Geography
Italy is located in Southern Europe and comprises the boot-shaped Italian Peninsula and a number of islands including the two largest, Sicily and Sardinia. The country's total area is 301,230 km², of which 294,020 km² is land and 7,210 km² is water. Including the islands, Italy has a coastline and border of
7,600 km on th Adriatic, Ionian, and Tyrrhenian seas (740 km), and borders shared with France (488 km), Austria (430 km), Slovenia (232 km) and Switzerland; San Marino (39 km) and Vatican City (3.2 km), both enclaves, account for the remainder.
The Appennine Mountains form the peninsula's backbone and the Alps form its northern boundary, where Italy's highest point is located on Mont Blanc (4,810 m/15,782 ft).
The Po, Italy's longest river (652 km/405 mi), flows from the Alps on the western border with France and crosses th Padan plain on its way to the Adriatic Sea. The
five largest lakes are, in order of diminishing size.Garda (367.94 km2/142 sq mi), Maggiore (212.51 km2/82 sq mi, shared with Switzerland), Como (145.9 km2/56 sq mi), Trasimino(124.29 km2/48 sq mi) and Bolsena (113.55 km2/44 sq mi).
7,600 km on th Adriatic, Ionian, and Tyrrhenian seas (740 km), and borders shared with France (488 km), Austria (430 km), Slovenia (232 km) and Switzerland; San Marino (39 km) and Vatican City (3.2 km), both enclaves, account for the remainder.
The Appennine Mountains form the peninsula's backbone and the Alps form its northern boundary, where Italy's highest point is located on Mont Blanc (4,810 m/15,782 ft).
The Po, Italy's longest river (652 km/405 mi), flows from the Alps on the western border with France and crosses th Padan plain on its way to the Adriatic Sea. The
five largest lakes are, in order of diminishing size.Garda (367.94 km2/142 sq mi), Maggiore (212.51 km2/82 sq mi, shared with Switzerland), Como (145.9 km2/56 sq mi), Trasimino(124.29 km2/48 sq mi) and Bolsena (113.55 km2/44 sq mi).