4 Chapter 1 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE From the towering peaks of the Alps to rolling hills and long coastlines Italy is filled with beauty and a rich history Italy is in western Europe Most of the country forms a boot shaped peninsula that stretches into the Mediterranean Sea toward the African coastline Italy also includes the islands of Sardinia and Sicily It covers 116,348 square miles 301,340 sq km
The Land The Mediterranean Sea surrounds most of Italy's western southern and eastern borders Northern Italy borders Slovenia Austria Switzerland and France The independent city state of Vatican City lies within Italy Italy has an alpine region in the north Mountains dominate the landscape The Alps lie where Italy borders Switzerland and France Monte Bianco White Mountain of Courmayeur is there Its peak stands 15,577 feet 4,748 m above sea level Glaciers cover about 40 square miles 100 sq km of Monte Bianco of Courmayeur 5
6 Italy has open plains and long coastlines The Po Valley is a large flat lowland Its fertile soils grow much of Italy's crops The Apulian Plain in the south is a rugged land Rivers and Lakes The Po is the longest river in Italy It flows 405 miles 652 km from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea The Po flows through several major cities Pollution of its waters from farmland runoff is a major problem The Tiber River runs through the center of the country and passes through Rome One of the cities that the Po River flows through is Turin Italy
LAKE GARDA HAS 77.5 MILES 125 KM OF SHORELINE Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake This popular vacation spot lies in northern Italy along the edge of the Dolomite mountain range The lake covers about 143 square miles 370 sq km Lake Maggiore and Lake Como are other popular recreational lakes in Italy 7
