Short facts about the geography of Ireland

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:  200 NM territorial sea:  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:

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, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified:  Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation

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

Source: World Factbook