Editing Ireland (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Ireland}}
[[File:Ireland physical large.png|right|thumb|upright=1.2|Physical features of Ireland]]

Ireland is located in the [[North-West Europe|north-west of Europe]], between latitudes [[51st parallel north|51°]] and [[56th parallel north|56° N]], and longitudes [[11th meridian west|11°]] and [[5th meridian west|5° W]]. It is separated from Great Britain by the [[Irish Sea]] and the [[North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland)|North Channel]], which has a width of {{convert|23|km}}<ref>{{Cite book |title=Across the waters |last1=Ritchie |first1=Heather |last2=Ellis |first2=Geraint |date=2009 |url=http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/atw_north_channel.pdf |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-date=5 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205005310/http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/atw_north_channel.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> at its narrowest point. To the west is the northern Atlantic Ocean and to the south is the [[Celtic Sea]], which lies between Ireland and [[Brittany]], in France. Ireland has a total area of {{convert|84421|km2|mi2|abbr=on}},<ref name="irlgeog"/><ref name="royle"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.osi.ie/Education/Secondary-Schools/Teacher-Resources/Area-and-Land-Mass.aspx |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121110132721/http://osi.ie/Education/Secondary-Schools/Teacher-Resources/Area-and-Land-Mass.aspx |url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2012 |title=Area and Land Mass |website=Ordnance Survey of Ireland |access-date=18 November 2013}}</ref> of which the Republic of Ireland occupies 83 percent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ireland Facts, Ireland Flag |url=https://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/ireland-facts/ |website=[[National Geographic]] |access-date=28 June 2017 |archive-date=24 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624183321/http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/ireland-facts/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ireland and Great Britain, together with many nearby smaller islands, are known collectively as the [[British Isles]].<ref name="ONS Geography Guide">{{cite web |url=https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/a-beginners-guide-to-uk-geography-2023/about |title=A Beginners Guide to UK Geography (2023) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=24 August 2023 |website=Open Geography Portal |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=9 December 2023 |quote=The British Isles are the islands of North-Western Europe comprising all of the UK, the Irish Republic, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.}}</ref> As [[British Isles naming dispute|the term ''British Isles'' can be controversial]] in relation to Ireland, the alternate term ''Britain and Ireland'' is sometimes used as a neutral term for the islands.<ref name=GuardianMOS01>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/styleguide/b|title=Guardian Style Guide|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|quote=British Isles: A geographical term taken to mean Great Britain, Ireland and some or all of the adjacent islands such as Orkney, Shetland and the Isle of Man. The phrase is best avoided, given its (understandable) unpopularity in the Irish Republic. Alternatives adopted by some publications are British and Irish Isles or simply Britain and Ireland|location=London|access-date=2 June 2014|archive-date=21 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121123752/http://www.theguardian.com/styleguide/b|url-status=live}}</ref>

A ring of coastal mountains surrounds low plains at the centre of the island. The highest of these is [[Carrauntoohil]] ({{langx|ga|Corrán Tuathail}}) in [[County Kerry]], which rises to {{convert|1039|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref name="OSI faqs"/> The most arable land lies in the province of [[Leinster]].<ref>{{Cite book |first=Victor |last=Meally |title=Encyclopaedia of Ireland |publisher=Allen Figgis & Co. |location=Dublin |date=1968 |page=240}}</ref> Western areas are mainly mountainous and rocky with green panoramic vistas. [[River Shannon]], the island's longest river at {{convert|360.5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long, rises in [[County Cavan]] in the north-west and flows through [[Limerick]] in the midwest.<ref name="OSI faqs">{{cite web |title=FAQ: What is the longest river in Ireland? |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey Ireland]] |url=http://www.osi.ie/education/schools-and-third-level/secondary-schools/secondary-schools-teacher-resources/ |access-date=30 May 2014 |archive-date=29 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929065950/http://www.osi.ie/education/schools-and-third-level/secondary-schools/secondary-schools-teacher-resources/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Landscape of the River |publisher=Inland Waterways Association of Ireland |date=2014 |url= http://www.iwai.ie/maps/shannon/guide/17.php3 |access-date=30 May 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150319000141/http://www.iwai.ie/maps/shannon/guide/17.php3 |archive-date=19 March 2015}}</ref>

