Valerie's+European+Wiki+Project

=Italy= toc

Italy is located on the southern side of the Alps and in Southern Europe. Italy is covered by many mountains. There are many volcanoes in Italy. The Italian Peninsula consists of two Mediterranean islands. Italy has a mixed economy. Italy’s closest ties are with other countries in the EU. Italy also excels in winter sports. Italy has over 2.5 skiers.

Geography
Italy is located in Southern Europe. Italy's most famous attribute is its long, boot-shape. kicking the island of Sicily. It is on the southern side of the Alps. Italy is covered by many mountains. The Dolomite mountains express movement over northern Italy. The Dolomite mounatins are also part of the Alps mountain area. The Apennine mountains are located in the middle of Italy. The country’s total area is 301,230. Italy’s highest point is located on Mont Blanc. The country is situated at the meeting point of the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate, leading to considerable seismic and volcanic activity. There are 14 volcanoes in Italy, four of which are active.

Geographic map of Italy

The Po River, Italy’s longest river, flows from the Alps on the western border with France. South of the Dolomite mountains is the Po Valley. It is the basin of the Po River. There is much fertile farm land in the Po Valley. To the South, it consists entirely of the Italian Peninsula and the two Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia, in addition to many smaller islands. The sovereign states of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within Italy, while Campione d'Itali a is an Italian exclave in Switzerland. The Roman Catholic Church is located in Vatican City. It is the world's smallest country. The independent republic that is located on the east coast of Italy is San Marino.

Economy
Italy has a capitalist mixed economy, ranking as the third-largest in the Eurozone and the eighth-largest in the world. Italy is regarded as one of the world’s most industrialized nations and a leading country in world trade and exports. It is a highly developed country, with the world’s 8th highest quality of life. The unemployment rate in Italy is 12.6%, slightly above the Eurozone average.

Italy is the world’s sixth largest manufacturing country, characterized by a smaller number of global multinational corporations than other economies of comparable size and a large number of dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises. The country was the world’s 7th largest exporter in 2009. Italy’s closest ties are with the other countries of the European Union, with whom it conducts about 59%of its total trade. Its largest EU trade partners, in order of market share, are Germany (12.9%), France (11.4%), and Spain (7.4%).

Recreation
Basketball, volleyball, and cycling are the next most popular/played sports, with Italy having a rich tradition in all three. Italy won 2006 FIFA World Cup. Italy is currently the second most successful soccer team in the World Cup history. The Italian national team has won the World Cup four times: 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006. Italy is the current titleholder, while major Italian clubs frequently compete at a high level of European competitions.

Winter sports, in Italy are very popular. Italy excels in ski and luge. Many winter sports are provided in different Italian resorts. The most popular winter sport in the resorts would be skiing and snowboarding. The country has over 2.5 million ambitious skiers. Every year there are more and more foreign vistors from around the world who join them. Both Alpine or downhill skiing and cross-country skiing are well catered in Italy, although downhill skiing is far more popular. Famous athletes are [|Alberto Tomba], [|Deborah Compagnoni] , and [|Isolde Kostner]. Skiers skiing in a skiing and snowboarding resort.