Ireland sits in the North Atlantic Ocean, just west of Great Britain. It is the third largest island in Europe. The whole island is divided into two parts. The Republic of Ireland covers most of it, while Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Ireland's famous green landscape comes from its climate. Warm ocean currents from the Gulf Stream keep Ireland's weather mild, and rain falls throughout the year. Some parts receive over 200 days of rain annually. This constant moisture feeds the thick grass that covers the rolling hills and farmland. Ireland is nicknamed the Emerald Isle because the countryside looks like a green jewel from above. The center of Ireland is mostly flat, covered in fertile farmland and peatlands called bogs. But the edges of the island are dramatic. The Cliffs of Moher on the west coast rise over 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. The Ring of Kerry in the southwest features mountains, lakes, and rocky coastline. Ireland has very few forests today. Thousands of years ago, trees covered the island, but centuries of farming and timber cutting removed almost all of them. Today, Ireland is one of the least forested countries in Europe, with only about 11 percent tree coverage.