Editing Apulia (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Monopoli-ItalyiDec052021.jpg 03.jpg|thumb|[[Monopoli]]]]
[[File:Torre Sant'Andrea (Lecce).jpg|thumb|[[Torre Sant'Andrea]], [[Salento]]]]
Apulia's coastline is longer than that of any other mainland Italian region. In the north, the [[Gargano]] promontory extends out into the Adriatic sea like a "sperone" ("spur"), while in the south, the [[Salento]] peninsula forms the "tacco" ("heel") of [[Italy]]'s boot.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/puglia/introduction|title=Introducing Puglia| publisher=[[Lonely Planet]]| access-date=8 July 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170701043906/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/puglia/introduction|archive-date=1 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The highest peak in the region is [[Monte Cornacchia (Daunian Mountains)|Monte Cornacchia]] {{cvt|1,152|m}} above sea level) within the [[Daunian Mountains]], in the north along the [[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]].

It is home to two national parks, the [[Alta Murgia National Park]] and [[Gargano National Park]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jul/04/puglia-guide-italy-hotels-bari-brindisi-foggia-salento| title=Holiday guide to Puglia, southern Italy: the best towns, restaurants and hotels|date=4 July 2015|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=15 November 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161116103109/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jul/04/puglia-guide-italy-hotels-bari-brindisi-foggia-salento| archive-date=16 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Outside national parks in the North and West, most of Apulia particularly the Salento peninsula is geographically flat with only moderate hills.

The climate is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry and sunny summers and mild and rainy winters. Snowfall, especially on the coast is rare but has occurred as recently as January 2019 (following on from snow in March 2018 and January 2017).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Santolo |first=Alessandra Scotto di |date=2019-01-05 |title=Europe weather: Shocking southern Italian beach covered in SNOW |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/1067358/Europe-weather-snow-Italy-UK-Puglia-Taranto-Naples-Meteo-BBC-Weather-latest |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Faranda |first=Davide |date=2020-09-04 |title=An attempt to explain recent changes in European snowfall extremes |url=https://wcd.copernicus.org/articles/1/445/2020/ |journal=Weather and Climate Dynamics |language=English |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=445–458 |doi=10.5194/wcd-1-445-2020|doi-access=free |bibcode=2020WCD.....1..445F }}</ref> Apulia is among the hottest and driest regions of Italy in summer, with temperatures sometimes reaching and exceeding {{cvt|40|C}} in [[Lecce]] and [[Foggia]].

The coastal areas, particularly on the Adriatic Sea and in the southern Salento peninsula, are frequently exposed to winds of varying strengths and directions, strongly affecting local temperatures and conditions, sometimes within the same day. The Northerly [[Bora (wind)|Bora]] wind from the Adriatic Sea can lower temperatures, humidity and moderate summer heat while the Southerly [[Sirocco]] wind from [[North Africa]] can raise temperatures, and humidity and occasionally drop red dust from the [[Sahara|Sahara Desert]].{{cn|date=December 2023}} On some days in spring and autumn/fall, it can be warm enough to swim in [[Gallipoli, Apulia|Gallipoli]] and [[Porto Cesareo]] on the Ionian coast while at the same time, cool winds warrant jackets and jumpers/sweaters in [[Monopoli]] and [[Otranto]] on the Adriatic coast.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

The area between Otranto and [[Santa Maria di Leuca]] is part of the Regional Natural Coastal Park of "Costa Otranto — [[Santa Maria di Leuca]] e Bosco di [[Tricase]]" wanted by the Apulia Region in 2008. This territory has numerous natural and historical attractions such as '''Ciolo''', which is a rocky cove.
In 2010 the Ministry of Health declared 98.6% of the Apulian coasts suitable for bathing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greenme.it/ambiente/acque-di-balneazione-2010-ecco-il-rapporto-del-ministero-della-salute-che-presenta-il-nuovo-portale-caserta-fanalino-di-coda/ | title=Acque di balneazione 2010: Ecco il rapporto del ministero della salute che presenta il nuovo portale. Caserta fanalino di coda | date=25 June 2010 }}</ref>
[[File:Murge Castel del Monte.jpg|thumb|Landscape of the [[Murge]] plateau]]