SICILY, the largest, most fertile, and most populous island in the Mediterranean sea, lies between let. 36' 38' and 38° 18' n., and between long. 12° 25' and 15° 40' e., and is sepa rated from the main-land of Italy by the strait of Messina. Its shape roughly resembles a triangle (whence the early Greek navigators gave it the name of rthiaCriit, the "Three cornered")—the eastern coast, front Capo del Faro in the n. to Capo Passaro in the s., forming the base; and the northern and south-western coasts the sides, which gradually approach each other toward the n.w. The length of the base is 145 m.; of the northern side 215 in.; and of the south-western 190 tn.: the circumference of the island, includ ing the sinuosities of the coast, is estimated at 624 miles. Area about 10,000 sq. miles. Pop., according to the census of Dec. 31, 1871, 2,584,099. Capo Passaro, at the south eastern extremity,•is only 56 tn. from Malta; and Capo Boco, near Marsala, at the north western, only 80 m. from cape Bon on the African coast.
GeogPaphy.—The island of Sicily, like the mainland of Italy, is traversed throughout its entire length by a chain of mountains, which may be looked upon as a continuation of the Apennines (q.v.). This chain, beginning at Capo del Faro on the strait of Messina, t uns in a south-south-western direction as far as Taormina,where it turns off to the w., and stretches across the whole island, keeping, however, much nearer to the northern than to the south-western coast, The first part of the chain, from Capo del Faro'to Taormira, is called the Peloric range (anc. Neptunius Mons), which in Monte Dinnamare attains the height of 3,260 ft.; the second and much the longer part is called the Madonian range (anc. .Yebrodes Mon tea), which, in the Pizzo di Palermo, rises to an elevation of 6,328 feet. It forms the great watershed of the island. Toward the north western coast the chain breaks up into irregular and often detached masses, such as Monte Pellegrino (1963 ft.) and Monte San Giuliano (2,184 ft.). About the center of the chain a range branches off through the heart of the island to the s.e.; at wild and rugged, but afterward smoothing down into table-lauds, which in turn slope away tamely to the sea. There are innumerable other spurs to the s. front the great Madonian
chain, of inferior length and elevation, but none of these require special mention. The volcano of Etna, which rises in solitary grandeur on the eastern coast, is separately described. See ETNA. Sicily is not, on the whole, a well-woodtd country, but forests of considerable size are found here and there as, for example, the royal forests near Caronia and Mezzojuso, the forest-zone of Etna, etc. In the interior of the island there is not numb level land, but on several parts of the coast there are extensive plains, gen erally of great fertility. The principal of these are the great plain of Catania (anc. Campi Leontini), out of which rises Etna; the plains of Palermo, termed the Conca d'Oro, or "Golden Shell," of Castellanu•c, of Licata, and Terranova.—Although rivers are numerous, none are navigahle. The largest are the Simeto or Gitu•retta, the Cantara, the Salso, the Platani, and the Belici.
Climate.—The climate of Sicily is very warm, but salubrious, except in low-lying places where there is a mephitic atmosphere. The best health is enjoyed in the lower regions of Etna, which is very densely peopled, although exposed to eruptions and vio lent earthquakes. The heat is intense in summer when the sirocco blows. After the a'jtumnal equinox violent winds are prevalent, torrents of rain fall, and all along the coasts the atmosphere is charged with moisture and fogs. The em•thquakes begin about the end of winter, and do great damage. Snow and ice are rarely to be seen except on Etna Geology and Mineralogy.—The primary rocks in the mountainous districts are chiefly quartz, granite, and mica. In sonic parts these are overlaid by limestone rocks. Most of the lower ranges of hills are of calcareous formation, and are rich in metallic ores. Sulphur forms the chief mineral wealth of Sicily. Immense beds of it are found in the central and northern parts of the island. The Luglish export about 42,000 tons of it per annum, amid the mines are worked by Cornish miners and their descendants.