Po river is the longest river in Italy running for 652km. and forms the largest alluvial plain along its coast,The plain is known as the Padan Plain . Mont blanc with a height of 4810mts., is the highest point in Italy. Italy is also famous for the two volcanoes, Mount Vesuvius near Naples, the dormant volcano and Mount Etna , the active volcano situated in Sicily .
Italy experiences both Mediterranean and Continental type of a climate. The coastal area experiences the Mediterranean climate while the interior parts of Italy experience continental climate . Places located on high altitudes are colder and wet than the places located along the coast. Specifically in winter a remarkable difference in temperature is marked while moving from north to south. The east coast is drier in compare to the west coast and is more colder in winter.
Rome is the capital city of Italy . Rome is also known for the Roman Catholic Church . The capital city of Rome has been the cultural capital of the whole world. The people residing in Italy are known as Italians . Italy is considered as one of the highly-developed country in the world. During the Renaissance period Italy has been the center for science and art.
The people in Italy mainly follows Roman Catholicism as their religion. Italian is spoken all over and is considered as the official language of the country.
Economically, Italy is the seventh largest country in the world. The country has a capitalistic economy and the country is fairly divided into two parts,where the north stands as the industrial center of the country and the southern part as the agricultural part. The needs of the industry are met through imports. Tourism adds to the economy of the country at a great extent.
The communication network in Italy comprises of roads ,rails,air and water.
Facts and Figures
Official Name : Republica Italiana (Italian Republic)
Capital : Rome
Population : 57.9 million (2001)
Area : 301,278 sq km
Currency : Euro ($1 = 1.08)
Religion : Christianity
Literacy : 97%
Languages : Italian (official)
Major Cities : Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Florence, Venice
Climate : Diverse climate
Climate of Italy : Italy has a great diversity of climates ranging from the frigid in the higher elevations of the Alps and Apennines, to the semitropical along the coast of the Ligurian Sea and the western coast of the Lower Peninsula. The temperature, however, is balanced the year round and there is not much fluctuation and ranges between 11° to 19°C (about 52° to 66°F). Cool Mediterranean breezes modify extremetemperatures. The northeastern winds blowing on the eastern slopes, however, make those areas very cold during winters. Rainfall mainly occurs during the fall and winter months, when the westerly winds prevail.
Flora And Fauna of Italy : As is characteristic of Mediterranean regions the vegetation of Italy consists of trees such as the olive, orange, lemon, palm, and citron; as well as fig, date, pomegranate, almond trees, sugarcane and cotton. The vegetation of the Apennines is similar to that of central Europe. Dense growths of chestnut, cypress, and oak occupy the lower slopes, and at higher elevations, there are extensive stands of pine and fir.
Italy has fewer varieties of animals and a small number of marmot, chamois, and ibex live in the Alps. The bear is now virtually extinct, but the wolf and wild boar still flourish in the mountain regions. The fox is common. Birds like the eagle hawk, vulture, buzzard, falcon, and kite; as well the quail, woodcock, partridge, and various migratory species abound in many parts of Italy. Lizards and snakes and scorpions are also found.
Physical Map of Italy : More than half of Italy consists of the Italian Peninsula, which is a long boot shaped projection of the continental mainland into the Mediterranean Sea. On the northern frontiers are the Alps, which extend in a wide arc from Ventimiglia on the west to Gorizia on the east, and include high peaks such as Monte Cervino and Monte Rosa. Plains occupy about one-third of the land surface, of which the greatest single tract is the Plain of Lombardy. The coast along the northern Adriatic Sea is low and sandy, bordered by shallow waters and, except at Venice, not readily accessible to oceangoing vessels. Bays, gulfs, and other indentations that provide a number of natural anchorages break up the western coast of Italy.Italy has many rivers, of which the Po and the Adige are the most important.
Location of Italy : Italy shares its borders with Switzerland and Austria on the north; Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea on the east; the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea on the south; the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ligurian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea on the west; and France on the northwest. Apart from the mainland, Italy also comprises of the Mediterranean islands of Elba, Sardinia, and Sicily, and many lesser islands. Within mainland Italy lie the independent countries of San Marino and Vatican City.
