Italy is predominantly a mountainous country.

In the north - the southern slopes of the Alps with highest point Western Europe Mount Mont Blanc (4808 m), to the south - the Padan Plain; on the peninsula - the Apennine mountains (the highest point is Mount Corno Grande, 2914 m). The Apennine mountains are divided into: Ligurian, Tuscan-Emilian, Umbro-Marca, Abruzzi, Campanian, Lucanian, Calabrian Apennines and Monti Sabini. Even in the eastern part of the peninsula is the Gargano peninsula, in the southeast and southwest of the Salentina and Calabria peninsulas, respectively. active volcanoes-- (Vesuvius, Etna); frequent earthquakes.

Washing seas - from the east the Apennine peninsula is washed by Adriatic Sea with the Gulf of Venice in its northern part.

The Strait of Otranto between Apulia and Albania connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea. Between Puglia and Calabria, the Gulf of Taranto penetrates deeply into the land. The very narrow Strait of Messina separates Calabria from Sicily, and the Sicilian (or Tunisian) Strait, 135 km wide, separates Sicily from North Africa. The Tyrrhenian Sea is a triangular basin framed by Sardinia, Corsica, the Tuscan archipelago, the Apennine Peninsula and Sicily. To the north of Corsica is the Ligurian Sea with the Gulf of Genoa.

In the northeastern part of the island of Sicily are the mountains of Nebrodi, and in the southwestern part of the island of Sardinia, the plain of Campidano.

Most of the small islands are divided into archipelagos, such as the Tuscan archipelago, which includes the island of Elba, to which Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled.

The longest river in Italy is Po, its length is 682 km. The largest lake is Garda.

Living standards of neighboring countries:

Switzerland- a country without access to the sea, the territory of which is divided into three natural regions: the Jura mountains in the north, the Swiss plateau in the center and the Alps in the south, occupying 61% of the entire territory of Switzerland.

Main imports Keywords: industrial and electronic equipment, food, iron and steel, petroleum products.

Main export items: machinery, watches, textiles, medicines, electrical equipment, organic chemicals.

Advantages: highly skilled workforce, reliable service sector. Developed branches of mechanical engineering and high-precision mechanics. Transnational concerns of the chemical industry, pharmacology and the banking sector. Banking secrecy attracts foreign capital. The banking sector accounts for 9% of GDP. Innovation in mass markets (Swatch watches, Smart car concept).

Weak sides: limited resources and small area.

Switzerland is one of the most developed and wealthy countries in the world. Switzerland is a highly developed industrial country with intensive, highly productive agriculture and an almost complete absence of any minerals. According to Western economists, it is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of economic competitiveness. The Swiss economy is closely connected with the outside world, primarily with the EU countries, with thousands of threads of industrial cooperation and foreign trade transactions. 80-85% of Switzerland's trade is with the EU countries. More than 50% of all cargoes from the northern part of Western Europe to the south and in the opposite direction pass through Switzerland in transit. After a notable increase in 1998-2000. The country's economy has entered a recession. In 2002, GDP grew by 0.5% to CHF 417 billion. fr. Inflation was at around 0.6%. The unemployment rate reached 3.3%. The economy employs approx. 4 million people (57% of the population), of which: in industry - 25.8%, including in engineering - 2.7%, in the chemical industry - 1.7%, in agriculture and forestry - 4.1%, in the service sector - 70.1%, including in trade - 16.4%, in banking and insurance - 5.5%, in the hotel and restaurant business - 6.0% . The policy of neutrality made it possible to avoid the devastation of two world wars.

Austria- state in Central Europe. The population is 8.46 million people. The capital is Vienna. Official language-- German.

Federal state, parliamentary republic. It is divided into 9 federal states.

Austria is one of the richest countries in the world. GDP per capita about $46,330 (in 2012). Currency unit- Euro.

Member of the United Nations, European Union. In 1955, it proclaimed permanent neutrality and non-alignment with any military blocs. Austria is a developed industrial and agricultural country. It is one of the most developed countries in Europe. GDP per capita in 2002 amounted to 24.7 thousand euros (in 1995 prices). This indicator is constantly growing (in 1990 it was 20.1 thousand, in 1995 - 21.4 thousand euros), and at current prices and at purchasing power parity in 2001 - 28.2 thousand US dollars (with the average for the EU is 25.5 thousand). Thus, Austria was ahead of Sweden, Great Britain, Italy, France, Germany, and was second only to Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland and Luxembourg.

Advantages:

• Wide production base
• strong industry (chemical and petrochemical, electrical engineering, textile industry, woodworking):
• a skilled labor force;
• · Tourism is an important source of attracting funds from abroad.

Weak sides:

• · dependence on imported raw materials, primarily oil and gas;
• · delay in the transition to increased competition and deregulation.

The volume of GDP in current prices in 2010 amounted to 284 billion euros. GDP per capita in 2010 amounted to 33.85 thousand euros. GDP production per 1 employed in 2010 (labor productivity) - 77.6 thousand euros.

The Austrian economy is comparatively different low level inflation (in 2002 - 1.8%) and unemployment (in 2000 - 3.7% of the able-bodied population, in 2002 - 4.3%). The consumer price index in 2002 compared to 1996 was 108.8, while in the EU as a whole it was 110.8.

