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- France. A Blend of Romance, Culture, and Culinary Delights. When you’re exploring countries near Italy, France undoubtedly tops the list as one of the closest countries to Italy that offers an unparalleled travel experience.
- Switzerland. A Land of Alpine Wonders and Pristine Beauty. Switzerland is a haven for those seeking breathtaking landscapes and luxurious experiences. It offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and high-quality living.
- Austria. A Symphony of Culture, History, and Alpine Beauty. As you journey through the countries near Italy, Austria emerges as a cultural jewel. This landlocked nation, one of the closest countries to Italy, is steeped in history, music, and breathtaking landscapes, offering a unique and enriching travel experience.
- Slovenia. Europe’s Undiscovered Gem of Natural Beauty and Charming Cities. In your exploration of countries near Italy, don’t overlook Slovenia, one of the closest countries to Italy that is often underrated but immensely rewarding.
Apr 11, 2024 · Europe boasts over 26,720 miles (43,000 km) of coastline. In some areas, cliffs rise above sea level, while in others such as in Norway, there are fjords shaped by the interaction between the mountains and the advancing sea. Along the coasts of Europe, peninsulas such as the Jutland, Italian, and Scandinavian are to be found.
5 days ago · Italy, country of south-central Europe, occupying a peninsula that juts deep into the Mediterranean Sea. Italy comprises some of the most varied and scenic landscapes on Earth and is often described as a country shaped like a boot. At its broad top stand the Alps, which are among the world’s most rugged mountains.
6 days ago · 1. What are the major physical features of Europe? Europe can be divided into four major physical regions, running from north to south: Western Uplands, North European Plain, Central Uplands, and Alpine Mountains. 2. What are the main parts of Europe?
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Apennine Range, series of mountain ranges bordered by narrow coastlands that form the physical backbone of peninsular Italy. From Cadibona Pass in the northwest, close to the Maritime Alps, they form a great arc, which extends as far as the Egadi Islands to the west of Sicily. Their total length is approximately 870 miles (1,400 kilometres), and their width ranges from 25 to 125 miles. Mount Corno, 9,554 feet (2,912 metres), is the highest point of the Apennines proper on the peninsula. The range follows a northwest–southeast orientation as far as Calabria, at the southern tip of Italy; the regional trend then changes direction, first toward the south and finally westward.
The Apennines are among the younger ranges of the Alpine system and, geologically speaking, are related to the coastal range of the Atlas Mountains of North Africa. Similarities have also been observed with the Dinaric Alps, which extend through the Balkan region, including Greece. Nearby Sardinia and Corsica, on the other hand, are dissimilar to the Apennines, their granitic rock masses being linked to outcroppings along the Spanish and French coast, from which they parted some 20 million years ago.
The majority of geologic units of the Apennines are made up of marine sedimentary rocks that were deposited over the southern margin of the Tethys Sea, the large ocean that spread out between the Paleo-European and the Paleo-African plates during their separation in the Mesozoic Era (about 250 to 65 million years ago). These rocks are mostly shales, sandstones, and limestones, while igneous rocks (such as the ophiolites of the northern Apennines, the remains of an older oceanic crust) are scarce. The oldest rocks—metamorphic units of the late Paleozoic Era (about 300 to 250 million years ago), with their continental sedimentary cover containing plant remains—represent the relicts of the ancient continental crust of Gondwanaland and are found in small outcroppings. The granitic intrusions and metamorphic units of the Calabrian and Sicilian ranges are also Paleozoic (Hercynian orogeny), but they are believed to be Alpine in origin and only became part of the Apennine chain through subsequent major tectonic movements.
The Apennine orogeny developed through several tectonic phases, mostly during the Cenozoic Era (i.e., since about 65 million years ago), and came to a climax in the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (about 23 to 2.6 million years ago). The Apennines consist of a thrust-belt structure with three basic trending motions: toward the Adriatic Sea (the northern and central ranges), the Ionian Sea (Calabrian Apennines), and Africa (Sicilian Range). During Plio-Pleistocene times (i.e., about 5,300,000 to 11,700 years ago), ingression and regression of the sea caused the formation of large marine and continental sedimentary belts (sands, clays, and conglomerates) along the slopes of the new chain. In the past million years numerous large faults have developed along the western side of the Apennines, which may be connected to the crustal thinning that began about 10 million years ago and resulted in the formation of a new sea, the Tyrrhenian. Most of these faults have also facilitated strong volcanic activity, and a volcanic chain has formed along them from Mount Amiata in Tuscany to Mount Etna in Sicily; most of these volcanoes—including Mount Amiata, Mount Cimino, the Alban Hills near Rome, and the Ponza Islands—are extinct, but, to the south, Mount Vesuvius, the Eolie Islands, and Mount Etna are all still active. Seismic activity is common along the entire length of the chain (including Sicily), with more than 40,000 recorded events since ad 1000. Mostly earthquakes are shallow (three to 19 miles deep), and their occurrence is probably connected to the settlement of the chain in the complicated interaction between the African and European tectonic plates.
Starting from the north, the main subdivisions of the Apennines are the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, with a maximum height of 7,103 feet at Mount Cimone; the Umbrian-Marchigian Apennines, with their maximum elevation (8,130 feet) at Mount Vettore; the Abruzzi Apennines, 9,554 feet at Mount Corno; the Campanian Apennines, 7,352 feet at Mount Meta; the Lucanian Apennines, 7,438 feet at Mount Pollino; the Calabrian Apennines, 6,414 feet at Mount Alto; and, finally, the Sicilian Range, 10,902 feet at Mount Etna. The ranges in Puglia (the “boot heel” of the peninsula) and southeastern Sicily are formed by low, horizontal limestone plateaus, which remained less affected by the Alpine orogeny.
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The rivers of the Apennines have short courses. The two principal rivers are the Tiber (252 miles long), which follows a southerly course along the western base of the Umbrian-Marchigian range before flowing through Rome to the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the Arno (155 miles), which flows westerly from the Tuscan-Emilian range through Florence to the Ligurian Sea. Also significant is the Volturno (109 miles), which rises in the Abruzzi Apennines near Alfedena and flows southeast as far as its junction with the Calore River near Caiazzo and then turns southwest to enter the Tyrrhenian Sea. In spite of the limited length of the rivers, the action of running water is the chief agent of erosion responsible for molding the contemporary Apennine landscape. The character of the physical geography depends on the varying nature of the rocks in each region and their resistance to water action. The overall aspect of relief, however, exhibits characteristics of an early, or juvenile, stage in the cycle of erosion. In limestone areas, karst erosion, with crevasses worn by water action, predominates. In the highest part of the Apennines there are traces of the erosive action of the glaciers of the last Ice Age, although, unlike the Alps, contemporary glaciers are lacking.
Mar 1, 2018 · - WorldAtlas. Which Countries Border Italy? A map showing Italy and its neighbors. Italy is one of the largest European countries in the Mediterranean and has a land border that stretches 1,116 miles in length. France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia are the four countries that share a land border with Italy.
Atlas maps can be used to investigate the key physical features of Europe. Europe has a diverse range of physical geographical features such as mountains and rivers. The Alps and the Pyrenees are major mountain ranges in Europe.
