👁 9.2k (63 per week) ⏱️ 6 min.

In the south, Europe is testing the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, dipping a stylish boot into it - Italy. Travelers from all over the world love to come to this blessed country, located on the Apennine Peninsula. In the northwest it borders with France, further to the east with Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Different sections of the Mediterranean Sea, washing Italy on all sides, have their own historical names: from the west - the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas, from the east - the Adriatic Sea, from the south - the Ionian Sea. In the north of the country there are the southern spurs of the Alpine Mountains and the Padan Lowland. Italy owns such large islands as Sicily and Sardinia, as well as many smaller islands.
The climate in Italy is typically Mediterranean - soft, warm, moderately humid. The Alps located to the north are a natural barrier to the humid southwestern winds, which leave a lot of moisture here; on the other hand, they reliably protect the entire country from the cold northern winds. The north of Italy has a temperate forest zone, while the south of the country has a typical subtropical climate.
The main factor determining the climatic characteristics of the Apennines and shaping the local wildlife is the Mediterranean Sea. After all, even the most remote corners of Italy, the deepest corners of Italy, are located a maximum of 200-220 kilometers from one or another seashore. The diversity of Italy's nature is also determined by the elongation of the peninsula from northwest to southeast, as well as the predominance of hilly or mountainous terrain on it. If the relatively narrow coastal strip has a warm Mediterranean climate, then in the interior of the peninsula and in the north in the mountains the climate is much cooler.
The Apennine Peninsula is located in a seismically active zone, since underneath it there is an Alpine geosynclinal zone, which is divided into two branches: the Alpine, passing under the Alps, and the Dinaric, under the Apennines and the mountains of Sicily. Therefore, volcanic eruptions such as Mount Etna are not uncommon for these places., and quite strong earthquakes.

Most of the Italian territory is part of a natural zone dominated by evergreen hard-leaved shrubs and forests. Among the large representatives of the flora, the main ones can be called boxwood, strawberry tree, pine and Aleppo pine, holm oak, cherry laurel, laurel, magnolia and olive. The Padan plain is almost entirely cultivated, its monotonous densely populated landscapes are sometimes enlivened by oak, less often pine or birch groves. Planted along roads, river banks and canals alleys of white acacias, willows and poplars.
The coastal lowlands of the islands and the Apennine Peninsula itself are overgrown with a wide strip of evergreen shrubs and trees. Among them we can mention as wild species evergreen cork and holm oaks, alpine pines and pine trees, palm trees, agaves, cacti, mastic trees. But cultivated subtropical species still predominate: almonds, olives, citrus fruits, figs, pomegranates, artificial cork oak plantings.

In the Italian mountains, the altitudinal zonation of vegetation is clearly visible. The Alps are located in a different natural zone compared to the Apennines, so only at the foothills of the latter there is a belt of subtropical vegetation. In the Apennines, above 500-800 meters, the belt of subtropical vegetation ends, and deciduous forests begin, from which the lowest plant belt begins in the Alps. In this case we are talking mainly about such a form as oak, whose forests are diluted with hornbeam, chestnut, beech and ash. As for cultural plantings, there are many vineyards, fruit trees, fields sown with oats, rye, potatoes. Mixed forests grow above beeches and conifers breeds In the Alps they begin at an altitude of 900 meters, and in the Apennines - only after 2000 meters. In the beech forests, herds graze in the off-season, which are driven to higher pastures in the summer. Above 1500 meters in the Alps, and in the south of the Apennines and in Sicily, above 2000 meters, the tallest coniferous trees begin to grow - mainly pine, fir and European spruce.
Tall grasses are located even higher subalpine meadows. The lushest and richest meadows in composition are found in the Alps, which is why they gave them their name. Mountain meadows are excellent summer pastures. Above the meadows, up to the glaciers or peaks, only lichens or mosses. Exposed mountain slopes more often found not in the Alps, but in the Apennines, in places where forests were cut down, after which soil erosion and landslides began.

Climate zones

On the main territory of Italy there are three natural climatic zones: the Mediterranean climate is observed in most of the country, in the Padan lowland it becomes temperate, and high in the Alps it becomes cold. The climate of the Italian coast is also different. If on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea it is more humid marine, then on the Adriatic it is closer to continental.

The Italian Alps, the Padanian Lowland and the rest of the peninsula have their own climatic characteristics. In most of the peninsula, the subtropics are dominated by Atlantic winds blowing from the west; they have a tropical climate in summer and a temperate climate in winter. In July, the average temperature in the north of the peninsula is +24 degrees, and in the south it is 2 degrees warmer. In summer, light winds predominantly blow from the west or northeast, with only occasional sirocco blowing in from Africa. In winter, cyclones usually occur, bringing precipitation. In the south of the peninsula in winter the average temperature is +10 degrees, but further from the coast it is colder - only +3 degrees. Snow at low altitudes occurs only in the northern Apennines, and stable snow cover occurs only in the Alps. In general, winter is very mild, and on the Italian Riviera and Genoa it is more reminiscent of autumn - in January the average temperature is +7 degrees.
In the Padan Lowland the climate is average between temperate and subtropical, with dashes of continental (very hot summer - in July the average temperature is +25 degrees, and in January it is quite cool - only 0 degrees).

Subtropical climate of Italy

In the south of the “Italian boot” the terrain is hilly, the climate is quite warm, the summers are long and very hot. Evergreen Mediterranean vegetation reigns here. The local rivers have very little water, and in the summer many of them dry up. All Italian islands have mountainous terrain and natural conditions similar to the mainland. It is clear 250 days a year, hot and dry summers (in July +26 degrees), winters are very mild (in January +8-10 degrees). From March to October, hot “sirocco” is possible, raising the temperature to +35 degrees.

Continental climate of Italy

In the northernmost alpine zone, a continental climate is observed with a clear manifestation of altitudinal zonation. In July at the foot of the AlP the air warms up to an average of 20-22 degrees. In the west, in Bardonecchia the average annual temperature is +7.4 degrees and 660 mm of precipitation falls. Colder and wetter in the eastern part, in Cortina d'Ampezzo(+6.6 degrees and 1055 mm, respectively). In the west, in the Aosta Valley, permanent snow cover forms at an altitude of 3110 meters, and in the Julian Alps it drops to 2545 meters. Sometimes in autumn and winter a dry, warm “foehn” breaks through from Austria and Switzerland, leading to sharp warming in the Susa and Aosta valleys. Blasts of cold, dry boron in the eastern Alps capable of reaching speeds of 200 km/h. In the high mountain regions it rains in the summer, but in the off-season they shift to the edges of the climate zone. Snow is only possible in winter, and its amount (3-10 m) is determined by proximity to the coast and the specific season. The heaviest snowfalls occur in the foothills. But in the mountains the temperature often drops to -15-20 degrees. Local lakes soften the weather a little. If in Milan the average January temperature is +1 degree, then on Lake Garda it is +4 degrees. There are several hundred glaciers in the Italian Alps, of the most famous - in the Mont Blanc massif is Miage - the largest in Italy, and the southernmost in Europe at the top of Corno Grande - Calderon.