=== Geology ===
{{Main|Geology of Ireland}}
[[File:Topography Ireland.jpg|thumb|[[Topography]] of Ireland]]
The island consists of varied [[geologic province|geological provinces]]. In the west, around County Galway and [[County Donegal]], is a medium- to high-grade metamorphic and igneous complex of [[Caledonides|Caledonide]] affinity, similar to the [[Scottish Highlands]]. Across southeast Ulster and extending southwest to [[Longford]] and south to [[Navan]] is a province of [[Ordovician]] and [[Silurian]] rocks, with similarities to the [[Southern Uplands]] province of Scotland. Further south, along the [[County Wexford]] coastline, is an area of granite [[intrusion|intrusives]] into more Ordovician and Silurian rocks, like that found in Wales.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geology of Ireland |website=Geology for Everyone |publisher=Geological Survey of Ireland |url= http://www.gsi.ie/Education/Geology+for+Everyone/Geology+of+Ireland.htm |access-date=5 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080327113851/http://www.gsi.ie/Education/Geology%2Bfor%2BEveryone/Geology%2Bof%2BIreland.htm |archive-date=27 March 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bedrock Geology of Ireland |website=Geology for Everyone |publisher=Geological Survey of Ireland |url=http://www.gsi.ie/NR/rdonlyres/0302F251-C4ED-4938-BCF0-CF228A3E8F6A/0/GSI_GeolIreland_A4.pdf |access-date=5 November 2008 |archive-date=28 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028204341/http://www.gsi.ie/NR/rdonlyres/0302F251-C4ED-4938-BCF0-CF228A3E8F6A/0/GSI_GeolIreland_A4.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the southwest, around [[Bantry Bay]] and the mountains of [[MacGillycuddy's Reeks]], is an area of substantially deformed, lightly [[metamorphic rock|metamorphosed]] [[Devonian]]-aged rocks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geology of Kerry-Cork – Sheet 21 |website=Maps |publisher=Geological Survey of Ireland |date=2007 |url= http://www.gsi.ie/Publications+and+Data/Maps/Geology+of+Kerry-Cork+-+Sheet+21.htm |access-date=9 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071212143431/http://www.gsi.ie/Publications%2Band%2BData/Maps/Geology%2Bof%2BKerry-Cork%2B-%2BSheet%2B21.htm |archive-date=12 December 2007 }}</ref> This partial ring of "hard rock" geology is covered by a blanket of [[Carboniferous]] limestone over the centre of the country, giving rise to a comparatively fertile and lush landscape. The west-coast district of [[the Burren]] around [[Lisdoonvarna]] has well-developed [[karst]] features.<ref>{{cite web |author=Karst Working Group |title=The Burren |website=The Karst of Ireland: Limestone Landscapes, Caves and Groundwater Drainage System |publisher=Geological Survey of Ireland |date=2000 |url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/the_burren/burren_karst.htm |access-date=5 November 2008 |archive-date=18 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018141227/http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/the_burren/burren_karst.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Significant stratiform lead-zinc mineralisation is found in the limestones around [[Silvermines]] and [[Tynagh]].

[[Hydrocarbon exploration]] is ongoing following the first major find at the [[Kinsale Head gas field]] off [[Cork (city)|Cork]] in the mid-1970s.<ref name="energyfiles">{{cite web |url=http://www.energyfiles.com/eurfsu/ireland.html |title=Ireland: North West Europe |website=EnergyFiles.com |access-date=30 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313230157/http://www.energyfiles.com/eurfsu/ireland.html |archive-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="sch">{{Cite book |last1=Shannon |first1=Pat |last2=Haughton |first2=P. D. W. |last3=Corcoran |first3=D. V. |title=The Petroleum Exploration of Ireland's Offshore Basins |publisher=Geological Society |date=2001 |location=London |page=2 |isbn=978-1-4237-1163-6}}</ref> In 1999, economically significant finds of natural gas were made in the [[Corrib Gas Field]] off the County Mayo coast. This has increased activity off the west coast in parallel with the "[[North Sea oil#West of Shetland|West of Shetland]]" step-out development from the [[North Sea oil|North Sea hydrocarbon province]]. In 2000, the [[Helvick]] oil field was discovered, which was estimated to contain over {{convert|28|Moilbbl|m3}} of oil.<ref>{{cite news |title=Providence sees Helvick oil field as key site in Celtic Sea |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=17 July 2000 |url= http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2000/07/17/current/bpage_2.htm |access-date=27 January 2008 |archive-date=19 January 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120119040533/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2000/07/17/current/bpage_2.htm}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Ireland}}

