Belfast is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel. It is second to Dublin as the largest city on the island of Ireland with a population in 2021 of 345,418 and a metro area population of 671,559.
Skyline and buildings throughout the City of Belfast
Volunteer Corps parade down High Street, Bastille Day, 1792
High Street, c. 1906
Aftermath of the Blitz in May 1941
Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland that is variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares an open border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland. At the 2021 census, its population was 1,903,175, making up around 3% of the UK's population and 27% of the population on the island of Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly, established by the Northern Ireland Act 1998, holds responsibility for a range of devolved policy matters, while other areas are reserved for the UK Government. The government of Northern Ireland cooperates with the government of Ireland in several areas under the terms of the Belfast Agreement. The Republic of Ireland also has a consultative role on non-devolved governmental matters through the British–Irish Governmental Conference (BIIG).
RMS Olympic, sister ship of Titanic, photographed in dry dock, Belfast
Signing of the Ulster Covenant in 1912 in opposition to Home Rule
Crowds in Belfast for the state opening of the Northern Ireland Parliament on 22 June 1921
James Craig (centre) with members of the first government of Northern Ireland