Natural environment Italy
Nature and climate in Italy
Six large natural environments dominate the landscape and climate in Italy. In addition to the mountainous regions, it are mainly the lowlands north of the Apennines and the foreland west and east of the Apennines, which form the prevailing natural areas of Italy in addition to the islands. The hilly alpine country, breathtaking mountain ranges and beautiful coastlines and lowlands invite you for a stay. In terms of environmental protection, the Italian awareness has increased in recent years and the coasts and forests are kept increasingly clean.
Italy´s landscape
Varied natural environment in Italy
The natural environment in Italy can be divided into six regions: The Italian Alps, the Po Valley, the Apulian foreland, the Tyrrhenian foreland, the islands and the Apennines. The latter is also divided into northern, central, southern and Calabrian Apennine. While mountain valleys, glaciers and high peaks, dominate the Italian Alps, the Po Valley below is one of the most fertile regions of Italy. The 652 km long Po river is the main lifeline of the entire region and, together with a favourable climate is responsible for excellent agricultural conditions.
The Apennines consists mainly of limestone and dolomite. Particularly appealing here is the change of vegetation at higher altitudes, where hart leave plants give way to extensive meadows and heaths. The Apulian foreland is also shaped by limestone and it offers large areas of pasture and romantic shores. Volcanoes characterize the Tyrrhenian foothills, whichare stretched out from Florence to Naples and are home to the cradle of Roman civilization. While in Sicily near the Etna also karsted limestone is prevailing, Sardinia has a geologically very calm character and offers besides a diversified mountain country mainly gorgeous sandy beach.
Environmental protection at the natural environment in Italy
Thanks to strict EU rules and an emerging environmental consciousness of the governments, the natural environment in Italy is also subject to increasingly strict environmental protection laws. The Italian Ministry of Environment is increasingly cramping down on polluters. In addition, alarming data concerning water quality on the Italian coasts have called the population and its increasing environmental awareness into action. After all, tourism is one of the main resources of the country and therefore the coastlines present itself much cleaner in recent years and the legal measures for environmental protection seem to take hold slowly. In addition to the protection of the Mediterranean Sea, also the Alps become increasingly important and extensive measures of protective have been established.
