Geography of Sicily
Location
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Geographic Coordinates
42 50 N, 12 50 E
Geographical Area
Land
301,230 Sq Km.
Water
294,020 Sq Km.
Land Boundary
7,210 Km.
Border Countries
Austria
430 Km.
France
488 Km.
Vatican City
3 Km.
San Marino
39 Km.
Slovenia
232 Km.
Switzerland
740 Km.
Length of Coastline
7,600 Km.
Terrain
Mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Elevation Extremes
Lowest Point
Mediterranean Sea 0m
Highest Point
Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748m
Natural Resources
coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Land Use
Arable Land
26%
Permanent Crops
9%
Other
65%
Irrigated Land
27,500 Sq Km.
Natural Hazards
Coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Environmental Issues
Air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities.