II.

Physical Geography

The Apennines mountain range extends the full length of Calabria, providing a generally rugged terrain except for lowland marshes and a fertile coastal strip. The region’s coastline extends for some 740 km (460 mi) and features stretches of sandy beaches, interspersed with high cliffs and rocky coves. Its main rivers are the Crati, Neto, Amato, and Savuto. The region’s highest peak, Mount Pollino (2,267 m/7,438 ft), lies on the northern border with Basilicata, at the heart of Pollino National Park (established 1993). The park—Italy’s largest—extends across an area of 1,926 sq km (774 sq mi) in northern Calabria and southern Basilicata and supports a rich variety of wildlife, including wolves, otters, pine martens, wildcats, eagles, falcons, and vultures. Two national parks are located wholly in the region, the Aspromonte National Park (1989) in the extreme south, and Calabria National Park (1968, reorganized as the Sila National Park in 2002).