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In the south, Europe is testing the water in the Mediterranean Sea, dropping 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 parts of the Mediterranean Sea, washing Italy from all sides, have their own historical names: from the west - the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea, from the east - the Adriatic Sea, from the south - the Ionian Sea. In the north of the country are the southern spurs of the Alpine mountains, the Padana lowland. Italy owns such large islands as Sicily and Sardinia, as well as many smaller islands.
The climate in Italy is typically Mediterranean - mild, warm, moderately humid. The Alps, located to the north, are a natural barrier to humid southwestern winds, which leave a lot of moisture here, on the other hand, they reliably protect the whole country from cold northern winds. In the north of Italy there is a temperate forest zone, while the south of the country has a typical subtropical climate.
The main factor determining the climatic features of the Apennines and shaping the local wildlife is the Mediterranean Sea. After all, even the most remote from it, the deep corners of Italy are 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 a warm Mediterranean climate is observed on a relatively narrow coastal strip, then in the depths 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 under it there is an Alpine geosynclinal zone, which is divided into two branches: the Alpine one, passing under the Alps, and the Dinaric one, under the Apennines and the mountains of Sicily. Therefore, volcanic eruptions such as Etna are not uncommon for these places., and quite strong earthquakes.

Most of the Italian territory is included in the natural zone of dominance of evergreen hard-leaved shrubs and forests. Among the major 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 Padana Plain is almost entirely cultivated, its monotonous densely populated landscapes are sometimes enlivened by oak, less often by pine or birch groves. Along roads, banks of rivers and canals planted 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. As wild species among them, we can mention evergreen cork and holm oaks, alpine pines and pines, palms, agaves, cacti, mastic trees. But cultural subtropical species still prevail: almonds, olives, citrus fruits, figs, pomegranates, artificial plantings of cork oak.

In the Italian mountains, the altitudinal zonality of vegetation is clearly visible. The Alps are located in a different natural zone compared to the Apennines, so only the foothills of the latter have a belt of subtropical vegetation. In the Apennines, above 500-800 meters, the belt of subtropical vegetation ends, and broad-leaved 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, forests of which are diluted with hornbeam, chestnut, beech and ash. As for cultural plantings, there are many vineyards, fruit trees, fields sown with oats, rye, potatoes. Above growing mixed forests of beeches and conifers breeds. In the Alps they start from a height 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 conifers begin to grow - mainly pine, fir and European species of spruce.
Even higher are the tall grasses. subalpine meadows. The juiciest and richest meadows 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 on the stones grow only lichens or mosses. exposed mountain slopes more often it can be 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

There are three natural climatic zones in the main territory of Italy: the Mediterranean climate is observed in most of the country, in the Padana lowland it becomes temperate, and it becomes cold high in the Alps. The climate of the coast of Italy is not the same. If on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea it is more humid than the sea, then on the Adriatic it is closer to the continental one.

The Italian Alps, the Padana Lowland and the rest of the peninsula have their own climatic features. In most of the peninsula, the subtropics are under the predominant influence of the Atlantic winds blowing from the west, in summer they correspond to a tropical climate, and in winter - temperate. 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, a weak wind mainly blows from the west or northeast, only occasionally "sirocco" flies from Africa. In winter, cyclones usually pass, 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 falls only in the north of the Apennines, and stable snow cover occurs only in the Alps. In general, the winter is very mild, and on the Italian Riviera and in Genoa it is more like autumn - in January the average temperature is +7 degrees.
In the Padana Lowland, the climate is between temperate and subtropical., with lines 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" there is a hilly terrain, and the climate is quite warm, the summer is long and very hot. Evergreen Mediterranean vegetation reigns here. The local rivers are very shallow, and in summer many of them dry up. All Italian islands have a mountainous relief and natural conditions similar to the mainland. 250 days a year it is clear there, hot and dry summer (in July +26 degrees), winter is very mild (in January +8-10 degrees). From March to October, hot “siroccos” are 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 zonality. In July at the foot of AlP the air warms up to an average of 20-22 degrees. To the west, in the 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). To the west, in the Aosta Valley, permanent snow cover forms at 3,110 meters, while in the Julian Alps it drops to 2,545 meters. Sometimes in autumn and winter, a dry, warm “foehn” breaks out from Austria and Switzerland. leading to sharp warming in the Susa and Aosta valleys. In the Eastern Alps, gusts of cold and dry "boron" capable of reaching speeds of 200 km/h. In the highlands, rains fall in summer, but in the off-season they shift to the edges of the climatic zone. Snow is possible only in winter, and its amount (3-10 m) is determined by the 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 degrees, 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 Padana lowland, which is characterized by Central European nature with signs of the beginning of the subtropics. Summers are hot here, and winters are harsh, which soften towards the Adriatic. The average winter temperature in Turin is +0.3 degrees, and in summer +23 degrees. Mostly rains are observed in the off-season, and the higher - the more often they are. Little snow falls on the high plains. 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 - respectively 750, 650 and 600 mm.
The severity of winter in the Apennines is determined by the height, mostly moderate precipitation in the form of rain and snow is observed. Winter cyclones often change the weather, bringing snow even to the 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 annually, and in the center of Sicily and Sardinia it does not get even 500 mm. An important feature of Italian nature is the constant tectonic and volcanic processes., since the country is located in the region of young mountain folding.

