Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, located in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George’s Channel. The island is the second-largest in the British Isles and the third-largest in Europe.
Geopolitically, Ireland is divided into two parts: the Republic of Ireland, a sovereign state covering five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. As of 2022, the total population is over 7 million, with 5.1 million in the Republic and 1.9 million in Northern Ireland.
Ireland’s geography features low mountains around a central plain, with several navigable rivers. Its mild climate, influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, supports lush vegetation. Historically, much of the island was woodland, but today only about 10% remains, primarily consisting of non-native conifer plantations. The climate is moderate, with milder winters and cooler summers compared to continental Europe, along with abundant rainfall and cloud cover.
