Charles+&+Darian

I t a l y  by Charles and Darian

country comparison to the world: [|71] land: 294,140 sq km water: 7,200 sq km  //note:// includes Sardinia and Sicily  || volcanism: Italy experiences significant volcanic activity; Etna (elev. 3,330 m, 10,925 ft), which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano; flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the Bay of Naples area, have both been deemed "Decade Volcanoes" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini ||
 * ~ Geography ||
 * Location || Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia ||
 * Geographic Coordinantes || 42 50 N, 12 50 E ||
 * Continent || Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia ||
 * Area Comparison || slightly larger than Arizona ||
 * Border Countries || Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km ||
 * Climate || predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south ||
 * Terrian || mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands ||
 * Area || total: 301,340 sq km
 * Natural Resources || coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land ||
 * Natural Hazards || regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice

58,090,681 || 0-14 years: 13.5% (male 4,056,156/female 3,814,070) 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 19,530,696/female 18,981,084) 65 years and over: 20.2% (male 4,903,762/female 6,840,444  || total population: 80.33 years  country comparison to the world: [|23]  male: 77.39 years  female: 83.46 years  || adjective: Italian  || other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community) || region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area) || total population: 98.4% male: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">98.8%  female: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">98% (2001 census)  ||
 * ~ People ||
 * Total Population || from recent studies:
 * Age Structure || from recent studies:
 * Life Expectancy || from recent studies
 * Nationality || noun: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">Italian(s)
 * Religions || Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third practicing),
 * Languages || Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige
 * Literacy || definition: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">age 15 and over can read and write

conventional short form: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">Italy local long form: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">Repubblica Italiana  local short form: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">Italia  former: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">Kingdom of Italy  || Head of Government || Chief of State: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">President Giorgio NAPOLITANO <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">(since 15 May 2006) Head of Government: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">(since 8 May 2008) note - in Italy  ||
 * ~ Government ||
 * Country Name || conventional long form: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal;">Italian Republic
 * Government Type || Republic ||
 * Capital || <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">Rome ||
 * Chief of State/

Industry: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">30.7% Services: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">65.1% (2005)  || country comparison to the world: <span class="category_data">[|16] || country comparison to the world: <span class="category_data">[|10] ||
 * ~ Economy ||
 * Aabor force by occupation || Agriculture: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">4.2%
 * Agriculture || Fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish ||
 * Industry || Tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics ||
 * Exported Commodities || Engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals ||
 * Imported Commodities || Engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, and tobacco ||
 * Currency || Euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7153 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005) ||
 * ~ Communication ||
 * Number of Land and Line Phones || <span class="category_data">20.031 million (2008)
 * Number of Cell Phones || 88.58 million (2008)


 * ~ Transportation ||
 * Paved Airports || total: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">101 ||
 * Roadways || total: <span class="category_data" style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: top;">487,700 km ||
 * Roadways Compared To The World || country comparison to the world: <span class="category_data">[|13] ||
 * Airports || 132 (2010) ||

economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa || 18-27 year of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2005; women may serve in any military branch; 10-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 45 Army and Air Force) or 39 (Navy) (2006) || ~very famous superstition || "13 a Tavola" - 13 at the table. The number at the last supper! Not a good number of guests to have at a table in a restaurant in Italy. ||
 * ~ Miscellaneous Information ||
 * Italy's long coastline and developed
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">It is illegal to walk a pet snake on a leash in Osnago, Italy || Italy became a nation-state in 1861 ||
 * "Rovesciare il sale" - to waste salt. Bad luck


 * Sources ||  ||
 * CIA Fact book || [] ||
 * fun facts || [] ||
 * wierd laws || [] ||