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The flora and fauna of this country is diverse and represented by a large number of species. Active human activity has led here to the fact that in many regions of the country exclusively cultural landscapes prevail. The only exceptions are the highland areas where the natural flora has been preserved. A characteristic feature of Italy is a clearly defined zonality. More than half of all plant species in Europe grow here, and 10% are endemic species.

The formation of the country's flora and fauna was also influenced by factors such as the predominance of mountainous terrain, temperate and subtropical climate, and a long coastline.

Flora of Italy

In Italy, three areas with different types of vegetation can be distinguished: the Po Valley, the Alps and the Mediterranean - Apennine region.

Three zones can also be distinguished in the Alps Zone. In the lowest zone there are broad-leaved forests represented by cork oaks, European olives, cypress, laurel cherry, chestnut, ash and maple. Further, there are already beech forests, which smoothly turn into coniferous ones. Here you can observe larches and common spruces in large numbers. Even higher, the trees end, and they are replaced by shrubs (juniper, hard alder and rhododendrons), meadows with grass, wild flowers (primrose and clove families), sedge with grassy willow. Even higher, lichens and mosses grow on snow-capped peaks.

In the region of the Padan Plain, there used to be oak forests and shrubs, but now only cultivated plants (wheat, corn, rice, sugar beets and potatoes) can be found here. In places where there is enough moisture, poplar grows, and in more arid areas - Sedge. Heather and pine forests grow on the plains, and water lilies and pondweed grow along the coast.

In the Apennine Peninsula, Sardinia and Sicily, evergreen holm and cork oaks, pines, olives, oleanders, carob trees, Aleppo pines and mastic trees are found in low-mountain areas. Above grow oaks, beeches and chestnuts, spruces, firs and pines, white ash, oriental plane tree and white poplar.

In southern Italy, you can find Italian alder, and in Sicily, Sicilian fir and papyrus. The natural forest of the Apennines has now been replaced by maquis shrubs. Various steppe plants grow on the plains.

Animal world of Italy

Deforestation and land cultivation have led to the fact that the fauna of Italy is not very diverse. Wild animals can be found here mainly in the mountains. So, marmots, wild cats, stone and forest martens, ermines and ferrets live in the Alps. As for large mammals, here you can also see the Alpine ibex (protected by law), chamois, roe deer, lynx, fox and wolf. In Abruzzo, you can meet a brown bear, and in Sardinia - fallow deer, mouflon and wild boar. Squirrels, hares and large horseshoe bats also live in Italy.

In the country you can see 400 species of feathered representatives of the animal world, including mountain partridge, vulture, swift, black grouse, golden eagle and capercaillie. Wild geese and ducks live along the shores of the lakes. Among the reptiles, vipers, some species of lizards and turtles can be distinguished, and among amphibians - the alpine salamander and the alpine newt. Sturgeons, eels and brown trout live in fresh waters, and common red mullet, crucian carp, white sharks and sword sharks live in the seas. Tuna, mackerel, sardines and flounder are caught here on an industrial scale. Invertebrates such as sponges and red corals are also found.

Many species of wild animals and birds are completely exterminated or disappeared due to environmental pollution and human intervention in the ecosystem. Wild animals can only be found in the reserves of Italy, of which there are quite a lot. Also, at the moment, National parks and reserves have been created here. The total area of ​​all national parks in the country is 200 thousand hectares. Many rare species are listed in the Red Book. The government is trying to do everything possible so that the environment does not damage the flora and fauna of the country.

The nature of Italy, stretching from north to south for more than 1100 km, is very diverse.

