Italy

A country in south-central Europe, Italy covers a peninsula stretching into the Mediterranean Sea. Italy has some of the most varied and picturesque landscapes on Earth, and is frequently referred to as a country in the shape of a boot. The Alps stand on a broad top and are considered among the most rugged mountains in the world. The highest points of Italy are along the Monte Rosa which peaks in Switzerland and the Mont Blanc which peaks in France. The Western Alps are looking out over the valleys carved by Alpine lakes and glaciers, which stretch as far as the Po River and Piedmont. Located south of the Cisalpine region, Tuscany is probably the best-known region in the country. A high mountain range, the Apennines, radiates out from the central Alps and runs the length of the country, widening out near Rome to cover almost the entire Italian peninsula. Most of the lower Apennines are near-wilderness areas, home to many species rarely seen in Western Europe, such as wild boars, wolves, asps and bears. In the southern Apennines, there are several active volcanoes, including Mount Vesuvius, which occasionally belches ash and steam into the air over Naples and the island-lined bay. In the Mediterranean Sea at the bottom of the country lie the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. With over 57,000 animal species, Italy has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in Europe, accounting for more than a third of Europe's fauna, it includes 4 777 endemic species. The flora of Italy contains 6759 species, of which 1371 are endemic species and subspecies.