Why Is Italy Shaped Like a Boot?
Italy is shaped like a boot because the landmass gradually formed as Africa moved north creating the European tectonic plate, the Mediterranean Basin and several mountain ranges. Eventually the Apennines Mountains grew that run down the spine of Italy to Sicily, forming a boot-like shape.
Three geographical regions make up Italy, although these can be divided further into eight sections: the Alps, the Apennines and the Po Valley. The Alps form the northern border of the country with ocean surrounding the rest of the peninsula. The Alps decline from the Alpine Slope to the Po Valley, the second main region of the country. The Po Valley runs to the Adriatic Sea on the east. South of the Po Valley is the third main region, the Apennines, a mountain range that runs down the length of the peninsula, curves through the toe of the boot, and ends at Sicily.
This third region is made up of geographic sections such as Apulia and the Uplands. The Apennines slope down on both the east and west to form long, narrow plains at the coasts. Both Milan and Venice are located in the Po Valley with Florence, Rome and Naples on the western side of the Apennines.
