Photos: Gulf Stream bypasses the U.K.

The sun sets over the sea looking towards Lands End viewed from Gwenver beach near Sennen Cove on Feb. 7, 2011 in Cornwall, England.

Like many parts of the U.K., Cornwall is currently enjoying milder weather after what has been one of the harshest winters on record.

Normally, the Gulf Stream, which brings warm air from the Caribbean, makes Cornwall's weather a lot milder than other places in the world at the same latitude (such as Newfoundland) and gives it the U.K.'s only area of sub-tropical climate.

This winter however, the Gulf Stream was diverted, leading to arctic weather conditions. (Photos by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)