Italy is a boot shaped peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea. Italy has two mountain ranges, the Alps and the Apennines. The Apennine mountain range is the backbone of the country. The Apennine’s surround the north-western part of the country where it joins the Alps. The two mountain ranges form an “Arc” shape which helps protect the country from possible enemy invasions. Mount Blanc, is the tallest mountain summit sitting at 5,781 feet above sea level. Italy also has two volcanoes, Mount Vesuvius and Mount Etna. Mount Vesuvius is currently dormant, however, Mount Etna is still very active however doesn’t pose a threat to the people of Italy. The Po is the longest river in Italy, 405.13 miles. Italy is the land of lakes with its largest lake being Lake Garda. (Geography of Italy, n.d.)

 

Italy is 116,303 square miles with a population of 61 million people. The capital of Italy is Rome located which located on the Western side of the country. France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia all border Italy which is surrounded by 3 Mediterranean Seas, the Tyrrhenian Sea, Adriatic Sea, and the Ionian Sea. (Italy Facts, n.d.)

 

Temperatures and climate varies throughout Italy from the North to the South. In the northern part of the country, the climate is very harsh with cold winters and very hot, humid summers. In central Italy, the climate is milder with a smaller difference between seasons. Winters are shorter and not as cold and summers are longer. In Southern Italy, the winters aren’t harsh and spring and fall temperatures are similar to summer in other parts of the country. (The climate in Italy, n.d.)