Geography of the Republic of Ireland

Ireland, Republic of\nLocation:\nWestern Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Geographic coordinates:\n53 00 N, 8 00 W\n

Map references:\nEurope\n

Area:\n
total:\n70,280 sq km\n
land:\n68,890 sq km\n
water:\n1,390 sq km\n

Area - comparative:\nslightly larger than West Virginia\n

Land boundaries:\n
total:\n360 km\n
border countries:\nUK 360 km\n

Coastline:\n1,448 km\n

Maritime claims:\n
continental shelf:\nnot specified\n
exclusive fishing zone:\n370 km (200 nm)\n
territorial sea:\n22 km (12 nm)\n

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

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

Elevation extremes:\n
lowest point:\nAtlantic Ocean 0 m\n
highest point:\nCarrauntoohil 1,041 m\n

Natural resources:\nzinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver \n

Land use:\n
arable land:\n13%\n
permanent crops:\n0%\n
permanent pastures:\n68%\n
forests and woodland:\n5%\n
other:\n14% (1993 est.)\n

Irrigated land:\nNA sq km\n

Natural hazards:\nNA\n

Environment - current issues:\nwater pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff\n

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\n
signed, but not ratified:\nAir Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94 Geography - note:\nstrategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin

See also

\n* Irish topics

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\nMaps from http://www.irelandstory.com