Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. It occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. Ireland is a central plain rimmed with mountains, except in the Dublin region. The mountains are low, with the highest peak, Carrantuohill in County Kerry, rising to 3,415 ft. The principal river is the Shannon, which begins in the north-central area, flows south and southwest for about 240 mi, and empties into the Atlantic. Ireland is also a strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe.
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