The island of Ireland is located in Western Europe. Northern Atlantic
occupies the five-sixths of the island, located on the west of Great
Britain. On the west coast, you can find sea cliffs; most of the terrains
in Ireland are level to rolling plains surrounded by mountains and rugged
hills. Major rivers includes Shannon River, the Blackwater River, Lee
River, the Inny River, and Suir River. Near Killarney, south-western
Ireland, you can find the highest point in Ireland known as Carrauntoohill,
3,414 ft tall (1,041 m). Lowest point is at Atlantic Ocean at 0 m.
Geographic coordinates of Ireland is 53°00 N, 8°00 W. Total land area
is 70,280 sq km. Land area is 68,890 sq km. Water area is 1,390 sq km.
Comparatively, Ireland is slightly larger than West Virginia. Total land
boundary is 360km, boundary for border countries, UK at 360km. The
coastline is at 1,448 km.
Territorial sea claim is at 12nm. Exclusive fishing zone is at 250nm.
Climate is modified by North Atlantic Current; temperate maritime; overcast
about half the time; cool summers; mild winters. Natural resources include
natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, silver,
and barite.
Usable land includes arable land which is 15.2%; permanent crops at
0.03%; others at 84.77% as of 2001. No irrigated lands, as well as
hazardous lands. One of the environmental issues is water pollution, from
the lakes from agricultural run-off. International environmental agreements
of Ireland has party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified on: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,
Marine Life Conservation. A major sea and air route between North America
and Northern Europe, Ireland is strategic location between the mentioned
regions; within 100 km of Dublin, 40% of the population resides.
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About Ireland 
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