Welcome - A Glance Into Italy

(Pictured: Mount Etna erupting in Sicily in 2017)

      For my semester project, I have decided to focus on Italy. Bordered by several countries such as France, Switzerland, and Slovenia, Italy stretches from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea, and has a rich history. Italy’s climate is consistent with that of a Mediterranean one, with hot, dry summers and wet but mild winters. As it is located on top of both the African and Eurasian Plates, Italy has been subject to numerous natural disasters throughout its history due to high seismicity. 

     Throughout the years, Italy has faced natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, avalanches, and floods. Perhaps the most well-known disaster to occur in Italy is the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the 1st century that obliterated several Roman cities including Pompeii. One recent major natural disaster is the Rigopiano avalanche that took place in 2017, destroying a resort and killing nearly 30 people in the process. The city of Venice is often subject to floods from the high-tides of the nearby Adriatic sea, and is expected to be underwater by 2100 due to rising sea levels as a result of climate change. Throughout the course of this semester, I will be examining these incidents, their causes, and what they mean for the future of Italy.