Italy

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The Italian peninsula was home to the Roman Empire, one of the greatest ancient civilizations. The south has two famous volcanoes, Vesuvius and Etna.


Geography:

The Appennines form the backbone of a rugged peninsula, extending from the Alps into the Mediterranean Sea. 

Alluvial plain in the north.

Climate:

Mediterranean in the south. 

Seasonal extremes in the mountains and on the northern alluvial plain.

People & Society:

Ethnically homogeneous, but with a gulf between the prosperous, industrial north and the poorer, agricultural south. 

Strong regional identities persist, especially on Sicily and Sardinia. 

Family ties remain strong, though the influence of the Roman Catholic Church has lessened.

Economy:

World leader in industrial and product design, fashion, textiles. 

Strong tourism and agriculture sectors. 

Large public sector debt. 

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The Aral Sea

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Cloud Cover, Precipitation, and Global Warming

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