Mezzogiorno- Italy

Question 1

Name a peripheral region in Europe.

Answer 1

The Mezzogiorno, South Italy

Question 2

Where is the Mezzogiorno located?

Answer 2

On the Italian peninsula, south of Rome and the islands of Sardinia and Sicily

Question 3

What regions are in the mezzogiorno?

Answer 3

• Abruzzi
• Molise
• Campania
• Puglia
• Basilicata
• Calabria
• Sicily
• Sardinia

Question 4

Is the Mezzogiorno a poor region?

Answer 4

Yes, it is one of the poorest regions in the EU.

Question 5

Why is the Mezzogiorno a peripheral region?

Answer 5

• Underdeveloped
• Harsh climate and landscape
• Low living standards
• High unemployment
• Low population density
• Poor infrastructure
• High outward migration
• Overdependent on primary sector
• Illegal immigration + organised crime

Question 6

What are incomes in the Mezzogiorno like?

Answer 6

10% lower than the EU average..

Question 7

How much GDP does the Mezzogiorno generate?

Answer 7

25% despite making up 40% of Italy’s landmass.

Question 8

What is the unemployment rate in some areas?

Answer 8

20%

Question 9

How many people emigrated from the Mezzogiorno between 1953-1973?

Answer 9

9 million

Question 10

What is the climate type?

Answer 10

Mediterranean Climate

Question 11

What are the summers like?

Answer 11

Hot, dry and sunny. Temperatures reaching 29 degrees in July

Question 12

What influences the climate?

Answer 12

The Azores high- anticyclone

Question 13

What does the Azores High cause?

Answer 13

Long dry spells with clear skies. Can cause droughts

Question 14

What does the extreme south experience?

Answer 14

The Sirocco which is a hot wind from the Sahara which dries.

Question 15

What does the Sirocco wind also carrying apart from hot wind?

Answer 15

Huge amounts of sand, often reach speeds of 100km/h.

Question 16

What can the Sirocco wind destroy?

Answer 16

Crops such as vines and fruits.

Question 17

What is the rainfall like in the summer?

Answer 17

Very low, July 20mm in the form of flash floods.

Question 18

When can drought occur?

Answer 18

Between June and September.

Question 19

What are the winters like?

Answer 19

-Winters are mild and damp, temperatures rarely fall below 9 degrees. Frost is rare

Question 20

How much rainfall occurs between October to March?

Answer 20

500 mm to 900 mm

Question 21

What causes rainfall to differ from West to East?

Answer 21

Rain shadow caused by the Apennines

Question 22

How much rain does Naples receive?

Answer 22

700 mm

Question 23

How much rain does Bari receive?

Answer 23

About 400 mm

Question 24

What is the most common soil in Italy?

Answer 24

Terra Rossa

Question 25

How is Terra Rossa formed?

Answer 25

Formed from over-weathered limestone

Question 26

What is the soil rich in?

Answer 26

Iron oxide

Question 27

What suitable crops can grow in iron oxide rich soil?

Answer 27

Vines, (viticulture)

Question 28

Where does soil erosion occur?

Answer 28

On the slopes, due to torrential downpours in summer and overgrazing

Question 29

Where are richer fertile soils found?

Answer 29

• Around the foothills of volcanoes in the Campania region- Mt. Vesuvius and Sicily- Mt. Etna
• River floodplains, Brandano, Volturno and Agri- alluvium

Question 30

What is % of the land in the Mezzogiorno classified as?

Answer 30

85% as mountainous or upland

Question 31

How many km do the Apennine Mountains stretch for?

Answer 31

1200 km

Question 32

Where are the lowlands in the Mezzogiorno confined to?

Answer 32

• Confined to narrow coastal plain
• Naples-Salerno lowlands in the west
• Apuila lowlands in the east

Question 33

What are the main rivers found in the area?

Answer 33

• Bandano
• Volturno
• Agri

Question 34

What two factors lead to reduced volume of water in the rivers?

Answer 34

• Little rainfall

- High evaporation