Approximately 2.2% of GDP is produced in agriculture and forestry, 32.3% in industry, energy and construction, 65.5% in services, trade, transport and communications, banking and insurance systems . One third of the volume of industrial production falls on the public sector of the economy.

The composition of the territory and economic and geographical position.

Italy is located in the south of Europe. On its territory, 3 parts can be distinguished: mainland (about 1/2 of the area), peninsular (Apennine Peninsula) and island (Sicily, Sardinia and a number of small islands). Sea borders are 4 times longer than land borders. Even the deepest regions of the country are no more than 200-300 kilometers from the coast.

The economic and geographical position in the center of the Mediterranean basin has long favored the development of relations with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as with other countries. Southern Europe. And now it promotes economic development Italy. Land borders with France, Switzerland and Austria, and partly with the former Yugoslavia, pass through the Alps. Northern Italy is in a more advantageous position than southern Italy, as it has the ability to carry out external economic relations both by land and by sea. Transcontinental air lines pass through Italy.

Relief and main geological structures

Almost 4/5 of the surface of Italy is occupied by mountains and uplands, and less than 1/4 of its area falls on the Padana Plain and narrow coastal lowlands.

In mainland Italy is separated from the rest of the continent by the highest in Europe mountain system Alps. The giant arc of the Alps, curved to the northwest, stretches from west to east for 1200 km. The highest, western part of them is the ancient Hercynian massif, composed of crystalline rocks. It is here that highest peaks Alps: Mont Blanc (4807 m), Monte Rosa (4634 m), Cervina (4478 m). The tops of these mountains are covered with powerful glaciers. To the south, the Alps decrease to 1000 m above sea level. sea ​​(Alpes-Maritimes). To the east, the chain of mountains diverges like a fan and their height decreases to 2000 m (Carnic Alps).

Along with crystalline rocks in the central and especially in Eastern Alps limestones are widespread.

mountain ranges The Alps are cut by numerous valleys and passes, accessible throughout the year or closed only for a short time in winter. Automobile and railways, in some places the mountains are riddled with tunnels.

The natural resources of the Alps have long been fully used by man. Suffice it to recall at least the large reserves of energy contained in the Alpine rivers, the numerous climatic and ski resorts, on the extraction of building materials. In the picturesque Alpine valleys with their favorable climate, people have long settled, and now there are many cities (Aosta, Sondrio, Bolzano, etc.)

In the southwest, the Alps pass into the Apennine mountains, which, bordering the Ligurian Gulf, stretch further across the entire Apennine Peninsula. The Apennines are one of the youngest mountains on earth. In their length (1500 km) they exceed the Alps, but are much inferior to them in height. Their highest point - Mount Korno reaches only 2914 m above sea level. seas. The peaks of the Apennines do not reach the snow line and are devoid of eternal snows, only on the eastern slopes of Monte Corno the only glacier in the Apennines descends to a height of 2690 m.

The Apennines are very diverse in their geological structure and relief. The mountains in Tuscany, the central Apennines, Campania and Brasilicata are composed of conglomerates, sandstones and limestones, as well as shale and marbles. Further south in Calabria, they are composed of ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks. The same rocks are also characteristic of the mountains of Sicily and Sardinia.

Due to the wide distribution of limestones in Italy in many areas - in the Eastern Alps, Northern and Central Apennines, on the Murge and Gargano plateaus, in Sicily, Sardinia, all forms of surface and closed karst are found: funnels, wells, carr fields, cave grottoes. The Alps have one of the most deep caves peace - Antrio del Corchia (805 m). In total, there are about 70 large caves and several hundred grottoes in Italy. The Blue Grotto on the coast of the island of Capri is known all over the world. Since ancient times, caves and grottoes served in Italy as places of settlements, temples, and burials. Nowadays, they attract the attention of numerous tourists. Some caves, due to the constant humidity of the air, the presence mineral springs, vapors, mud have medicinal value. At the same time, karst phenomena cause great harm to the economy, drying up and impoverishing the soil, hindering the construction of buildings and roads.

Characteristic geological structure Italy - a wide distribution of volcanic rocks, which are especially common in Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Sicily and Sardinia.

The only vast lowland in Italy is the Padana Plain, which occupies most of the Po basin. The rest, insignificant in area, are lowlands stretching along the coasts. The Padana plain gradually decreases from west to east. In its hilly western part there are orchards and vineyards, and in the lower reaches of the river. Po - livestock, grain and beet-growing regions. The Padana Plain is not only the main granary of Italy, but also the most industrially developed region of the country.

Italy is one of the few European countries where earthquakes often occur. Often they are catastrophic. In the twentieth century More than 150 earthquakes have been registered in the country. The zone of greatest seismic activity occupies Central and Southern Italy. The last strong earthquake occurred in November 1980. It covered a vast territory - 26 thousand square meters. km (from the city of Naples to the city of Potenza).

Italy is the only country on the continent where there are volcanoes of different types and in different stages of development. There is also extinct volcanoes(Euganean hills, Alban mountains), and active (Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli).

Climate

The elongation of the territory of Italy from north to south causes large climatic differences between individual regions - from the temperate warm climate of the Padana Plain to the pronounced subtropical climate in Sicily.

