Ireland
Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the second-largest island of the British Isles, the third-largest in Europe, and the twentieth-largest on Earth. Nicknamed the "Emerald Isle" for its emerald green fields and rolling hills, Ireland is an island known for its natural beauty - and with its modern cities and historical sites dating back to the Iron Age, there's plenty of impressive sights here that you won't want to miss. Politically, the island consists of the Republic of Ireland, with jurisdiction over about five-sixths of the island; and Northern Ireland, a constituent country (and an unconfirmed "practical" exclave) of the United Kingdom, with jurisdiction over the remaining sixth - and in today's update, we'll be taking a look at scenes from both territories.
We'll begin in the far northeast of Ireland, in Northern Ireland - a region of the UK. The capital city of Belfast is home to nearly 300,000 and has been an important port city on the River Lagan for centuries - many large shipyards line the river's mouth, and notably the RMS Titanic was built here. The city's center is home to a number of grand governmental buildings like Belfast City Hall and is the beating heart of the city, with plenty of unique shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and so much more.
Northern Ireland and Ireland are home to countless castles and historical sites dating from ancient times - and few are as beautiful as Dunluce Castle. Located dramatically close to a headland that plunges straight into the sea along the North County Antrim coast, this medieval castle was built in the late Middle Ages and was famously conquered by the MacDonnell clan. Its stunning location has provided some unique challenges over the centuries - various parts of this now-ruined castle have crumbled away and plunged into the ocean below - so you might want to make a trip while it's still standing.
Northern Ireland's most famous destination however is one of the world's most unique natural wonders - Giant's Causeway. This area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns are the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruptions and have mystified and amazed for thousands of years.
Northern Ireland has plenty of beautiful sights, but there's even more to explore in the Republic of Ireland - the other major territory that's found on the island of Ireland. We'll first make a quick stop in Dublin - the capital of country and home to 1.4 million. Straddling the River Liffey, the city's historic center is home to cobbled shopping streets and the strikingly abstract 400 ft tall Spire of Dublin, completed in 2003.
We embark from Dublin and head towards the heart of the country - a region that's famous for its lush, rolling green hills. Since ancient times, stone walls have divided up the landscape into small farmer's plots - making for a mesmerizing view from above.
We travel further west until we reach Ireland's western Atlantic shoreline - which is home to one of the country's most impressive and popular destinations, the Cliffs of Moher. Known for their towering height, crashing waves, ageless legends, and endless flurrying birds, the Cliffs of Moher are truly a natural masterpiece that you won't want to miss.
We conclude with a stay in Cork - Ireland's second largest city, located in the southwest region of the country. Cork has a long history - originally a monastic settlement, it was expanded by Viking invaders around 915. Its charter was granted by Prince John in 1185 and the city continued to grow over the centuries. Once fully walled, the city's the old medieval town center can still be found around South and North Main streets. Today, Cork's city center is an island positioned between two channels of the River Lee which meet downstream at the eastern end of the city center, where the quays and docks along the river lead outwards towards Lough Mahon and Cork Harbour, making it one of the largest natural harbors in the world.
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-korver
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