Environmental Geography

Landform and Landscape Regions

Lake Como

The mainland of Italy extends south into the Mediterranean Sea as a large boot-shaped peninsula. This has created many different bodies of water including, the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Ligurian Sea, and Tyrrhenian Sea. The northern part of Italy is where you will find the beautiful Alps Mountains. The Alps are a massive stretch of mountains that extends from France to Austria, and then south along the Adriatic Sea. Italy's highest point is near the summit of Mont Blanc, at 4,748m. Near the Alps is the beautiful and rugged Lake District of Italy. In those mountains you will find lakes such as, Como, Garda, and Maggiore. 

Amalfi Coast

Directly south of the Alps Mountains is the Po River Valley, and runs from Turin to Venice. The Po River is Italy's longest river, at 652 km long. The valley is Italy's most fertile farmland. The Appennine Mountains runs north to south, and is called the backbone of Italy. The Appennine mountains consist of many chains and form the peninsula's watershed. The Amalfi Coast, which is south of Naples, offers some of the most spectacular coastal scenery. With its rocky coasts and colorful villages on the cliffs, it attracts many tourists every year.

Italy is also renowned for its rugged islands, most of which are volcanic. The large islands are Sicily and Sardinia, and the smaller islands are Capri, Elba, Ischia, and the Aeolian Island group. Much of Italy is volcanic in origin, and even today some of Italy's mountains are volcanically active, including Sicily's Mt. Etna, Aeolian Islands Stomboli, and Mt. Vesuvias near Naples, which is constantly being monitored because it could explode any minute.

 

 

 

Climate

Italy's climate is very diverse, because of its great longitudinal extension. The climate in the northern and mountainous regions are very different from the southern and coastal regions. In the inland north and central regions climate ranges from humid subtropical to humid continental and oceanic. The climate of the Po Valley has harsh winters and hot summers. In general, the coastal areas of Tuscany, Liguria, and most of the south fit the Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm, dry summers. Higher latitudes will get a cold, wet, and often snowy winter season.

Environmental Issues

• Air Pollution - From 1985 to 1989, United Nations sources estimated that carbon monoxide emissions increased by 12%.  In the 1990's, Italy had the worlds tenth highest level of industrial carbon dioxide emissions.
• Water Pollution - Italy's rivers and coasts have been polluted by industrial and agricultural contaminants. Lakes have been contaminated by acid rain.
• Chemical Plant Explosion - In July 1976, there was an explosion at a small Swiss-owned chemical plant in the city of Seveso, just north of Milan. There was a cloud of debris contaminated by dioxin. More than 1,000 were evacuated, and pregnant women were advised to have abortions.
• Venice - This beautiful city has faced long-term threats of flooding, pollution, erosion, and sinkage of the island. Every year Venice sinks 2 millimeters. By the mid 1980's, little was being done to control the number and speed of powerboats on the Grand Canal. The churning of waters causes erosion of the buildings.
• Endangered Animals - 10 mammals are endangered, as well as 7 birds species, and 202 plant species.