Editing Geography of Italy

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Infobox country geography
| name = Italy
| map = Italy relief location map.jpg
| map size = 320px
| continent = [[Europe]] and [[Africa]] (Lampedusa and Lampione islands)
| region = [[South Europe]]
| coordinates = {{coord|42|00|N|12|05|E|type:country|display=inline,title}}
| km area = 301,230
| percent land = 97.61
| km coastline = 7,900
| borders = [[Land borders|Total land borders]] <br/> {{cvt|1836.4|km}}
| highest point = [[Mont Blanc]] <br/> {{cvt|4,810|m}}
| lowest point = [[Jolanda di Savoia]] <br/> {{cvt|-3.44|m}}
| longest river = [[Po River|Po]] <br/> {{cvt|652|km}}
| largest lake = [[Lake Garda|Garda]] <br/> {{convert|370|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| exclusive economic zone = {{convert|541,915|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
}}
The '''geography of Italy''' includes the description of all the [[physical geography|physical geographical]] elements of [[Italy]]. Italy, whose territory largely coincides with the [[Italy (geographical region)|homonymous geographical region]],<ref name="Treccani">{{Citation|year=1970|title=Italia|encyclopedia=Dizionario enciclopedico italiano|volume=VI|page=413|publisher=[[Treccani]]|language=it}}</ref> is located in southern [[Europe]] and comprises the long, boot-shaped [[Italian Peninsula]] crossed by the [[Apennines]], the southern side of [[Alps]], the large plain of the [[Po Valley]] and some islands including [[Sicily]] and [[Sardinia]]. Italy is part of the [[Northern Hemisphere]]. Two of the [[Pelagie Islands]] (Lampedusa and Lampione) are located on the African continent.

The total area of Italy is {{convert|301,230|km2|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|294,020|km2|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|7,210|km2|0|abbr=on}} is water. It lies between latitudes [[35th parallel north|35°]] and [[47th parallel north|47° N]], and longitudes [[6th meridian east|6°]] and [[19th meridian east|19° E]]. Italy borders [[Switzerland]] ({{convert|698|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}), [[France]] ({{convert|476|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}), [[Austria]] ({{convert|404|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and [[Slovenia]] ({{convert|218|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}). [[San Marino]] ({{convert|37|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and [[Vatican City]] ({{convert|3.4|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}) are [[enclave]]s. The total border length is {{convert|1836.4|km|abbr=on}}. Including islands, Italy has a coastline of {{convert|7,900|km|abbr=on}} on the [[Adriatic Sea]], [[Ionian Sea]], [[Tyrrhenian Sea]], [[Ligurian Sea]], [[Sea of Sardinia]] and [[Strait of Sicily]].

The [[Italian geographical region]],<ref name="De Agostini">{{cite book|publisher=De Agostini Ed.|title=L'Enciclopedia Geografica|volume=I|chapter=Italia|year=2004|page=78|language=it}}</ref><ref name="Mauri">{{cite journal|url=https://ssrn.com/abstract=1023852|title=La presentazione di una storia delle frontiere orientali italiane: una occasione per riflettere sulle determinanti storiche, economiche e geopolitiche dei confini|publisher=Working Paper n. 2007-41, Università degli Studi di Milano|year=2007|doi=10.2139/ssrn.1023852 |s2cid=127530700 |access-date=29 January 2022|language=it}}</ref> in its traditional and most widely accepted extent, has an area of approximately {{Convert|324,000|km2|mi2|abbr=}},<ref name="De Agostini" /> which is greater than the area of the entire [[Italian Republic]] ({{Convert|301,230|km2|mi2|abbr=|disp=or}}). The Italian geographical region also includes territories that are sovereign parts of [[Croatia]], [[France]], [[Slovenia]] and [[Switzerland]], as well as the four small independent states of the [[Monaco|Principality of Monaco]], the [[Malta|Republic of Malta]], the [[San Marino|Republic of San Marino]] and the [[Vatican City|Vatican City State]] (the [[Holy See]]).<ref name="Archivio Storico">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xvgWAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Regione+geografica+Italiana%22|title=Archives historiques de la Suisse italienne - Volumes 9-11|publisher=Université de Californie|year=1934|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref>

==General features==
[[File:Satellite image of Italy in March 2003.jpg|thumb|left|[[Satellite imagery|Satellite image]] of [[Italy]].]]
[[Italy]] is joined to the central-western section of the [[European continent]] by the [[Alps]]. Due to its position, it constitutes a bridge between [[Europe]] and [[Africa]]. In particular, the [[Italian peninsula]] is located in the center of the [[Mediterranean Sea]], between the [[Balkans]] and [[Greece|Hellenic peninsula]] to the east, the [[Iberian peninsula]] to the west, [[North Africa]] to the south and [[continental Europe]] to the north separated by the Alps.

Italy also separates the western basin of the Mediterranean Sea from the eastern basin — that is, the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]] from the [[Ionian Sea]] — extending towards the west with [[Calabria]] and [[Sicily]], which together geologically form a peninsular extension. Only {{convert|140|km|abbr=on}} separate Sicily and Africa (the [[Tunisia|Tunisian peninsula]]), by the [[channel of Sicily]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ilmanifesto.it/un-mega-ponte-da-140-chilometri-che-collega-la-tunisia-alla-sicilia/|title=Un mega-ponte da 140 chilometri che collega la Tunisia alla Sicilia|date=12 December 2016 |access-date=30 January 2022|language=it}}</ref>