Only the climate of peninsular and insular Italy can be called actually Mediterranean. The climate of the Padan Plain, with the same hot summers as on the Apennine Peninsula, but with cold and foggy winters, can be considered transitional from subtropical to temperate. Here the influence of warm Ligurian Sea the Maritime Alps and the Apennines prevent it, while at the same time colder air from the Adriatic freely penetrates here. The average temperature in January on the Padan Plain is about 0°, and in July - + 23-24°. In autumn, cyclones are actively formed here. In winter, snow always falls, often there are frosts up to 10 °. Of the 600 - 1000 mm of annual precipitation, half falls in spring and summer. Heavy, even catastrophic downpours are not uncommon in Northern Italy. Summer rains are often accompanied by thunderstorms and hail.

The climate of the Alps varies with altitude from moderately warm to cold. in the mountains the snow stays for several months, and on the tops of the mountains it never melts.

The slopes of the Carnic Alps receive the most precipitation - 3000 mm. In the rest of the Alpine regions, an average of 1000 mm falls annually.

The Mediterranean climate is distinctly expressed in the south of the Apennine Peninsula and on the islands. Summer here is dry and hot average temperature July - + 26 °), winter is mild, warm (average January temperature is + 8-10 °). In the northern and central parts of the Apennine Peninsula, the average temperatures are different - + 24 ° in July and + 1.4-4 ° in January. Snow on the Apennine Peninsula falls very rarely. From March to October, the sirocco blows in southern Italy - a dry and hot wind from Africa, bringing temperatures up to + 30-35 ° and reddish dust.

The Mediterranean precipitation regime (maximum in winter, minimum in summer) is typical for the entire peninsular and insular Italy.

Puglia has the driest place in Italy, with only 197 mm of rain per year.

In the upper part of the Apennines, the climate is cold, and in the closed intermountain valleys it is sharply continental.

Primorsky districts Italy, especially the Ligurian Riviera, coasts ionian sea, the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, are distinguished by a particularly mild climate. Here the difference between the average temperatures of the coldest month (January) and the hottest (July) is about 15°. Therefore, along the coasts of Italy, especially on the Ligurian Riviera, famous climatic resorts stretch in a chain.

Political system

In my own way state structure Italy since 1946 has been a bourgeois parliamentary republic headed by a president.

Administratively, Italy is divided into 20 historical regions (see map 2). The capital of Italy is the city of Rome.

Population.

Italy ranks second in Europe (after Germany) in terms of the number of inhabitants. Italy is constantly characterized by mass emigration. Tens of thousands of people leave every year. This happens due to difficult conditions life of the peasantry, unemployment and low wages of workers. Standard of living Italian workers - one of the lowest in the developed capitalist countries of Europe. Previously, Italy was characterized by emigration overseas. In the post-war period, temporary and seasonal emigration to the Common Market countries, especially to the FRG and France, intensified. The balance of external migrations in Italy is negative.

Italy is one of the densely populated countries in Europe. The intensive process of urbanization affects the distribution of the population. The bulk of the urban population is concentrated in Northern Italy. Most cities in Italy arose in the ancient and middle ages. They are world famous as original historical museums with architectural monuments of antiquity and works of art. Among them are Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Genoa, Bologna.

National composition The population is homogeneous - 98% of it are Italians. Italians are Catholics by religion. Although the church in Italy is separated from the state, it actively intervenes in the political life of the country and provides big influence to the general population. In the western part of Rome, one quarter is occupied by the state of the Vatican - a theocratic monarchy. Its head - the Pope - is simultaneously the head of the entire Catholic Church.

The class composition of the population is characterized by a large proportion of the urban and rural proletariat, poor peasants, artisans and handicraftsmen. The dominant position is occupied by a small industrial, commercial and agricultural bourgeoisie.

Italy is a parliamentary republic headed by a president.

general characteristics economy.

Before the Second World War, in terms of growth rates and industrial output, Italy lagged noticeably behind the other major capitalist countries. The reasons for this lag were the weakness of the raw material base, the narrowness of the domestic market. From the mid-1950s to the 1960s, there was an increase in industrial production. An agrarian-industrial country has become an industrial-agrarian one. An important role in this was played by the active intervention of the state in the economy. After the war, the state became the owner of the railways, communications facilities, a large part of the metallurgical plants and many other enterprises. It provides various benefits and gives loans to private industrial companies. Italian monopolies are strengthening their positions by merging and establishing links with transnational companies. Particularly large participation in the industry of Italy takes the capital of the United States, Germany and Switzerland. On the basis of the latest technical achievements, large enterprises in machine-building, the chemical industry and a number of other branches have been renovated, and new modern factories have been built. However, along with large modern factories, Italy is characterized by the presence of many small, poorly mechanized enterprises.

The backwardness of agriculture in Italy is much greater than in other capitalist countries. This is explained by the fact that stronger vestiges of feudal relations have been preserved in the system of land ownership and land use in Italy; still a significant share of agricultural production falls on small, fragmented farms of peasants with backward agricultural technology.

A characteristic feature of the location of the economy is a sharp territorial disproportion between Northern and Southern Italy. Even before the political unification of the country in the 70s. 19th century in northern Italy there were rich trading republics with various connections, with large centers of handicraft and factory production. Now Northern Italy is not inferior in level economic development the largest countries in Europe, while southern Italy is close to less developed countries such as Greece and Portugal. The regional policy pursued by the state is not able to eliminate this disproportion. The location of production is increasingly influenced by the environmental factor, especially in the North.

