Italian Peninsula
The Italian Peninsula (Italian: penisola italica or penisola italiana) is located within the Italian geographical region; it extends from the southern Alps in the north to the central Mediterranean Sea in the south which comprises much of the country of Italy and the enclaved microstates of San Marino and Vatican City. The peninsula is also known as the Italic Peninsula, Apennine Peninsula, Italian Boot, or Mainland Italy.
Overview
[edit | edit source]It is nicknamed lo Stivale ("the Boot"), because the shape of the peninsula resembles a high-heeled boot. Three smaller peninsulas contribute to this characteristic shape, namely Calabria ("the Toe"), Salento ("the Heel") and Gargano ("the Spur").[1] The backbone of the Italian Peninsula consists of the Apennine Mountains, from which it takes one of its names. The Peninsula comprises much of Italy and also includes the enclaved microstates of San Marino and Vatican City.
Physical geography
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Geographically, the minimum extent of the Italian Peninsula consists of the land south of a line extending from the Magra to the Rubicon rivers, north of the Tuscan–Emilian Apennines. It excludes the Po Valley and the southern slopes of the Alps.[2][3] The Italian Peninsula has the only active volcano on continental Europe, Mount Vesuvius.[4]
Political geography
[edit | edit source]In general discourse, "Italy" and the "Italian Peninsula" are often used as synonymous terms. However, northern Italy may be excluded from the Italian Peninsula. From a political point of view, the Italian Peninsula in the strict sense (therefore excluding insular Italy and northern Italy[5]) is divided into various states listed in the following table:[6][7]
| Country | Population[8] | Peninsular area | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km2 | sq mi | Share | |||
| File:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | 26,140,000 | 131,275 | 50,686 | 99.9531% | Virtually the entire peninsula |
| File:Flag of San Marino.svg San Marino | 31,887 | 61.2 | 23.6 | 0.0466% | A central-eastern enclave of peninsular Italy |
| File:Flag of Vatican City (2023–present).svg Vatican City | 829 | 0.49 | 0.19 | 0.0003% | An enclave of Rome, Italy |
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See also
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- Apennine Mountains
- Italy
- Italy (geographical region)
- List of peninsulas
- San Marino
- Southern Europe
- Vatican City
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ De Agostini Ed., L'Enciclopedia Geografica – Vol. I - Italia, 2004, p. 78.
- ^ Touring Club Italiano, Conosci l'Italia – Vol. I: L'Italia fisica, 1957.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Vocabolario Treccani, Peninsulare
- ^ De Agostini Ed., L'Enciclopedia Geografica - Vol. I - Italia, 2004, p.78
- ^ Touring Club Italiano, Conosci l'Italia - Vol. I: L'Italia fisica, 1957
- ^ Population includes only the inhabitants of the Italian peninsula, excluding northern Italy and insular Italy (Sardinia and Sicily).
External links
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