To the east, [[Salento]] is {{convert|70|km|abbr=on}} from the [[Albania]]n coast,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leccenews24.it/turismo/viaggi-itinerari/un-gigante-nel-mare-di-otranto-le-montagne-dell-albania-incantano-i-turisti.htm|title=Un gigante nel mare di Otranto, le montagne dell'Albania incantano i turisti|access-date=30 January 2022|language=it}}</ref> at the narrowest point of the [[Strait of Otranto]]. It is [[Capo d'Otranto]] (also called ''Punta Palascìa''), located at 40° 7' north [[latitude]] and 18° 31' east [[longitude]]. To the north of Salento lies the long and narrow inlet of the [[Adriatic Sea]].
[[File:Italy Köppen.svg|thumb|Map of the [[climate of Italy]]]]
The islands of [[Sardinia]] and [[Corsica]] then divide the Tyrrhenian Sea from the [[Sardinian Sea]].
[[File:Pfaffenschneide.jpg|thumb|[[Vetta d'Italia]], until 1997 considered the northernmost point of Italy, is now located 400 m further north in the [[Testa Gemella Occidentale]]]]
[[File:Porta_di_Lampedusa_-_Porta_d'Europa.jpg|thumb|[[Punta Pesce Spada]] in [[Lampedusa]], the southernmost point]]
[[File:Otranto faro Punta Palascia.jpg|thumb|The lighthouse of Punta Palascìa, better known as [[Capo d'Otranto]], the easternmost point of the Italian territory]]
[[File:Rocca_Bernauda_e_Punta_Baldassarre.jpg|thumb|[[Rocca Bernauda]], the westernmost point of the Italian territory]]
The coastal development of the Italian peninsula and islands is vast; about {{Convert|8,000|km|mi|abbr=}},<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfaroonline.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WWF-Dossier-Coste-2016.pdf|title=Coste italiane|access-date=28 January 2022|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mit.gov.it/mit/mop_all.php?p_id=06441|title=Sviluppo costiero italiano|access-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306044436/https://www.mit.gov.it/mit/mop_all.php?p_id=06441|archive-date=6 March 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> which is much larger than that of the Iberian peninsula, but much less than that of the Balkans.

Italy has a prevalence of hilly areas (41.6% of the territory) compared to mountainous areas (35.2% of the territory), or flat areas (23.2%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mininterno.net/eledom2.asp?ida=3492&let=D|title=Elenco in ordine alfabetico delle domande di Geografia|access-date=30 January 2022|language=it}}</ref>

The Italian soil today is the result of [[anthropization]] and is partly mountainous, partly hilly, partly volcanic, partly endolagunar with bumps, polesine, islands, dried up by reclamation (Bonifiche Circeo, Ferraresi, Comacchio, Ostiense, Pisana and so on) with ever greater raising of embankments (for example the withdrawal of 1.7 billion cubic meters per year of fresh water, from 20 consortia from [[Veneto]] alone).

No inhabited center in Italy is more than {{convert|294|km|abbr=on}} from the sea and the [[Comune|Italian municipality]] farthest from the sea is [[Madesimo]] ([[province of Sondrio]]) which is {{convert|294|km|abbr=on}} from the [[Ligurian Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://siviaggia.it/idee-di-viaggio/madesimo-valchiavenna-piste-sci/215467/|title=Madesimo Valchiavenna: tra giochi d'acqua, marmotte e piste da sci|date=27 October 2018 |access-date=30 January 2022|language=it}}</ref>

===Boundaries===
Italy borders [[Switzerland]] ({{convert|698|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}), [[France]] ({{convert|476|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}), [[Austria]] ({{convert|404|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and [[Slovenia]] ({{convert|218|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}). [[San Marino]] ({{convert|37|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and [[Vatican City]] ({{convert|3.4|km|abbr=on|disp=or}}) are [[enclave]]s. The total border length is {{convert|1836.4|km|abbr=on}}. Including islands, Italy has a coastline of {{convert|7,900|km|abbr=on}} on the [[Adriatic Sea]], [[Ionian Sea]], [[Tyrrhenian Sea]], [[Ligurian Sea]], [[Sea of Sardinia]] and [[Strait of Sicily]].

===Latitude and longitude===
* Northernmost point &mdash; [[Testa Gemella Occidentale]], [[Prettau]] (Predoi), [[South Tyrol]] at {{coord|47|5|N|12|11|E|type:landmark_region:IT_source:frwiki|name=North: Testa Gemella Occidentale}}
* Southernmost point &mdash; [[Punta Pesce Spada]], [[Lampedusa]], [[Sicily]] at {{coord|35|29|N|12|36|E|type:landmark_region:IT_source:frwiki|name=South: Lampedusa}} (whole territory); [[Capo Spartivento]], [[Palizzi]], [[Calabria]] at {{coord|37|55|N|15|59|E|region:IT_type:landmark|name=South: Capo Spartivento}} (mainland)
* Westernmost point &mdash; [[Rocca Bernauda]], [[Bardonecchia]], [[Piedmont]] at {{coord|45|6|N|6|37|E|region:IT_type:landmark_source:frwiki|name=West: Rocca Bernauda}}
* Easternmost point &mdash; [[Capo d'Otranto]], [[Otranto]], [[Apulia]] at {{coord|40|6|N|18|31|E|region:IT_type:landmark_source:frwiki|name=East: Capo d'Otranto}}

The distance that separates the Testa Gemella Occidentale from Punta Pesce Spada is {{convert|1,291|km|abbr=on}}; the maximum distance between the eastern and western borders is about {{convert|600|km|abbr=on}}. The municipalities at the ends of Italy are:

* [[Predoi]], the northernmost municipality
* [[Lampedusa e Linosa]], the southernmost municipality
* [[Otranto]], the easternmost municipality
* [[Bardonecchia]], the westernmost municipality