Industry.

Italy is poorly provided with the main types of minerals - coal, oil, iron ore. The reserves of natural gas, bauxite, polymetallic ores are more significant. The deposits of mercury, sulfur, marble are very rich. Among other European countries, Italy also stands out in terms of water and geothermal energy resources. Italy's industry is highly dependent on imported raw materials and fuels.

The country's energy industry is based on imported oil, coke and coal, its own natural gas and hydro resources. In terms of the capacity of oil refineries, Italy is ahead of other Western European countries. Although thermal power plants occupy the first place in the production of electricity, the share of hydroelectric power plants built on alpine rivers is also relatively large. Geothermal power plants operate in Central Italy. The first nuclear power plants were built. In connection with the development of electrically intensive industries, electricity generation has increased significantly.

Mechanical engineering is of exceptional importance in production and export: the production of cars, scooters (Italy is the birthplace of a scooter), bicycles, and ships. Household electrical equipment and typewriters are very famous. 3/4 of machine-building plants are located in Northern Italy.

In connection with the growth of mechanical engineering, the smelting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals increased. Ferrous metallurgy is based on the import of scrap and pig iron, coke, iron ore, and alloying metals. Features of the raw material base affect the structure and location of enterprises in this industry. Steel production far exceeds iron production. The largest plants are located in the ports of Taranto, Genoa, Naples. Converting metallurgy enterprises have been built at large machine-building plants (in Milan, Turin). Electrometallurgy - steel and aluminum smelting - arose near the Alpine hydroelectric power stations.

The chemical industry is based on imported oil and phosphorites, on natural gas, sulfur and other local raw materials. The petrochemical industry is developing at a high rate, especially the production of plastics and synthetic fibers based on oil cracking. Most of the chemical plants are located in Northern Italy, but new petrochemical plants have also been built in the ports of Southern Italy.

The textile industry in Italy produces mainly cotton and synthetic fiber fabrics. This industry is concentrated mainly in Milan and its suburbs. The economic crises and declines in production in the mid-1970s and early 1980s had a particularly strong impact in Italy on shipbuilding, the automotive industry, and the textile industry.

Agriculture.

The natural conditions of Italy allow the cultivation of all crops of a temperate climate, but they are especially favorable for subtropical fruit plants and grapes. In Northern Italy, the Padana Lowland is located with fertile alluvial soils, convenient for agriculture. It flows through it big river Italy - Po, widely used for irrigation. The climate here is mild, transitional from temperate to subtropical. In southern Italy, the relief is mountainous, narrow strips of lowlands stretch only along the coasts. Stony, humus-poor soils predominate. Typical Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and warm winter favorable for citrus, olive, almond and other horticultural crops, as well as grapes.

The agrarian system in Italy is characterized by three main types of farms:

capitalist, landlord and farms of small and landless peasants. Capitalist farms, which provide the bulk of marketable products, are widespread in Northern Italy. They differ in more advanced methods of agricultural technology, high level mechanization and employment. The monetary form of land lease prevails. For Southern Italy, a combination of large landownership (latifundia) and small peasant land tenure is typical, with natural forms of lease predominating.

Agriculture in Italy is diversified, as in France, but inferior to it in terms of intensity and level of development. Critical importance has crop production. The first place in the world belongs to her in the collection of grapes, the second in Europe (after Spain) - in the collection of olives and citrus fruits. Vineyards cover the slopes of the foothills and hills both in the north and throughout the Apeninsky peninsula. The coast of Sicily is distinguished by the cultivation of orange and lemon trees. Early vegetables ripen in the south in winter time, so Italy supplies them to the European market ahead of its competitors. The main crops are wheat, corn and rice, the technical ones are sugar beet and hemp.

Animal husbandry is relatively poorly developed. Cattle are bred on the capitalist farms of Northern Italy. In poor feed mountainous areas Apennines, Sicily and Sardinia, the peasants breed sheep, goats and mules. In coastal areas, they are supported by seafood.

Transport.

In domestic transport cargo and passengers, the main role is played by automobile transport, in second place - railway. In terms of railway electrification, the country occupies one of the first places in the world. A dense network of modern highways and railways links the cities of Northern Italy.

Economic and geographical differences.

Only in a few capitalist countries can one find such sharp differences in the levels of economic development as exist between the North and the South of Italy.

Within the North, the triangle that forms the cities of Milan, Turin and Genoa is the region of the most highly developed industry. Milan is the second most populated city in Italy. In terms of the development of industry, trade and financial functions, this city ranks first, so it is often called the business capital of the country. Milan is surrounded by satellite cities, many of which serve it with their production. Milan is also widely known for its La Scala opera house. The face of Turin is determined by the car factories of the Fiat concern. Associated with them are enterprises of other firms specializing in the production of tires, ball bearings and electrical cables. The large industry of the North is served by Genoa (900 thousand inhabitants) - the largest port in the country. In the city and its suburbs, stretching along the sea, there are many industrial enterprises. The coast of the Gulf of Genoa is also of great resort importance.

The north-eastern part of the North is less industrially developed, where Venice stands out for its industry. This city is famous for the originality of the canal streets and architectural monuments. Waste from industrial enterprises and public utilities that pollute the Venetian lagoon, frequent floods and the gradual sinking of the city create the problem of saving the world-famous architectural monuments of Venice from destruction.