Transitional climate from subtropics to temperate

Between the described zones is the Padan Lowland, which is characterized by Central European nature with signs of the beginning of the subtropics. Summers here are hot and winters are harsh, which soften towards the Adriatic. The average winter temperature in Turin is +0.3 degrees, and summer +23 degrees. Mostly rains occur in the off-season, and the higher it is, the more frequent they are. The high plains receive little snow. On the Adriatic coast, the temperature rises when moving from north to south not only for reasons of latitude, but also with a change in the wind rose from east to south. In Venice the average annual temperature is +13.6 degrees, in Ancona +16 degrees, and in Bari +17 degrees. Precipitation is 750, 650 and 600 mm, respectively.
The severity of winter in the Apennines is determined by the altitude, with mostly moderate precipitation in the form of rain and snow. Winter cyclones often change the weather, bringing snow even to southern regions. In the east, in Urbino the average annual temperature is +12.1 degrees with 890 mm of precipitation, and in Potenza +12.5 degrees with 1000 mm. Inside the peninsula and on its eastern slopes, 800 mm of precipitation falls per year, and in the center of Sicily and Sardinia not even 500 mm is collected. An important feature of Italian nature is constant tectonic and volcanic processes, since the country is located in an area of ​​young mountain folding.

Estimate!

Give your rating!

The magnificent country of Italy, which has long attracted a huge number of tourists from different parts of the world, is located in the south of Europe. In the north, Italy borders with Switzerland and Austria, in the east with Slovenia, and in the northwest with France. In the east it is washed by the Adriatic Sea, in the south by the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, in the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ligurian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Within Italy there are also the tiny states of San Marino and Vatican City, to visit which you don’t even need a visa.

Italy also owns the islands of Elba, Sicily and Sardinia, several small islands. The area of ​​the country is about 301,302 km2. More than half of the country's territory is located on the Apennine Peninsula. In the north are the Italian Alps with the country's highest point - Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) (4807 m). On the territory of Italy there are also Monte Rosa (4634 m) and Monte Cervino (4478 m). Between the Alps and the Apennines lies the vast Lombardy (Padan) plain, including the Po River valley. The Apennines stretch from the Gulf of Genoa to the Gulf of Tarentum in Calabria. The highest point of the Apennines is Mount Corno (2914 m); Only about a third of the country's territory is occupied by plains. In addition to the Lombardy Plain, this is the coast of the Adriatic Sea, as well as three narrow flat strips along the western coast: Campania di Roma, Pontine Marshes and Maremma.

It is worth noting that a large number of rivers flow through Italy, the most important of which are the Po and Adige, located in the north of the country and flowing into the Adriatic Sea. The Tiber and Arno flow on the peninsula itself. Italy also has a large number of lakes, the largest being Garda, Lago Maggiore, Como and Lugano in the north and Trasimeno, Bolsena and Bracchiano in the south.

The mountains in Italy run from Genoa to Trieste. The mountain range of Italy is formed by the Apennines, stretching from Genoa down almost to Sicily. The Po Valley in the northeast forms the largest lowland and contains the most densely populated industrial areas. Three active volcanoes - Stromboli on the Aeolian Islands, Vesuvius near Naples and Etne on Sicily - cause the country to occasionally experience tremors and earthquakes, the strongest of which were recorded in 1908 and 1980.

As for the climate of Italy, it differs greatly in different regions: from close to arctic high in the Alps to subtropical on the coast of the Ligurian Sea and the western coast of the southern part of the peninsula. This is determined by the territorial extent in longitude. In the north of Italy (Padan Plain) the climate type is transitional, from subtropical to temperate continental. Hot summer (July from +22 C to +24 C) and cold, foggy winter (January - about 0 C).

The climate of peninsular and island Italy is Mediterranean, which means that 2/3 of the year there are clear blue skies, and summers are hot and dry (in July +26 C), and warm, mild winters (from +8 C to +10 C in January) . In the south of the peninsula, dry hot winds from the Sahara - sirocco - blow from March to October. During this period the temperature rises to approximately +35 C)

Winters in the Alps are usually very harsh, with snow falling as early as mid-September, which makes Italy extremely attractive for skiers.

Nature of Italy

As you know, Italy is located within the temperate forest zone (in the north) and in the subtropical zone (in the south). The sea has a great influence on the formation of the natural characteristics of Italy, especially its climate. Even the deepest regions of the country are located no more than 200-220 km away. from the sea coast. The nature of Italy and the diversity of its landscapes are also influenced by the significant elongation of its territory from northwest to southeast and the predominance of mountainous hilly terrain.

It is worth noting that one of the most characteristic features of the country’s nature is the widespread development of volcanic and seismic processes, as well as modern land movements, due to the fact that Italy is located in the zone of young Alpine folding.

Italy's northern, very winding land border runs along the ridges of the Alps for almost its entire length. However, it constitutes only 20% of Italian borders. Italy is predominantly a maritime country. Out of 9.3 thousand km. 4/5 of its borders are sea.

The coastline of Italy is relatively little dissected; there are few convenient bays. Almost all major ports are constructed artificially. Only in Southern Italy there are ports in natural bays and bays (Naples, Salerno, Taranto, Cagliari).

Climate of Italy

Italy is characterized by large climatic differences between individual regions - from the moderate warm climate of the Padan Plain to the pronounced subtropical climate of Sicily.

Only the climate of peninsular and island Italy can be called Mediterranean. The climate of the Padana Plain, with the same hot summers as on the Apennine Peninsula, but with cold and foggy winters, can be considered transitional from subtropical to temperate. Here the influence of the warm Ligurian Sea is prevented by the Maritime Alps and the Apennines, while at the same time colder air from the Adriatic freely penetrates here. The average temperature in January on the Padan Plain is about 0°, and in July - +23-24°. In autumn, cyclones actively form here. In winter there is always snow, and there are often frosts down to 10°. Of the 600 - 1000 mm of annual precipitation, half occurs in spring and summer. Heavy, even catastrophic downpours are not uncommon in Northern Italy. Summer rains are often accompanied by thunderstorms and hail. The Mediterranean climate is clearly expressed in the south of the Apennine Peninsula and on the islands. Summer here is dry and hot (average July temperature is +26°), winter is mild and warm (average January temperature is + 8-10°). In the northern and central parts of the Apennine Peninsula, the average temperatures are different - + 24° in July and + 1.4-4° in January. Snow falls very rarely on the Apennine Peninsula. From March to October, the sirocco blows in southern Italy - a dry and hot wind from Africa, bringing temperatures up to + 30-35° and reddish dust.

As for the climate of the Alps, it varies with altitude from moderately warm to cold. In the mountains, snow lasts for several months, but on the mountain tops it never melts.

The slopes of the Carnic Alps receive the most precipitation - 3000 mm. In the remaining Alpine regions, an average of 1000 mm falls annually.

The Mediterranean precipitation regime (maximum in winter, minimum in summer) is characteristic of the entire peninsular and island Italy.

Puglia has the driest place in Italy, with only 197 mm of precipitation per year.

In the upper part of the Apennine Mountains the climate is cold, and in the closed intermountain valleys it is sharply continental.

The areas of the Ligurian Riviera, the coast of the Ionian Sea, the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, are characterized by a particularly mild climate. Here the difference between the average temperatures of the coldest month (January) and the hottest (July) is approximately 15°. Therefore, along the coasts of Italy, especially on the Ligurian Riviera, famous climatic resorts stretch in a chain.