===Elevation===
* Highest point: [[Mont Blanc]] ([[Aosta Valley]]) {{Convert|4,810.90|m|ft|abbr=}} at {{coord|45|50|N|6|51|E|region:IT_type:mountain_source:frwiki|name=Mont Blanc (highest)}}
* Lowest point: [[Jolanda di Savoia]] ([[province of Ferrara]]) {{Convert|−3.44|m|ft|abbr=}} at {{coord|44|53|N|11|59|E|region:IT_type:landmark|name=Le Contane (lowest)}}
* Highest settlement: [[Trepalle]], [[Livigno]] {{Convert|2,209|m|ft|abbr=}} at {{coord|46|32|N|10|11|E|region:IT|name=Trepalle }}

===Maritime claims===
* Territorial sea: {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}
* Continental shelf: {{convert|200|m|ft|adj=mid|depth}} or to the depth of exploitation
* [[Exclusive economic zone of Italy|Exclusive Economic Zone]]: {{convert|541,915|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}

===Geographical centre===
Although the [[Istituto Geografico Militare]] of [[Florence]] has repeatedly declared that it is impossible to uniquely determine the center of a non-geometric shape such as that of Italy,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rietilife.com/2015/03/02/petrangeli-il-centro-ditalia-non-si-tocca-siamo-noi/|title=PETRANGELI: "IL CENTRO D'ITALIA NON SI TOCCA. SIAMO NOI!"|publisher=RietiLife|date=2 March 2015|access-date=22 May 2016|quote=The Military Geographic Institute denied my offices the fact that the prestigious Army structure carried out a study on central Italy. The IGM not only knows nothing about it but has also reiterated, and will formally do so in the coming days, an information already known: the boot is not a geometric figure and it is therefore impossible to determine the exact location of central Italy.|language=it}}</ref> there are several locations that, depending on the measurement criteria adopted, compete for the primacy of the [[geographical centre]] of Italy:
*[[Monteluco]] ([[province of Perugia]]);<ref name="corriere">{{cite web|url=https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/15_marzo_02/narni-centro-geografico-d-italia-ma-spodestata-rieti-non-ci-sta-688ae620-c0eb-11e4-b2c9-4738a8583ea9.shtml|title="Narni è il centro geografico d'Italia" - Ma la spodestata Rieti non ci sta|date=2 March 2015 |access-date=30 January 2022|language=it}}</ref>
*[[Narni]] ([[province of Terni]]);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utecnarni.altervista.org/centro_geografico_ditalia.html|title=Gruppo speleologico Narni|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309112851/http://www.utecnarni.altervista.org/centro_geografico_ditalia.html|archive-date=9 March 2014|access-date=28 January 2022|language=it}}</ref>
*[[Orvieto]] ([[province of Terni]]);<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.orvietonews.it/it/index.php?id=22155|title=L'autorità olandese Kadaster individua a Orvieto l'esatto centro geografico dell'Italia|author=Emma Louise Cheeseman|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906085823/http://www.orvietonews.it/it/index.php?id=22155|archive-date=6 September 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=28 January 2022|language=it}}</ref>
*[[Rieti]] ([[province of Rieti]]).<ref name="corriere"/>

==Land use==
[[File:Valmenocchia.jpg|thumb|[[Apennine Mountains|Apennine]] landscape in [[Marche]]]]
<ref name=landuse>{{cite web|title=Analisi dei cambiamenti della copertura ed uso del suolo in Italia nel periodo 2000-2006 |url=http://www.sinanet.isprambiente.it/it/coperturasuolo/analisi-cambiamenti-lulc-in-italia-nel-periodo-2000-2006.pdf |publisher=ISPRA |access-date=23 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426001120/http://www.sinanet.isprambiente.it/it/coperturasuolo/analisi-cambiamenti-lulc-in-italia-nel-periodo-2000-2006.pdf |archive-date=26 April 2012 }}</ref><ref group=Note>2006 estimates.</ref>
* Artificial (urban, industrial etc.): 4.9%
* Agricultural: 52.2%
** Arable land: 27.9%
** Permanent: 7.1%
** Other: 17.2%
* Wood: 41.4%
* Wetlands: 0.4%
* Water (lakes etc.): 1.1%

===Irrigated land===
* 39,510&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2007)

===Total renewable water resources===
* 191.3&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup> (2011)

===Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)===
*''total'': 45.41&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>/yr (24%/43%/34%)
*''per capita:'' 789.8 m<sup>3</sup>/yr (2008)

==Divisions==
{{further|Italy (geographical region)}}
[[File:Italian geographical region.png|thumb|In black, the borders of the [[Italy|Italian Republic]], in red the borders of the [[Italian geographical region]].]]
The [[Italian geographical region]],<ref name="De Agostini"/> in its traditional and most widely accepted extent, has an area of approximately {{Convert|324,000|km2|mi2|abbr=}},<ref name="De Agostini" /> which is greater than the area of the entire [[Italian Republic]] ({{Convert|301,230|km2|mi2|abbr=|disp=or}}). The Italian geographical region also includes territories that are sovereign parts of [[Croatia]], [[France]], [[Slovenia]] and [[Switzerland]], as well as the four small independent states of the [[Monaco|Principality of Monaco]], the [[Malta|Republic of Malta]], the [[San Marino|Republic of San Marino]] and the [[Vatican City|Vatican City State]] (the [[Holy See]]).<ref name="Archivio Storico"/> Italy and the Italian geographical region are both divided into three parts, albeit with some differences.

===Continental Italy===
{{further|Northern Italy}}
Continental Italy defined as the southern side of the [[Alps]], the [[Po Valley]], [[Liguria]] and the portion of the [[Apennines]] bounded by the conventional line that connects [[La Spezia]] to [[Rimini]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Antonio|last=Londrillo|title=Alla scoperta della mia regione|publisher=Bulgarini|year=2004|isbn=88-234-2327-9|language=it|page=18}}</ref> The region of [[Nice]] (corresponding to the historic [[County of Nice]]), [[Italian Switzerland]], part of [[Julian March]] and other less extensive portions of territory such as [[Valle Stretta]], [[Gondo (island)|Gondo]] and [[Val Monastero]], are not part of the Italian Republic in its continental part but they are part of the Italian geographical region. Conversely, the [[Val di Lei]], the [[Val di Livigno]], the [[San Candido]] basin, the [[Rio Sesto]] valley and the [[Tarvisio basin]], although part of the Italian Republic, are not included in the Italian geographical region.