A special place in Italy, as in all countries of the world, is occupied by the capital. Rome is located in the central part of the Apennine Peninsula, away from the sea. It is the main administrative, political and Cultural Center countries. Although at present there is a military, chemical and some other industry in Rome, yet its industrial significance is not great. The city has gained worldwide fame due to its numerous historical and architectural monuments and it is no coincidence that it is one of the largest centers of tourism in the world.

The backwardness of southern Italy created in the country the so-called problem of the South. After the Second World War, a large metallurgical plant in Taranto, several petrochemical plants, nuclear power plants were built here, but this only slightly increased the industrial activity of the South. The most important industrial and cultural center of Southern Italy is Naples. As a passenger port, it ranks first in the country, and second only to Genoa in terms of cargo turnover. Famous resorts are located in Naples and its environs.

Agriculture in southern Italy is characterized by backward agricultural technology, low yields. While part of the landlords' land is vacant or used for grazing, the peasants suffer from land shortages. They use every piece of land, and in mountainous areas they carry out complex work on the construction of terraces, supporting walls that protect them from erosion.

The south provides the bulk of emigrants.

As a result of the strongest earthquake in southern Italy at the end of 1980, many settlements. This further weakened the economic position of southern Italy.

Foreign economic relations.

And Italy's imports are dominated by fuel (oil, coal, coke) and industrial raw materials (scrap metal, cotton); it also imports cars and foodstuffs. In exports, the main role is played by finished products (machinery, equipment, fabrics) and fruits (oranges, lemons). The largest trade turnover is with the countries of the Common Market, Switzerland and the USA.

The deficit of Italy's foreign trade balance is partially covered by remittances from Italians working abroad and income from tourism, in the development of which the country has long been one of the first places in the world. More than 30 million tourists visit Italy every year. foreign tourists. Tourist service has become one of the the most important industries economy.

Thanks to its original outline, Italy is the most recognizable geographical map a country. Italy is located on the Apennine Peninsula, surrounded on three sides by water. The boot-shaped mainland points west towards the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

Total length land borders is 1932 kilometers. Coastline stretches for 8 thousand kilometers. Italy borders Austria (430 km), France (488 km), Slovenia (232 km) and Switzerland (740 km). In addition, the territory of the country is surrounded by the states of Vatican City (border 3.2 km) and San Marino (border 39 km). The boundary of territorial waters runs 12 nautical miles from the coast. Continental shelf at a depth of 200 meters. Being in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy has maritime boundaries with the Balkan countries - Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece. Dozens of small islands are scattered off the coast of Italy, but only the two most major islands- Sicily and Sardinia - densely populated.

Italy is washed by four seas: the Adriatic Sea from the East, the Ionian from the South, the Tyrrhenian from the West and the Ligurian - Northern part Italy from the West.

Italy includes two large mountain systems - the Apennines and the Alps, and therefore, about 80% of its surface are mountains and foothills. Plains and lowlands occupy a relatively small area, the largest plain is Padana (about 15% of the area of ​​Italy). According to its relief, Italy is divided into three main regions: the Apennine Peninsula, the Padan Plain and the Italian Alps.

The Apennine peninsula is formed by the Apennines mountain system and the ancient Tyrrhenides massif (in Calabria, Tuscany, on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia). The folded ranges of the Apennines were eroded in the Neogene, subjected to strong faults, and in the Quaternary period - large uplifts. Volcanic phenomena, which continue to this day (active volcanoes Vesuvius, Etna, Stromboli, Vulcano), also played a large role in creating the relief. The center of volcanic activity is located on the coast Tyrrhenian Sea. Strong earthquakes testify to the continuation of mountain building processes. In a number of areas, the formation of the relief is greatly influenced by intense river erosion. The Apennines system, which fills almost the entire peninsula, reaches a height of about 3000 meters, but in general it is characterized by a medium-mountain relief and hilly foothills. Low-lying areas on the peninsula are small and located on the sea coast. The eastern slopes of the Apennines are generally gentle, the western slopes are steeper. The mountain system is divided into Northern, Central and Southern Apennines. The northern Apennines are composed mainly of a thick layer of clays and sandstones of the Tertiary period; ancient sedimentary and various igneous rocks are also developed. Majority mountain peaks do not exceed 2000 meters. On northern slopes landslides are highly developed. The Northern Apennines are divided into Ligurian (Mount Maggiorasca, 1803 m) and Tuscan (Mount Cimone, 2163m). The Ligurian Apennines are the lowest and narrowest part of the Apennines. A narrow strip of coastline along the Ligurian Apenini, as well as the Ligurian and Maritime Alps, including the coastal lowlands and the lower part of the mountain slopes, forms the Italian Riviera, known for its picturesqueness and mild climate. The Tuscan Apennines are characterized by the echelon-shaped arrangement of mountain ranges and the presence of longitudinal valleys on the southern slopes. These valleys, which have fertile soils, are densely populated (the valley of the middle reaches of the Arno River with the city of Florence and the valley of the upper reaches of the Tiber with the city of Perugia). Here are the main lines of communication (railways and highways) between the northern and southern parts of Italy. The Central Apennines are the widest part of the Apennines. The mountains are divided into separate ridges and basins, which are in sharp contrast to each other: the ridges are rocky and bare, the basins, rich in water sources, are cultivated and densely populated. The axial zone of the mountains is formed mainly by thick strata of Mesozoic limestones. Here the Apennines reach their greatest height (in the highland region of Abruzzi, the Gran Sasso ridge with Mount Corno reaches a height of 2914 m). A lower zone, composed of clays and sandstones of the Tertiary period, adjoins the axial zone from the east.

