Geography

Italy consists predominantly of a large peninsula (the Italian Peninsula) with a distinctive boot shape that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, where together with its two main islands - Sicily and Sardinia - it creates distinct bodies of water, such as the Adriatic Sea to the north-east, the Ionian Sea to the south-east, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the south-west and finally the Ligurian Sea to the north-west.

The Apennine mountains form the backbone of this peninsula, leading north-west to where they join the Alps, the mountain range that then forms an arc enclosing Italy from the north. Here is also found a large alluvial plain, the Po-Venetian plain, drained by the Po River (Italy's longest river at 652 km) and its many tributaries flowing down from the Alps (Dora Baltea, Sesia, Ticino, Adda, Oglio, Mincio), and Apennines (Tanaro, Trebbia, Taro, Secchia, Panaro).

Other rivers include the Tiber (Tevere) (405 km), Adige (410 km), Arno, Piave, Reno, Volturno, Tagliamento, Liri-Garigliano, Isonzo.

Italy's highest point is Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) at 4,810 metres (15,781 feet). The country is more typically associated with two famous volcanoes: the currently dormant Vesuvius near Naples and the very active Etna on Sicily.

Facts and Figures

• Area (includes Sardinia and Sicily):
  • Total: 301,230 sq km
  • Land: 294,020 sq km
  • Water: 7,210 sq km
• Land Boundaries:
  • Total: 1,932.2 km
  • Border countries:
    • Austria 430 km
    • France 488 km
    • Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2 km
    • San Marino 39 km
    • Slovenia 232 km
    • Switzerland 740 km
• Coastline: 7,600 km
• Maritime Claims:
  • Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  • Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
• Climate:Predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
• Terrain: Mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
• Natural Resources
  • Mercury
  • Potash
  • Marble
  • Sulphur
  • Dwindling natural gas and crude oil reserves
  • Fish
  • Coal
• Land Use:
  • Arable land: 31%
  • Permanent crops: 10%
  • Permanent pastures: 15%
  • Forests and woodland: 23%
  • Other: 21%
• Irrigated Land:27,100 sq km
• Natural Hazards:
  • Landslides
  • Mudflows
  • Avalanches
  • Earthquakes
  • Volcanic eruptions
  • Flooding
  • Land subsidence (in Venice)
• Environmental Issues:
  • Air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulphur dioxide
  • Coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents
  • Acid rain damaging lakes
  • Inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities