Editing Sardinia (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Corsica_from_Sardinia.jpg|thumb|Strait of Bonifacio. The southern coast of Corsica can be seen from [[Santa Teresa Gallura]].]]
[[File:Cala Goloritzé 3.JPG|thumb|[[Cala Goloritzé]], [[Baunei]]]]
[[File:Gusana.jpg|thumb|left|upright|View of [[Gennargentu]], the highest massif of Sardinia]]
[[File:Altimetria Sardegna.svg|thumb|upright=0.75|left|A proportionate graph of Sardinian topography: 13.6% of the island is mountainous, 18.5% is flat, and 67.9% is hilly.]]
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] (after [[Sicily]] and before [[Cyprus]]), with an area of {{cvt|24100|km2|0|abbr=out}}. It is situated between 38° 51' and 41° 18' latitude north (respectively Isola del Toro and Isola La Presa) and 8° 8' and 9° 50' east longitude (respectively Capo dell'[[Argentiera]] and Capo Comino). To the west of Sardinia is the [[Sea of Sardinia]], a unit of the Mediterranean Sea; to Sardinia's east is the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]], which is also an element of the Mediterranean Sea.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| first= C. Michael| last= Hogan| year= 2011| url= http://www.eoearth.org/article/Balearic_Sea?topic=49523 |title= Balearic Sea| encyclopedia= Encyclopedia of Earth| editor1-first= P. | editor1-last= Saundry |editor2-first= C. J. |editor2-last= Cleveland| publisher= National Council for Science and the Environment| place= Washington DC| via= eoearth.org}}</ref>

The nearest land masses are (clockwise from north) the island of [[Corsica]], the [[Italian Peninsula]], [[Sicily]], [[Tunisia]], the [[Balearic Islands]], and [[Provence]]. The [[Tyrrhenian Sea]] portion of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] is directly to the east of Sardinia between the Sardinian east coast and the west coast of the Italian mainland peninsula. The [[Strait of Bonifacio]] is directly north of Sardinia and separates Sardinia from the French island of [[Corsica]].

The coast of Sardinia is {{cvt|1849|km|0}} long. It is generally high and rocky, with long, relatively straight stretches, outstanding headlands, wide, deep bays, [[ria]]s, and inlets with various smaller islands.

The island has an ancient geoformation and, unlike Sicily and mainland Italy, is not earthquake-prone. Its rocks date in fact from the [[Palaeozoic Era]]. The [[Cambrian]]-[[Lower Ordovician]] succession of Sardinia reaches 1500–3000 m in thickness.<ref name=Maxime2018>{{cite journal|author1=Padel Maxime |author2=Sébastien Clausen |author3=José-Javier Alvaro |author4=Josep Maria Casas|year=2018|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327572202|title=Review of the Ediacaran-Lower Ordovician (pre-Sardic) stratigraphic framework of the Eastern Pyrenees, southwestern Europe|journal=Geologica Acta|volume=16|issue=4|page=13|doi=10.1344/GeologicaActa2018.16.4.1|language=en}}</ref> Due to long erosion processes, the island's highlands, formed of granite, [[schist]], [[trachyte]], [[basalt]] (called ''jaras'' or ''gollei''), [[sandstone]] and [[Dolomite (mineral)|dolomite]] limestone (called ''tonneri'' or 'heels'), average at between {{cvt|300|and|1000|m|0|abbr=off}}. The highest peak is [[Punta La Marmora]] ({{Lang|sc|Perdas Carpìas}} in Sardinian language) ({{cvt|1834|m|0|abbr=on}}), part of the [[Gennargentu]] Ranges in the centre of the island. Other mountain chains are [[Monte Limbara]] ({{cvt|1362|m|0}}) in the northeast, the [[Monte Rasu|Chain of Marghine and Goceano]] ({{cvt|1259|m|0}}) running crosswise for {{cvt|40|km}} towards the north, the [[Monte Albo]] ({{cvt|1057|m|0}}), the Sette Fratelli Range in the southeast, and the [[Sulcis Mountains]] and the [[Monte Linas]] ({{cvt|1236|m|0|abbr=on}}). The island's ranges and plateaux are separated by wide alluvial valleys and flatlands, the main ones being the [[Campidano]] in the southwest between [[Oristano]] and [[Cagliari]] and the [[Nurra]] in the northwest.

Sardinia has few major rivers, the largest being the [[Tirso (river)|Tirso]], {{cvt|151|km}} long, which flows into the [[Sea of Sardinia]], the [[Coghinas]] ({{cvt|115|km}}) and the [[Flumendosa]] ({{cvt|127|km}}). There are 54 [[artificial lakes]] and dams that supply water and electricity. The main ones are [[Lake Omodeo]] and [[Lake Coghinas]]. The only natural freshwater lake is [[Lago di Baratz]]. A number of large, shallow, salt-water lagoons and pools are located along the coast.

