Ireland Maps

Ireland is an island country that is located in the North Atlantic Ocean in north-Western Europe. Ireland is the second largest island in the British Isles, the third largest in Europe, and the twentieth largest in the world. The population is estimated to be around 6.5 million, making it the second most populated island in Europe. Ireland is split into two – The Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom. It is estimated that around 4.8 million people live in the Republic of Ireland, and 1.8 million live in Northern Ireland. The capital of the Republic of Ireland is Dublin, while the capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast.

Ireland is made up of varied geological landscapes. The highest point is Carrauntoohil, standing at an elevation of 1,038.6 meters (or 3,406 feet). The major mountain ranges of Ireland are the Blue Stack Mountains located in the north, the Wicklow Mountains in the east, Knockmealdown and Comeragh mountains in the south, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks in the southwest, and Twelve Pins in the west. The climate of Ireland is typically mild with oceanic influence, as well as temperate. The inland area usually reaches warmer summer temperatures and cooler winter temperatures.

Ireland is home to 55 mammal species, with around 26 of them being native to the country. Some common animals include red fox, hedgehogs, and badgers. Other species of mammal include irish hare, red deer, and pine marten. Some of the common aquatic animals one could find in Ireland include sea turtles, sharks, seals, whales, and dolphins. There have been around 400 species of birds recorded in Ireland, and a majority of these species are migratory. There is only one reptile native to the island of Ireland, and that is the common lizard. There are no snakes found in Ireland.

Ireland has a large history of population shifts. From the 16th to 19th century, Ireland experienced population growth. However, this growth was interrupted when the Great Famine of the 1840s killed over one million people and caused millions more to migrate, mainly to the United States and Canada. Ireland also has a complicated history with immigration and emigration. Emigration had always outpaced immigration in Ireland until the 1990s. However, this would not last very long as in 2008, Ireland experienced a vast number of economic issues, causing emigration to outpace immigration once again.

Ireland is home to a mixed economy. Some of the major exports of Ireland include: blood, antisera, vaccines, toxins and cultures, Nitrogen Heterocyclic compounds, packaged medicaments, scented mixtures, integrated circuits, medical instruments, and orthopedic appliances. Tourism serves as a major economic industry, with many historical sites open to the public, such as Bunratty Castle, the Rock of Cashel, and the Cliffs of Moher. Agriculture is also very important to Ireland’s economy, with livestock playing a key role, with such products like beef, milk, and pig. Some other important agricultural products are cereals (such as barley and wheat), poultry and eggs, sheep and wool, and root crops, like sugar beets and potatoes.