Elba

Coordinates: 42°46′48″N 10°16′30″E / 42.78000°N 10.27500°E / 42.78000; 10.27500
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Elba
Native name:
Isola d'Elba
Monte Capanne
Administration
Italy
RegionTuscany
ProvinceLivorno
Communes of ElbaPortoferraio, Campo nell'Elba, Capoliveri, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, Rio
Largest settlementPortoferraio (pop. 12,011)
Demographics
Population31,592 (January 2019[1])
Pop. density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Enlargeable, detailed map of Elba

Elba (

Latin: Ilva) is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, 10 km (6.2 mi) from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland, and the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago. It is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park,[2] and the third largest island in Italy, after Sicily and Sardinia. It is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea about 50 km (30 mi) east of the French island of Corsica
.

The island is part of the province of Livorno and is divided into seven municipalities, with a total population of about 30,000 inhabitants which increases considerably during the summer. The municipalities are Portoferraio (which is also the island's principal town), Campo nell'Elba, Capoliveri, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, and Rio.

It is famous for being the site of Napoleon's first exile, from 1814 to 1815.

Geography

Elba is the largest remaining stretch of land from the ancient tract that once connected the Italian peninsula to Corsica.[citation needed] The northern coast faces the Ligurian Sea, the eastern coast the Piombino Channel, the southern coast the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the Corsica Channel divides the western tip of the island from neighbouring Corsica.

Geology

The island itself is made up of slices of rocks which once formed part of the ancient

Apennine mountains caused adiabatic melting and the intrusion of the Mount Capanne and the La Serra-Porto Azzuro granitoids. These igneous bodies brought with them skarn fluids which dissolved and replaced some of the carbonate units, precipitating iron-rich minerals in their place. One of the iron-rich minerals, ilvaite, was first identified on the island and takes its name from the Latin word for Elba. More recently, high-angle faults formed within the tectonic pile, allowing for the migration of iron-rich fluids through the crust. The deposits left behind by these fluids formed the island's rich seams of iron ore
.

Mount Capanne

The terrain is quite varied and is thus divided into several areas based on geomorphology. The mountainous and most recent part of the island can be found to the west, the centre of which is dominated by Mount Capanne (at a height of 1,018 metres, or 3,340 feet), also called the "roof of the Tuscan Archipelago". The mountain is home to many animal species including the mouflon and wild boar, two species that flourish despite the continuous influx of tourists. The central part of the island is a mostly flat section with the width being reduced to just four kilometres (2.5 mi). It is where the major centres can be found: Portoferraio, Campo nell'Elba. To the east is the oldest part of the island, formed over 3 million years ago.[4] In the hilly area, dominated by Monte Calamita, are the deposits of iron that made Elba famous.

Hydrography

Rivers rarely exceed 3 km (2 mi) in length, and it is common for the shorter ones to dry up during the summer. The largest rivers, sorted by length, are:

  • Fosso San Francesco 6.5 km (4.0 mi);
  • Fosso Barion, 5.1 km (3.2 mi);
  • Fosso Redinoce, 2 km (1.2 mi)

Between Poggio and Marciana, at the foot of Mount Capanne, is a spring called Fonte Napoleone, known for its quality.

Climate

The climate of the island is predominantly Mediterranean, except for Mount Capanne, where winters tend to be moderately cold. Precipitation is concentrated in autumn and comprises a normal rainfall. The island lies in the rain shadow of the large and mountainous island of Corsica, so precipitation totals are somewhat reduced from the mainland (most of the island receives less than 750 mm (30 inches) annually). Snowfall in winter is rare in the lowlands and melts quickly. The table below shows the average temperatures for the islands by month.

