Ireland is an island state off the western coast of Europe. Its lands with a mild maritime climate were inhabited by the Celts as early as the 3rd century BC. Ireland was under British oppression for a long time. The northeast of the island still belongs to Britain.
1. Amazing relief
The territory of Ireland is a wide plain surrounded by ancient mountain ranges. They, with the exception of Mount Karantuill with a height of 1041 m, do not exceed 1000 m. The coasts of the island are high and steep, especially in the southwestern part, where there are numerous islands near the coast.
2. Mild maritime climate
Due to the flat terrain, the rivers in Ireland are slow and very meandering. The longest of them is the Shannon River, which is 365 km long. Ireland's rivers are fed by frequent rainfall, with an average of two out of three days rainfall over most of the country. The climate in the country is mild even during the winter months, thanks in part to the warm North Atlantic Current that washes the western shores of the island. Thick fogs are not uncommon in Ireland. Thanks to the mild climate in Ireland, meadows and groves are green all year round.
3. Country of herbs
Agriculture is poorly developed in Ireland due to lack of sun and poor soil. More than half of the territory is occupied by pastures and meadows with emerald grass. This allows the Irish to breed bulls, sheep and the famous thoroughbred horses. Beets, potatoes, cereals and early vegetables are grown only on 1/6 of agricultural land. The grass in Ireland grows wildly even on the rocks.
4. Favorite tree
Birch is loved not only in Russia, in Ireland it is very common and revered by local residents. So, in the private sector of Dublin, you can often see how a spreading palm tree and a modest birch coexist in the same yard.
5. Sacred animal
Horses are iconic animals in Ireland. Numerous holidays and festivals are dedicated to them.
6. Religious life
Ireland is a country with strong Catholic traditions. The famous Celtic crosses are made from a single piece of stone or consist of several pieces. They are a testament to the powerful religious life of the Irish in the 8th and 10th centuries. Their surface is decorated with biblical scenes. Scientists believe that this was done to teach the infidels a new religion, while taking church frescoes as an example.
7. Irish villages
Every second resident of Ireland lives in the countryside. Local villages have a special charm. Here you can see both modest farmers' houses and imposing buildings in which large landowners live. Particularly noteworthy are the traditional Irish cottages with thatch, reed and reed roofs. They can be safely called a local landmark.
8. "Black gold" of Ireland
This is what the locals call peat bogs. They cover 1/7 of the territory of Ireland. Peatlands develop due to the coincidence of three factors: high humidity, relatively low temperatures and moisture-proof soils with high acidity. In Ireland, peat covers 15% of electricity. This mineral will be enough for local residents for another 500 years.
