What in the World? Triskeles

What in the world is the island territory between IRELAND and the UNITED KINGDOM that features a three-legged triskeles (triskelion) symbol on its coat of arms, flag, coins, and banknotes? The answer is listed below!























Answer:
Isle of Man

Ireland Exports

The following items are major exports of IRELAND: barley, beverages, chemicals, computer hardware and software, copper, electronics, equipment and machinery, gypsum, limestone, meat, medical devices, natural gas, peat, pharmaceuticals, potatoes, silver, wheat, and zinc. According to the International Monetary Fund (data.imf.org), countries and territories buying and importing most of those exports (February 2017 statistics) include the United States (top importer), the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, China, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and Denmark.

Ireland Extinct and Endangered Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ for IRELAND in northwestern Europe lists 1 extinct species since the beginning of IUCN recordkeeping, 7 critically endangered species, and 10 endangered species.

The Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) is Ireland's sole extinct species. Critically endangered species include the Balearic Shearwater bird, Common Skate, European Eel, Killarney Shad fish, Roundnose Grenadier fish, Salvelinus grayi fish, and Salvelinus obtusus fish. Endangered species include the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Blue and Fin Whale, Freshwater Pearl Mussel, North Atlantic Right Whale, Pollan fish, and Sandy Skate.

"Land" Countries

Several countries in Asia, Europe, and Oceania have the word land in their names. I nickname them the "Land Countries," which are listed right here: FINLAND, ICELAND, IRELAND, MARSHALL ISLANDS, The NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, POLAND, SOLOMON ISLANDS, SWAZILAND, SWITZERLAND, and THAILAND. Somaliland in northeast Africa is another entity with land in its name. However, it is an autonomous region in SOMALIA fighting for its independence, not a recognized country currently.

Inishowen Peninsula

At the northern tip of IRELAND in northwestern Europe, Inishowen Peninsula (called Inis Eoghain in the Irish language) juts northward into the North Atlantic Ocean and is east of Lough Foyle. Malin Head (Cionn Mhálanna) is the northernmost point on Inishowen Peninsula and Ireland while Inishowen Head is one of the peninsula's easternmost points. Inishowen is surrounded by multiple small islands, including the Isle of Doagh. These islands are small enough that they are not visible above.

Inishowen sits in County Donegal, which is located in Ulster province. As shown in the Hammond World Atlas (Sixth Edition, 2010) map above, the peninsula's highest point - Slieve Snaght - is about 615 meters and more than 2,000 feet tall. Like the rest of Ireland, Inishowen has a Humid Temperate Climate. There are various festivals and activities held throughout the peninsula. Sites of interest include Aughlish Stone Circle Complex, Bocan Stone Circle, Crummies Bay, Dunree Military Museum, Fort Dunree, Grianan Of Aileach, Malin Well, and multiple churches and castles. In addition to communities shown above, other ones include Burt, Fahan, Inch, Iskaheen, and Lecamy.

Irish Famine in the 1800s

The Great Famine of IRELAND particularly lasted from the years 1845-1850, although the range of years varies depending on the information resource (1845-1852 on Wikipedia, for example). The famine is characterized by the widespread potato blight and millions going hungry in a country that alomst fully depended on potatoes. At least a million fell victim to disease and starvation, while 2 million migrated to other nations to have a better life. If you want more information, in book form, about the Great Famine, I would recommend the 184-page nonfiction book Black Potatoes, by author Susan Campbell Bartoletti.

St. Patrick's Day!

Not only is St. Patrick's Day celebrated in IRELAND and North American countries like UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, and CANADA, but it is also celebrated in faraway lands like JAPAN, SINGAPORE, and RUSSIA! St. Patrick's Day celebrates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who was actually originally born in Britain. Some info on St. Patrick's Day and St. Patrick thanks to the History Channel's website (history.com).

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Everyone!

Ireland

Officially known as the Republic of Ireland or Poblacht na hÉireann, IRELAND (Éire) is located in Western Europe and is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. Ireland is north-northwest of the Celtic Sea and St. George's Channel and west of the Irish Sea. The capital of Ireland is Dublin, which has more than 500,000 residents. The currency is the Euro (since 2002), and the previous currency was the Irish Pound. The Pound's ISO 4217 currency code was IEP.