===Peninsular Italy===
{{further|Central Italy|Southern Italy|Italian peninsula}}
Peninsular Italy refers to the entire southern part of the aforementioned line, up to [[Melito di Porto Salvo|Punta Melito]] in [[Calabria]] (which is the southernmost point of the peninsula) and [[Santa Maria di Leuca]] in [[Apulia]]. [[San Marino]] and the [[Vatican City]] are foreign territories, although included in the Italian geographical region.

The [[Italian peninsula]] occupies a median position between the three main peninsulas of [[southern Europe]], emerging right in the center of the [[Mediterranean Sea]], with large islands and some archipelagos.

===Insular Italy===
{{further|Insular Italy|List of islands of Italy}}
[[File:Arcipelaghi italiani.svg|thumb|Map of [[List of islands of Italy|Italian islands]].]]
[[Insular Italy]] is made up of [[Sardinia]], [[Sicily]] and numerous smaller islands, scattered or grouped into [[archipelago]]s in the seas that bathe the coasts of the peninsula. [[Corsica]] is not politically included in insular Italy since it belongs to [[France]], however, it is included in the Italian geographical region.

The five largest islands belonging to the Italian state are, in order of size:

* [[Sicily]] ({{convert|25,707|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}})
* [[Sardinia]] ({{convert|24,090|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}})
* [[Elba]] ({{convert|223|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}})
* [[Sant'Antioco]] ({{convert|108.9|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}})
* [[Pantelleria]] ({{convert|83|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}}).
Other islands belonging to Italy are grouped into the following archipelagos:

* Archipelago of the [[Gulf of La Spezia]], formed by the island of [[Palmaria (island)|Palmaria]], [[Tino (island)|Tino]] and [[Tinetto]];
* [[Tuscan archipelago]], formed by the island of [[Elba]], the largest and most important of the group from whose bowels iron has been extracted for centuries. To the north of the island of Elba rise [[Capraia]] and [[Gorgona (Italy)|Gorgona]], to the south [[Pianosa]], [[Montecristo]], [[Giannutri]] and the island of [[Isola del Giglio|Giglio]]. Minor islets are [[Cerboli]] and [[Palmaiola]] off the coast of Elba, the [[Islet of the Sparviero]] at [[Punta Ala]], the [[Formiche di Grosseto]], the [[Formica di Burano]], the Formica di Montecristo (or [[Scoglio d'Africa]]) and some islets off the coast of [[promontory of the Argentario]] including [[Argentarola]], [[Isola Rossa (Monte Argentario)|Isola Rossa]] and [[Isolotto]], in addition to the [[Secche della Meloria]] and the [[Secche di Vada]].
* The [[Phlegraean Islands]] ([[Ischia]] and [[Procida]]) plus [[Capri]], in the [[Gulf of Naples]]; sometimes the three islands are included in the [[Campanian Archipelago]];
* [[Pontine islands]]: [[Ponza]], [[Palmarola]], [[Zannone]] and [[Ventotene]], in the [[gulf of Gaeta]];
* Archipelago of the [[Aeolian Islands]] or Lipari, which includes [[Salina, Sicily|Salina]], [[Lipari]], the largest of the group, [[Vulcano]], a now almost extinct volcano; [[Panarea]] and then [[Stromboli]], an eruptive cone still in activity which was called ''Stronghilo'' by the [[ancient Greeks]] (hence Stromboli), due to its conical shape of an inverted top on the sea; to these must be added [[Filicudi]] and [[Alicudi]];
* [[Aegadian Islands]], i.e. the islands of [[Favignana]], [[Marettimo]], [[Levanzo]] and [[Stagnone]], which arise between [[Marsala]] and [[Trapani]], west of [[Sicily]];
* [[Pelagie Islands]], including [[Linosa]], [[Lampione]] and [[Lampedusa]];
* In Sicily we still find [[Ustica]] off the [[Gulf of Palermo]] and [[Pantelleria]] in the middle of the [[Sicilian Channel]];
* The group of the [[Tremiti Islands]] and the island of [[Pianosa (Tremiti)|Pianosa]], which rise in the [[Adriatic Sea]];
* To the north of Sardinia the [[Asinara]] and the archipelago of [[La Maddalena]], to the south [[San Pietro Island|San Pietro]] and [[Sant'Antioco]].
* The [[Cheradi Islands]] of San Pietro and San Paolo in the [[Gulf of Taranto]].

==Orography==
===Mountains===
[[File:MontBlancFromENE.jpg|thumb|[[Mont Blanc]] (Monte Bianco) in [[Aosta Valley]], the highest point in the [[European Union]]]]
Almost 40% of the Italian territory is mountainous,<ref name=eug92>{{cite book|last=Riganti]|first=[dir. da Alberto|title=Enciclopedia universale Garzanti.|year=1991|publisher=Garzanti|location=Milano|isbn=88-11-50459-7|edition=Nuova ed. aggiornata e ampliata.}}</ref> with the [[Alps]] as the northern boundary and the [[Apennine Mountains]] forming the backbone of the peninsula and extending for {{convert|1350|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name=eug92 /> The Alpine mountain range is linked with the Apennines with the [[Colle di Cadibona]] pass in the [[Ligurian Alps]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.touringclub.it/destinazioni/73621/Colle-di-Cadibona|access-date=15 April 2010|title=Colle di Cadibona - Touring Club Italiano|language=it}}</ref> Nineteen [[Italian regions]] are crossed by either the Alps or the Apennines, or their offshoots. [[Sardinia]] has mountains with their own characteristics and are included in the Sardinian-Corsican relief, since it also affects [[Corsica]].

