xiv INTEODUCTION 



miles, and in depth, in tlie centre, from 45 to 150 fatlioms, 

 separates Ireland from Great Britain. The narrowest points are 

 in the north-east between Antrim and Kintire (13J- miles) and 

 between Down and Wigton (23|- miles), and in the south-east, 

 between Wexford and South Wales (47 miles). Great Britain is, 

 in its turn, separated from the continent of Europe by the Straits 

 of Dover (20 miles), to the north of which is the shallow North 

 Sea, and to the west the deeper English Channel. 



Surface. — The most noticeable surface-features of Ireland are a 

 number of more or less detached mountain-groups formed chieliy of 

 Palaeozoic rocks, of elevations varying from 1500 to a little over 

 8000 feet, disposed mainly around the coast, and a great central 

 plain of slightly undulating Carboniferous limestone, raised only a 

 couple of hiindred feet above sea-level, and broken occasionally by 

 low hill-ranges, formed generally by simple folding. Ireland is, 

 for its size, the flattest island in the world. Lakes are numerous, 

 but irregularly distributed ; the proportion of water to the whole 

 area is no less than one to thirty-three. More remarkable is the 

 great extent of surface which is covered by peat bogs. In spite of 

 the continual cutting of turf for fuel, th°e proportion of low- 

 level bog to the whole area is at the present time 1 to 17. In the 

 province of Connaught one-eighth of the entire surface is officially 

 returned as peat bog. 



The present condition of the surface of the country is shown 

 by the following figures^ : — 



Crops, 





22-8 



3er cent 



Grass, 





52-1 





"Woods, 





1-5 





Turf Bog, . 





5-9 





Marsh, 





1-9 





Mountain, . 





IM 





Water, roads 



, and fences, 



4-7 





100-0 



Climate. — The effect of the insular position of Ireland on its 

 climate is marked. Extremes of temperature are obviated by the 

 uniform thermal condition of the surrounding ocean ; a feature 



^ Parliamentary Eeturn for 1899 (the latest issued). 



