Читать книгу The Wild Atlantic Way and Western Ireland. 6 cycle tours along Ireland's west coast онлайн

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Ireland is an important bird habitat. The long coastline and position at the northwest corner of the Eurasian landmass attract countless seabirds. Little Skellig Island off the Kerry coast is home to some 70,000 gannets – one of the largest colonies in the world. Puffins also breed here and at other sites along the Atlantic coast including the Cliffs of Mohr.

History

Ireland’s history has been turbulent right up until the recent past. For many centuries, the island was ruled by England, later Great Britain, and much of Ireland’s more recent history has been consumed by tensions relating to that colonial legacy.

The island of Ireland is divided into two political units. All but a few kilometres of the routes in this book are in the sovereign country of Ireland – the term Republic of Ireland (RoI) is sometimes used to distinguish this state from the totality of the geographical island, also called Ireland. The remainder of the island is taken up by Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The political division of the island reflects a complex and at times violent history with periods of tension continuing through to the present day.