Climate data for Monte Calamita, Elba Island
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.9
(49.8)
10.2
(50.4)
12.7
(54.9)
15.5
(59.9)
19.7
(67.5)
24.0
(75.2)
27.4
(81.3)
27.8
(82.0)
23.5
(74.3)
18.8
(65.8)
14.2
(57.6)
10.9
(51.6)
17.9
(64.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.8
(46.0)
7.7
(45.9)
9.8
(49.6)
12.5
(54.5)
16.3
(61.3)
20.4
(68.7)
23.6
(74.5)
24.0
(75.2)
20.2
(68.4)
16.3
(61.3)
12.1
(53.8)
8.8
(47.8)
15.0
(58.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 5.7
(42.3)
5.3
(41.5)
7.1
(44.8)
9.6
(49.3)
13.2
(55.8)
16.9
(62.4)
19.9
(67.8)
20.4
(68.7)
17.0
(62.6)
13.9
(57.0)
10.0
(50.0)
6.9
(44.4)
12.2
(53.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 48.3
(1.90)
52.5
(2.07)
47.2
(1.86)
43.6
(1.72)
39.5
(1.56)
25.1
(0.99)
15.4
(0.61)
20.0
(0.79)
66.5
(2.62)
74.4
(2.93)
82.6
(3.25)
63.1
(2.48)
578.2
(22.78)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.27 6.27 5.70 5.67 5.22 2.85 1.46 1.73 4.81 6.15 7.92 7.76 61.81
Average
relative humidity
(%)
77.54 74.00 72.77 72.66 72.79 71.04 68.82 70.33 74.06 78.45 79.95 78.16 74.21
Average dew point °C (°F) 4.1
(39.4)
3.1
(37.6)
4.9
(40.8)
7.5
(45.5)
11.2
(52.2)
14.8
(58.6)
16.9
(62.4)
17.7
(63.9)
15.1
(59.2)
12.3
(54.1)
8.8
(47.8)
5.2
(41.4)
10.1
(50.2)
Source:
NOAA[5]
Climate data for Elba
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.6
(63.7)
18.0
(64.4)
22.0
(71.6)
24.6
(76.3)
29.6
(85.3)
33.4
(92.1)
35.0
(95.0)
37.2
(99.0)
32.0
(89.6)
27.0
(80.6)
24.6
(76.3)
17.2
(63.0)
37.2
(99.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.6
(49.3)
10.0
(50.0)
12.0
(53.6)
14.2
(57.6)
18.8
(65.8)
22.7
(72.9)
26.5
(79.7)
26.7
(80.1)
22.6
(72.7)
18.0
(64.4)
13.4
(56.1)
10.5
(50.9)
17.1
(62.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.4
(45.3)
7.5
(45.5)
9.2
(48.6)
11.4
(52.5)
15.6
(60.1)
19.3
(66.7)
22.7
(72.9)
23.1
(73.6)
19.5
(67.1)
15.4
(59.7)
11.2
(52.2)
8.5
(47.3)
14.2
(57.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 5.3
(41.5)
5.0
(41.0)
6.3
(43.3)
8.5
(47.3)
12.3
(54.1)
15.8
(60.4)
19.0
(66.2)
19.5
(67.1)
16.4
(61.5)
12.9
(55.2)
9.0
(48.2)
6.5
(43.7)
11.4
(52.5)
Record low °C (°F) −7.4
(18.7)
−5.4
(22.3)
−5.4
(22.3)
1.2
(34.2)
3.4
(38.1)
5.0
(41.0)
12.2
(54.0)
11.6
(52.9)
7.6
(45.7)
2.0
(35.6)
−1.0
(30.2)
−5.4
(22.3)
−7.4
(18.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 59.5
(2.34)
75.6
(2.98)
56.2
(2.21)
57.8
(2.28)
31.6
(1.24)
26.8
(1.06)
13.8
(0.54)
41.5
(1.63)
75.0
(2.95)
101.6
(4.00)
88.7
(3.49)
50.5
(1.99)
678.6
(26.71)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.7 6.2 6.9 7.0 5.0 3.5 1.6 2.4 5.0 7.9 7.3 5.8 65.3
Average
relative humidity
(%)
77 76 75 76 76 73 68 72 76 80 81 79 76
Mean monthly sunshine hours 133.3 118.7 155.0 183.0 195.3 237.0 275.9 257.3 201.0 151.9 117.0 114.7 2,140.1
Source 1: Servizio Meteorologico (temperature and precipitation data 1971–2000),
NOAA(Extremes 1991-2020)[5]
Source 2: Servizio Meteorologico (relative humidity and sun data 1961–1990)[7]

