42°00′N14°00′E/ 42.000°N 14.000°E
TheItalian peninsula(Italian:penisola italicaorpenisola italiana), also known as theItalic peninsula,Apennine peninsula,Italian boot,ormainland Italy,is apeninsula,within theItalian geographical region,extending from the southernAlpsin the north to the centralMediterranean Seain the south which comprises much of the country ofItalyand the enclaved microstates ofSan MarinoandVatican City.
Overview
editIt is nicknamedlo Stivale(the Boot), because the shape of the peninsula resembles a high-heeledboot.Three smaller peninsulas contribute to this characteristic shape, namelyCalabria(the "toe" ),Salento(the "heel" ) andGargano(the "spur" ).[1]The backbone of the Italian peninsula consists of theApennine Mountains,from which it takes one of its names. The peninsula comprises much ofItalyand also includes the enclaved microstates ofSan MarinoandVatican 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 theMagrato theRubiconrivers, north of the Tuscan–EmilianApennines.It excludes thePo Valleyand the southern slopes of theAlps.[2][3]The Italian peninsula has the only active volcano oncontinental Europe,Mount Vesuvius.[4]
Political geography
editIn general discourse, "Italy" and the "Italian peninsula" are often used as synonymous terms. However,northern Italymay be excluded from the Italian peninsula. From a political point of view, the Italian peninsula in the strict sense (therefore excludinginsular Italyand 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 | |||
 Italy
|
26,140,000 | 131,275 | 50,686 | 99.9531% | Virtually the entire peninsula |
 San Marino
|
31,887 | 61.2 | 23.6 | 0.0466% | A central-easternenclaveof peninsular Italy |
 Vatican City
|
829 | 0.49 | 0.19 | 0.0003% | AnenclaveofRome,Italy |
See also
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References
edit- ^"The BOOT of ITALY".June 2023.Retrieved5 October2023.
- ^De Agostini Ed.,L'Enciclopedia Geografica – Vol. I - Italia,2004, p. 78.
- ^ Touring Club Italiano,Conosci l'Italia – Vol. I: L'Italia fisica,1957.
- ^"Mount Vesuvius, Italy: Map, Facts, Eruption Pictures, Pompeii".
- ^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, excludingnorthern Italyandinsular Italy(SardiniaandSicily).
External links
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Media related toItalian Peninsulaat Wikimedia Commons
