Apennines

The Apennines, a southern leg of the European Alps, run North and South through the entire length of Italy. The range is 840 miles long, and averages 80 miles wide and 4,000 feet high. Its highest peaks are less than 10,000 feet, and has one small glacier called Ghiacciaio del Calderone, situated in the Gran Sasso Massif between Corno Piccolo and Corno Grande. It is the southernmost glacier in Europe. In some locations the eastern slopes descend steeply to the Adriatic coast.

There are many mineral springs throughout the range, as well as a volcano, Vesuvius (4,202 ft.). that rises near Naples and has been active throughout history.

The Apennines are not a forested range, except for there are beautiful forest below the three line in most of the Apennines mountains. Many of these are protected by law, but orange, citron, olive, and palm trees have been planted high up on the slopes. The Apennines are crossed by numerous roads and railways, and support many ancient towns which were built on the hills to escape floods, malaria, and enemies.

The highest peaks of the range are located in the Central Apennines, particularly in a massif just northeast of Rome called Gran Sasso d'Italia. Corno Grande (9,554 ft.), is one of many high peaks of this massif, and is the highest peak of the Apennines.