4. About 40% of Italy's land is mountainous, offering great places to ski in
winter and hike in summer. There are two major mountain ranges, the Alps
and the Apennines. The Alps, in the north, are divided into regions called,
from west to east, the Occidentali , the Centrali, and the Orientali.
The backbone of Italy is formed by the north-south trending Appennino
chain. They affect where people live and how they transport people and
goods—make trading difficult. The Dolomites are really part of the Alps,
located in the South Tyrol, Trentino, and Belluno. The highest point in Italy is
Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc) at 15,770 feet, in the Alps on the French border.
Mount Vesuvius, in southern Italy near Naples, is the only active volcano on
the European mainland. It was Vesuvius that buried the famous Roman city
of Pompeii. On the island of Sicily, Mount Etna, also still active, is one of the
world's largest volcanoes.
5. There are about 1,500 lakes in Italy. Most of these are small Alpine lakes that are used for
hydroelectric schemes. Other lakes, such as Bolsena and Albano in Lazio, occupy the
craters of extinct volcanoes. There are coastal lagoons too, such as Lakes Lesina and
Varano in Puglia. Italy also has considerable areas in which, as a result of porous rock, the
water systems run underground, forming subterranean streams, sinkholes, and lakes.
These are often associated with caves, the most famous of which are those of Castellana,
in Puglia.
The best-known Italian lakes are in the North. They are a magical place to visit. In general,
Lake Como is the most popular lake for visitors, surrounded by beautiful villas and resort
villages as well as hiking paths and it's popular for boat trips, water activities, and
photography. Lake Garda is popular with Germans and other Europeans, and Italians are
likely to head for Lake Orta for an escape. One of the largest and most popular is Lake
Maggiore, while Lake Iseo is somewhat of a hidden gem.
Other notable lakes in the Italian peninsula are Trasimeno, Bracciano, Vico and Omodeo.
In our province of Caserta, we count Lake Matese, the highest Italian karst lake, situated
in the Matese mountain range. It is filled with water from the melting of the snow of
Mount Miletto and Gallinola and from some perennial springs.
6. Between the Alps and the Appenines lies the Padan Plain. This is drained by
the longest river of Italy, the Po, stretching for 652 kilometres eastward
from the Cottian Alps to the Adriatic. Plains cover less than a quarter of the
total area of Italy, and the Padan Plain is the most extensive and important
in Italy. It occupies more than 44,000 of the 77,000 square kilometres of
Italian plain land. It ranges in altitude from sea level up to 550 metres but
most of it lies below 100 metres. The waters of the Po River and all its
tributaries, together with the Reno, Adige, Piave, and Tagliamento rivers,
eventually provide vital irrigation for the intensive agriculture of the fertile
lower plain. Other notable plains include the Maremme of Tuscany and
Lazio, the Pontine Marshes, the fertile Campania Plain around Vesuvius and
the rather arid Apulian Plain. In Sicily, the Plain of Catania is a good area for
growing citrus fruit.
7. Italia, from Latin, means “land of young cattle”. The bull was the
symbol of the southern Italian tribes. Among the endangered
species are sea, lake and river fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds
and mammals, as well as flora. Threats are the consequence of
pollution and the loss of natural habitats.
Italy's flora
Due to the long phase of settlement of the Italian peninsula and
the strong Roman high culture, the natural vegetation and
forests in Italy had been destroyed very early. Crops, pastures
and vineyards replaced the natural vegetation. Nevertheless,
one of the hallmarks of contemporary Italy was established by
man - who could imagine Tuscany without olive groves,
cypresses, pines and vineyards. Beyond the three main plant
species that are found nearly everywhere in Italy (holly, cork
oak and pine), original vegetation has been mainly preserved in
the more remote border areas and on Sardinia.
Italy's fauna
Similiar to plant life, Italy's wild animals were eradicated almost
entirely. Today, native animals, such as eagles, ibexes, chamois,
bears, wolves and marmots, can only be found in isolated
enclaves and natural parks. However, there's now a limited
number of bears and wolves living in the wild, many of which
have migrated from neighbouring Slovenia.
Swordfish and dolphins can occassionally be spotted on the
coasts. Even rare species of birds and seals have returned to
Italy. All in all, the measures to protect endangered species
slowly begin to take effect. Furthermore, as in many other
European countries, originally native animals get the
opportunity to resettle.
8. Forms of nature protection
• In Italy the national parks are 24 and cover nearly 1.5 million hectares of land and 71 thousand
of sea water. There are also two under water parks and the International Sanctuary for marine
mammals. This large mosaic of natural environments allows our country to protect an heritage
of biodiversity that is the highest and most significant in Europe. The protected areas can be
considered as the instrument of choice to promote and support forms of economic and social
development while being consistent with the objectives of environmental sustainability.
• Among them, we find Stelvio National Park, in the heart of the Central Alps; Cinque Terre
National Park, overlooking the Ligurian sea; Gran Paradiso National Park, the realm of the ibex
in the region of Val d’Aosta; Majella National Park, in Abruzzo; Asinara National Park, a small
and memorable island in Sardinia; Sila National Park, Alpine scenery in Calabria, the toe of
Italy’s boot; National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, where you might meet the Marsicano
brown bear.
10. Natural Raw Material
• Italy has few mineral resources. Natural gas is the most valuable mineral
resource found in Italy. It is used to help supply the country’s energy
needs. Marble and granite are available. These are used in the
construction of buildings and artwork. Coal, mercury, zinc, and potash
are other minerals found in our country.
• Arable land is important too. Small farms cover much of the country.
Most of the land in Italy is used for farming. Grapes and olives are the
main crops. Olive trees are grown in the South. Olive oil is a basic
ingredient in Italian cooking. Italy is famous for grapes and it is one of
the world’s top wine-making countries because of its excellent grape
crop. Wheat and tomatoes are also staple foods.
• The sea is another important resource. The long coastline has more than
eight hundred ports for fishing boats. Anchovies and sardines are two
important fish for the economy.
