Italy: minerals, features of relief

Italy is an economically developed member countryThe European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance. It plays a huge role in the development of international and European tourism, the development of which has affected not only the successful geographical location, but also the legacy of the ancient Roman civilization.

Italy has access to the Mediterranean, whichfully compensates for the shortcomings of the land borders that pass through the Alps. In the Alpine mountains a system of passes and tunnels has been created, which serve as a connection between Italy and other European states. This system creates a whole range of environmental problems for Europe.

Natural conditions. Resources

Italy, minerals, naturalfeatures of which are of interest not only to tourists, but also to indigenous people, amazes with a variety of landscapes. The minerals of the country are practically depleted. The territory is stretched from the north-west to the south-east, domination of the mountain-hilly relief is observed. The climate is influenced by the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean seas. Even those areas that go deeper into the country are only 200 kilometers from the coast.

The coastline is poorly dissected, there are no convenient coves. All major ports were built by the state, only in Salerno, Naples, Cagliari and Taranto are in natural bays, bays.

Italy is located in the Alpine folding, thatcauses the movement of land. The northern borders of the country, which are very meandering, pass through the Alps. Rapidly developing seismic and volcanic processes is another feature of the Italian nature.

Relief and minerals of Italy

The mountains occupy most of the country's territory, andThe Padanskaya Plain is only one-fourth. On the territory of Italy are the Alps. The Hercynian massif, consisting of crystalline rocks, is the highest part of the mountain system in the west. Mont Blanc, Cervin and Monte Rosa are the components of this massif. The southern part of the Alps is located at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level and is called the Primorski Alps. The eastern part of the mountain system has a fan-shaped form, located at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level and called the Carnic Alps.

The main feature of the Alps are the valleys andpasses that have an automobile and railway destination. This mountain system is known for the system of tunnels and numerous ski resorts. The nature here is so beautiful that from time immemorial people preferred to break settlements in the mountains (Aosta, Bolzano, Sondrio).

The Apennine mountains are the youngest mountain system ina world that crosses the entire Apennine peninsula. The Alps pass to the Apennines in the south-west of the country. Despite the young age, the Apennines have a great length of 1500 kilometers, but they are inferior in height to the Alps. Due to a small height only on the eastern slopes of the Apennines you can see the eternal snow.

Despite the fact that Italy, mineralswhich are discussed in this article, is located in the heart of Europe, it is often subjected to earthquakes. In the 20th century the country was shaking more than 150 times, and the last earthquake was registered in 1980. This catastrophe covered a vast territory - from Naples to Potenza. Seismically dangerous zone is South and Central Italy.

Features of Italy's relief, mineralswhich will be described in more detail below, also in the fact that the country is known for its volcanoes since the times of Stabia, Pompeii and Herculaneum. These cities were completely destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Minerals of Italy

Italy is rich in minerals, butdeposits lie at a depth that is difficult to develop. Iron ore is extracted more than 2700 years on the Elbe and Aosta, all other mines eventually closed. A completely different situation with polymetallic ores (a mixture of zinc, lead with other metals). Polymetallic ores are extracted from metamorphic and crystalline rocks of Sardinia and limestone rocks of the Eastern Alps.

On the island of Sicily there are depositsstone and potassium salts, sulfur, natural bitumen. Tuscany is known for its white Carrara marble, which was used by the ancient Romans in architecture. When people hear about products from Carrara marble, then the only word that is associated with it is Italy. The minerals of each state affect the economic situation in the country. Carrara marble - one of the components of exports.

Cinnabar, bauxite and manganese

Italian Tuscany is rich in cinnabar (mercuryore), whose reserves are one of the first places in the world. The Karst cavities of Apulia are known for such minerals as bauxites, whose reserves have practically disappeared. The areas of Central Italy and Liguria are rich in manganese, but the fields are almost exhausted.

Coal, natural gas and oil

In Italy, there are problems with energyresources, only 15% of the energy demand is provided by own resources. Stocks of coal and brown coal, located in Calabria, Tuscany, Umbria and Sardinia, are of poor quality. The eastern coast of central Italy, the island of Sicily and the Padan Plain provide limited oil reserves - only 2% of the state's needs. Natural gas reserves are found on the island of Sicily, the Apennines, the Padanskaya Plain and the Adriatic Sea shelf, which is a continental continuation of the plain.

Mountains, plains, rivers - all this is Italy. The minerals of the country are depleted. Many resources are located deep in the bowels of the earth, and the development of fields costs the state too much.