Location: Western Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, across the Irish Sea from Great Britain

Map references: Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:
total area: 70,280 sq km
land area: 68,890 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries: total 360 km, UK 360 km

Coastline: 1,448 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

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

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

Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver

Land use:
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 71%
forest and woodland: 5%
other: 10%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North American and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 60 miles of Dublin

NOTE: The information regarding Ireland on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Ireland Geography 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Ireland Geography 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.