The Alps (formed during the [[Mesozoic]] and [[Cenozoic]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/GEOLOGIA/divulgazione/pianeta_terra/14_orogenesi/c_ororgenesi.htm|access-date=15 April 2010|title=Le orogenesi - Regione Emilia-Romagna|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422064531/http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/geologia/divulgazione/pianeta_terra/14_orogenesi/c_ororgenesi.htm|archive-date=22 April 2009|language=it}}</ref> surround the Po Valley to the north, east and west, and develop along the entire northern border of Italy (about {{cvt|1000|km|disp=or}}), creating a natural border. The Alps contain the highest peak in the [[European Union]], [[Mont Blanc]], at {{convert|4810|meters}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]], located between the [[Aosta Valley]] and [[France]].

The Apennines (formed during the [[Oligocene]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.ogs.trieste.it/gngts/gngts/convegniprecedenti/2001/media/2002/contents/pdf/02_04.pdf|access-date=15 April 2010|title=Integrazione di dati geologici e geofisici per un quadro geodinamico del sistema appennino meridionale arco-calabro-Sicilia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125055231/http://www2.ogs.trieste.it/gngts/gngts/convegniprecedenti/2001/media/2002/contents/pdf/02_04.pdf|archive-date=25 November 2015|language=it}}</ref> rise south of the Po Valley and run from north to south throughout the Italian peninsula, from [[Liguria]] to [[Calabria]] and continue in northern [[Sicily]] ending in the [[Madonie]], acting as a watershed between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic-Ionian coast.

The highest peaks in Italy are found in the [[Western Alps]], where there are numerous peaks that exceed {{convert|4000|meters}} including [[Monte Rosa]] ({{convert|4634|meters|disp=or}}), the [[Matterhorn|Cervino]] ({{convert|4478|meters|disp=or}}) and Mont Blanc which with its {{convert|4810|meters}}. The maximum height of the Apennines is the [[Gran Sasso d'Italia]] ({{convert|2912|meters|disp=or}}).

Famous mountains in Italy are Monte Cervino ([[Matterhorn]]), [[Monte Rosa]], [[Gran Paradiso]] in the West Alps, and [[Bernina Range|Bernina]], [[Stelvio Pass|Stelvio]] and [[Dolomites]] along the eastern side of the Alps.

===Hills===
[[File:Uliveti monte cinto.JPG|thumb|[[Euganean Hills]]]]
The hills cover most of the Italian territory. They are mainly located in the central-southern part of the peninsula,<ref name=Colline>{{cite book|first=Gianfranco|last=Bresich|title=Iperlibro|publisher=Deagostini|year=2005|isbn=88-418-2169-8|page=252|language=it}}</ref> along the sides of the Apennine ridge, but also in the pre-Alpine area, close to the Alps.<ref name=Colline />

The hilly reliefs, which alternate with hollows and valleys, have slight slopes and do not exceed {{convert|800|meters|disp=or}}.

The first two hilly systems are the subalpine hills and the Preappennino, two hilly strips arranged between the Alps and the Po Valley and between the Apennines and the Adriatic coast respectively.<ref name=Colli>{{cite book|first=Antonio|last=Londrillo|title=Alla scoperta della mia regione|publisher=Bulgarini|year=2004|isbn=88-234-2327-9|language=it|page=20}}</ref> The subalpine hills widen more in the western part of the Po Valley, where they form the hills of the [[Langhe]] and [[Montferrat]].<ref name=Colli /> Two other hill systems are the Tyrrhenian Anti-Apennine, which extends from the [[Colline Metallifere]] of Tuscany to [[Mount Vesuvius|Vesuvius]] and the Beneventane Hills in Campania, and the Adriatic Anti-Apennine, present in Puglia with the [[Altopiano delle Murge|Murge]] and [[Gargano]] hills.<ref name=Colli />

The Italian hills have different origins:

* The Langhe, Monferrato, [[Chianti (region)|Chianti]] and Murge are sedimentary hills<ref name=Colline /> formed by the lifting of the seabed.
* The Beneventane Hills are of tertiary formation, that is, composed of gravel stratifications or masses of pebbles mixed with limestone and sandstone, probably due to the raising of the lake bottom.
* The hills of [[Brianza]], of [[Canavese]] and more generally of the entire strip that runs at the foot of the Alps are morainic,<ref name=Colline /> that is, made up of deposits of earth and crushed stone transported by ancient glaciers.
* The [[Euganean Hills]] and numerous other formations in Tuscany, Lazio, Campania are of volcanic origin,<ref name=Colline /> i.e. they are the remains of ancient extinct volcanoes, rounded by a long erosion.

===Plains===
[[File:Marmilla las plassas.jpg|thumb|Plain of [[Campidano]]]]
The plains make up 23.2% of the Italian national territory. In between the two lies a [[Po Valley|large plain]] in the valley of the [[Po River|Po]], the largest river in Italy, which flows {{convert|652|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} eastward from the [[Cottian Alps]] to the Adriatic. The Po Valley is the largest plain in Italy, with {{convert|46,000|km2|abbr=on}}, and it represents over 70% of the total plain area in the country.<ref name=eug92 /> The Po Valley is divided into two bands:<ref name=Colli /> the high plain, which borders the Alpine and Apennine hills, and the low plain located in the center and extended up to the Po delta.