The island's lush vegetation, a product of its mild climate and frequent rainfall, earns it the sobriquet ''the Emerald Isle''. Overall, Ireland has a mild but changeable [[oceanic climate]] with few extremes. The climate is typically insular and [[Temperate climate|temperate]], avoiding the extremes in temperature of many other areas in the world at similar latitudes.<ref name="MEclimate">{{cite web |title=Climate of Ireland |website=Climate |publisher={{lang|ga|Met Éireann}} |url=http://www.met.ie/climate/climate-of-ireland.asp |access-date=11 November 2008 |archive-date=9 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209072328/http://www.met.ie/climate/climate-of-ireland.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> This is a result of the moist winds which ordinarily prevail from the southwestern Atlantic.

Precipitation falls throughout the year but is light overall, particularly in the east. The west tends to be wetter on average and prone to Atlantic storms, especially in the late autumn and winter months. These occasionally bring destructive winds and higher total rainfall to these areas, as well as sometimes snow and hail. The regions of north County Galway and east County Mayo have the highest incidents of recorded lightning annually for the island, with lightning occurring approximately five to ten days per year in these areas.<ref name="MErainfall">{{cite web |title=Rainfall |website=Climate |publisher={{lang|ga|Met Éireann}} |url=http://www.met.ie/climate/rainfall.asp |access-date=5 November 2008 |archive-date=2 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602061707/http://www.met.ie/climate/rainfall.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Munster]], in the south, records the least snow whereas [[Ulster]], in the north, records the most.

Inland areas are warmer in summer and colder in winter. Usually around 40 days of the year are below freezing {{nowrap|0&nbsp;°C}} {{nowrap|(32&nbsp;°F)}} at inland [[weather station]]s, compared to 10 days at coastal stations. Ireland is sometimes affected by heat waves, most recently in 1995, [[2003 European heat wave|2003]], [[2006 European heat wave#Ireland|2006]], 2013 and [[2018 British Isles heat wave|2018]]. In common with the rest of Europe, Ireland experienced unusually cold weather during [[Winter of 2010–11 in Great Britain and Ireland|the winter of 2010–11]]. Temperatures fell as low as −17.2&nbsp;°C (1&nbsp;°F) in County Mayo on 20 December<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/subzero-temperatures-make-2010-a-recordbreaking-year-26609480.html |title=Sub-zero temperatures make 2010 a record-breaking year |first=Kevin |last=Keane |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=28 December 2010 |access-date=21 July 2011 |archive-date=9 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309083235/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/subzero-temperatures-make-2010-a-recordbreaking-year-26609480.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and up to a metre (3&nbsp;ft) of snow fell in mountainous areas.

{{Weather box
|location = Ireland
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 18.5
|Feb record high C = 18.1
|Mar record high C = 23.6
|Apr record high C = 25.8
|May record high C = 28.4
|Jun record high C = 33.3
|Jul record high C = 33.0
|Aug record high C = 32.1
|Sep record high C = 29.1
|Oct record high C = 25.2
|Nov record high C = 20.1
|Dec record high C = 18.1
|year record high C =33.3
|Jan record low C = −19.1
|Feb record low C = −17.8
|Mar record low C = −17.2
|Apr record low C = −7.7
|May record low C = −5.6
|Jun record low C = -3.3
|Jul record low C = -0.3
|Aug record low C = -2.7
|Sep record low C = −3.0
|Oct record low C = −8.3
|Nov record low C = −11.5
|Dec record low C = −17.5
|year record low C = −19.1
|source 1 = {{lang|ga|Met Éireann}}<ref name=Metrecords>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216004316/http://www.met.ie/climate-ireland/weather-extremes.asp |archive-date=16 December 2016 |url=http://www.met.ie/climate-ireland/weather-extremes.asp |title=Irish Weather Extremes |publisher=Met Éireann |access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref>
|source 2 = The Irish Times (November record high)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/balmy-start-to-november-sees-record-temperatures-1.2414099|title=Balmy start to November sees record temperatures|author=Dan Griffin|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=2 November 2015|access-date=2 November 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081651/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/balmy-start-to-november-sees-record-temperatures-1.2414099|url-status=live}}</ref>
|date=January 2011
}}