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Where is Ireland?

Ireland is located in the central and southern part of the island of Ireland in western Europe, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the west, bordering Northern Ireland of the United Kingdom to the northeast, and facing the United Kingdom across the Irish Sea to the east. The geographical coordinates are 53 degrees north latitude/8 degrees west longitude. The territory covers an area of ​​70,280 square kilometers, including 68,890 square kilometers of land and 1,390 square kilometers of water. The coastline is 3169 kilometers long.

Topography

The central part of Ireland is plain, with many lakes and swamps, with an average altitude of about 100 meters. The north, northwest and south are plateaus and mountains. The central part is hills and plains, and the coast is mostly highland; the longest river, the Shannon River (Abha na Sionainne), is about 370 kilometers long, and the largest lake is Loch Koilib.

The island of Ireland is 475 kilometers long from north to south and 275 kilometers wide from east to west. The island covers an area of ​​84,000 square kilometers, of which 5/6 of the area belongs to the Republic of Ireland. The territory of Ireland is composed of the central plain and the surrounding coastal mountains. It is shaped like a basin with a steep edge, with high north and south and low middle; Low hills, this area is covered with lush forests and green spaces, ideal for grassland pastures.

The mountains in the east and north are 700 to 900 meters above sea level, and the mountains in the south are between 700 and 1000 meters above sea level; the southwest coast has steep cliffs and rugged rocks. There are many caves and undercurrents in the mountains; the coastal mountains have been eroded for a long time, and the mountains are divided into wide valleys, which is conducive to the traffic between the inland and the coast. Ireland’s coastline is more than 3,000 kilometers long. Its eastern coast is relatively straight and lacks natural harbors; the western and southern coastlines are intertwined, rolling and changing.

The whole island is surrounded by small hills, and the middle is relatively low, which is a lowland with rivers and lakes. The Shannon River is the longest and the rest are short. The island is divided into two parts, north and south, by the east-west river Liffey (an Life). Mount Cikarantuell is the highest point in the country (1041 meters above sea level). The harbours along the Atlantic coast are tortuous and deep, and there are many harbours. The east coast is relatively straight.

Climate Characteristics

It belongs to the marine temperate broad-leaved forest climate, the average temperature of the coldest month is 3.2 ℃, the average temperature of the hottest month is 16.2 ℃, and the annual precipitation is 750~1000 mm. Pastures and pastures account for about 80% of the country’s total area.

The climate is mild and humid, with a typical temperate oceanic climate, influenced by the North Atlantic warm current. The four seasons are not significantly different. The average annual temperature is between 0°C and 20°C. It is rainy all year round, and sunny weather accounts for about 1/5 of the year. Due to the influence of the Gulf Stream and the prevailing southwesterly winds in the Atlantic Ocean, the climate in Ireland is stable and the temperature is basically the same across the country. 4-7 ℃ in winter, 14-16 ℃ in summer. The precipitation is 800-1000 mm.

Natural Resources

Ireland’s main mineral resources are natural gas, peat, copper, lead, graphite, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, etc.

Ireland is rich in lead and zinc ore reserves and is the largest lead and zinc producer in Europe. Zinc production accounts for 4.3% of the world’s, lead production accounts for 2% of the world’s, and peat is widely distributed, accounting for about 13% of the country’s area. Natural gas reserves are estimated at 38.2 billion cubic meters. 70% of its energy needs are imported.