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ABRUZZO

 abruzzo

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Provinces - This region  has 4 provinces: Chieti, L'Aquila, Pescara, and Teramo
Chief Town - L'Aquila
Surface - kmq 10.794
National Parks - National Park of Abruzzo (1923), National Park of Gran Sasso and mountain of Laga (1991), National Park of Maiella (1991)

Абруццо
Russian Version		 graphic abruzzo

abruzzo Origin of the Name
Reliefs - Passes - Coasts - Islands
Landscape
Agriculture - Stock - Farm - Fishing
Industry - Tourism
Position and Frontier
Rivers - Lakes
Climate
Population
Communication

Origin of the Name:
In the Middle Ages the region began to be called Abruzzo from the Latin Aprutium. Then the region with the kingdom of Napoli was divided into two parts: Further Abruzzo and Hither Abruzzo. In 1860 with the Unity of Italy the region of Molise was added to Abruzzo and they were called Abruzzi and Molise. In 1963 Abruzzo and Molise were separated.   

Reliefs - Passes - Coasts - Islands:
This region includes the Appennino Abruzzese where there are the mountains of Laga, Gran Sasso and Maiella.
Near the centre there are the Velino mountains and the mountains of Meta. In the west side there are the mountains Simbruini and the group of mountains called Cornacchia. A very important characteristic are the big and level basins such as the level Aquilana, the level of Sulmona and the level of Fucino. In the past these levels where all lakes. The level of Fucino is the only level that was built artificially. Behind the Coas lies the hill zone. This zone has clay and sandy grounds. 

S. Maria of Collemaggio in the city of Chieti
S. Maria of Collemaggio in the city of L'Aquila

For aproximately 120 km the littoral extends with as a linear lowland and only at point is this lowland interrupt by the promontory of Punta della Penna, where it is high and full of rocks and coast-line that hangs down into the sea. This cost is very productive and well cultivated.

Landscape:
The region is especially mountainous and hilly. In the east there is the level zone of the coast. In the Appennini there are desolate meadows and  woods without much vegetation. The landscape in the hills is full of green meadows and rich water-courses.

Agriculture - Stock-Farm - Fishing:
The ground and the climate don't enable in this region for strong cultivation, even if the agriculture is very important for the economy. In Abruzzo the production of figs, carrots and grapes are very important. In the level zone other cultivations are wheat, potatoes, beetroots and tobacco. The cultivation of fruits and vegetables are good, too. In the zone of Atri the typical product is the liquorice and in the zone of Conca Aquilina the typical product is saffron. In this region you can find notable stock-farms of ovines, even if their number is diminishing. The stock-farm of bovine is increaseing gradually. Fishing is not an important factor for this region.

Industry - Tourism:

The high zone of Chieti
The high zone of Chieti

 The expansion of industry in this region is not so great. The most important firms for the local market are in the food-stuffs, in the textile and in the furniture sector. For the great distribution the most important firms are in the metallurgic and mechanic sector in the zone of Chieti and Pescara. Electric power is produced in the basins of Campotosto and barrea. In the zone of Alanno and Vasto there are very important chemical  establishments. Some bauxite-field in the zone of Bussi needs extraction of the aluminium. Handicraft is important, too. We can remember the handicraft of ceramics, carpets, laces and knife-boxes.

In the last year the tourism is a considerable factor for Abruzzo. People visit the mountains the hills and the sea zone. Unfortunately the new campings, hotels and touristic-village threaten the natural panorama.

Position and Frontier:
Abruzzo is situated between the Appennino and the adriatic coast. Frontier: north - Marche and a part of Lazio, east - Adriatic sea, south - Molise and west Lazio. 

Rivers - Lakes:
The river Tronto and other water-courses that descend from the mountains Gran Sasso and Maiella flow into the adriatic coast. The rivers Aterno-Pescara, Sangro and Trigno are rivers with torrential character and they draw the boundary line with Molise.

Climate:
The climate of Abruzzo is mediterranean and mild thanks to the sea. Inside the region the climate is continental with cold winters and very hot summers. Rains and snows are very abundant during the winter. During the summer the climate is dried.

Population:
The mountain zones farther than 1000 m are desolated. The inhabitants live in the coast, in the level and in the hills zone. There is no very big city. Pescara is the only city that has over 100.000 inhabitants.

Communication:
The nets of communication allow the connection with all the Italian regions. Both the railway line and the road coast allow the connection of south Italy with the centers of the North. Other streets of communication move in the western slope of the Appennino connecting from the coast  the Region with the Italian western regions.

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