The Italian peninsula, located in the southern part of the continent of Europe, is organized as a country since AD 1861, between latitudes 35 to 47 degrees north and longitudes 6 to 19 degrees east. The original name of this country is 'Repubblica Italiana' in the native language of Italy, Latin and the current official language 'Italian'. In the English language it is called 'Italy'. The Alps range is located in the north of Italy, in which the borders of Europe's countries called France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia come.
Sicily and Sardinia, the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, are part of Italy. Vatican City and San Marino are two independent countries included in Italy. Rome is the capital of Italy. Other major cities of the country are Florence, Venice, Milan, Pisa, Genoa etc.
The mainland of Italy is lit by the Mediterranean Sea to the south and both directions of sun-transit ie from east to south through west. This peninsula is called the Italian peninsula. The coastline of Italy is about 7,600 km, including all the islands of Italy. In the north, it is bordered by countries named France (488 km), Austria (430 km), Slovenia (232 km) and Switzerland of Europe.
The countries called Vatican City and San Marino are surrounded by Italy on all sides. Italy is the middle peninsula of Europe's three major peninsulas located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. To the west, south and east of the peninsula are the Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Adriatic Seas respectively and to the north are the ranges of the Alps. Sicily (in possession of Italy), Sardinia (in possession of Italy) and Corsica (in possession of France), these three large islands and communities of other islands located in the Ligurian Sea are originally from Italy.
The Italian peninsula is shaped like a large boot (shoe). The width ranges from 80 to 150 miles from northwest to southeast. In the far south, the width is only 35 to 20 miles.
Climate
The climate of Italy is mainly Mediterranean but there is a lot of variation in it. The climate of cities such as Turin and Milan can be classified as continental or humid continental climates.
Natural Condition
Italy is primarily a mountainous country, with the Alps mountains in the north and the Apennine mountain ranges spreading like a spine in the middle. The Apennine Mountains run southeastwards to the Adriatic coast, starting between the cities of Jelloa and Nice, and extending southward as a spine in central and southern Italy. In terms of vegetation, climate and nature, this peninsula can be divided into three parts - (1) Northern Italy, (2) Central Italy and (3) Southern Italy.
Northern Italy
It is the most densely populated plain of Italy, which was a sea in the period before the emergence of mankind and in a later period was formed from the soil brought by the rivers from the Alps Mountains. This plain covers 17 percent of the country's land, which produces rice, mulberry and fodder for livestock. To the north of this plain are the slopes and hills of the Alps mountain, on which there are pastures, forests and terraced fields.
The natural beauty of the mountainous part is greatly enhanced by the presence of some lakes and rivers. The geographical description of northern Italy can be done only through a river called 'Po'. The Po River flows 20 miles from Mount Vizo (elevation 6,000 ft) as a mountain spring and enters the 'Plain of Saluja'.
There is navigation in this river for 337 miles from the confluence of 'Sosia' river. The river splits into two branches (Po dol Maestra and Po di Goro) before falling into the sea. At the mouth of the Po is a 20-mile wide delta. The total length of the river is 420 miles and it drains 29,000 square miles of land water.
The main tributaries of the Po, originating from the Alps mountains and the Apennines, are the Ticino, Adda, Oglio and Mincio and Tenaro, Tavia, Taro, Cecchia and Panaro respectively. The Tiber (244 mi) and the Adridge (220 mi) are the second and third largest rivers in Italy. They are initially narrow and hilly, but in the plains, their expansion increases and floods occur.
All the rivers are very useful from the point of view of irrigation and power generation, but are unsuitable for transport. The Alps is a narrow coastal plain located between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea. Olives, grapes and oranges are grown in abundance on the mountain slopes in the northern part. There is a dense settlement in fertile valleys and plains. Many villages and cities are settled in these. Dense forests are located at higher altitudes.
Central Italy
In the middle of central Italy, the Apiens Mountains run from north-east to south-west parallel to the Adriatic coast. The highest part of the Apennines is 'Granassodi Italia' (9,560 feet) in this part. There is a network of mountain ranges, which are covered with snow from November to May. There are some wide, very beautiful and fertile valleys, of which the 'Valley of Eterno' (2,380 ft) is prominent.
Due to the natural composition of central Italy, it has a colder, higher mountainous part on one side and slopes and valleys with warm and temperate climate on the other. The western slope is a hilly rugged part. In the south, the part between 'Tuscany' and 'Tiber' is the product of volcanic mountains, hence there are conical hills and lakes. Between this mountainous part and the sea, there is a fertile plain with black soil, which is called 'Kampanya'.
The mountain ranges on the eastern coast of central Italy extend very close to the sea. Therefore, the importance of the rivers falling into the Adriatic Sea is very less. It is famous for odd-part fruit-gardens. Olives and grapes are cultivated here and there is a lack of big cities and big villages. Most of the people live in small towns and villages. Due to lack of mineral wealth, this part is backward from the point of view of industrial development. The famous lakes here are Fusinus, Tresimeno and Chidsi. The lakes in the western part originate from the volcanic mountains.
Southern Italy
This entire part is hilly, in the middle of which the Apennine spine is spread and there are low hills on both sides. The average width of this section ranges from 50 miles to 60 miles. There is a narrow plain called 'Tera de Levoro' on the west bank and a wide plain called 'Apulia' on the east. Apart from these two plains, the whole part is mountainous and covered by the high and low ranges of the Apennines.
