Sardinia

Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily). The area of Sardinia is 24,090 square kilometres and the island is surrounded (clockwise from north) by the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands. Sardinia is a constitutional part of Italy, with a special statute of regional autonomy under the Italian Constitution.

Sardinia is a generally mountainous island with a few coastal plains. The island's mountains are divided into three ranges; the highest peaks are in the middle section of the island. Punta La Marmora in the Gennargentu mountain range, at 6,016 feet, is the highest point in Sardinia.

Sardinia has few major rivers; the largest river on the island is the Tirso, which has a length of 94 miles and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The island has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and very mild winters. The climate in the mountains tends to be wetter and cooler than the lower coastal plains; and winter snowfalls are not uncommon in the higher peaks. Sardinia also has more mountains than flat, low land and forests.

Sardinia is one of two Italian regions whose inhabitants have been recognised as a "popolo" (i.e. a distinct people) by a local statute (which is adopted with a constitutional law). The other region is Veneto (but this was not through a constitutional law).

Sardinia is home to a wide variety of rare or uncommon animal and autochthonous plants and animals, such as the Mediterranean Monk Seal and the boar. Found only in Sardinia, Sicily and Maghreb, the Sardinian skink (genus Chalcides ocellatus) known more commonly as the Tiligugu, can reach 30 cm (12 in) in length, of which almost half is made up by the tail.

Conversely, Sardinia lacks many common species such as the viper and the marmot, which are found everywhere else on the European continent. The island has also long been used for grazing flocks of indigenous Sardinian sheep. Sardinia has four endemic subspecies of birds which are found nowhere else in the world: its Great Spotted Woodpecker (ssp harterti), Great Tit (ssp ecki), Chaffinch (ssp sarda) and Eurasian Jay (ssp ichnusae). It also shares a further 10 endemic subspecies of bird with Corsica. The island's environment is improving due to strict environmental laws.

National Parks

Sardinia has three National Parks:

Archipelago of La Maddalena's National Park, Asinara National Park and Gennargentu National Parkwhich has been established on the eastern coast of Sardinia. It is home to animals such as the European wildcat.

Ten regional Parks:

Parco naturale regionale di Porto Conte
Parco regionale Molentargius - Saline
Parco del Limbara
Parco del Marghine e Goceano
Parco del Sinis - Montiferru
Parco del Monte Arci
Parco della Giara di Gesturi
Parco del Monte Linas - Oridda - Marganai
Parco dei Sette Fratelli - Monte Genas
Parco del Sulcis
60 wildlife reserves, 5 W.W.F oasis, 25 natural monuments.