Apennines
From Encyclopædia
{ap'-uh-nynz} The Apennine Range in
Central Italy is part of the greater Alpine mountain system. The range is a spur of the Ligurian Alps that extends 1,400 km (870 mi) along the Italian peninsula. Bordered by narrow coastal plains, it is between 40 and 201 km (25 and 125 mi) wide. The highest point, Monte Corno, is 2,914 m (9,560 ft) high.The Apennines formed during the latter part of the
Paleozoic Era. Erosion caused by the numerous rivers (among them the Tiber, Arno, Reno, and Volurno) has also shaped the contours of the Apennines. Precipitation is heavier in the north and on the Tyrrhenian slopes than on the eastern slopes. The climate is continental.Cultivation of olives, grapes, citrus fruits, and vegetables is common in the southern section. In the north, hardwood and pine forests predominate. There are some minerals and deposits of
natural gas. Scenic highways and numerous
railroads traverse the mountains. Home of the Italic peoples since prehistoric
The Times Apennines have recently lost population to industrial sections of
Europe.
