IT'ALY. The geographical territory comprised under the name of Italy consists of a considerable stretch of peninsular mainland, closely resembling a boot in shape, besides several islands, situated in southern Europe, between lat. 30° 35' and 47° n., and between 6° 35' and 18° 35' east. From the southern extremity of Sicily to the Alps its length is about 600 M., its utmost breadth being 300 miles. • Boundaries.—Its boundaries on the n. are Austria and Switzerland, on the s. the Mediterranean, on the w. France and the Mediterranean, and on the e. the Ionian and Adriatic seas; while its animal limits are strongly defined by the Alps and the sea.
kingdom ell:fly—which comprises the whole peninsula, with the small exception of the republic of San Marino—has an area of about 110,000 sq.m., and was estimated to have in 1875 a pop. of 27,482,174. At the census of 1871 the figures were as follows: Physical physical aspect presented by the surface of Italy is diversified in the extreme. Northern Italy is, for the most part, composed of one great plain—the basin of the Po, comprising all Lombardy and a considerable portion of Piedinont and Venice, bounded on the 11.W. and partly on the s. by different Alpine ranges. Through out central Italy, the great Apennine chain gives a picturesque irregularity to the physical configuration of the country, which in the southern extremity of Italy assumes still wilder forms. In the highlnrul districts of Naples, in which the Apennine ridge reaches its meximum elevation (10,000 ft.), the scenery exhibits a savage grandeur. Along the extensive coast-plains, as well as in the sob-Apennine valleys, the rural eharnis of this portion of Italy are extreme, while the brilliant flora anti vegetation impart to it a novel character of beauty. The chief mountain-system of Italy is the frontier ridge of the Alps (q.v.), and its noble continuation the Apennines (q.v.).
Volcanic Zone.—Italy likewise comprises a considerable stretch of volcanic Mlle, which traverses the peninsula front the center to the s parallel with the 41Till of which the most remarltabfe active summits are Vesuvius, near Naples; Etna in Sicily; and Stromboli in the Lipari isles.
P•ains.—The great plains of Italy are those of Lombardy, which stretch from the Mincio to the Ticino and the Po; of Piedmont; the Venetian plains; the plain of the Roman legations; the plain of the Campo Felice, on which stands Vesuvius;, the Apulian plain; the long, narrow Neapolitan plain of the Basilicata, 100 in. in length and 24 m. in breadth, stretching along the gulf of Tarento.
Ricer:4.-111a great majority of the rivers of Italy are only navigable for small coast ing boats or barges. By far the most important is the Po (q.v.), which rises on the borders of France, and thews into the Adriatic. It hes numerous tributaries. Among the others may lie mentioned the Adige, Brenta, Piave, Tagliamento, A terno, Sangre', Metauro, Oianto, 13raditno, also belonging to the Adriatic basin; the Arno, the Tiber, the Ombrone, the and the Volturno, which belong to the Mediterranean basin. The classical and historical associations of many of the Italian streams, even when mere rivulets, invest them with perennial interest.
Cana!, Sylem.—The canal system of Italy is most extensive in the north. Nine prin cipal canals in Lombardy administer to the irrigation of the plains, anti to the purposes of commereinl communication, contributing hi no small degree to the prosperity of the district. The Simi ;No or Ticinello is the finest hydraulic construction in Italy;. it communicates between the Ticino and Milan, and has a course of 28 ui. navigable for vessels of large size. It was begun in 1179. The .ilittiig/in Neriesana, 88 in. long, unites Cuneesa on the Adda with Milan; the .2Yrariglio di Pavia is 18 in. in length; the bifurcated .Ararifillo d'Osttylia unites the Po with the Adige. Two, hundred and fifty-three canals intersect Piedmont, extending over a length of 1932 kilometers. Venice comprises 203 navigable end 40 minor canals Numerous canals have been constructed for the drain age of the Pontine Marshes. This system of water-communieation was early carried to a high degree of efficiency in Italy, and is of incalculable service in the agricultural districts.