Geography of Ireland

Geography of Ireland

Ireland is an island in Northwestern Europe in the north Atlantic Ocean. It lies on the European continental shelf, part of the Eurasian Plate. Politically, the island consists of the Republic of Ireland, with jurisdiction over about five-sixths of the island; and Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. Ireland and Great Britain, together with nearby islands, are known collectively as the British Isles.

About Geography of Ireland in brief

Summary Geography of IrelandIreland is an island in Northwestern Europe in the north Atlantic Ocean. It lies on the European continental shelf, part of the Eurasian Plate. The highest peak is Carrauntoohil, which is 1,041 meters above sea level. Politically, the island consists of the Republic of Ireland, with jurisdiction over about five-sixths of the island; and Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. Ireland and Great Britain, together with nearby islands, are known collectively as the British Isles; as the term British Isles is controversial in relation to Ireland, the alternative term ‘Britain and Ireland’ is increasingly preferred. The geology of Ireland is diverse. Different regions contain rocks belonging to different geological periods, dating back almost 2 billion years. The oldest known Irish rock is about 1.7 billion years old and is found on Inishtrahull Island off the north coast of Inishowen and on the mainland at Annagh Head on the Mullet Peninsula. Ireland was formed in two distinct parts and slowly joined together, uniting about 440 million years ago. As a result of tectonics and the effect of ice, the sea level has risen and fallen. In every area of the country the rocks which formed can be seen as a result. The impact of the glaciers shaped the landscape seen today. There are extensive bogs and free-draining brown earths.

The mountains are granite, sandstone, limestone with karst areas, and basalt formations. Most river systems in Ireland formed in the Cenozoic before the Quaternary glaciations. Marine erosion since the Miocene may have made Ireland’s glacier’s retreat more than 100 km more than today. Ireland consists of a flat-lying area in the midlands ringed by mountain ranges such as the Blackstairs Mountains, Comer MacGilly Reeks, and Comer Reeks. Some mountain ranges are further inland in the south of Ireland such as Galtee Mountains and Silvermine Slieve Bloom. Some of Ireland’s highest peaks are 1,038 meters high, such as The Silvermine Mountains and The Silverminer Mountains. Ireland is bisected by the River Shannon, which at 360. 5 km with a 102. 1 km estuary is the longest river in Ireland and flows south from County Cavan in Ulster to meet the Atlantic just south of Limerick. It is separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea and from mainland Europe by the Celtic Sea. It has a total area of 84,421 km2. It is located at approximately 53°N 8°W 53°N8°W ) 53; -8Coordinates: 53° n 8°w) 53° N 8° W: 53° 53 ° 53:8 Ireland’s coastline is rugged, with many islands, peninsulas, headlands and bays. There are a number of sizeable lakes along Ireland’s rivers, of which Lough Neagh is the largest.