Geography of the Republic of Ireland (original) (raw)

Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

**Geographic coordinates:**53 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 70,280 sq km
_land:_68,890 sq km
_water:_1,390 sq km

**Area - comparative:**slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
_total:_360 km
_border countries:_UK 360 km

**Coastline:**1,448 km

Maritime claims:
_continental shelf:_not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 370 km (200 nm)
territorial sea: 22 km (12 nm)

**Climate:**temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

**Terrain:**mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Elevation extremes:
_lowest point:_Atlantic Ocean 0 m
_highest point:_Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver

Land use:
_arable land:_13%
_permanent crops:_0%
_permanent pastures:_68%
_forests and woodland:_5%
_other:_14% (1993 est.)

**Irrigated land:**NA sq km

**Natural hazards:**NA

**Environment - current issues:**water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements the Republic of Ireland is party to:

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
_signed, but not ratified:_Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

**Geography - note:**strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin

Maps from http://www.irelandstory.com