Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a European island country and is in fact the third largest island in the entire European continent.Geographically, the island of Ireland is divided into the Republic of Ireland which is known as Ireland, and Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom. Interestingly, Northern Ireland is the only country that Ireland shares a land border because on all the other sides it is surrounded by different water bodies.It is the Republic of Ireland that covers the majority of the Irish island and only one-sixth is a part of Northern Ireland. A similar pattern follows in terms of population as well with 4.8 million people living in the Republic of Ireland and only 1.8 million people in Northern Ireland. Ireland is located to the west of Great Britain which means that on the east coast of Ireland there is the Irish Sea and it is the Celtic Sea that separates Ireland from the rest of Europe. Ireland’s coastline stretches pretty long for around 4,675 mi (7,524 km) and is accompanied by a number of large lakes, rivers within the island making Ireland a renowned fishing country as well.As a fact about Irish geography, Lough Neagh is not only the largest lake in Ireland but also the largest lake in the United Kingdom. The island of Ireland lies on the Eurasian Plate and primarily consists of low central plains and is further surrounded by coastal mountains. Notably, it is the west coast of Ireland which has a number of peninsulas, bays, and many small islands as well. The island has a total area of 32,595 sq mi (84,421 sq km) and ranks 20th in the entire world. Ireland was earlier described as a bowl with a flat center and the shores surrounded by a number of hills and mountains which actually isn’t incorrect. However, it is the west coast and the north coast which are far more rugged than the east coast and the southern coast with the former ones covered with mountains and many small islands. None of these mountains are very tall, and all achieve only a moderate height. Now if you look at Ireland from the top, you will see only lush greenery and when combined with the climate of Ireland, we can understand why Ireland is rich in water. Interestingly, the longest river in Ireland is River Shannon spanning around 224 mi (360.5 km) which somewhat bisects the country. The capital of Ireland is Dublin which has an approximate population of 1.2 million. Many people might perhaps identify Ireland by its significance on St Patrick’s Day. At the same time, it is especially known for its lush green fields, the famous Irish stew, Guinness pie, and also its rich heritage of cattle farming throughout the country. Let us delve deeper into Irish geography now.If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about Ireland economy facts and Ireland culture facts here on Kidadl?What are some major geographical features in Ireland?Ireland has some of the most diverse geographical features in the whole of Europe. It is not only its terrains which it make so diverse but also its history with some rocks found on Ireland dating back to around 2 billion years! The geological history of Ireland dictates that it was formed in two separate parts but joined together to be one as we see it today. Owing to the movement in tectonic plates and constant melting of glaciers (ice) the island has witnessed a constant rise and fall in its nearby sea level. Historically, Ireland also witnessed volcanism whose impact can be seen today too in the form of the wide range of soil that the island has.On a lighter note, if noticed carefully, you will see that Ireland is shaped like a teddy bear, and the same is said in a number of slogans ‘Come to Ireland: The country shaped like a teddy bear’.The green landscape of Ireland has given rise to its nickname as the ‘Emerald Isle’ but the green Irish landscape isn’t only limited to the plains but also extends to the mountains. Ireland consists of a number of mountains but interestingly only three of them have a height of more than 3280 ft (1000 m). Some of the mountains found on the island of Ireland include Comeragh Mountains, Ox Mountains, Bluestack Mountains, and Nephinbeg Mountains. Apart from mountains, Ireland has a number of rivers and lakes as well. Among all of Ireland’s rivers, the main river of Ireland is River Shannon, it has a length of 224 mi (360.5 km) and is in fact the longest river in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It is known that this river acts as a bisector of Ireland as it divides the midland of Ireland from the western part of the island. Shannon River ultimately joins the Atlantic Ocean in the Limerick City of County Limerick but along the way, the river gets divided into three lakes namely Lough Ree, Lough Derg, and Lough Allen. Additionally, some of the other major rivers of Ireland include River Lee, River Blackwater, River Erne, and River Bann.Do not be surprised that even though Ireland in itself is an island, there are several islands and peninsulas which surround