Ireland

Description of Ireland

Ireland is a Western European country, located in the north of the Atlantic Ocean, and it occupies most of the island of Ireland. Irish and North Seas, as well as St. George Strait, wash Ireland from the east; the rest of the coast is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. This is one of the small European countries with an area of 70 thousand square kilometers. However, it is more than twice larger than such countries as Belgium and the Netherlands, although is several times inferior to them in terms of population: there are 3 million people living in Ireland.

The coast of Ireland is rocky and hugely divided by bays. A lot of rocky islands are situated near the coast of Ireland. Landscapes are predominantly plains: in the interior is a vast central plain. The outskirts of the island include low mountains (the highest point is the Mount Carrantuohill) and the plateau (the largest is Antrim).

Most of the surface of the island is occupied by meadows, heaths. Here grow as alpine plants that are characteristic of the north, as southern European species. Broadleaf and mixed forests cover less than 10% of the territory.

Ireland is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president. Legislative body of the country is the parliament, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The administrative structure of the country is very simple: it is divided into four historic provinces - Ulster, Connacht, Leinster and Munster, consisting of 26 counties, including the capital city of Dublin and its suburbs.

Some facts about Ireland

Gallery of Ireland

Ireland video guide

More information about Ireland

Top cities of Ireland