The Italian Peninsula (Italian: penisola italiana) is located within the Italian geographical region; it extends from the southern Alps in the north to the central Mediterranean Sea in the south which comprises much of the country of Italy and the enclaved microstates of San Marino and Vatican City. The peninsula is also known as the Italic Peninsula (Italian: penisola italica), Apennine Peninsula, Italian Boot, or Mainland Italy.
Overview It is nicknamed lo Stivale ("the Boot"), because the shape of the peninsula resembles a high-heeled boot. Three smaller peninsulas contribute to this characteristic shape, namely Calabria ("the Toe"), Salento ("the Heel") and Gargano ("the Spur"). The backbone of the Italian Peninsula consists of the Apennine Mountains, from which it takes one of its names. The Peninsula comprises much of Italy and also includes the enclaved microstates of San Marino and Vatican City.
Physical geography
Geographically, the minimum extent of the Italian Peninsula consists of the land south of a line extending from the Magra to the Rubicon rivers, north of the Tuscan–Emilian Apennines. It excludes the Po Valley and the southern slopes of the Alps.De Agostini Ed., L'Enciclopedia Geografica – Vol. I - Italia, 2004, p. 78.Touring Club Italiano, Conosci l'Italia – Vol. I: L'Italia fisica, 1957. The Italian Peninsula has the only active volcano on continental Europe, Mount Vesuvius.
Political geography In general discourse, "Italy" and the "Italian Peninsula" are often used as synonymous terms. However, northern Italy may be excluded from the Italian Peninsula. From a political point of view, the Italian Peninsula in the strict sense (therefore excluding insular Italy and northern ItalyVocabolario Treccani, Peninsulare) is divided into various states listed in the following table:De Agostini Ed., L'Enciclopedia Geografica - Vol. I - Italia, 2004, p.78Touring Club Italiano, Conosci l'Italia - Vol. I: L'Italia fisica, 1957
Country PopulationPopulation includes only the inhabitants of the Italian peninsula, excluding northern Italy and insular Italy (Sardinia and Sicily). Peninsular areaDensity DescriptionNumberShare km2 sq mi Share26,140,00099.8750%99.9531%199.12 people/km2Virtually the entire peninsula31,8870.1218%0.0466%521.03 people/km2A central-eastern enclave of peninsular Italy8290.0032%0.0003%1,691.84 people/km2An enclave of Rome, ItalyTotal26,172,716100%131,33750,709100%199.28 people/km2
See also
Apennine Mountains Italy Italy (geographical region) List of peninsulas San Marino Southern Europe Vatican City
References
External links