Ireland's Landscape

Between 400 million and 300 million years ago, Ireland sank beneath a warm, calcium-rich sea. During this time many coral reefs were formed underwater creating the limestone that makes up about 65 percent of the rock mantle on the island. When the waters diminished, many forests and swamps were able to flourish.

The limestone is covered with glacial deposits of clay and sand, typically found in the lowlands with bogs and lakes. The southern mountains of Ireland are composed of red sandstone and limestone in the river valleys. In the North and West regions of the island mountains are composed of mainly granite. In the east many plateau's are formed from basalt, which is a type of volcanic rock.

The Burren, located in the Mid-West portion of Ireland is known for it's unusual abundance of limestone and bedrock, with little or no soil in the inner most areas of the island.

                                               Mountains, Lakes, and Rivers throughout Ireland

Ireland's Climate Basics & Processes

Ireland is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream giving the country a maritime climate. Ireland receives a lot of precipitation contributing to its very lush and green landscape. 

Summers in the country are typically warm with sunshine, with the occasional intermittent rainy day. Ireland’s most humid months are in July and August usually leading to prevalent thunderstorms. Winter weather usually consists of heavy clouds and more rain. Larger mountains will typically be snowcapped, with the average temperature being around 41 ° F and will usually go below freezing at night. 

The climate differs throughout the island. Mountainous regions and the areas east of the mountains (due to prevailing winds) will typically have more rain than the lower regions of Ireland.  The southern areas are generally the warmest, while the inland areas have the least amount of heat (due to being further away from the warm ocean waters).

Ireland, Earth's Place and Function

Ireland is an island Northwest of Europe, located between latitudes 51º and 56ºN, and longitudes 11º and 5º W. The entire island is roughly 52,457 miles (84,421 km). Together with Ireland’s neighboring small islands and Great Britain it is a part of the British Isles. The highest point in Ireland is at the Peak of Carrauntoohil Mountain sitting at an elevation of 3,406 ft. Carrauntoohil is part of a set of coastal mountains in the middle of Ireland. Four of Ireland's six peaks above 3,000 feet are found in the MacGillycuddy Reeks in Kerry. The longest river, the River Shannon starts in the Northwest region of the country and extends 240 miles in land to Limerick City located in the Midwest.  The islands northern, southern, and western shores are located in the Atlantic Ocean. Between Ireland's eastern shore and Great Britain lies the Irish Sea. The eastern coastline has beaches backed by sand dunes and typically feature very rocky headlands. The southern areas of Ireland have more mountainous regions while the northern areas have small, tightly packed hills with bog land in between.