The far north of the country is located in the zone of the Alpine mountain system with a highly dissected relief and amazing natural diversity. The southern slopes of the Alps with the highest point of Western Europe - Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco, 4807 m) - form a complex system of ridges and valleys, overgrown at the foot with dense broad-leaved forests, changing as they rise to coniferous and mixed, and at the very peaks turning into a beautiful belt alpine meadows and high mountain wastelands. Many rivers and streams flow down from the mountains, merging into a complex network of large rivers of the Padana lowland. Springed by landslides and tectonic processes, water flows form many mountain lakes of all shapes and sizes (about 7000, among them the largest lakes in the region - Garda and Lago Maggiore), whose shores have been inhabited since ancient times and are actively used as excellent resort areas.

To the south, flat as a table, the Padana lowland (Pyanura-Padana) is formed by the alluvial activity of the vast Po system and other rivers of the Adriatic basin. An extensive lowland area (almost 200 by 500 km) stretches across the entire northern part of Italy, turning in the northwest into the Lombard lowland (altitude up to 400 m) gradually rising to the spurs of the Alps and the barely hilly Venetian lowland in the east. The lush vegetation of this zone is almost entirely formed by human activity - almost 60% of the territory is occupied by orchards, vineyards and other agricultural land, many large cities of the country are also located here - Venice, Padua, Milan and others.

South of the flat areas of the Po basin, the medium-high mountain system of the Apennines begins, stretching across the entire peninsula. The Ligurian, Tuscany-Emilian, Umbro-Marque, Abruzzo, Central, Southern and Lucan Apennines, as well as the Le Murge range, form a vast mountainous country that occupies almost 90% of the country's territory, stretching from the Alpes-Maritimes in the north to Cape Spartivento in the south. Their continuation can be found even in Sicily, which is geologically one with the massif of the Apennine Peninsula. The total height of the mountain ranges is relatively low (the highest point is Mount Korno, 2912 m), and the slopes are strongly weathered and gentle, but here the altitudinal zonality is also clearly expressed, and the vegetation belongs to the subtropical type. Most of the territory is occupied by thickets of dry Mediterranean shrubs, beech and coniferous forests, and on the tops of some mountains there are meadows and dry mountain wastelands. There are few rivers, and most of the small lakes are ancient reservoirs, so much of the region is dominated by dry subtropical vegetation and artificially cultivated land, including many vineyards and other plantings.

The coastal zone of the central part of the country forms a narrow and discontinuous hilly lowland, which in most cases has a width of no more than 5 km. The coastline of Italy is little dissected, most of the bays are vast and shallow cut into the land, forming long but narrow zones of sandy, pebbly and rocky beaches. However, there are also vast bays (Genoese, Neapolitan, Gaeta, Squillace, Policastro, Sant'Eufemia, Taranto and others), most often fenced from the sea by a belt of small islands. The west coast abounds with rocky cliffs and tiny bays, as well as numerous traces of volcanic activity, the most notable of which are the famous Mount Vesuvius and the thermal fields of Solfatara in Campania.

Sicily and Sardinia in their natural and climatic conditions differ little from the mainland. Most of these islands are occupied by low mountain ranges with clear traces of ancient and modern volcanism. A characteristic feature of the landscape of Sicily - the largest island in the region (total area of ​​​​about 25.4 thousand square kilometers) - is the cone of the active volcano Etna (Mongibello, approximately 3340 m high, area - 1250 square kilometers) - the highest and the most active volcano in Europe. Along the northern and northeastern coast of Sicily stretch the massifs of the Iblean, Ereisky and Pelorite mountains, as well as the ridges of Ficuzza, Nebrodi and Le Madonie (altitude up to 2000 m) and volcanic plateaus. The central part of the island is formed by hilly hills on the foundation of ancient plateaus, and the southern outskirts are more flat. The coastline of Sicily is narrow and rocky in the northern regions and somewhat flatter in the south. The vegetation is Mediterranean evergreen at the foot of the mountains and dry hard-leaved in the mountainous regions.

Sardinia (the second largest island in the Mediterranean, area - 24.1 thousand square kilometers) is also occupied by an extensive system of low mountain ranges and plateaus (the highest point is Mount La Marmora, 1834 m), formed by spurs of ancient volcanoes. The western shores of the island are mostly low-lying and abound in small bays and bays, the eastern ones are steeper and more rocky. The width of the coastal lowlands of Sardinia in many places does not exceed one kilometer. However, due to the somewhat wetter climate and the relative abundance of rivers, a more diverse flora has formed here than in Sicily, numbering as many species in its composition as in the rest of Italy.

