If you are planning for a tour to Ireland then you should take care to possess knowledge about the geography of Ireland. It is an island between latitude 51 1/2 and 55 1/2 degrees north, and longitude 5 1/2 to 10 1/2 degrees west on the western fringes of Europe. Ireland stretches from Malin Head in the north to the Mizen Head in the south. From North to South it is 486 kilometers and from east to west it is 275 kilometers.
From 1921 Ireland had been divided into two parts. There are 26 independent counties comprising 70,282 kilometers with a population of 3,523,401. Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom and it contains six counties of the ancient province of Ulster with a population of 1,569,971.
Geography of Ireland
The two great mountain systems of Europe converge westwards in Ireland. The older Caledonian section extends to the north and west of Ireland and it gives rise to the rugged and mountains of Counties Mayo, Donegal and Galway. The mountains that you will find here are Croagh Patrick (765m) in Mayo, Errigal (752 m) in Donegal and the Twelve Bens in Galway.
The Armorican section extends from the central Europe through Brittany to southern Ireland. You will get to see the Carrantouhill (1041 m) in the Magillycuddy Reeks here. The famous tourist spot Upper Lake of Killarney nestles in the eastern slopes of this range. You will also find the basaltic lavas in the north-eastern Ireland. Here you will also find the Lough Neagh which is the largest lake in Ireland.
Rivers of Ireland
Ireland is drained by a number of slow- flowing streams. The largest one is the River Shannon. There are a number of beautiful lakes formed in its middle course and as it approaches the sea its gradient steepens. The main rivers draining eastwards are the Lagan that flows into Belfast Lough, the Liffey, Dublin and the Slaney. Towards the south of Ireland the valleys are occupied by the Suir, the Lee and the Blackwater.
Climate of Ireland
Ireland has a mild and equable climate and this is because of the relatively warm ocean waters of the North Atlantic Drift. Rainfall is heaviest on the westward facing slopes of the hills. Changeability is what describes the climate of Ireland.
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