Between the Northern and Central Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea lies a wide strip of hilly terrain with separate small lowlands opening to a flat coast. In the northern part of this strip, separate massifs, composed of older rocks (granites, crystalline schists, limestones), rise above the hills from loose Tertiary deposits. Such are the Apuan Alps (1946 m), composed largely of the famous Carrara marbles, the Pisa Mountains, the Tuscan Mountains, and others. The cone of the extinct volcano Monte Amiata (1738 m) rises apart. The southern part of the strip is occupied by a volcanic region, including the low-lying Roman Campania, and four cones of extinct volcanoes (Volsini, Cimino, Sabatini and Monte Albano).

The southern Apennines consist of two longitudinal strips: a higher and narrow western one (above 2000 m in the Neapolitan and Lucan Apennines), composed of Mesozoic limestones, and a low, but wider eastern one, where mostly loose rocks of the Tertiary period. The Neapolitan volcanic region with the active volcano Vesuvius (1281 m) is adjacent to the Southern Apennines. Between the eastern slope of the Southern Apennines and the coast of the Adriatic Sea there is a strip composed of limestones and raised in the form of the Gargano massif (1056 m) in the north and the Le Murge plateau in the south. The southern part of the Apennine Peninsula is occupied by Calabria, an ancient crystalline massif by origin, composed mainly of granites, gneisses and crystalline schists (Aspromonte, 1956 m and La Sila, 1930 m). Geologically, young faults of the Strait of Messina separate Calabria from the island of Sicily, most of which is a continuation of the Tertiary folded belt of the Apennines (mountains Nebrodi, Le Madonie, up to 1979 m high). In the north-east of Sicily are the Peloritan Mountains, in the east - the volcano Etna, and to the south of it - the fertile and densely populated lowlands of Catania. The island of Sardinia, from a geological point of view, is an ancient massif (the remnant of the Tyrrhenides), dissected by faults.

The Padan Plain lies on the site of a vast tectonic depression between the mountain systems of the Alps and the Apennines. The depression was occupied by the bay of the Adriatic Sea, which was gradually filled with river sediments. The plain continues to grow to the east. Its surface is almost flat, the height in most of it does not exceed 100 meters above sea level and only along the outskirts reaches 200-500 meters. The plain is divided into four parts: the higher Piedmontese in the west, the Lombard in the center, the Venetian in the east and the Emilian in the south, at the foot of the Tuscan Apennines. From west to east, the plain is crossed by the Po River, whose numerous tributaries flow down from the adjacent slopes of the Alps and the Apennines. Smooth surface, security high mountains from the northern winds, the soil fertility of the plains is extremely favorable for the development of agriculture. Alpine (left) tributaries of the Po River are a powerful source of hydroelectric power. Such natural conditions along with proximity to Central Europe and the sea coast, they contributed to the transformation of the Padan Plain into the main agricultural, industrial and most densely populated region of Italy.

The Italian Alps are divided into the Piedmontese, Lombard, South Tyrol and Venetian Alps. Piedmontese abruptly and abruptly break off directly to the Padan plain. In the main watershed ridge, along which the border of Italy passes, the massifs of Gran Paradiso (4061 m), Mont Blanc (4810 m), Monte Rosa (4646 m) and others stand out. The upper tributaries of the Po river cut the Alps with a dense network of transverse valleys. The largest of them are Dora Riparia and Dora Baltea (Aosta Valley), along which there are railways and highways connecting Italy with France and Switzerland (through the passes of the Small and Great St. Bernard). In the Lombard Alps, occupying central part In the Italian Alps, between lakes Lago Maggiore and Garda, both the main zone composed of crystalline rocks and the limestone zone of the Pre-Alps are well expressed. The highest height in this part of the Alps reaches the Ort-les massif (3899 m). A characteristic feature of the Prealp zone is the presence of large lakes (Lago Maggiore, Lugano, Como, Iseo, Garda), which are basins of ancient glaciers. Southern edges the lakes reach the plains, while the northern ones penetrate far into the mountains; the rivers Ticino, Adda, and others flow through the lakes. The Alps of South Tyrol, composed of crystalline rocks and limestones, are characterized by strong dissection into separate massifs. Their highest part is the Tyrolean Dolomites (3342 m). The Venetian Alps are composed of limestones, the Cornish and Julian Alps stand out in them. There are significant glaciers in the upper zone of the Italian Alps. The most important passes through which communication routes from Italy to its neighboring European countries pass are Spluga, Brenner, Mont Cenis, Petit Saint Bernard (2188 m), Grand Saint Bernard (2472 m), Simplon, Saint Gotthard ( 2112 m), etc. In the Alps, a strip of foothills and lower slopes of mountains up to a height of about 800 meters is more populated and cultivated. The most densely populated valley of the Adige River (almost to the very headwaters). The slopes of the mountains are widely used as pastures for livestock.