Relief and geological structures

Most of Italy's surface is occupied by mountains and hills, and less than 1/4 of its area is in the Padan plain and narrow coastal lowlands.

Italy is separated from the rest of the continent by the Alps, the highest mountain range in Europe. The giant arc of the Alps, curved to the northwest, stretches from west to east for 1200 km. The highest, western part of them is the ancient Hercynian massif, composed of crystalline rocks. It is here that the highest peaks of the Alps are located: Mont Blanc (4807 m), Monte Rosa (4634 m), Cervina (4478 m). The tops of these mountains are covered with powerful glaciers. To the south, the Alps drop to 1000 m above sea level (Alpes-Maritimes). To the east, the chain of mountains fan out, and their height drops to 2000 m (Carnic Alps).

The Alpine mountain ranges are characterized by numerous valleys and passes through which roads and railways pass; in some places the mountains are pierced by tunnels. The natural resources of the Alps have been extensively used by man for a long time. It is enough to recall at least the large reserves of energy contained in Alpine rivers, the numerous climatic and ski resorts, and the extraction of building materials. People have long settled in the picturesque Alpine valleys with their fertile climate, and now there are many cities there (Aosta, Sondrio, Bolzano, etc.)

In the southwest, the Alps turn into the Apennine Mountains, which, bordering the Ligurian Gulf, stretch further across the entire Apennine Peninsula. The Apennines are one of the youngest mountains on earth. In their length (1500 km) they exceed the Alps, but are much inferior to them in height. Their highest point, Mount Corno, reaches only 2914 m above sea level. The peaks of the Apennines do not reach the snow line and are devoid of eternal snow; only on the eastern slopes of Monte Corno, the only glacier in the Apennines descends to a height of 2690 m.

The Apennines are very diverse in their geological structure and topography. The mountains in Tuscany, the central Apennines, Campania and Brasilicata are composed of conglomerates, sandstones and limestones, as well as shales and marbles. To the south in Calabria they are composed of ancient, volcanic and metamorphic rocks. The same rocks are also characteristic of the mountains of Sicily and Sardinia.

Due to the wide distribution of limestones in Italy, in many areas - in the Eastern Alps, Northern and Central Apennines, on the Murge and Gargano plateaus, in Sicily, Sardinia, all forms of surface and closed karst are found: sinkholes, wells, carr fields, cave grottoes. In the Alps there is one of the deepest caves in the world - Antrio del Corchia (805 m). In total, there are about 70 large caves and several hundred grottoes in Italy. The Blue Grotto on the shores of the island of Capri is famous all over the world.

The only extensive lowland in Italy is the Padana Plain, which occupies most of the Po River basin. The remaining lowlands, small in area, stretch along the coasts. The Padan Plain gradually decreases from west to east. In its hilly western part there are orchards and vineyards, and in the lower reaches of the river. Po - livestock, grain and beet growing areas. The Padana Plain is not only the main breadbasket of Italy, but also the most industrially developed region of the country.

It is no secret that Italy is one of the few European countries where earthquakes occur frequently. Often they are catastrophic in nature. In the 20th century Over 150 earthquakes have been registered in the country. The zone of greatest seismic activity occupies Central and Southern Italy. The last strong earthquake occurred in November 1980. It covered a vast territory - 26 thousand square meters. km (from the city of Naples to the city of Potenza).

Italy is the only country on the continent where there are volcanoes of different types and in different stages of development. There are also extinct volcanoes that once housed lava.

Inland waters

In Italy there are practically no powerful full-flowing rivers, but rather mountain streams flowing directly into the sea or forming relatively small river systems. Only in northern Italy there is a developed network of rivers that are fed year-round by glacial meltwater and heavy rainfall. The axis of the northern Italian river network is the largest and deepest river in Italy - Po is 670 km long and has a width of 100 to 800 meters or more. The area of ​​its basin occupies about 1/4 of the country's territory. Starting in the west, in the Alps, the Po flows east across the entire Padana Plain and flows into the Adriatic Sea. In some places, in the lower reaches, the Po bed lies higher than the surrounding plain. This required the construction of numerous dams to protect against floods, which are not uncommon here. The river, with its tributaries and canals, forms a large shipping system.

The left tributaries of the Po flow from the Alps, and the right tributaries from the Apennines. The left tributaries are fed mainly by melted glacial waters in summer. The Apennine tributaries of the Po are small, turbulent mountain rivers that are fullest in the spring, when the snow melts and there is heavy rain, and in the rainy autumn.

The remaining rivers of mainland Italy, not included in the Po system, are fullest in June, as a result of the melting of winter snow and the fall of summer rains.

The largest river of the Apennine Peninsula is the Tiber, which is 405 km long and only 150 m wide. From Rome to the mouth, the Tiber is navigable.

Through a system of lakes, tributaries and canals, the Tiber is connected to another significant river of the peninsula - the Arno. Both the Tiber and especially the Arno are notorious for their destructive floods. For example, the flood in Florence in 1966 caused huge losses to the economy and cultural monuments.

As for the large rivers of the Apennine Peninsula of the Mediterranean type, they are deep in autumn and winter and become shallow in summer. Numerous small rivers dry up completely in summer, and in autumn and winter they turn into turbulent streams.

Most of Italy's lakes are located in the foothills and mountainous regions of the Alps and on the Adriatic coast. These are extensive, with an area of ​​up to 370 square meters. km, reservoirs of glacial origin with depths of more than 400 m. Lake basins have a mild and healthy climate. The shores of the Alpine lakes are famous for resorts of world significance, which are famously popular among tourists.

Minerals

Some of them are small, scattered throughout the territory, and often lie in an inconvenient location for development.

One of the most famous minerals in Italy is iron ore. It has been mined for 2,700 years, and is now preserved only in Aosta and on the island of Elba.

Italy is much richer in deposits of polymetallic ores, in which lead and zinc are combined with an admixture of silver and other metals. These deposits are mainly associated with crystalline and metamorphic rocks of Sardinia and limestones of the Eastern Alps. Italy ranks one of the first places in the world in reserves of mercury ore - cinnabar, located in Tuscany. Bauxite deposits are being developed in the karst depressions of Apulia, however, they are now almost exhausted. There are manganese deposits in Liguria and Central Italy.

Italy's energy resources satisfy only 15% of its energy needs. In Sardinia, Tuscany, Umbria, and Calabria there are deposits of brown and low-quality coal. Limited oil reserves on the island of Sicily, the Padanian Plain and the east coast of Central Italy provide less than 2% of Italy's oil needs. The natural gas deposits of the Padana Plain and its underwater continuation - the continental shelf of the Adriatic Sea - are very important for the country's economy, as well as natural gas discovered in the Northern, Central and Southern Apennines and Sicily.

Deposits of sulfur, potash and rock salt, asphalt, and bitumen are concentrated on the island of Sicily.

It is worth noting that the bowels of Italy are rich in building materials - marble, granite, travertine, etc. The famous white Carrara marble is mined in Carrara (Tuscany), which was used by the ancient Romans to create many sculptures and decorate buildings. Nowadays, it is not only used in the country, but also exported.

