英语国家概况之爱尔兰.ppt

Republic of Ireland Ireland in Europe General Information 1. Capital: Dublin 2. Official languages : Irish, English 3. Population: About 4.5 million 4. Total land area: 81,421 Sq km. 5. The highest peak is Carrauntoohil 1,041 m. The River Shannon, at 386 km is the longest river in Ireland. History Prehistory civilization Celts – 600 BCE St. Patrick , 432– Catholicism Megaliths Stone circle in County Cork, ca 3500BC St. Patrick and Catholicism Sent by Pope Celestine to Ireland in 432 A.D. Irish Catholicism The English! 1171 - King Henry of England declared sovereignty, English colonization begins 1509 - Henry VIII, suppression of Catholicism, erasure of Irish 1641, Irish Revolt (Catholics – Protestants) 1800, The Act of Union 1845-1849, the Great Famine 1916, the Easter Rising 1919 ,the Irish War of Independence Independence FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM? -?Declared 24 April 1916?? -?Ratified 21 January 1919?? -?Recognised 6 December 1922?? -?Constitution 29 December 1937?? -?Left the Commonwealth 18 April 1949?? -?European Union Membership 1 January 1973? * * GREEN: represents the catholics who want an unit Ireland WHITE: represents the hope for peace ORANGE: represents the protestant community Principal mountain: Mt. Carrantuohill 1041 m Mountains Principal river: Shannon 360 Km Rivers 1.4 Fauna Only 26 land mammal species are native to Ireland. Some species, such as the red fox, hedgehog, and badger are very common, whereas others, like the Irish hare, red deer and pine marten are less so. Aquatic wild-life, such as species of turtle, shark, whale, and dolphin, are common off the coast. About 400 species of birds have been recorded in Ireland. Many of these are migratory, including the Barn Swallow. There are no snakes in Ireland and only one reptile (the common lizard) is native to the country. Extinct species include the great Irish elk, the wolf, the great auk, and others. Some previously extinct birds, such as the Golden Eagle, ha