In the peninsular part and in the islands there are only small plains often located along the coasts and at the mouth of the major rivers, near which they formed:<ref name=Colli /> this is the case, for example, of the [[Tavoliere delle Puglie]], of the [[Campidano]] in Sardinia or the [[Maremma]] in Tuscany.<ref name=Colli />

The Italian plains have different origins:

* Most of it is of alluvial origin, that is, formed by the debris deposited by the rivers along their course. The Po Valley, [[Valdarno]], [[Pontine Marshes]], Campidano, [[Metapontino]], [[Plain of Sele]], [[Salento]], [[Plain of Sibari]], [[Plain of Catania]] and [[Plain of Sant'Eufemia]] are alluvial.<ref name=Pianure>{{cite book|first=Gianfranco|last=Bresich|title=Iperlibro|publisher=Deagostini|year=2005|isbn=88-418-2169-8|page=253|language=it}}</ref> 
* The second largest Italian plain is the Tavoliere delle Puglie,<ref name=Pianure /> which is a rising plain, formed from the raising of the seabed.
* Other plains, for example the [[Plain of Campania]], are of volcanic origin<ref name=Pianure /> where the ashes of the volcanoes have filled the surrounding valleys, transforming them into fertile plains.

==Hydrography==
Italy is surrounded, except to the north, by the sea, and its territory has a rich reserve of inland waters (rivers and lakes). The southern regions, however, are drier than the northern ones, due to the scarcity of rains and the absence of glaciers that can feed the rivers.

===Rivers===
[[File:Torino-mole11.jpg|thumb|The [[Po river|Po]] river in [[Turin]]]]
[[File:Roma-tevere.jpg|thumb|The [[Tiber]] river in [[Rome]]]]
Italian [[river]]s are shorter than those of other European regions due to the Apennines that run along the entire length of the peninsula, dividing the waters into two opposite sides. They are numerous however, due to the relative abundance of rains in Italy in general, and to the presence of the Alpine chain, rich in snowfields and glaciers, in northern Italy.

The fundamental [[Drainage divide|watershed]] follows the ridge of the Alps and the Apennines and defines five main slopes, corresponding to the seas into which the rivers flow: the Adriatic, Ionic, Tyrrhenian, Ligurian and Mediterranean sides.<ref name=FIUMI>{{cite book|first=Antonio|last=Londrillo|title=Alla scoperta della mia regione|publisher=Bulgarini|year=2004|isbn=88-234-2327-9|language=it|page=26}}</ref> Italian rivers are categorized into two main groups: the Alpine-Po river rivers and the Apennine-island rivers.<ref name=FIUMI />

The longest Italian river is the [[Po river|Po]] ({{cvt|652|km|disp=or}}), which flows from the [[Monviso]], runs through the entire [[Po Valley]] from west to east, and then flows, with a [[River delta|delta]], into the [[Adriatic Sea]]. In addition to being the longest, it is also the river with the largest basin and the largest flow at its mouth. The second longest Italian river is the [[Adige]] ({{cvt|410|km|disp=or}}), which originates near [[Lake Resia]] and flows into the Adriatic Sea, after having made a north–south route, near [[Chioggia]]. The third longest river in Italy is the [[Tiber]] ({{cvt|405|km|disp=or}}), the second longest Italian river in terms of hydrographic basin; it was formed on [[Monte Fumaiolo]] (in [[Emilia-Romagna]]) and flows into the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]] after having crossed the center of [[Rome]]. After the Tiber, in order of length are the rivers [[Adda (river)|Adda]] ({{cvt|313|km|disp=or}}), [[Oglio]] ({{cvt|280|km|disp=or}}), [[Tanaro]] ({{cvt|276|km|disp=or}}) and [[Ticino (river)|Ticino]] ({{cvt|248|km}}, of which {{cvt|157|km}} is in Italy).

Most of Italy's rivers drain either into the Adriatic Sea (such as Po, [[Piave (river)|Piave]], [[Adige]], [[Brenta (river)|Brenta]], [[Tagliamento]], [[Reno River|Reno]]) or into the Tyrrhenian (like [[Arno]], [[Tiber]] and [[Volturno]]), though the waters from some border municipalities drain into the [[Black Sea]] through the basin of the [[Drava]] ([[Innichen]] and [[Sexten]] in [[Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol]], [[Tarvisio]] in [[Friuli-Venezia-Giulia]]) or the [[Inn (river)|Inn]] ([[Livigno]] in [[Lombardy]]), both [[tributary|tributaries]] of the [[Danube]], and the waters from the [[Lago di Lei]] in Lombardy drain into the [[North Sea]] through the basin of [[Rhine]].

===Lakes===
[[File:Altstadt von Malcesine-2.jpg|thumb|[[Lake Garda]] is the largest of the [[List of lakes in Italy|Italian lakes]]]]
In Italy there are more than 1,000 lakes, mostly artificially created by the damming of river valleys.<ref name=LAGHI>{{cite book|first=Antonio|last=Londrillo|title=Alla scoperta della mia regione|publisher=Bulgarini|year=2004|isbn=88-234-2327-9|language=it|page=28}}</ref>

In the north of the country are a number of subalpine [[moraine-dammed lake|moraine-dammed]] lakes (the [[Italian Lakes]]), including the largest in Italy, the [[Lake Garda|Garda]] ({{convert|370|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}).<ref name=Laghimari>{{cite book|first=Gianfranco|last=Bresich|title=Iperlibro|publisher=Deagostini|year=2005|isbn=88-418-2169-8|page=254|language=it}}</ref> Other well known of these subalpine lakes are [[Lake Maggiore]] ({{convert|212.5|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}), whose most northerly section is part of Switzerland, [[Como lake|Como]] (which holds the record of depth in the Italian Republic, which amounts to {{convert|410|m|abbr=on|disp=or}})<ref>{{cite book|title=Le Garzantine|year=2006|author=Various authors|chapter=Geografia: Ita-z|publisher=Garzanti Libri|language=it|page=781}}</ref> ({{convert|146|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}), [[Orta lake|Orta]], [[Lugano lake|Lugano]], [[Iseo lake|Iseo]], [[Idro lake|Idro]]. These lakes occupy wide valleys carved by ancient glaciers.