Soils

The soil cover in Italy is very diverse. In the north, in the Alps, mountain-meadow and mountain-forest soils are common. The southern foothills of the Alps and most of the Padan plain are covered with brown forest soils. In the mid-altitude zone of the Alps they are infertile. In coastal areas near the Adriatic Sea, marshy soils are found.

In the coastal zone of the Apennine Peninsula and the island of Sicily, brown subtropical soils are common, very favorable for the cultivation of grapes and other southern crops. On the low plateaus of the Apennine foothills and on the island of Sardinia, humus-carbonate and mountain-forest brown soils predominate. In the lowlands, hills and low mountains of the coasts of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas, red Mediterranean soils were formed on limestone, especially suitable for growing fruit trees and grapes.

There are soils formed on volcanic rocks. Alluvial soils are common along the river valleys.

The soil conditions of Italy are quite favorable to agriculture, although not equally everywhere. The most fertile soils are on the plains and in low hilly areas.

Vegetable world

The vegetation of Italy is diverse, but dense population and centuries of human activity have led to the fact that cultural landscapes predominate everywhere in the country, with the exception of the highlands.

As a rule, forests occupy only 20% of the territory, mainly in the mountains and hills, while the plains are practically treeless.

The rather monotonous landscape of the densely populated and almost entirely cultivated Padan Plain is enlivened here and there by oak, and less often by birch or pine groves. Alleys of poplars, willows, and white acacias border the roads and banks of canals and rivers.

A wide strip of evergreen trees and shrubs stretch along the coastal lowlands of the Apennine Peninsula and islands. Among the wild species that stand out here are evergreen holm and cork oaks, pine and alpine pines, mastic trees, palm trees, cacti, and agaves. However, cultivated species predominate here, primarily subtropical ones - citrus fruits, olives, almonds, pomegranates, figs, cork oak groves planted by humans.

In the mountains of Italy, altitudinal zonation is clearly visible. Since the Alps and the Apennines are located in different natural zones, the belt of subtropical vegetation is characteristic only of the foothills of the Apennines. At an altitude of 500-800 m above sea level in the Apennines, subtropical vegetation gives way to deciduous forests. In the Alps, they represent the lower plant belt. These are predominantly oak forests, with an admixture of chestnut, hornbeam, ash, and beech. Cultivated plants in this belt include fruit trees, vineyards, and crops of rye, oats, and potatoes. Higher up begins the belt of mixed coniferous-beech forests. Their lower limit in the Alps is 900 m, and in the Apennines - 2000 m. In spring and autumn, herds graze among beech groves, and in summer they are driven even higher.

At an altitude of about 1500 m in the Alps and 2000 m in the Southern Apennines and Sicily, the highest forest belt begins - coniferous forests, consisting of various types of pine, European spruce, and fir.

Above the coniferous forests, subalpine tall grass meadows begin.

They give way to alpine meadows. The Alps are especially famous for their rich and lush mountain meadows. Mountain meadows are used as summer pastures. Above the mountain meadows to the very peaks or glaciers, the slopes are covered with mosses and lichens. In the Apennines, more often than in the Alps, bare slopes are found - the result of deforestation, erosion and landslides.

Geography and regions

Mountains, rivers, plains

4/5 of the territory are mountains and foothills - Italy includes two large mountain systems: the Apennines and the southern slopes of the Alps.

The Apennines, a range of limestone hills from Genoa to Sicily, formed by later geological movement, divides the country into two zones. The eastern slopes are gentler, the western ones are steeper. The peaks of this limestone chain are lower than those of the Alps. In the area from Naples to Sicily, tectonic plates move, causing earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and noticeable changes in sea level.

The Italian Alps, which arose as a result of the folding of the earth's crust in the Tertiary period, form a giant barrier between Italy and northern Europe. They are divided into the Piedmontese, Lombardy, South Tyrol and Venetian Alps. In the Piedmont Alps there are high (more than 4000 m) massifs of Gran Paradiso, Mont Blanc, and Monte Rosa. In the upper zone of the Italian Alps there are significant glaciers. The most important passes through which communication routes with European countries pass - Spluga, Brenner, Mont Cenis, Simplon Saint Gotthard - lie at an altitude of over 2000 m.

Plains and lowlands

Valleys occupy approximately a quarter of Italy's territory. The Padana Plain lies on the site of a vast tectonic depression between the Alps and the Apennines, which is gradually filled with river sediments. The plain is divided into 4 parts: the elevated Piedmontese (in the west). Lombard (in the center), Venetian (in the east) and Emilian (in the south, at the foot of the Tuscan Apennines).

Rivers

The Po River crosses the Padan Plain from west to east (652 km). Its numerous tributaries flow from the adjacent slopes of the Alps and Apennines. There are many hydroelectric power plants installed on the abundant alpine tributaries. The upper tributaries of the Po River cut through the Italian Alps with a dense network of transverse valleys along which railroads and highways pass, connecting Italy with France and Switzerland through the Petit and Grand St. Bernard passes. In a number of areas, intense river erosion has a great influence on the formation of the relief. The rivers of the Apennine Peninsula are small, the largest is the Tiber (405 km).

Lakes

A characteristic feature of the Pre-Alps zone is the presence of large lakes (Lago Maggiore, Lugano, Como, Iseo, Garda), which are the terminal basins of ancient glaciers. Rivers (tributaries of the Po) flow through the lakes. There are many resorts located in the basins of these lakes. There are many lakes of karst and volcanic origin (large crater lakes of the Roman region - Bolsena, Bracciano, Albano, Vico).

Climate

In most of Italy, the climate is Mediterranean, on the Padanian Plain it becomes temperate, and in the upper mountain zone it is cold. The climate also varies on the coast. So, on the Tyrrhenian it is maritime, on the Adriatic it is more continental. 3 parts of Italy (the Apennine Peninsula and islands, the Padana Plain and the Italian Alps) also have their own climatic characteristics. On the peninsula it is a subtropical zone with a predominance of air masses of Atlantic origin: tropical in summer, temperate in winter. The average temperature in July is about +24°C in the north of the peninsula and +26°C in the south. The winds in summer are predominantly westerly and northeasterly, with little strength, with the exception of the sirocco, which blows from Africa. Winter is characterized by cyclones with precipitation. The average temperature in the south of the peninsula is +10°С, in the inner parts +3°С. Snow falls at low altitudes only in the northern part of the peninsula; stable cover forms only in the mountains. Winter is mild. The climate on the Italian Riviera is especially mild (the average t° in January in Genoa is +7°C). The climate of the Padan Plain, transitional between subtropical and temperate, has continental features (summers are very hot, the average temperature in July is +25°C, winter is quite cool, the average temperature in January is 0°C).

Brief description of regions

Liguria

Liguria was home to a coastal civilization until the Roman era. The waters of the rocky, rugged coastline do not abound in fish, however, many small deep-sea ports have been preserved from the times of the Ligurians, and there are busy transport routes here. The Romans planted olive trees here, spread viticulture and gardening, fruits and flowers are grown in Liguria on an industrial scale.

Piedmont

A fertile area in the vast Po River valley, where cereals and 3/5 of the volume of rice are grown. Located at the foot of the mountain range in the upper reaches of the Po River. Numerous hydroelectric power plants supply electricity to local industries: textile factories, metallurgical, mechanical engineering and chemical plants in Turin. South-east of Turin, the low limestone hills of Monferrato produce the well-known Asti wines and Gorgonzola cheese.