=== Climate ===
[[File:Sardegna precipitazioni.svg|thumb|upright|Sardinia average rainfalls]]

The climate of the island is variable from area to area, due to several factors including the extension in [[latitude]] and the [[elevation]]. It can be classified in two different macrobioclimates (Mediterranean pluviseasonal oceanic and Temperate oceanic), one macrobioclimatic variant (Submediterranean), and four classes of continentality (from weak semihyperoceanic to weak semicontinental), eight thermotypic horizons (from lower thermomediterranean to upper supratemperate), and seven ombrotypic horizons (from lower dry to lower hyperhumid), resulting in a combination of 43 different isobioclimates.<ref>{{cite journal| url= https://figshare.com/articles/Bioclimate_map_of_Sardinia_Italy_/1263959|title=Bioclimate map of Sardinia (Italy)| journal= Figshare| first1= Emmanuele| last1= Farris| first2= Rossella |last2= Filigheddu| first3= Andrea |last3= Motroni |first4= Michele |last4= Fiori |first5= Leonardo |last5= Rosati |first6= Simona |last6= Canu| display-authors= 3|date=23 October 2015 |via= figshare.com |doi= 10.6084/m9.figshare.1263959.v5}}</ref>

During the year there is a major concentration of rainfall in the winter and autumn, some heavy showers in the spring and snowfalls in the highlands. The average temperature is between {{cvt|11|and|18|C|F|abbr=on}}, with mild winters and warm summers on the coasts ({{cvt|9|to|16|C|F}} in January, {{cvt|23|to|31|C|F}} in July), and cold winters and cool summers on the mountains ({{cvt|-2|to|4|C|F}} in January, {{cvt|16|to|20|C|F}} in July).

Rainfall has a Mediterranean distribution all over the island, with almost totally rainless summers and wet autumns, winters and springs. However, in summer, the rare rainfalls can be characterized by short but severe [[thunderstorm]]s, which can cause [[flash flood]]s. The climate is also heavily influenced by the vicinity of the [[Gulf of Genoa]] (barometric low) and the relative proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. Low pressures in autumn can generate the formation of the so-called ''Medicanes'', extratropical cyclones which affect the Mediterranean basin. In 2013, the island was hit by several cyclones, included the [[Cyclone Cleopatra]], which dumped {{cvt|450|mm}} of rainfall within an hour and a half.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.earthweek.com/2013/ew131122/ew131122c.html | title= Cyclone Cleopatra Submerges Parts of Sardinia| website= earthweek.com}}</ref>

