The Republic of Ireland

It covers an area of 70 285 sq km and the population is 3 550 448 inhabitants. The capital city is Dublin (Baile Átha Cliath, 915 516) and the main ethnic groups are: Irish (94 %) and English.

Geography
Ireland is one of the British Isles and lies in the Atlantic Ocean to the west of Great Britain. The greater part of Ireland is occupied by the Central Plain. The highest mountains are Macgillicuddy’s Reeks (Carrantuohill, 1 041 m) in the south-west and the Wicklow Mountains in the east. The main river of Ireland is the Shannon, which is an important source of hydroelectric power. Other rivers are e.g. the Boyne, the Barrow and the Suir. Irish lakes are called loughs - there are Lough Corrib, Lough Mask and Lough Conn.