The amazing nature of Italy is beautiful and attractive at any time of the day and year, thanks to the southern spurs of the Alps in the north, which are a barrier that protects the country from cold northern winds. At 1100 km, resembling the outlines of a boot, the mountain ranges of the Alps and the Padan lowland of the mainland in the north, the narrow and long Apennine Peninsula in the center and a number of large and small islands in the south are located. Italy is washed by four seas: Lugirian, Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Adriatic. The "boot" is characterized by three main types of relief: mountains, hills of various heights and a valley.

Northern Italy

The continental part of Italy, visually similar to the lapel of the Italian "jacket", is located in the Alpine mountain ranges with the highest point in Western Europe - Mont Blanc. This mountain range is called the Dolomites in honor of the French geologist Deod de Dolomieu. Steep slopes with sharp cliffs, bare cliffs with deep gorges, narrow and long valleys covered with snowfields and glaciers are typical of the Italian Alps. Under the influence of glaciers, mountain lakes of various shapes and sizes were formed here. Many streams descend from the mountains, forming a network of rivers of the Padana lowland. In the midst of this most fertile plain flows the largest river of the country, Po.

Central Italy

The middle part is occupied by the Apennine mountains, passing along the entire peninsula, dividing Italy into Western and Eastern. Their length reaches 1500 km, and the average height is 2000 km. In this mountain system there are volcanoes of different types and stages of development. In Central Italy, there are meadows and dry mountain wastelands, small lakes and artificially cultivated vineyards, a semi-desert area in the Tuscany region, called the desert of Accona. The Apennine Peninsula is located in a zone of seismic activity, so volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are not uncommon here.

Southern Italy

The coastal zone consists of hilly sections, usually no more than 5 km wide. On the southern coast there are bays that are arched and shallowly cut into the land, forming beach areas from sand, pebbles and rocks. The western coast is dominated by mountainous, fertile terrain with volcanic rocks and small bays.
Sicily, Sardinia and a scattering of small islands make up the insular part of southern Italy. A characteristic feature of the landscape are breathtaking panoramas of mountainous and hilly reliefs with volcanic plains.

Mountains and volcanoes

Italy is considered a mountainous country: the peaks of the Dolomites and the Apennines, the Sabini and Nebrodi mountains cover a third of the territory of the Italian Republic. In the Western Alps, Mont Blanc stretches for 50 km, which means “white mountain”. Mont Blanc is the highest peak of the Alps and Europe with a height of 4810m.

Italy is located in the area of ​​a tectonic fault, so earthquakes and volcanoes, both active and extinct, have become an integral part of the life of the country. Etna, Stromboli, Vesuvius are the most famous and active volcanoes in Italy. At the moment, Vesuvius is classified as an inactive volcano. During its existence, it erupted about 80 times, and the last lava ejection was in 1944. On the island of Sicily, Mount Etna erupts at the same time once every three months. The permanent Stromboli, famous for its frequent small eruptions, is located on the volcanic island of the same name.


Rivers and lakes

Millennia of movements of the earth's crust have created unique on the territory of the country. Because of the mountains, there is no place for long and deep rivers. The largest and most navigable river is the Po. Its length is 652 km. The second place in length is occupied by the Adige River in the north, its length is 410 km. The smallest river is the 175-meter Aril, which flows into the largest lake Garda, located at the foot of the Alps. There are about 1,500 lakes on the Italian territory, some of them formed in the craters of long-extinct volcanoes, such as Nemo, Vico, Albano, but most are of glacial origin - Logo Modgiore, Como. The mountainous area is rich in waterfalls. The largest and most beautiful of them is the Marble Falls, which consists of three tiers with a total height of 165 meters.

Soil resources are favorable for plowing in mountainous and hilly areas. The upper sections of the mountain ranges of the Alps are occupied by mountain-meadow chernozem-like and mountain-forest lands. On the slopes, the foothills of the Alps and the center of the Padana lowland, infertile brown forest land cover prevails. The coast of the Adriatic Sea is covered with swampy soils. The brown lands of the subtropics, covering the seaside of the Apennine Peninsula and Sicily, are exploited for agricultural land. Under the deciduous forests in the Apennine region of the island part of Sardinia, fertile humus-carbonate soils were formed. Near the seas are the best red-colored Mediterranean soils intended for cultivation. The volcanic eruptions have created layered soil covers on which vineyards are grown. In river floodplains, rich mineral alluvial meadow substrates are found at every step.