In Italy there are also coastal lakes, such as [[Lake Lesina]], separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land, and volcanic lakes ([[Lake Bolsena]], [[Lake Vico]], [[Lake Bracciano]]), which occupy the craters of extinct volcanoes. [[Lake Trasimeno]], on the other hand, formed in a hollow in the territory.<ref name=Laghimari /> Other notable lakes in the Italian peninsula are [[Lago di Varano|Varano]] and [[Lake Omodeo|Omodeo]] in [[Sardinia]].

The swamps and ponds that in the past covered vast flat areas of Italy, in recent centuries have been largely dried up;<ref name=Laghimari /> the few remaining wetlands, such as the [[Valli di Comacchio]] in Emilia-Romagna or the [[Stagno di Cagliari]] in Sardinia, are protected as very precious natural environments.<ref name=Laghimari />

Along the Italian coasts there are lagoons, among which the [[Venetian Lagoon]], that of [[Grado Lagoon]] and that of [[Marano Lagoon]] in the northern Adriatic stand out for their size and importance, and the [[Orbetello Lagoon]] on the Tuscan coast.

===Seas and coasts===
[[File:Strait of Messina from Dinnammare.jpg|thumb|View of the [[Strait of Messina]]]]
[[File:Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates, v2, 2010 Northeast Italy (13873744025).jpg|thumb|Population density (''left'') and elevation above sea level (''right'') in [[Veneto]] (2010). Veneto is particularly vulnerable to rising [[sea level]].]]

The Italian peninsula overlooks the [[Mediterranean Sea]], which around it is divided into various seas.<ref name=Laghimari />

The [[Ligurian Sea]] bathes the coasts of [[Liguria]] and, according to the cartography of the Hydrographic Institute of the Navy, the northern Tuscan coasts to the south as far as the island of [[Elba]].

The [[Tyrrhenian Sea]] bathes the western coasts of the peninsula south of the island of Elba (and therefore all the regions from [[Tuscany]] to [[Calabria]]), the northern coasts of [[Sicily]] and the eastern coasts of [[Sardinia]].

The [[Adriatic Sea]] bathes the eastern coasts of the peninsula, from [[Friuli-Venezia Giulia]] to the Cape of [[Santa Maria di Leuca]], [[Apulia]].

The [[Ionian Sea]] bathes the eastern coasts of Sicily and Calabria, the coast of [[Basilicata]] and the western coasts of Apulia.

To the south of Sicily lies the [[Strait of Sicily]], while to the west of Sardinia lies the [[Sea of Sardinia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.meteoam.it/modules/theory/bollettino/maremediterraneo.jpg|access-date=14 April 2010|title=Mappa con i bacini del Mediterraneo|language=it}}</ref>

Italy has a coastline of approximately {{cvt|7900|km}},<ref name=Coste>{{cite book|first=Antonio|last=Londrillo|title=Alla scoperta della mia regione|publisher=Bulgarini|year=2004|isbn=88-234-2327-9|language=it|page=32}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cngeologi.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/WWF_DOSSIERCOSTE_profilofragile_2012.pdf/|title=Copia archiviata|access-date=17 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061313/http://www.cngeologi.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/WWF_DOSSIERCOSTE_profilofragile_2012.pdf|url-status=dead|language=it|archive-date=4 December 2017}}</ref> with a great variety of shapes that depends both on the nature of the mainland and on the action of the sea.

The Adriatic coasts are quite straight, characterized to the north by the gulfs of [[Trieste]] and [[Venice]], in the center by the [[Monte Conero|Conero]] promontory, to the south by that of the [[Gargano]], which forms the [[Gulf of Manfredonia]]. The Adriatic coasts are low and sandy,<ref name=Laghimari /> with lagoons in the northern section. Only in the Trieste area, in correspondence with the Gargano, the Conero and the lower eastern [[Salento]] (between [[Otranto]] and [[Santa Maria di Leuca]]) do rocky sections follow one another.

The Ionian coasts are mainly low and sandy and are characterized by the wide [[Gulf of Taranto]], closed to the east by the Salento Peninsula (which divides it from the Adriatic) and to the west by the Calabrian peninsula (which divides it from the Tyrrhenian Sea).

The [[Strait of Messina]] connects the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian seas.

The Tyrrhenian coasts are very articulated, with rocky stretches alternating with sandy beaches, with numerous gulfs and headlands. Among the many gulfs include [[Naples]], [[Salerno]] and [[Gaeta]], between the peninsulas that of [[Sorrento]] and the promontories that of [[Circeo]] and that of [[Piombino]]. In the Tyrrhenian Sea, there are three important channels: between the island of Elba and the Tuscan coast the [[Strait of Piombino]], between Elba and Corsica the [[Strait of Corsica]],<ref name=Laghimari /> and between Sardinia and Corsica the [[Strait of Bonifacio]].

The Ligurian Sea, which has the [[Gulf of Genoa]] at its center, has high and rocky coasts in the [[Riviera di Levante]] and mixed coasts in the [[Riviera di Ponente]].<ref name=Laghimari />

==Geology==
{{main|Geology of Italy}}
[[File:L'Aquila eathquake prefettura.jpg|thumb|The [[prefecture]] of [[L'Aquila]] after the [[2009 L'Aquila earthquake|earthquake of 6 April 2009]]]]
[[File:Etna Volcano Paroxysmal Eruption July 30 2011 - Creative Commons by gnuckx - panoramio (9).jpg|thumb|[[Mount Etna|Etna]] eruption in 2011]]

The underground thrusts that millions of years ago gave rise to the reliefs of Italy still continue: the earthquakes and the eruptive activity of volcanoes testify to this.