Sardinia being relatively large and hilly, weather is not uniform; in particular the East is drier, but paradoxically it suffers the worst rainstorms: in autumn 2009, it rained more than {{cvt|200|mm|1|abbr=on}} in a single day in Siniscola, and 19 November 2013, locations in Sardinia were reported to have received more than {{cvt|431|mm}} within two hours. The western coast has a higher distribution of rainfalls even for modest elevations (for instance Iglesias, elevation {{cvt|200|m|0|abbr=on}}, average annual precipitation {{cvt|815|mm|1|abbr=on}}). The driest part of the island is the coast of Cagliari gulf, with less than {{cvt|450|mm|1|abbr=on}} per year, the minimum is at Capo Carbonara at the extreme south-east of the island {{cvt|381|mm|1|abbr=on}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sardegna-clima.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=78 |title= Località più secche| work=Sardegna Clima Onlus| language= it}}</ref> and the wettest is the top of the [[Gennargentu]] mountain with almost {{cvt|1500|mm|1}} per year. The average for the entire island is about {{cvt|800|mm|1|abbr=on}} per year, which is more than enough for the needs of the population and vegetation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paradisola.it/varie/clima.asp|title=Il clima della Sardegna| last= Corraine |first=Domenico| website= paradisola.it | language= it }}</ref> The [[Mistral (wind)|Mistral]] from the northwest is the dominant wind on and off throughout the year, though it is most prevalent in winter and spring. It can blow quite strongly, but it is usually dry and cool.
{{Weather box
|location = [[Cagliari]], altitude {{cvt|4|m}}
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 14.3
|Feb high C = 14.8
|Mar high C = 16.5
|Apr high C = 18.6
|May high C = 22.9
|Jun high C = 27.3
|Jul high C = 30.4
|Aug high C = 30.8
|Sep high C = 27.4
|Oct high C = 23.1
|Nov high C = 18.3
|Dec high C = 15.4
|year high C = 21.7
|Jan mean C = 9.9
|Feb mean C = 10.3
|Mar mean C = 11.8
|Apr mean C = 13.7
|May mean C = 17.7
|Jun mean C = 21.7
|Jul mean C = 24.7
|Aug mean C = 25.2
|Sep mean C = 22.3
|Oct mean C = 18.4
|Nov mean C = 13.8
|Dec mean C = 11.0
|year mean C = 16.8
|Jan low C = 5.5
|Feb low C = 5.8
|Mar low C = 7.1
|Apr low C = 8.9
|May low C = 12.4
|Jun low C = 16.2
|Jul low C = 18.9
|Aug low C = 19.6
|Sep low C = 17.1
|Oct low C = 13.7
|Nov low C = 9.3
|Dec low C = 6.6
|year low C = 11.8
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 49.7
|Feb rain mm = 53.3
|Mar rain mm = 40.4
|Apr rain mm = 39.7
|May rain mm = 26.1
|Jun rain mm = 11.9
|Jul rain mm = 4.1
|Aug rain mm = 7.5
|Sep rain mm = 34.9
|Oct rain mm = 52.6
|Nov rain mm = 58.4
|Dec rain mm = 48.9
|year rain mm = 427.5
|Jan rain days = 6.8
|Feb rain days = 6.8
|Mar rain days = 6.8
|Apr rain days = 7.0
|May rain days = 4.4
|Jun rain days = 2.1
|Jul rain days = 0.8
|Aug rain days = 1.3
|Sep rain days = 4.3
|Oct rain days = 6.5
|Nov rain days = 7.4
|Dec rain days = 7.4
|year rain days = 61.6
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan sun = 136.4
|Feb sun = 139.2
|Mar sun = 186.0
|Apr sun = 213.0
|May sun = 269.7
|Jun sun = 288.0
|Jul sun = 334.8
|Aug sun = 310.0
|Sep sun = 246.0
|Oct sun = 198.4
|Nov sun = 147.0
|Dec sun = 127.1
|year sun = 2595.6
|source 1 = [[Servizio Meteorologico]],<ref name=ServizioMeteorologico>{{cite web| url= http://clima.meteoam.it/AtlanteClimatico/pdf/(560)Cagliari.pdf |title= Tabelle climatiche 1971–2000 della stazione meteorologica di Cagliari-Elmas| work= Ponente dall'Atlante Climatico 1971–2000 |publisher= Servizio Meteorologico dell'Aeronautica Militare| via= meteoam.it| language= it}}</ref> [[Hong Kong Observatory]]<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/europe/iy_al/cagliari_e.htm |title= Climatological Information for Cagliari, Italy| publisher= Hong Kong Observatory| website= weather.gov.hk| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191025200727/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/europe/iy_al/cagliari_e.htm | archive-date= 25 October 2019}}</ref> <small>for data of sunshine hours</small>
|date = April 2012}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[Fonni]], altitude 1029 m
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 6.6
|Feb high C = 6.9
|Mar high C = 8.9
|Apr high C = 11.5
|May high C = 16.3
|Jun high C = 21.2
|Jul high C = 25.8
|Aug high C = 25.5
|Sep high C = 21.7
|Oct high C = 16.4
|Nov high C = 10.9
|Dec high C = 8.1
|year high C = 15.0
|Jan mean C = 4.1
|Feb mean C = 4.1
|Mar mean C = 5.7
|Apr mean C = 8.1
|May mean C = 12.4
|Jun mean C = 16.9
|Jul mean C = 21.1
|Aug mean C = 20.9
|Sep mean C = 17.7
|Oct mean C = 13.1
|Nov mean C = 8.2
|Dec mean C = 5.5
|year mean C = 11.5
|Jan low C = 1.5
|Feb low C = 1.2
|Mar low C = 2.5
|Apr low C = 4.6
|May low C = 8.5
|Jun low C = 12.6
|Jul low C = 16.4
|Aug low C = 16.3
|Sep low C = 13.7
|Oct low C = 9.7
|Nov low C = 5.4
|Dec low C = 2.8
|year low C = 7.9
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 97
|Feb rain mm = 118
|Mar rain mm = 110
|Apr rain mm = 88
|May rain mm = 73
|Jun rain mm = 33
|Jul rain mm = 11
|Aug rain mm = 18
|Sep rain mm = 40
|Oct rain mm = 93
|Nov rain mm = 107
|Dec rain mm = 131
|year rain mm = 919
|Jan rain days = 9.9
|Feb rain days = 10.0
|Mar rain days = 9.4
|Apr rain days = 10.5
|May rain days = 7.4
|Jun rain days = 4.2
|Jul rain days = 1,6
|Aug rain days = 2.4
|Sep rain days = 4.8
|Oct rain days = 8.8
|Nov rain days = 9.7
|Dec rain days = 9.9
|year rain days = 88.6
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|source 1 = [[Servizio Meteorologico]]}}