Due to the wide distribution of limestones in Italy in many areas - in the Eastern Alps, Northern and Central Apennines, on the Le Murge and Gargano plateaus, in Sicily, Sardinia, all forms of surface and closed karst are found - funnels, wells, grottoes and caves. In the Alps there is one of the deepest caves in the world - Antro di Corchia (805 m). In total, there are about 70 large caves and several hundred grottoes in Italy. The Blue Grotto on the coast of the island of Capri is known all over the world. Since ancient times, caves and grottoes served in Italy as places of settlements, temples, and burials. Nowadays, they attract the attention of numerous tourists. Some caves, due to the constant humidity of the air, the presence of mineral springs, vapors, and mud, have a healing value. At the same time, karst phenomena cause great harm to the economy, drying up and impoverishing the soil, contributing to the formation of landslides and hindering the construction of buildings and roads.

Almost 4/5 of the surface Italy occupied by mountains and hills, and less than 1/4 of its area falls on the Padan Plain and narrow coastal lowlands.

In the mainland Italy separated from the rest of the continent by the highest Alps in Europe. The giant arc of the Alps, curved to the northwest, stretches from west to east for 1200 km. The highest, western part of them is the ancient Hercynian massif, composed of crystalline rocks. It is here that the highest peaks of the Alps are located: Mont Blanc (4807 m), Monte Rosa (4634 m), Cervina (4478 m). The tops of these mountains are covered with powerful glaciers. To the south, the Alps drop to 1000 m above sea level (Alpes-Maritimes). To the east, the chain of mountains diverges like a fan, and their height decreases to 2000 m (Carnic Alps).

Along with crystalline rocks, limestones are widespread in the central and especially in the Eastern Alps.

The mountain ranges of the Alps are cut by numerous valleys and passes, accessible throughout the year or closed only for a short time in winter. Roads and railways pass through the passes, in some places the mountains are pierced by tunnels.

The natural resources of the Alps have long been fully used by man. Suffice it to recall at least the large reserves of energy contained in the Alpine rivers, the numerous climatic and ski resorts, the extraction of building materials. In the picturesque Alpine valleys with their favorable climate, people have long settled, and now there are many cities (Aosta, Sondrio, Bolzano, etc.)

In the southwest, the Alps pass into the Apennine mountains, which, bordering the Ligurian Gulf, stretch further across the entire Apennine Peninsula. The Apennines are one of the youngest mountains on earth. In their length (1500 km) they exceed the Alps, but are much inferior to them in height. Their highest point - Mount Korno reaches only 2914 m above sea level. The peaks of the Apennines do not reach the snow line and are devoid of eternal snows, only on the eastern slopes of Monte Corno the only glacier in the Apennines descends to a height of 2690 m.

The Apennines are very diverse in their geological structure and relief. The mountains in Tuscany, the central Apennines, Campania and Brasilicata are composed of conglomerates, sandstones and limestones, as well as shale and marbles. Further south in Calabria, they are composed of ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks. The same rocks are also characteristic of the mountains of Sicily and Sardinia.

Due to the wide distribution of limestones in Italy in many areas - in the Eastern Alps, Northern and Central Apennines, on the Murge and Gargano plateaus, in Sicily, Sardinia, all forms of surface and closed karst are found: funnels, wells, carr fields, cave grottoes. In the Alps there is one of the deepest caves in the world - Antrio del Corchia (805 m). Total in Italy there are about 70 large caves and several hundred grottoes. The Blue Grotto on the coast of the island of Capri is known all over the world. Since ancient times, caves and grottoes have served in Italy places of settlements, temples, burials. Nowadays, they attract the attention of numerous tourists. Some caves, due to the constant humidity of the air, the presence of mineral springs, vapors, and mud, have a healing value. At the same time, karst phenomena cause great harm to the economy, drying up and impoverishing the soil, hindering the construction of buildings and roads.

A characteristic feature of the geological structure Italy- wide distribution of volcanic rocks, which are especially common in Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Sicily and Sardinia.

The only vast lowland Italy-Padana Plain, which occupies most of the Po basin. The rest, insignificant in area, are lowlands stretching along the coasts. The Padana plain gradually decreases from west to east. In its hilly western part there are orchards and vineyards, and in the lower reaches of the river. Po - livestock, grain and beet-growing regions. The Padana Plain is not only the main breadbasket Italy, but also the most industrially developed region of the country.

Italy- one of the few European countries where earthquakes often occur. Often they are catastrophic. In the twentieth century More than 150 earthquakes have been registered in the country. The zone of greatest seismic activity occupies the Central and Southern Italy. The last strong earthquake occurred in November 1980. It covered a vast territory - 26 thousand square meters. km (from the city of Naples to the city of Potenza).

Italy- the only country on the continent where there are volcanoes of different types and in different stages of development. There are also extinct volcanoes (Euganean hills, Alban mountains), and active ones (Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli).

The Italian Republic (Italy) is a state in the south of Europe, in the center of the Mediterranean. It borders with France in the northwest (the length of the border is 488 km), with Switzerland (the length of the border is 740 km) and Austria (the length of the border is 430 km) in the north and with Slovenia in the northeast (the length of the border is 232 km). It also has internal borders with the Vatican (the length of the border is 3.2 km) and San Marino (the length of the border is 39 km). It is one of the states of the Schengen agreement.