===Earthquakes===
{{further|List of earthquakes in Italy}}
Squeezed between two [[Plate tectonics|plates]], the [[African Plate]] and the [[Eurasian Plate]], Italy is very subject to earthquakes, even intense ones, so much so that it holds the record in [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Le Garzantine|year=2006|author=Various authors|chapter=Geografia: Ita-z|publisher=Garzanti Libri|language=it|pages=782–783}}</ref> In particular, the areas at greatest seismic risk are the north and south-west of [[Sicily]], the whole [[Apennines]] (but in particular the central-southern area), northern [[Apulia]], almost all of [[Friuli-Venezia Giulia]] and finally the north-west of [[Veneto]]. On the contrary, the areas with little or no seismic risk are the [[Alps]] (excluding the extreme western and eastern area), most of the [[Po Valley]], the Tyrrhenian coasts up to [[Lazio]], central-southern Apulia, [[Sardinia]] and central Sicily.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zonesismiche.mi.ingv.it/mappa_ps_apr04/italia.html|access-date=11 April 2010|title= Mappa di pericolosità sismica del territorio nazionale|language=it}}</ref>

===Volcanoes===
{{further|List of volcanoes in Italy}}
Italy is also known for the presence of numerous volcanoes, the most well-known being [[Vesuvius]] near [[Naples]], [[Mount Etna|Etna]] near [[Catania]] (which with its {{cvt|3343|m}} is the highest volcano in Europe),<ref group=Note>If the [[Caucasus Mountains]] is considered outside the natural borders of the European continent, Etna appears to be the highest volcano in Europe; including the Caucasus, Etna still remains the continent's highest active volcano.</ref> [[Stromboli]] and [[Vulcano]], in the [[Aeolian Islands]] in the [[province of Messina]], in addition to the large [[caldera]] formed by the [[Campi Flegrei]] in [[Campania]].

The peninsula also has many extinct volcanoes, that is, which have ceased their eruptive activity, such as the [[Euganean Hills]] in the [[province of Padua]], [[Mount Amiata]] in [[Tuscany]], the [[Berici Hills]] in the [[province of Vicenza]] and the [[Castelli Romani]] area, where there are several lakes that occupy the craters of ancient volcanoes. The lakes of [[Lake Bracciano|Bracciano]], [[Lake Vico|Vico]] and [[Lake Bolsena|Bolsena]] in northern Lazio also had a similar origin.

In recent years, numerous studies have also been conducted to better understand the structure and destructive potential of the [[submarine volcano]] [[Marsili]], located about {{cvt|140|km}} north of [[Sicily]] and about {{cvt|150|km}} west of [[Calabria]]. With its {{cvt|70|km}} of length and {{cvt|30|km}} of width (equal to {{cvt|2,100|km2}} of surface) the Marsili is one of the largest volcanoes in Europe.

Many elements of the Italian territory are of volcanic origin. Most of the small islands and [[archipelago]]s in the south, like [[Capraia]], [[Ponza]], [[Ischia]], [[Aeolian Islands|Eolie]], [[Ustica]] and [[Pantelleria]] are [[volcanic island]]s.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Southern Italian Peninsula at Night.JPG|Astronaut photograph highlighting the night-time appearance of southern Italy.
File:ItalySouth1849.jpg|[[Southern Italy]] and Sicily on the 1849 map.
File:EtnaAvió.JPG|Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe.
File:Torre della pelosa + isola piana + asinara da capo falcone.jpg|[[Asinara]] island with the Aragonese Torre della Pelosa (16th century), Sardinia.
File:Vernazza.JPG|The coastal areas of [[Liguria]] have a Mediterranean climate.
File:San Quirico d'Orcia - Chiesetta Val d'Orcia.jpg|Landscape of [[Tuscany]].
File:RisaieVercellesi_Panorama2.jpg|Rice paddies in the [[Po Valley]] near [[Vercelli]].
File:Cascatemarmore.jpg|[[Cascata delle Marmore|Marmore waterfall]], the world's tallest man-made waterfall, was created by the ancient Romans.
File:Vesuvius_from_Pompeii_%28hires_version_2_scaled%29.png|Mount Vesuvius looms over the ruins of [[Pompeii]].
File:Venice_as_seen_from_the_air_with_bridge_to_mainland.jpg|Panorama of [[Venice]] and its lagoon.
File:Rilke_05.jpg|The [[Karst Plateau]] drops vertically into the Adriatic Sea near [[Trieste]].
File:Corno grande da campo imperatore.jpg|[[Gran Sasso d'Italia]], the highest peak of the [[Apennines]].
File:Monviso_from_San_Marzano_Oliveto.jpg|Vineyards in the [[Montferrat]] hills, with the [[Monviso]] in the background.
File:Panoramic_Livigno.jpg|Livigno, the highest [[comune]] in Italy, during winter.
File:Reggio_calabria_panorama_dal_fortino.jpg|The [[Strait of Messina]] as seen from the mainland.
File:Filicudi_%288_of_28%29.jpg|''La Canna'' rock off the coast of [[Filicudi]].
File:Chia beach, Sardinia, Italy.jpg|Southern coast of Sardinia.
File:Cremona_Po_Bridge.jpg|The Po river as seen in Cremona, on a foggy winter day.
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{GeoGroup}}
* [[Climate of Italy]]
* [[Italy (geographical region)]]
* [[List of islands of Italy]]
* [[Natural hazards in Italy]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}{{CIA World Factbook}}{{Italy topics}}
{{Geography of Europe}}
{{Extreme points of Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of Italy}}
[[Category:Geography of Italy| ]]
[[Category:Geology of Italy]]