The 'Hill of Potenza' meets the 'Hill of Polino', the last highest mountain in southern Italy. In the far south, the forest-covered hills of granite and limestone have gone up to the coast. The rivers 'Liri' and 'Geta' etc., which fall into the Adriatic Sea, are longer than the rivers flowing on the western slope. The main rivers are the Viferno, Fortore, Cervaro, Anto and Bradano, which fall from the 'Dringo' to the south.
A lake called 'Lagodale-Motese' is located between the mountains in southern Italy. The islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Alva, Capria, Garagona, Pianosa, Manticristo, Jiglico, etc. are located near Italy. The islands of Ischia, Procida and Ponza, located near the Gulf of Naples, are formed from volcanic lava emanating from mountains. Only 'Drimiti Island' is located on the Adriatic coast.
Climate and Vegetation
The climate of Italy is different from the climate of European countries, running from east to south, that is, being surrounded by the sea on three sides and being surrounded by the high range of Alps mountains in the north. There is a substantial difference in climate in Northern Italy, Central Italy and Southern Italy. It is the hottest country in Europe.
Due to the Alps, the northern cold winds are not able to enter Italy, but the cold and strong winds called 'Bora' blow in the eastern part. Due to the Apennine Mountains in the south, the effect of the winds coming from the Andic Ocean is limited to the 'Tirhinian' coastline and these winds are not able to enter Italy.
There is a substantial difference in temperature between northern and southern Italy. The temperature fluctuation ranges from 52°F to 66°F. December and January are the coldest and July and August are the hottest months. The average temperature of the Po River plain is 55 °F, and the average temperature of Sicily, 500 miles away, is 64 °F.
The annual average rainfall in the country is 899 mm. The mountainous regions of the Alps to the north and the high western part of the Apennines receive the most rainfall. In the central part of the Alps, it rains in summer and snow falls in winter. The Po river basin receives more rainfall in summer. In addition to local factors, the climate of Italy is Mediterranean with winters and dry summers.
Due to the heterogeneity of the climate, different types of vegetation grow here. Modern farmers have filled Italy with fruits, vegetables, and other crops, so wild trees and shrubs are found only on the high mountains. Evergreen forests with pointed leaves are found at higher altitudes. Among these, cypress, deodar, pine and fir trees are the main ones.
More cold tolerant trees are found in the mountainous cold parts of the north. In the coastal and other low-lying plains, there are orchards of fruits like olives, oranges, limes etc. In central Italy, natural vegetation is not available anywhere except in the higher ranges of the Apennine Mountains. Olives and grapes are cultivated here. In southern Italy, on the Tyrrhenian coast, there are orchards of fruits like olives, oranges, limes, mulberries, figs etc. This part also contains flowers grown from tubers.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the biggest occupation of the Italians. Due to the variation of climate and natural conditions, this small country produces a wide variety of commodities ranging from rye to rice, from apple to orange and from linseed to cotton. About 700 lakh acres of land is fertile in Italy, out of which 183 lakh acres of food grains, 28 lakh acres of pulses etc., 8 lakh acres of industrial crops, 1.5 million acres of vegetables, 24 lakh acres of grapes, 20 lakh acres of olives, Pasture and fodder crops are found in 2 lakh acres and forests are found in 144 lakh acres of land.
Population
Before the Second World War, the rate of population growth in Italy was very high, but after the Second World War the population of Italy almost stabilized. The annual growth in AD 1931 was 0.87 percent. The population of Italy was 590 million in the year 2008 and 592 million in the year 2019.
Thus, according to the average of the last eleven years, the population of Italy remained stable, but for the last few years, an annual decline of 0.1 percent is being recorded in its population. Due to mountainous land and limited industrial development, the density of population is very low compared to other European countries i.e. only 201 persons per square kilometer. In Italy, 30 percent of the population lives in villages and seventy percent of the population lives in cities and 99 percent of the country's people are educated.
Mineral wealth
Mineral and industrial development took place in Sicily (Caltanisetta), Tuscany (Arenzo, Florence and Grasseto), Sardinia (Cagliari, Sassari and Inglesias) and Piedmont. Various types of minerals, including precious gems and iron, are exported from Italy to other countries, while many other minerals are also imported.
Industry
The main industry of the country is cotton and silk based textile industry. Lombardy, Piedmont and Venetia are the main silk producing regions. There are enough factories in the country for manufacturing chemical goods and also for making sugar. The industry of manufacturing various types of machines, motors, motorcycles and cycles is also very large. Hydroelectricity is generated in sufficient quantity in the rivers of the country. Italy has trade relations with countries like Argentina, USA and Canada.
The imported goods are cotton, wool, coal and chemical substances and the goods exported include various types of machines, fruits, yarn, clothes, motors, motorcycles and some specialty chemicals. Italy's imports exceed exports.
City
The entire country is divided into 19 regions and 92 provinces. There are only 26 cities in the country with a population of more than one lakh. Among them Rome, Milan Naples, Turin and Geneva are prominent. Other cities include Turin, Bergamo, Venice, Ravenna, Bari, Siena, Florence, Pisa, Napoli, Pampe, Sorrento, Palermo, Trieste, Verona, Genoa and Brindisi.