Ireland. Next to Ireland, Achill Island is the largest island among all the other island groups near Ireland. Valentia Island is another one of the largest islands near Ireland and all these islands are connected by a bridge to the mainland. Moving on to peninsulas, some of the best ones are located in County Kerry such as the Iveragh Peninsula, Dingle Peninsula, and the Beara Peninsula. Now outside County Kerry, Ards Peninsula is regarded as one of the largest peninsulas. It is the evolution of nature and the constant turmoil of volcanic eruptions and glaciers which has led to the development of all these vast geographical terrains.Climate is another one of the major geographical features of Ireland but the overall climate of Ireland is pretty decent with no extreme temperatures. The island of Ireland enjoys a temperate oceanic climate owing to its surrounding ocean bodies and a number of wetlands, and mountains. Ireland is comparatively warmer than other areas nearby owing to the Atlantic overturning circulation. Winters in Ireland are mild unlike many other places in the same latitude which experience colder winters. January and February turn out to be the coldest months in Ireland and July, August is the warmest month.How many parts is Ireland divided into?Ireland is a fairly large island in terms of geography, history, as well as, culture. Located in the northwestern part of Europe, the island of Ireland has two administrators, the Republic of Ireland which is a country in its own right, popularly known as Ireland, and the other part is Northern Ireland which is governed by the United Kingdom. Collectively, Ireland and Great Britain along with several small islands are known as the British Isles as a whole. However, over the years, there has been some controversy regarding the name the British Isles, and people often refer to it as simply Britain and Ireland. Falling under the European Union, the currency of Ireland is the euro.Some of the big cities of Ireland include Limerick, Cork, Dublin with the latter being the capital city of the Republic of Ireland.The entire island has been divided into two fronts, one on the provinces of Ireland and the other on the basis of administration shared between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. We will be focusing on the provincial distinction of Ireland. The whole of Ireland has been divided into four provinces namely Munster, Ulster, Connacht, and Leinster. Now, the next step of division is dividing all these four provinces into counties. In total, these provinces are divided into 26 provinces. The Ulster province has the least number of counties of all the provinces with only three Irish counties falling under this province. The Munster province has six provinces including some of the most famous and important ones such as County Kerry, County Cork, and County Limerick. The Connacht province has a total of five counties within its jurisdiction. Lastly, the Leinster province has the maximum number of counties of any province with 12 counties in total. It also includes the County Dublin within itself. The county boundaries are essential in determining the electoral areas in Ireland under Irish Law.Of all the counties in Ireland, County Cork is geographically the largest county of Ireland. Various famous towns such as Bantry, Cobh, Kinsale, and Clonakilty are located within County Cork in the southern part of Ireland. The locals refer to County Cork as ‘The Rebel County’ owing to this land’s deep-lying history of fighting for independence and also during foreign invasions.The famous Titanic too had taken a halt at Cobh during its voyage in 1912.County Kerry is another one of the most famous counties in the entirety of Ireland with its nickname being the ‘Kingdom’. The beautiful landscapes and sceneries all along this county have played a pivotal role in this county being referred to as the ‘Kingdom’. The famous Killarney National Park is located within this county in Killarney which happens to be the largest town of County Kerry. These counties have some of the best places to visit in Ireland, one such being The Cliffs of Moher, located in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland. These cliffs have a height of 702 ft (214 m) and are about 5 mi (8 km) long, they look absolutely gigantic yet magnificent. If luck is on your side, on a clear day, you can see the nearby islands of Aran Islands and the Galway Bay from the top of the cliffs.The Burren plateau, famous for its limestone surface is also located in County Clare.The Giant’s Causeway is yet another very famous place to visit in Ireland, it is located in County Antrim which is located in Northern Ireland. It is known to have formed naturally around 60 million years ago owing to volcanic fissure eruptions.What is Ireland known for geographically?The geography of Ireland has had an impact on its climate, culture. The island of Ireland sits on the northwestern part of Europe. We are well aware of the diverse geographical terrains of