Lombardy

The region's economic activity is driven by its geographic location - to the north, magnificent lake valleys provide access to alpine passes. Lombardy ranks first in silk production - mulberries are located in the Brianza region. Milan is the economic capital of Italy, with the highest population and business density. This city with modern architecture and numerous commercial enterprises and cultural institutions is surrounded by a ring of industrial plants in the textile, oil, chemical, metallurgical and food industries.

Veneto

This area is in the vast alluvial valley of the Po River and its tributaries, above which rise from the north the Venetian foothills of the Alps, and even further - the western massifs of the Dolomites. In the deltas of the Po and Adige rivers there are huge desert reclaimed areas that are often flooded. After the water recedes, wheat and sugar beets are grown on an industrial scale in some areas. It is an agricultural region where corn, mulberries, olive and fruit trees are grown and wine is produced. The industrial sector includes oil refining, metal smelting and chemical plants, as well as large hydroelectric power plants in the valleys of the Alpine foothills. The landscape is punctuated by two small volcanic groups: the Berici mountains south of Vicenza and the Eugenia mountains near Padua. There are thermal springs and the slopes are covered with vineyards. The coast has the shape of lagoons, separated from the sea by sand spits with washes. Venice is built on stilts in one of these lagoons.

Regions of Italy

Emilia-Romagna

The valley bordering the Apennines takes its name from the Via Emilia, the straight Roman road that crosses it from Piacenza to Rimini and along which the main cities of the region are located. Romagna is located south and east of Bologna. The region east of Ferrara is home to rice cultivation. In the south there is an area where eels are caught.

Tuscany

The region is located on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The coast is rocky in places (south of Livorno), in places flat and sandy (for example, in the vicinity of Viareggio). Marble mining is carried out in the Apuan Alps north of the Arno in Carrara. The region also includes the mountainous island of Elba, the third largest island in Italy. Tuscan The landscape is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. Gracefully curved low hills, covered with olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees, are bathed in a soft golden haze.

Umbria

This is the land of St. Francis. Medieval cities that grew up on the site of Etruscan settlements rise above ravines and valleys.

Marche

The region was once border provinces of the Frankish Empire and parts of the Papal States, and is a rather uneven area between the Republic of San Marina and Ascoli Piceno, in which parallel spurs of the Apennines descend into the Adriatic Sea, forming a series of deep and narrow valleys. There is a flat and even coastal zone, strewn with beaches and port canals. Apart from the capital and the busy port of Ancona, most of the old cities are built on commanding heights.

Lazio

Stretching between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apennines, the Lazio region is the cradle of Roman civilization. The coast here is sandy, the ancient port of Ostia at the mouth of the Tiber River is covered with silt. To the east and north, volcanic hills with lonely crater lakes rise above the famous ancient ruins of the Roman Campania.

Campania

The region forms a fertile semicircle around the Bay of Naples, in which hemp, tobacco and cereal crops alternate with olive groves and vineyards. Above the Gulf of Naples, which captured the imagination of the ancients, rises the characteristic silhouette of Vesuvius. Although the coastline has lost much of its charm due to dense development, the Sorrento Peninsula and the Isle of Capri remain attractive in their beauty.

Italy is located in the extreme south of Europe, mostly in the subtropical zone. Among the countries of Southern Europe, it is in Italy that the subtropical features of nature are most clearly and typically expressed. The sea plays a big role in shaping the natural characteristics of Italy, especially its climate. Even the deepest regions of the country are located no more than 200 - 220 km from the sea coast.

The nature of Italy and the diversity of its landscapes are also influenced by the significant elongation of its territory from northwest to southeast and the predominance of mountainous and hilly terrain.

One of the most characteristic features of the country’s nature is the widespread development of volcanic and seismic processes, as well as modern land movements, due to the fact that Italy is located in the zone of young Alpine folding. The northern, very winding land border of Italy runs along the ridges of the Alps for almost its entire length. However, it constitutes only 20% of Italian borders. Italy is predominantly a maritime country. Out of 9.3 thousand km. 4/5 of its borders are sea. All the seas washing the Italian shores (Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, Adriatic) form parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

The coastline of Italy is relatively poorly dissected. Almost all major ports are constructed artificially. Only in Southern Italy there are ports in natural bays and bays (Naples, Salerno, Teranto, Cagliari).

Over the centuries, the coastline of Italy has changed somewhat: in some parts of the coast they sank, in others they rose. The mobility of the coasts is explained by the relative geological youth of the country.

Almost 4/5 of the surface of Italy is occupied by folded mountains of Alpine age interspersed with ancient Hercynian massifs, their foothills and hills, and less than 1/4 of its area is occupied by the Padan plain and narrow coastal lowlands.

On the mainland, Italy is separated from the rest of the continent by the Alps, the highest mountain system in Europe. The giant arc of the Alps, curved from the northwest, stretches from west to east for 1200 km. The highest, western part of them is the ancient Hercynian massif, composed of crystalline rocks. It is here that their highest peaks are located: Monte Bianco, or Mont Blanc (4807m), Monte Rosa (4634m), Cervina (4478m). To the south, the Alps drop to 1000m above sea level (Alpes-Maritimes). To the east, the chain of mountains diverges, and their height drops to 2000m (Canian Alps).

Along with crystalline rocks, limestones are widespread in the Central and especially Eastern Alps. The tops of these huge mountains are covered with powerful glaciers, most of which are concentrated in the west, in the Pennine Alps. Dizzying steeps, pointed rocky ridges, majestic peaks, deep valleys with stepped slopes, powerful glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make up a unique alpine landscape. The most famous passes of the Alps are Simplon, lying at an altitude of 2005m, Saint Bernard (2469m), Mont Cenis (2083m), etc.

The natural resources of the Alps have been extensively used by man for a long time. It is enough to recall at least the large reserves of energy contained in Alpine rivers, the numerous climatic and ski resorts, and the extraction of building materials. There are many cities in the picturesque Alpine valleys with their favorable climate (Aosta, Sandrio, Bolzano, etc.).

The Apennines are one of the youngest mountains on earth. In their length (1500 km) they exceed the Alps, but are much inferior to them in height. Their highest point, Mount Corno in the Gran Sasso massif of Italy in the Abruzzi Apennines, reaches only 2914m above sea level. The peaks of the Apennines reach the snow line and are devoid of eternal snow; only on the eastern slopes of Monte Carlo, the only firn glacier in the Apennines descends to a height of 2690 m.

The Apennines are very diverse in their geological structure and topography. The mountains, composed mainly of conglomerates, sandstones and limestones, as well as clayey shales and marbles, are sometimes located in curtains with closed valleys between them (as, for example, in Tuscany), or stretch in long chains from northwest to southeast, as in the Central The Apennines then break up into separate massifs (in Campania and Basilicata). To the south in Calabria they pass into high plateaus composed of ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Due to the wide distribution of limestones in Italy, in many areas - in the Eastern Alps, Northern and Central Apennines, on the Murge and Gargano plateaus, in Sicily, Sardinia, all forms of surface and closed karst are found: sinkholes, wells, carr fields, grottoes, caves. In the Apuan Alps there is one of the deepest caves in the world - Antrodel - Korpia (805m). In total, there are about 70 large caves and several hundred grottoes in Italy. In the region of Umbria alone there are about 120 grottoes.

