One of the most famous mountain ranges on the Italian peninsula is the Cordillera de los Apennines. It owes its fame to being part of the physical backbone of this peninsula. It is a mountainous system of approximately 1.400 kilometers in length and a width that ranges between 40 and 200 kilometers. It has great biological wealth and a variety of flora and fauna that make it a natural environment conducive to being visited.
In this article we will discuss the characteristics, geology, flora, and fauna of the Apennines.
Key features
This mountainous system passes from the Cadibona pass, located in the northwest, to the Egadi Islands, which is located north of Sicily. It has a 2.914 meter high peak known as the Corno Grande. If we analyze it from the geological point of view, the Apennines are part of a fold of mountains known as the Atlas Mountains, which start from North Africa and pass through the Dinaric Alps, extending through the Balkan region.
Its geological variety is quite remarkable. On the one hand, we find sandstones and marls in the northern region, in Liguria. In the south of the peninsula and in Sicily, we can find large outcrops of limestone rock separated by low areas of schist and sandstone. For a deeper understanding of the geological formations of other regions, you can read about the orography from Italy and its connection to the Apennines.
It is a young formation whose evolution has not yet finished. Is that we can find very pronounced peaks that have not yet been affected by erosion and the passage of time. Furthermore, they have numerous faults in different places, causing nearby areas to be affected by seismic phenomena and active volcanism. Despite being a young mountain range, it is subject to the forces of erosion from both wind and water. The seashore reaches the mountains, reducing the length of the coastline and creating a thin band of rock.
Climate and environment of the Apennines
The entire length of the mountain range has a Mediterranean climate, and therefore we find southern vegetation composed mainly of vineyards, olive groves, and citrus trees. What makes this mountain range so popular with tourists is that most of its territory is in the wild without cultivation. Calcareous phenomena abound in these places. These calcareous rocks come mainly from the secondary and the tertiary.
It is the poorest and least populated region in Italy due to its natural environment. The population migrates to other, more economically productive areas. Although the predominant climate is Mediterranean, due to the altitude, low temperatures and high humidity tend to prevail throughout the year. In ancient times, the Apennines were covered with beech and chestnut trees. The forests have progressively disappeared due to overgrazing. The abundant flocks of sheep and goats have gradually removed and displaced the habitat of these species. In addition, the biodiversity of the Apennines has been affected by these practices.
Had today, the people of the country still practice transhumance. Herds graze in the mountains during the summer and in winter they spread to the coastal plains where temperatures are more pleasant. Wolves, bears, foxes, and chamois have gradually disappeared due to human activity.
Apennine Division
You could say that the Apennines are divided from north to south into 4 parts. The clay layers are responsible for landslides when the rainy season comes. These landslides often threaten villages that exist in nearby areas. On some occasions, it has been destroyed and caused numerous damages in inhabited areas due to these landslides.
As for minerals, we don't find a great wealth. However, we can see large quantities of pyrites, copper ores, bauxite, and mercury. Mercury is found in large quantities, making Italy the world's leading producer of mercury. For more information on geological aspects, see our article on the Swiss Alps, which also offer information related to geology.
These materials can be found especially in the central part of the peninsula. Sicily, on the other hand, is richer in sulfur. Although if we start to enumerate, the main wealth of the Apennines is hydraulic power. Thanks to the power of the high water, large amounts of renewable energy can be extracted. This is because the level and terrain are very rough, especially in the Naples region.
In the Ligurian region, they are connected to the Western Alps. The highest section corresponds to the Tuscan-Emilian massif, where we can find peaks exceeding 2.000 meters above sea level. The highest peak in the northern Apennines is Mount Cimone with 2.165 meters high, and is an important point in the geography and geology of the region.
In the widest part of the mountain range, there are numerous valleys and smaller mountain ranges, such as the Abruzzo Mountains, the Sibillini Mountains, and the Gran Sasso, the massif where Corno Grande (2.194 m) rises, the highest point in the Apennines. In the southernmost part, the mountain range forms a sort of arc that curves toward the southwest. This area is the one that stands out for having large volcanoes such as Vesuvius. These volcanoes are also the cause of some seismic activity.
Hydrology, flora and fauna
As we have mentioned before, hydrology is of great importance in this mountain range. It stands out for having rivers with fairly short courses. The most important rivers are the Tiber, which flows through the central region and empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is 405 km long, which is quite small for a river. The other major river is the Arno, with a length of 250 km, which begins in the west in the Tuscan Massif, passes through Florence, and empties into the Ligurian Sea.
Although the rivers are relatively small, the action of water is one of the most important erosive agents in these mountain ranges. As for the flora, there are Mediterranean-type species that vary according to altitude and latitude. In the north, we find a greater abundance of oaks, chestnuts, beeches, and pines. In the south, we find certain shrubs such as the they are the mastic, oleanders and myrtles.
On the other hand, the fauna is very well preserved thanks to the existence of national parks and protected areas. Among the most characteristic species we have the brown bear, the italic wolf, the lynx and the golden eagle.
