England in the EU European Parliament
  • Elections
  • European Parliament constituency
    • East of England
    • East Midlands
    • London
    • North East England
    • North West England
    • South East England
    • South West England
    • West Midlands
    • Yorkshire and the Humber
Subdivisions
  • Local government in England
  • Greater London
    • Greater London Authority
    • London boroughs
  • Counties
    • Districts
  • Metropolitan counties
    • Metropolitan districts
  • Unitary authorities
  • Civil Parishes
  • Other countries
  • Atlas

British politics portal

The official region contains the large conurbation that includes Birmingham and Wolverhampton, but also covers the predominantly rural shire counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

There is some confusion in the use of the term "West Midlands", as the name is also used for the much smaller West Midlands county, and is still used by various organisations within that area such as West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service.

The highest point in the region is Black Mountain, at 703 metres (2,307 ft) in west Herefordshire on the border with Powys, Wales.

The region contains five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), including all of the Shropshire Hills, Malvern Hills and Cannock Chase, and parts of the Wye Valley and Cotswolds. The Peak District national park also stretches into the northern corner of Staffordshire.

Read more about this topic:  West Midlands (region)

Famous quotes containing the word geography:

    “Yet America is a poem in our eyes; its ample geography dazzles the imagination, and it will not wait long for metres.”
    —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    “At present cats have more purchasing power and influence than the poor of this planet. Accidents of geography and colonial history should no longer determine who gets the fish.”
    —Derek Wall (b. 1965)

    “Ktaadn, near which we were to pass the next day, is said to mean “Highest Land.” So much geography is there in their names.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)