A characteristic feature of the geological structure of Italy is the wide distribution of volcanic rocks, which are especially common in Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Sicily and Sardinia.

The only extensive lowland in Italy is the Padanian plain, which occupies most of the Po River basin. The remaining lowlands, small in area, stretch along the coasts.

The Padan Plain gradually decreases from west to east. In its hilly western part there are orchards and vineyards, and in the lower reaches of the Po River there are livestock, grain and beet-growing areas. The Padana Plain is not only the main breadbasket of Italy, but also the most industrially developed areas of the country.

Italy is one of the few European countries where earthquakes occur frequently. Often they are catastrophic in nature. The zone of greatest seismic activity occupies Central and Southern Italy.

Italy is the only country on the continent where there are volcanoes of different types and in different stages of development. There are both extinct volcanoes (Eugean Hills, Alban Mountains) and active ones (Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli). The most famous volcanoes in the country are Mount Etna in eastern Sicily and Vesuvius, which is an expressive detail of the unique Neapolitan landscape. In recent years, the most active volcano in Italy is Mount Etna. Eruptions of Etna occur approximately every three to five years.

In Italy, you can observe various natural phenomena associated with volcanism - emissions of water vapor under high pressure on the Island of Ischia or carbon dioxide in the Grotto of Dogs on the Phlegrean Fields, near Naples; in Tuscany there are hot mineral springs, and in the Emilian Apennines there are mud volcanoes.

Italy is very insufficiently and unevenly supplied with raw materials and energy resources, although it has a variety of minerals. Their deposits are mostly small, scattered throughout the territory, and are often located in an inconvenient location for development. At the same time, some deposits have been developed since ancient times and are currently being depleted or have already been exhausted and abandoned.

Italy has small deposits of iron ore. It has been mined for 2,700 years, and is now preserved only in Aosta and on the island of Elba.

Italy is much richer in deposits of polymetallic ores, in which lead and zinc are combined with an admixture of silver and other metals. These deposits are associated mainly with crystalline and metamorphic rocks of the Sardinian massifs and with the Triassic limestones of the Eastern Alps. Italy occupies one of the first places in the world in terms of reserves of mercury ore - cinnabar, which lies in the depths of the Alshata volcanic massif in Tuscany. In the same area there are significant reserves of pyrites. Bauxite deposits are being developed in the karst depressions of Apulia, however, they are now almost exhausted. Antimony ores occur in the Devonian limestones of Sardinia. There are manganese deposits in Central Italy.

Italy's energy resources satisfy only 15% of its energy needs. There is an acute shortage of coal reserves. In Sardinia, Tuscany, Umbria, and Nalabria there are deposits of brown and low-quality coal. Limited oil reserves on the island of Sicily and the Padanian Plain and on the east coast of Central Italy provide less than 2% of Italy's oil needs. Natural gas deposits are very important for the country's economy; usually dissolved in the water that permeates the loose tertiary and quaternary sediments of the Padan Plain and its underwater continuation - the continental shelf of the Adriatic Sea. Natural gas has also been discovered in the Northern, Central and Southern Apennines and Sicily. Italy provides 2/3 of its natural gas needs from its own reserves.

Deposits of sulfur, potash and rock salt, asphalt, and bitumen are concentrated on the island of Sicily.

The depths of Italy are rich in building materials - marble, granite, travertine, tuff, pozzolans (raw materials for the cement industry), etc. The famous white Carrara marble is mined in Carrara (Tuscany), which was used by the ancient Romans to create many sculptures and decorate buildings. Nowadays, as in the past, it is not only used in the country, but also exported. (For the map of mineral extraction, see section X.1. Industry.)

The elongation of Italy from north to south causes large climatic differences between individual regions - from the moderate warm climate of the Padan Plain to the pronounced subtropical climate of Sicily.

Actually, only the climate of peninsular and island Italy can be called Mediterranean. The climate of the Padana Plain, with the same hot summers as on the Apennine Peninsula, but with cold and foggy winters, can be considered transitional from subtropical to temperate, and closer to temperate continental. Here the influence of the warm Ligurian Sea is prevented by the Maritime Alps, while at the same time colder air from the Adriatic freely penetrates here. The average temperature in January on the Padan Plain is 0, and in July - +23-24. In autumn, cyclones actively form here. In winter there is always snow, often frosts down to 10. Snow lies on the plains, sometimes for several weeks. Of the 600 - 1000 mm of annual precipitation, half occurs in spring and summer. Heavy, even catastrophic downpours are not uncommon in Northern Italy. Summer rains are often accompanied by thunderstorms and hail.

The climate of the Alps varies with altitude from warm temperate to cold. In the mountains, snow lasts for several months, but on the mountain tops it never melts. Often in the Alps there are heavy snowfalls that the passes become impassable.

The slopes of the Carnic Alps facing the humid westerly winds receive the most precipitation - 3000 mm. In the remaining alpine regions, an average of 1000 mm falls annually. In the Alpine foothills in winter, a dry and warm foehn, or tramontana, often blows, and the Trieste region is characterized by bora - a strong cold wind that falls from low mountains to the sea.

The Mediterranean climate is most clearly expressed in the south of the Apennine Peninsula and on the islands. Summer here is dry and hot (the average temperature in July - August is about +26), winter is mild and warm (the average temperature in January is +8 -10). In the northern and central parts of the Apennine Peninsula, the average temperatures are different - +24 in July and +1.4 - 4 in January. Snow falls extremely rarely on the Apennine Peninsula; in Central and Southern Italy, 2/3 of all days a year are cloudless. Often (from March to October) in the south of Italy there is a seasonal blowing - with an ear and a hot wind from Africa, bringing temperatures up to +30 - 35 and reddish dust.

The Mediterranean precipitation regime (maximum in winter, minimum in summer) is characteristic of the entire peninsular and island Italy. In the upper part of the Apennines the climate is cold, and in the closed intermountain valleys it is sharply continental.

The coastal regions of Italy are characterized by a particularly mild climate. Therefore, along the coasts of Italy, especially on the Lichurian Riviera, famous climatic resorts stretch in a chain.

Italian rivers are mostly short, rather mountain streams that flow directly into the sea or form relatively small river systems. Only in Northern Italy there is a developed network of rivers that are fed by glacial meltwater and heavy rainfall all year round. The axis of the northern Italian river network is the largest and deepest river in Italy - Po, 70 km long and with a width of 100 to 800 meters or more. The area of ​​its basin occupies about 1/4 of the country's territory. Starting in the west, in the Alps, the Po flows east across Italy, emptying into the Adriatic Sea. At its confluence, it forms a vast delta, which moves further and further into the sea every year (on average by 70m per year). The Po River is very muddy; it carries a huge amount of suspended rock particles, which settle down the river, filling its bed. Therefore, in some places, in the lower reaches, the Po bed lies above the surrounding plain. The Po River is navigable from its mouth to the city of Cremona. A whole network of shipping canals is woven into its delta.

