Geography of Italy

Location, Area, and Boundaries:

  • Italy occupies the southern part of Europe and the long, boot-shaped Italian Peninsula.
  • Total area: 301,230 km² (116,310 sq mi)
  • Borders Switzerland, France, Austria, and Slovenia.

Topography:

  • Mountains: Alps (northern boundary), Apennines (backbone of the peninsula)
  • Hills: Cover most of the territory, alternating with valleys and hollows
  • Plains: Largest is the Po Valley, formed by the Po River in northern Italy

Hydrography:

  • Rivers: Po (longest), Adige, Tiber
  • Lakes: Subalpine lakes (e.g., Garda, Maggiore) in the north; others include volcanic, coastal, and man-made lakes
  • Seas and Coasts: Overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, which divides into several seas surrounding Italy; coastline of approximately 7,900 km (4,900 mi)

Other Features:

  • Islands: Sicily and Sardinia are the largest; also numerous smaller islands
  • Volcanic activity: Italy has numerous active and extinct volcanoes, including Vesuvius and Etna
  • Earthquakes: Italy is prone to earthquakes due to its location between tectonic plates

General Characteristics:

  • Italy is a peninsula surrounded by water, except to the north.
  • The Apennines divide the country into two slopes: the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Sea sides.
  • The Italian peninsula is located at the center of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Balkans and the Iberian Peninsula.
  • The soil is mainly mountainous, hilly, or volcanic.
  • The highest point is Mont Blanc (4,810.90 meters), while the lowest point is Jolanda di Savoia (-3.44 meters).

Orography:

  • Mountains cover almost 40% of Italy, with the Alps to the north and the Apennines forming the backbone of the peninsula.
  • Notable mountains include Monte Cervino (Matterhorn), Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso, and the Dolomites.
  • Hills, such as the Langhe and Murge, have moderate slopes and alternate with valleys and hollows.
  • Plains, including the Po Valley, account for 23.2% of the territory and are mainly formed by river deposits.