World Geography

November 23, 2010

Italy

In the center of the country you will find the Apennine Mountains, with no peak higher than 10,000 ft above sea level.Experiences much seismic (volcanoes and earthquakes) activity

Flat area in the country lies along the narrow coastal plains

Physical Landscape

The Alps in the North block winds from reaching southern Italy and cooling it down, leaving this climate:Hot and dry in summerMild and wet in winter

Despite lack of flat land and the dry climate Italy has relied heavily on agricultureAs late as 1960 more than 1/3 the population lived and worked on farms

Today only 10%

Population: 58 millionLiving in mountains is hard… so population is concentrated in flat areas

Early 1900s many Italians were forced to migrate because farmland was scarce

Migration

Growth of industry, steel mills, and smaller factories

Major player in development of European Union, which offers it greater economic opportunities (reach a larger and richer market)

Many poor workers would work for low prices, meaning lower priced goods and industry soared

Economic Activities

Regions of Italy

As late as 1861 northern states became united with the rest of Italy

Many differences among the various regions

“European Italy”Po River Valley, plain between Alps

and ApenninesMost productive agricultural area

(wheat, rice)Center of commercial industry

Ski resorts in the AlpsVenice faces flooding and pollution

and sinking ground (subsidence), but is still a popular tourist destination!

Northern Italy

Rome and surrounding regions Capital because…

Central location Former capital of Roman Empire

(historical symbol)Vatican City: area within the city of

Rome (less than one square mile) World HQs of the Roman Catholic

ChurchFlorence is a cultural center in the

region (Michaelangelo, Renaissance)

Central Italy

Mezzogiorno (MET soh ZHOR noh), meaning “midday”… intense noon sun!

Includes islands of Sicily and Sardinia

Poor roads – new highways!Industries after WW2, but have

suffered lately

Many migrate to Naples, but this port city suffers from some of the worst poverty in Europe (too many people, too few jobs)

Southern Italy