The left tributaries of the Po flow from the Alps, and the right tributaries from the Apennines. Full-flowing left tributaries (Dora - Balletea, Ticino, Adda, Oglio, Mincio, etc.) are fed mainly by melted glacial waters in the summer. Small rapid mountain rivers - Taparo, Trebbia, Taro, Secchia, Ponaro - are fullest in the spring, when the snow melts and there is heavy rain, and in the rainy autumn.

The remaining rivers of mainland Italy, not included in the Po system (Adigia, Piave, Tagliamento, Reno, etc.), are fullest in June, as a result of the melting of winter snow and the fall of summer rains.

The largest river of the Apennine Peninsula is the Tiber, the length of which reaches 405 km, and the average width is only 150 m. From the source to the confluence of the Nera River, the Tiber is a real mountain river, then when it reaches the plain its flow calms down, and from Rome to the mouth the Tiber is navigable.

The large rivers of the Apennine Peninsula are of the Mediterranean type, i.e. They are full of water in autumn and winter and become shallow in summer. Numerous small rivers, "figumara", dry up completely in summer, and in autumn and winter they turn into turbulent streams.

Italian rivers have long been used by humans to produce electricity, for irrigation, to supply water to settlements and industrial enterprises, and also, on a small scale, for navigation. The total reserves of hydropower resources in Italy, technically available for development, amount to 56 billion kWh. More than 60% of them are concentrated in the Alps. Almost all of these resources are already used by existing hydroelectric power plants.

Most of Italy's lakes are located in the foothills and mountainous regions of the Alps and on the Adriatic coast. The pre-alpine lakes are especially famous: Maggiore, Lugano, Como, Iseo, Gorda, etc. These are vast, ranging from 50 to 370 square meters. m, reservoirs of glacial origin with depths of more than 400 m. Interestingly, their bottom lies below sea level. The lake basins have a mild and healthy climate. The shores of alpine lakes are famous for resorts of world significance. In addition to large lakes in the Alps, near the border of the snow cover, there are about 3,000 small reservoirs scattered, which occupy pits plowed by glaciers.

The lakes near the Adriatic coast are former lagoons blocked by sand spits. They are shallow and the water in them is salty. In Lake Valley de Cammacchiu, for example, salt is even mined.

The lakes of Central Italy - Bolsena, Vino, Albano, Nelli, Bracciano - were formed as a result of the filling of the craters of some extinct volcanoes with water and most often have rounded outlines. There are quite a lot of artificial storage facilities in Italy.

The soil cover of Italy is very diverse. In the north, in the Alps, mountain forest soils are common. The southern foothills of the Alps and most of the Padan plain are covered with brown forest soils. In the mid-altitude zone of the Alps they are salty and have little fertility. In coastal areas near the Adriatic Sea, marshy soils are found.

In the coastal zone of the Apennine Peninsula and the island of Sicily, brown subtropical soils are common, very favorable for the cultivation of grapes and other southern crops. On the low plateaus of the Apennine foothills and on the island of Sardinia, humus-carbonate and mountain-forest brown soils predominate. In the lowlands, hills and low mountains of the coasts of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas, red Mediterranean soils ("terra rosa") were formed on limestone, especially suitable for growing fruit trees and grapes. There are soils formed on volcanic rocks. Alluvial soils are common along the river valleys.

The soil conditions of Italy are quite favorable to agriculture, although not equally everywhere. The most fertile soils are on plains and low hilly areas.

The vegetation of Italy is even more diverse. However, dense population and centuries of human activity have led to the fact that everywhere in the country, except for the highlands, cultural landscapes predominate. Forests once covered almost the entire Padana plain and the Apennine peninsula, but they were rapaciously exterminated for fuel and construction and now occupy only 20% of the territory, mainly in the mountains and hills, while the plains are practically treeless.

The rather monotonous landscape of the densely populated and almost entirely cultivated Padan Plain is enlivened here and there by oak, and less often by birch or pine groves. Poplars, willows, and white acacia grow in the floodplain of the Po River. Alleys of these trees border roads, banks of canals and rivers.

Along the coastal lowlands of the Apennine Peninsula and islands, evergreen trees and shrubs stretch in a wide strip, penetrating far (up to 500 - 600 m) into the mountains along river valleys. Among the wild species that stand out here are evergreen holm and cork oaks, pine and alpine pines, mastic trees, palm trees, cacti, and agaves. The maquis formed by strawberry tree, tree-like juniper, laurel, wild olive, oleander, etc. is very characteristic. However, cultivated species predominate here, primarily subtropical ones - citrus fruits, olives, almonds, pomegranates, figs, cork oak groves planted by humans.

In the mountains of Italy, altitudinal zonation is clearly visible.

Since the Alps and the Apennines are located in different natural zones, the belt of subtropical vegetation is characteristic only of the foothills of the Apennines. In the Alps, this type of vegetation is found as intrazonal along the shores of alpine lakes with their mild climate. At approximately an altitude of 500 - 800 m above sea level in the Apennines, subtropical vegetation gives way to deciduous forests, or rather their small islands, left after centuries of deforestation. In the Alps, they represent the lower plant belt. These are predominantly oak forests, with an admixture of chestnut, hornbeam, ash, and beech. Of the cultivated plants in this belt, mainly Central European fruit trees and vineyards are common; there are crops of rye, oats, potatoes, and forage crops. Higher up begins the belt of mixed coniferous-beech forests. Their lower limit in the north, in the Alps, descends to 900 m, and in the south, in the Apennines, rises to 2000 m. In spring and autumn, herds graze among beech groves, and in summer they are driven even higher.

At an altitude of about 1500 m in the Alps and 2000 m in the Southern Apennines and Sicily, the highest forest belt begins - coniferous forests, consisting of various types of pine, European species of spruce, larch, fir. Particularly extensive mountain forests are found in the alpine region of Trentino Alto Adige. In the Apennines, relatively large tracts of mountain coniferous forests are found in Calabria and Tuscany.

Above the coniferous forests, subalpine tall grass meadows begin, rhododendron, creeping forms of juniper, pine, etc. appear. Then they are replaced by alpine meadows. The Alps are especially famous for their rich and lush mountain meadows; on the peninsula and islands they are found only in isolated spots. Mountain meadows are used as summer pastures. Above the mountain meadows to the very peaks or glaciers, the slopes are covered with mosses and lichens. In some places, even at the edge of the snowfields, primroses and saxifrages bloom in summer. In the Apennines, more often than in the Alps, bare slopes are found - the result of deforestation, erosion and landslides.

Due to the destruction of forests, increasing population density and the area of ​​cultivated land in Italy, few wild animals remain. Only in remote areas of the Alps and Apennines, mainly in nature reserves, are there bears, wolves, chamois, roe deer, and on the island of Sardinia - mouflon, fallow deer, wild forest cat, another species of which is found in Sicily. Wild boars are more widespread. There are many foxes in the Alps. Small predators and rodents (weasels, martens, marmots, squirrels, etc.), as well as hares, are much better preserved. Hedgehogs and numerous species of bats are ubiquitous. The world of reptiles and birds is rich. Like other subtropical countries, Italy abounds in lizards, snakes, and turtles. The bird fauna numbers up to 400 species. In the mountains there are also, although rarely, hawks - goshawk, vulture, golden eagle, in the highlands of the Alps - capercaillie, hazel grouse, ptarmigan, swift, etc. On the plains, along the shores of lakes and lagoons, there are many geese and ducks. The world of insects in Italy is diverse: butterflies, cicadas, ants, and beetles are numerous. Of marine fish, mullet, cod, sardines, tuna, and flounder are of great commercial importance, and of river fish, carp, trout, and eel are of great commercial importance.

