Geographic coordinates 53 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references Europe Area total:70,280 sq km land:68,890 sq km water:1,390 sq km

Area - comparative slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries total:360 km border countries:UK 360 km

Coastline 1,448 km

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

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

vation extremes lowest point:Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

ral resources zinc, lead, natural gas, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver

use arable land:13% permanent crops:0% permanent pastures:68% forests and woodland:5% other:14% (1993 est.)

ironment - current issues water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Invironment - international agreements party to:Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified:Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Tropical Timber 94

Geography - note strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 97 km of Dublin