The plate
Simplified plate tectonics cross-section showing how Mount Vesuvius is located above a subduction zone formed where the African plate descends beneath Italy. Magma produced from the melting African plate creates the large, violently explosive volcanoes of the Italian Peninsula. The Messina Strait, that separates peninsular Italy from Sicily, is one of the most seismically active areas of the Mediterranean.The Strait is located on the upper plate crust, that is ~26 km thick , and composed by a stack of Alpine and Hercynian metamorphic basement slices overlain by Oligo-Miocene terrigenous sequences, SE-thrust on non-metamorphic Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary successions
Continent- Europe
Longitude and Lattitude
Longitude and Lattitude of Rome: 41° 54' N and 12° 29'
Longitude Lattitude range: 42° 50' N and 12° 50' E
Longitude and Lattitude of Italy: 41.9000° N, 12.4833° E
Nearest Oceans and Countries
Nearest oceans and other countries to Italy are: Switzerland, France, Austria, and Slovenia. The bodies of water that surround Italy are: The Mediterranean sea of the Atlantic ocean,The Tyrrhenian sea, The Adriactic sea and The Lonian sea. The capital of Italy is Rome and major cities are:Milano, Napoli, Torino, Venice, Florence, Verona, and many more on.
Size (Total Area)
Situated in southern Europe, the Italian Republic, including the major islands of Sicily (Sicilia) and Sardinia (Sardegna), covers a land area of 301,230 sq km (116,306 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Italy is slightly larger than the state of Arizona. The boot-shaped Italian mainland extends into the Mediterranean Seawith a length of 1,185 km (736 mi) SE-NW and a width of 381 km (237 mi) NE-SW .
The Landforms of Italy
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Ecosystems within Italy include the mountainous regions high in the Alps, temperate woodlands, coastal waters, freshwater river systems and shrub lands in the southern part of the country. Italian mountains like: Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, Grandes Jorasses and Gran Paradiso are in north Italy, lined up on the borders of neighboring countries like France, Switzerland and Austria. Italy also has among the many famous active volcanoes on earth such as: Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Monte Vulture which are mostly located near south-eastern Italy near Sicily and the Gulf of Naples.In between Italy's Alpine borders and the Lombardy Plains to the south, the country's lake district features many large freshwater lakes. Italy has tons of islands at the bottom, many of the islands are: volcanic in origin, such as the Aeolians and the Pontines. Some of the most famous isles, including Elba, Sardinia and Sicily, are combinations of various rock types. The largest of the Italian islands is Sicily, at nearly 10,000 square miles
Natural hazard risks for Italy include: landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice and much more. Most of these natural hazards are caused due to the high mountain range and the many volcanoes present in Italy. Etna (elev. 3,330 m), which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano, Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini. Although these volcanoes make the land around them nice and fertile they are still threats to the millions of citizens living aroung them.
The 2013 Sardinia floods took place in and around the Sardinian town of Olbia between 17 and 19 November 2013. They also affected other parts of northeastern Sardinia and killed at least 18 people. Thousands of people were left homeless.The places which suffered the most damage were Olbia, and in general the whole region of Gallura. The flood caused damages of over 1 billion euro. There have also been equally horrible and worse floods in italy in the 1966 flood of Arno, the 1966 Venice flood and the 2009 Messina flood and mudslide.
The 1627 Gargano earthquake struck Gargano, southern Italy at about mid-day on 30 July 1627. A "very large earthquake" caused a major tsunami , the largest seismic event ever recorded in the Gargano region, which "produced severe damage in the whole promontory", killing about 5000 people. Four aftershocks were documented. The most extensive damage was noted between San Severo and Lesina. Italy has also been through a lot of earthquakes including: the 2008 Parma earthquake, the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake and the 2012 Northern Italy earthquakes. (Did you know that?) Italy is one of the European countries at greater risk for natural disasters know wonder there are so many of them!
Natural Hazards
At a height of 1,281 metres high and estimated age of 17,000 years it's said that Mount Vesuvius has erupted over 50 times.
The Flood in Venice
Climate in Italy
Most of Italy has a Mediterranean type of climate, which has cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Winter temperatures along and near the coasts of southern Italy seldom drop to freezing in winter, and summer temperatures often reach 90° F (32° C) or higher. Winter is the rainy season, when streambeds that remain empty during much of the year fill to overflowing and flash floods are common. Summers are dry, and certain crops, especially fruits and vegetables, must be irrigated throughout much of the peninsula and on the islands.
The climate of northern Italy differs greatly from that of the south. Winters tend to be cold, with heavy snowfall in the Alps, much rain, and fog. Summers are not as hot, and summer rains aid farming.
Natural Resources
Italy is poor in natural resources, much of the land being unsuitable for agriculture due to mountainous terrain or unfavorable climate. The most important mineral resources are natural gas, petroleum, lignite, sulfur, and pyrites. Other mineral deposits include lead, manganese, zinc, mercury, and bauxite. Many of these deposits are on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. The coastal waters of Italy teem with fishes, of which sardine, tuna, and anchovy have the greatest commercial importance. Freshwater fishes include eels and trout.
Environmental Issues
Major environmental issues currently facing Italy include air pollution from transportation and industrial sources, polluted inland waters, acid rain, and insufficient industrial waste treatment and disposal programs. A 2006 World Health Organization report found significant levels of particulate air pollution in Italian cities: from 26.3 to 61.1 milligrams per square meter. The WHO particulate matter of this nature is responsible for more than 8,200 deaths a year, on average. With respect to air pollution and climate change, Italy is pushing initiatives designed to reduce black carbon emissions, particularly in the transportation sector. Through the Sustainable Mobility Fund, Italy has co-funded nearly 190 projects at a total cost of 195 million Euros. According to a 2013 report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD), Italy is currently looking to push forward with a number of water conservation initiatives, including the evolution of the legal and institutional framework, reforming the water supply systems and improving water sanitation systems.
The rubbish crisis in Naples, Italy
