Italy

Where is Italy located? In the continent of Europe. Divided into 20 provinces. Surrounded by the Mediterranean sea Shaped like a boot The countries that border Italy are France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia

Dividing Italy into physical regions A region is an area of land that has common characteristics. It is different to other regions. The characteristics can be 1.Physical - climate, soils, plants that grow there. (not man-made)

The Regions Physical Regions – 3 Regions – Alps, Apennines and the NIP (North Italian Plain)Physical Regions – 3 Regions – Alps, Apennines and the NIP (North Italian Plain) States – 20 states – Political regions a bit like counties in Britain.States – 20 states – Political regions a bit like counties in Britain. Economic – 2 regions – More developed north and less developed south.Economic – 2 regions – More developed north and less developed south. Tourism – 7 regions.Tourism – 7 regions.

Region 1 Mountains & Lakes Region 2 – North Italy & Venice Region 3 – Italian Riviera Region 4 – Tuscany and Rome Region 5 – Neapolitan Riviera Region 6 – The south Region 7 - SICILY

Mountains The groups of mountains are: Alps Appenines

The Alps and Apennines The two groups of mountains in Italy are the alps and the Apennines. The alps are shaped in a curve. The alps have tall and spikey points and ‘newer’ The Apennines are ‘older’ and smoother. The Apennines go along the peninsula in a stripe, the alps are an arch all along the northern borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.

The Alps The alps form a towering mountain range. The highest mountain peaks in Europe straddle the borders between Italy and its Alpine neighbors – France, Switzerland, and Austria. The mountain peaks are topped by snow and ice.

Apennines The Apennines form a mountainous backbone that runs almost the full length of peninsula, they are lower than the Alps. The landscape is rugged with many outcrops of bare limestone rock, particularly in the south. In the north there are many rolling hills covered by forest, green fields and vineyards. The highest mountain in the south is not in the Apennines, it is Mount Etna, the active volcano that dominates the geography of eastern Sicily

The River Po The river Po, Italy longest river, is supplied with water from many Alpines rivers.

Climates of Italy The climate in Italy is nice and mild. The north is colder, the south is warmer. Winter is 5 degrees average, spring is 15 degrees average, summer is 25 degrees average and autumn is 15 degrees average. The easy division of Italy is into three climatic regions. The Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and warm, wet winters dominates everywhere, except in the north.

Why is the North wealthy? The north Italian plain has the best farmland and most of the modern industries,. The northern plain has great physical advantages for farming compared with most other regions of Italy

Best Farmland Largest area of low and flat land Fertile soils Hot sunny summers with rainfall Plenty of water for irrigation from Alpine rivers and springs

Italy’s population The North of Italy is very crowded – over 200 people per km² - this is called population density i.e. the number of people in a given area The North of Italy has the largest cities It has a much larger population that the south of Italy

Why is the North of Italy more populated?Why is the North of Italy more populated? This relates to all of the factors we have discussed so farThis relates to all of the factors we have discussed so far 1.The land on the North Italian Plain is very flat so building here is very easy 2.There are lots of jobs here 3.The climate provides rain all year round so farming is good here. This is also due to the fact that the soil is very fertile

Tuscany & Rome

L ’ Aquilla Earthquake April 09

Before

Mass Burial

Neapolitan Riviera

The South

Sicily