Minerals

Italy is poorly equipped with natural resources, but in terms of resources of mercury ores, native sulfur, pyrite, Italy occupies one of the main places in Europe. The largest reserves of various building materials - granite, marble and travertine - are concentrated throughout the country. The famous white Carrara marble, used for facing and sculpting, is mined in Carrara. Locations of natural gas are concentrated in the region of the Padana Lowland, the Apennines and Sicily, where large underground sulfur deposits are also located. Resources for fuel energy are presented in a small volume. Hard coal is mined on the island of Sardinia and in the Alps, and brown and lignites are mined in Tuscany. Oil reserves are small, up to 98% are imported into the country.

Vegetable world

The small area of ​​Italy and the active intervention of man in the natural environment have led to the fact that natural nature has remained mainly in the Alps, artificially created landscapes predominate in the rest of the territory. In mountainous areas at a level of 800 m and below, there are broad-leaved forests represented by chestnut, maple, and cork oaks. Above are beech and coniferous forests. The forest area turns into alpine meadows with lush herbs. High in the mountains, about 3000 m, you can see only shrubs, mosses and lichens. The flora of the Padana Plain is filled with mixed cultural vegetation: spruce, cypress, walnut, and pine. Island and peninsular landscapes are formed by subtropical trees: cork trees, citrus fruits, pomegranate, almond, fig.

Animal world

The fauna of Italy, due to human intervention in the environment, is not distinguished by great diversity. Wild animals are found in the Alpine mountains and the Apennines: stoats, ferrets, brown bears, foxes. The islands of wild nature are inhabited by large mammals. The class of herbivores is represented by hares, squirrels, roe deer, mountain goats, which are listed in the Red Book. The Italian region is rich in feathered representatives of the animal world, there are about 400 species. There are many reptiles on the territory of the country: snakes and lizards, various types of toads, in the south even scorpions. There are sturgeons, eels, brown trout in the rivers. Tuna, mackerel, sardine, and flounder are of great importance for fishing. White sharks are found in southern waters.

Natural monuments of Italy

According to natural criteria, 5 sites in Italy are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of the first monuments included in the list is the Valcamonica National Park in the Alps with pictroglyphs on the rocks.
In 1987, Venice was added to the list along with the Venetian Lagoon in the Adriatic Sea.
In 2003, Mount San Giorgio was inscribed on the World Heritage List, thanks to the discovery of fossils from the Triassic era in shale layers.
Since 2013, the active stratovolcano Etna, and since 2014, the natural landscapes of vineyards in the Lombardy region have been protected by UNESCO.
Part of the Dolomites, lying in the area of ​​Venice, are listed by UNESCO as a natural phenomenon of exceptional beauty and a monument to the main stages of the formation of the Earth.

environmental protection

To protect the environment, national nature reserves were founded - Gran Paradiso and Stelvio in the Alps, Abruzzo in the Apennines, Circeo on the Tyrrhenian coast, which make up 10% of the entire territory. Protected areas are high-mountainous alpine landscapes, glaciers, extremely rare objects, from the point of view of geology, naturally grown forests that protect animals from the threat of extinction.
The primary problem is water pollution. The greatest damage is caused by industrial waste thrown into inland and sea waters. Wastewater discharged into lagoons endangers rare birds.
The soil located on the steep slope, due to large-scale construction, is being destroyed, creating a threat of floods and landslides.
In the greatest danger is the habitat in industrial metropolitan areas. The environmental policy aims to increase funding and support for urban greening and biodiversity conservation programs.

Most of Italy is located on the Apennine Peninsula, the image of which on geographical maps is recognizable by many people and in its shape resembles 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 Egadi, 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 highest point in the country - Mont Blanc (4807 m). Between the Alps and the Apennines lies the vast Podan Plain, which includes the Po Valley. Plains occupy only about a third of the country's territory. In addition to the Lombard Plain, this is the coast of the Adriatic Sea, as well as three narrow flat strips along the western coast: Campagna 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. In the Padana Plain, the climate is transitional - from subtropical to temperate, characterized by hot summers and cool, foggy winters. The temperature in July is 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°С to 36°С and warm winters, not lower than +5°С.

The air temperature strongly depends on the height 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, it lies constantly on the peaks, heavy snowfalls are frequent from October to May.

In the south of the peninsula from March to October, dry hot winds blow from the Sahara - "sirocco". During this period, the temperature rises to + 35 ° C, while the dryness and dustiness of the air sharply increase. Also not uncommon are cold northern or north-eastern "tramontana" winds blowing from behind the Apennines (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 Sardinian, but even hotter in summer and slightly cooler in winter. Precipitation is low and mostly from October to March. Since the territory of Italy is washed by the seas on all sides, the air here is quite humid.