Ireland with mountains, plain lands, rivers, lakes, as well as, some rocky areas along the west coastline particularly. Owing to the geographical location of Ireland, it has been invaded by various groups in history which have today led to a combined cultural influence on the design and architecture of Ireland.The climate in Ireland is also greatly influenced by the geographical location of the island. Ireland sits by the North Atlantic Ocean which has been influencing the climate of the island since time began due to which there are no weather extremes in Ireland. The temperature is always moderate whether it is during summer or winter.As of this day, Ireland is regarded as one of the many Celtic nations of Europe but you might not believe but it is the geographical location of Ireland that had a big role to play in it being one of the Celtic nations of Europe. It is understood that in the past, there were four different Celtic invasions on Ireland. Researchers concluded that the Celtic language was introduced to Ireland only by waves of invasion which ultimately point towards the significance of its geographical location.Ireland also has a healthy amount of natural resources including natural gas, vast boglands, oil, and several minerals too. Irish agriculture plays a key role in its economy. Agriculture is without a speck of doubt greatly influenced by the climate of the island owing to Ireland’s geographical location. Barley, turnips, potatoes, and sugar beets are some of the main crops grown in Ireland.An interesting fact about Ireland’s geography is that the distance between the east and west ends of the island is 171 mi (275 km) and from north to south it is 302 mi (486 km). Now the rock which marks the southernmost point of Ireland is known as Fastnet Rock, and it lies in the Atlantic Ocean.Places such as The Burren, Galway Bay, Cliffs of Moher are of great geographical significance to Ireland. This island also has two UNESCO World Heritage sites including Sceilg Mhichíl and Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne. There are several other famous sites of great cultural significance that in the near future might be regarded as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.What crops grow in Ireland?The vast green lands of Ireland speak leaps and bounds about how good quality crops can be produced in Ireland. At the same time, the volcanic eruptions and glacial melting have also resulted in some favorable soil conditions for growing crops. Crops and cattle farming also play a significantly important role in the economy of Ireland.Tillage farming is highly practiced in Ireland with over 741,316 acres (300,000 ha) of land engaged in this. Tillage crops grown are mainly used for the feed provision of livestock and as raw materials for malting, milling, sugar, and distilling industries. On the other hand, cereal crops such as wheat, barley, and oats are also largely grown for direct human consumption. The cereals produced in Ireland are mainly grown in the southeastern parts of the country owing to a drier climate which better suits the production of these cereals. All the counties in Ireland practice agriculture but the cereal grown and the quantity grown largely depends upon the climatic conditions and the soil of the county.Moving on from cereals, potato is one crop which has been grown in Ireland for centuries. Potato farming on this island requires the best quality land and it is grown in some selected areas of the country such as Dublin, Louth, Meath, Cork, Donegal, and Wexford. In selected parts of these areas, you will find extensive potato farming.Maize is another crop that is largely grown in the southeast areas of the country because of the favorable climatic conditions in that part of the island. County Cork is one such place where you can find extensive maize farming. However, maize isn’t primarily grown for human consumption as it is grown with the purpose of storing as a forage crop that the livestock can consume during the winter months.Sugar beet is another crop which is extensively grown in Ireland since the mid-’30s. It was the establishment of Comhlacht Siuicre Eireann which boosted sugar beet production way back in 1933. During this period, there were factories built in Tuam, Mallow, and Thurles with the purpose of processing sugar beet. However, in the recent past, due to a European restructuring policy, all the sugar beet factories were closed by 2006 which enjoyed their peak in 1943 when there were more than 50,000 active sugar beet factories.Along with crops, Ireland also has huge amounts of natural gas, oil, and around 4633 sq mi (12,000 sq km) of bogland used for various purposes.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Interesting Ireland geography facts to know for your geography class then why not take a look at Ireland facts, or is England a country.
Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a European island country and is in fact the third largest island in the entire European continent.