To protect flora and fauna, four national parks have been created in Italy: Gran Paradiso, Stelvio, Circeo, Abruzzo. These are just small islands of wild nature with a total area of ​​about 2000 square meters. Gran Paradiso and Stelvio were created in the Alps to protect high-mountain flora and fauna. The Abruzzo National Park was formed for the same purposes in the highest part of the Apennines. Chicheo National Park, the smallest in area, is the only one in Italy created on the coast to protect not only forests, but also peculiar coastal forms - grottoes, cliffs, etc. In Tuscany there are large private forest areas such as reserves. Protective areas are being created to protect soils from erosion. However, all these methods are far from sufficient to preserve Italian nature from rapid and steady change by human activity.

The lack of proper organization of nature conservation leads to further destruction of forests, irrational use of land for construction, reduction of the area of ​​national parks, and almost complete destruction of forest fauna.

As a result of the depopulation of mountain villages on abandoned lands, located mostly on steep slopes, soil erosion and the danger of landslides and floods are increasing.

Pollution of inland and sea waters is very noticeable. Many rivers have already become dangerous to use for water supply to cities. Industrial waste from numerous coastal enterprises pollutes the Mediterranean Sea and causes unique damage to coastal fauna and flora. Thus, the discharge of wastewater into a lagoon near the city of Cagliari on the island of Sardinia endangers flamingos and other rare birds that stop here during seasonal migrations. Fish catches in this lagoon decreased from 1951 to 1981. more than 90%. The unbridled growth of seaside tourist centers has led to the fact that about half of the Italian coasts, i.e. almost 4000 km can now be considered destroyed or, in any case, lost for the rational development of tourism.

The habitat in large industrial cities is in a dangerous state. Italian cities are one of the last places in the world in terms of earthiness.

In general, environmental problems in Italy are becoming more acute every year, and not enough money is allocated to solve them. The situation is complicated by the lack of control of private entrepreneurs in a capitalist society.

Most of Italy is located on the Apennine Peninsula, the image of which on geographical maps is recognized by many people and is shaped like a woman's boot.

The country also occupies a small part of the Balkan Peninsula, the Padana Plain, the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, as well as numerous small islands of the Aegadian, Lipari, Pontine, Tuscan archipelago and the southern slopes of the Alps.

In the east, its shores are washed by the Adriatic Sea, in the south by the Ionian and Mediterranean, in the west by the Tyrrhenian, Ligurian and Mediterranean seas.

In the north are the Italian Alps with the country's highest point, Mont Blanc (4807 m). Between the Alps and the Apennines lies the vast Padana Plain, which includes the Po Valley. The plains occupy only about a third of the country's territory. In addition to the Lombardy Plain, this is the coast of the Adriatic Sea, as well as three narrow flat strips along the western coast: Campania di Roma, Pontine Marshes and Maremma.

On the island of Sicily, which is separated from the mainland by the narrow Strait of Messina, there is an active volcano Etna (3323 m).

Italy has a large number of rivers, the most important of which are the Po and Adige, located in the north of the country and flowing into the Adriatic Sea. The Tiber and Arno flow on the peninsula itself.

The country also has a large number of lakes. The largest are Garda, Lago Maggiore, Como and Lugano in the north and Trasimeno, Bolsena and Bracchiano in the south.

The climate of Italy is temperate in the north and subtropical Mediterranean in the center and southern regions. The diversity of Italy's climate is determined by the extent of its territory from north to south and the mountainous terrain of most of the country. The Padan Plain has a transitional climate - from subtropical to temperate, characterized by hot summers and cool, foggy winters. Temperatures in July range from +22°С to +24°С, in January - about 0°С. In the central regions of the Apennine Peninsula, the climate is subtropical, with hot summers from +24°C to 36°C and warm winters, not lower than +5°C.

The air temperature strongly depends on the altitude of the place above sea level - even in the suburbs of Rome or Turin, gently running up the foothills, it is always 2-3 degrees colder than in the city center. And in the foothills of the Alps, this picture is even brighter - at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, citrus fruits bear fruit almost all year round. In the mountains, snow lasts up to 6 months, on the peaks it lies constantly, and heavy snowfalls are frequent from October to May.

In the south of the peninsula, dry hot winds from the Sahara - “sirocco” - blow from March to October. During this period, the temperature rises to +35°C, and at the same time the dryness and dustiness of the air sharply increases. Cold northern or northeastern “tramontana” winds blowing from across the Apennines are also common (mostly in winter).

Sardinia has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and short warm winters, very favorable for visiting the island at any time.

The climate in Sicily is also Mediterranean, very similar to Sardinia, but even hotter in summer and slightly cooler in winter. There is little precipitation and mainly from October to March. Since the territory of Italy is washed by seas on all sides, the air here is quite humid.

Natural areas

Italy lies within the temperate forest zone (in the north) and in the subtropical zone (in the south). The sea has a great influence on the formation of the natural characteristics of Italy, especially its climate. Even the deepest regions of the country are located no more than 200-220 km away. from the sea coast. The nature of Italy and the diversity of its landscapes are also influenced by the significant elongation of its territory from northwest to southeast and the predominance of mountainous hilly terrain. One of the most characteristic features of the country’s nature is the widespread development of volcanic and seismic processes, as well as modern land movements, due to the fact that Italy is located in the zone of young Alpine folding.

Inland waters

Most of the rivers in Italy are short, rather mountain streams that flow directly into the sea or form small river systems. Only in Northern Italy there is a developed network of rivers that are fed by glacial meltwater and heavy rainfall all year round. The largest and deepest river in Italy is the Po, length - 670 km, width - 100-800 m, starting in the west, in the Alps, the Po flows east across the entire Padana Plain and flows into the Adriatic Sea.

The area of ​​its basin occupies about ½ of the country's territory.

Another large river of the Apennine Peninsula is the Tiber, 407 km long and only 150 meters wide. From Rome to the mouth the Tiber is navigable. Through a system of lakes, tributaries and canals, the Tiber is connected to another significant river of the peninsula - the Arno. Both the Tiber and especially the Arno are notorious for their destructive floods. For example, the flood in Florence in 1966 caused huge losses to the economy and cultural monuments.

Most of Italy's lakes are located in the foothills and mountainous regions of the Alps and on the Adriatic coast. These are extensive, with an area of ​​up to 370 square meters. km, reservoirs of glacial origin with depths of more than 400 meters. Lake basins have a mild and healthy microclimate. The shores of the Alpine lakes are famous for their world-class resorts. The largest lakes are located in the regions of Lombardy (often called the lake district) and Veneto. The largest alpine lake in Europe is Lake Garda. Not far from Milan are Lakes Como and Maggiore, which partly belong to Switzerland. Smaller lakes: Iseo, Ledro, Misurino and Idro. The lakes near the Adriatic coast are former lagoons blocked by sand spits. The lakes of central Italy - Trasimeno, Bolsena, Vico, Bracciano, Albano, Nemi were formed as a result of the filling of the craters of some extinct volcanoes with water.