Editing Italian Peninsula (section)

== Geography ==

The conventional northern boundary of the Italian Peninsula runs between the Gulf of La Spezia and the Adriatic coast near Rimini. The [[Po Valley]] and the [[Alps|Alpine]] regions lie north of this line and form part of continental Italy rather than the peninsula itself.

The [[Apennine Mountains]] form the main physical structure of the peninsula. They extend southward from Liguria through central Italy and continue into Calabria. Their position divides the land into eastern and western drainage areas. Because the mountains lie close to much of the coast, most rivers are comparatively short. The Tiber crosses central Italy before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea near [[Rome]], while the Arno flows through Tuscany.

The western side of the peninsula generally has broader coastal plains than the Adriatic side. The eastern slopes of the Apennines descend toward a narrower coastal strip. The peninsula widens in central Italy before dividing into two southern extensions. Calabria forms the southwestern extension toward [[Sicily]]. The Salento Peninsula forms the southeastern extension, with the Gulf of Taranto between them.

The Gargano Peninsula projects into the Adriatic Sea from the eastern coast. Elsewhere, the coastline contains gulfs and natural harbours that supported maritime settlement. Coastal areas generally have a Mediterranean climate. Conditions become cooler and wetter at higher elevations in the Apennines.