Italy is a predominantly mountainous country that occupies the Apennine Peninsula (on which the Apennine mountains are located (the highest point is Mount Corno Grande, 2914 m), the Padan plain, the southern slopes of the Alps (with the highest point of Western Europe, Mount Mont Blanc, 4808 m), the islands of Sicily , Sardinia and a number of small islands (most of the small islands are divided into archipelagos, for example the Tuscan archipelago, which includes the island of Elba, to which Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled). Active volcanoes - (Vesuvius, Etna); earthquakes are frequent. The longest river in Italy, Po, its length is 682 km The largest lake is Garda.

From the east, the Apennine Peninsula is washed by the Adriatic Sea with the Gulf of Venice in its northern part. The Strait of Otranto between Apulia and Albania connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea. Between Puglia and Calabria, the Gulf of Taranto penetrates deeply into the land. The very narrow Strait of Messina separates Calabria from Sicily, and the Sicilian (or Tunisian) Strait, 135 km wide, separates Sicily from North Africa. The Tyrrhenian Sea is a triangular basin framed by Sardinia, Corsica, the Tuscan archipelago, the Apennine Peninsula and Sicily. To the north of Corsica is the Ligurian Sea with the Gulf of Genoa.

Italy is located in a zone of subtropical Mediterranean climate, and the influence of the sea is enhanced by the Alps, which are a barrier to northern and western winds.

In the Alpine (northernmost) zone, the climate has a continental character, altitudinal zonation is manifested. At the foot of the Alps, the average July temperature is 20-22 °C. In Bardonecchia (western part), the average annual temperature is 7.4 °C and the average annual rainfall is 660 mm. East End less warm with more moisture, in Cortina d'Ampezzo these figures are 6.6 ° C and 1055 mm. In Valle d'Aosta (western part of the zone), permanent snow cover starts at 3110 m, and in the Julian Alps snow drops to 2545 m. In autumn and winter, a hot dry foehn blowing from Switzerland or Austria sometimes causes sharp increases in temperature in some valleys (Aosta, Susa). In the eastern part of the Alps, gusts of dry and cold boron winds can reach 200 km/h. In summer, rains fall in high-altitude regions, and in autumn and spring they move to the edges of the climatic zone. Snow falls only in winter, the amount (from 3 to 10 m) depends on the year and proximity to the coast. The foothills receive more heavy snowfalls than the mountainous regions. In mountainous areas, frosts down to? 15-20 ° С are not uncommon. The lakes located in the region soften the local climate, the average January temperature in Milan is 1 °C, and in Salo, on Lake Garda - 4 °C. On the territory of the Italian Alps there are several hundred glaciers, such as Miage (in the Mont Blanc massif, the largest in Italy) and Calderone (on Mount Corno Grande, the southernmost in Europe).

Statistical indicators of Italy
(as of 2012)

On the Padana Plain, the climate is transitional from subtropical to temperate - hot summers and harsh winters, softening when moving towards the eastern coast. In Turin, the average winter temperature is 0.3 °C, summer - 23 °C. Rain falls mainly during the off-season, increasing with altitude. Little snow falls on the high plains. The temperature on the Adriatic coast rises from north to south, partly due to an increase in latitude, partly due to a change in the prevailing winds from east to south. The average annual temperature in Venice is 13.6°C, in Ancona 16°C and in Bari 17°C. Precipitation is scarce - 750 mm in Venice, 650 mm in Ancona and 600 mm in Bari.

In the Apennines, the severity of winter is determined by altitude, precipitation in the form of snow and rain is moderate (except in some places). Cyclones in the middle of winter cause frequent weather changes, and snow can fall in the southern regions. Average annual temperatures and precipitation are 12.1 °C and 890 mm in Urbino (in the east) and 12.5 °C and 1000 mm in Potenza (Basilicata region). On the eastern slopes of the Apennines and in the interior of the peninsula, 600-800 mm of precipitation falls annually, in the interior of Sicily and Sardinia - less than 500 mm per year.

Along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ligurian Riviera, temperatures and precipitation are influenced by the sea, full exposure to the midday sun, prevailing southwesterly winds, and the proximity of the Apennine ridge, which does not allow northerly winds to pass through. In San Remo (western part of the riviera), 680 mm of precipitation falls per year, in La Spezia (southeastern part of the riviera) it is more rainy - 1150 mm. On the Adriatic coast, it is generally colder (by 1-2 ° C) and drier than on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Mountainous Calabria and Sicily are surrounded mediterranean sea and therefore the temperatures on them are higher than in the mountains of the northern part of the peninsula. In the interior, rain is rare in winter, falling more in the western and northern regions of Sicily. In Reggio di Calabria, the average annual temperature and precipitation are 18.2 °C and 595 mm, in Palermo - 18 °C and 970 mm, respectively. A hot and very humid sirocco wind often blows from North Africa, heating the air up to 40-45 ° C and reaching the south of Sardinia. The climate of Sardinia is also influenced by the cold mistral blowing over its northwestern coast. In Sassari (northwest of the island), the average annual temperature and precipitation are 17 °C and 580 mm, while in Orosei ( east coast islands), these figures are 17.5 °C and 540 mm.

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