History

Napoleon Bonaparte
leaving Elba on 26 February 1815

Early history

The island was originally inhabited by Ligures Ilvates and was called Ilva (Ἰλούα). It was well known from very ancient times for its iron resources and valued mines. The Greeks also called it Aethalia (Αἰθαλία or Αἰθάλεια) and Aethale (Αἰθάλη) from "smoky" (αἰθάλη), after the fumes of the metal producing furnaces.[8]

strigils, became congealed, the pebbles on the shore remain variegated still to this day."[9] The port which is now called Porto Ferraio, was known in ancient times as the portus Argous (Ἀργῶος λιμήν), because it was believed that the Argonauts landed there on their return voyage.[8]

The island was then settled by the Etruscans, who started mining iron at Elba, and later (after 480 BC) by the Romans, who called the island Ilva.[10]

Middle Ages and early modern

In the early

battle of Meloria, the Republic of Genoa took possession of Elba, but it was regained by Pisa in 1292.[11] The island was retained for two centuries by the Appiani family, Lords of Piombino, when they sold Pisa to the house of Visconti
of Milan in 1399.

In 1544, the

Porto Longone. In 1736, the sovereignty of this part of Elba was claimed by the Kingdom of Naples but remained abandoned.[13]

Late modern and contemporary

The

The French Emperor Napoleon was exiled to Elba, after his forced abdication following the Treaty of Fontainebleau, and conveyed to the island on HMS Undaunted by Captain Thomas Ussher; he arrived at Portoferraio on 4 May 1814.[16] He was allowed to keep a personal guard of 400 men[17] and was nominally sovereign of Elba, a step down from Emperor of the French. However, the nearby sea was patrolled by the French and British navies to ensure he could not escape. During the months that he stayed on the island, Napoleon carried out a series of economic and social reforms to improve the quality of life. After staying for almost ten months, he managed to escape back to France on 26 February 1815 with about 1,000 men.

At the Congress of Vienna, Elba was given to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. In 1860, it became part of the new unified Kingdom of Italy.

During the

1er Corps d'Armée supported by British forces including Royal Naval Commandos on 17 June 1944, in Opération Brassard. Faulty intelligence and strong defences made the battle more difficult than expected.[18][19]

In 1954, BOAC Flight 781 crashed in the waters off the coast of Elba.[20]

In recent decades, thanks to its rich cultural heritage, cuisine and nature, the island has become an important international tourist destination.[21]

Transportation

The island is connected to the mainland via the four ferry companies,

Sardinia Ferries,[22] all offering routes between Piombino and Portoferraio, the capital located in the north, Cavo, Rio Marina and Porto Azzurro, on the east coast of the island.[23][24][25][26][27]

There is an airport on the island, Marina di Campo Airport. It is served by Silver Air with flights to the Italian mainland.[28]

Cycling

The island has a network of trails for road racers looking for more technical routes for their training, trails and dirt roads for bikers to have fun on, and accessible routes for families with children who need safe and relaxing routes. On the road from Rio nell'Elba going to Porto Azzurro is the "Fonte di Coppi". Towards the end of his career, Fausto Coppi, the "campionissimo", came here to train on the roads of Elba. He still retained a celebrity status but was no longer at the peak of his career that ended with his death a few years later. The plaque on the fountain reads: "1960–2010, here the champion quenched his thirst, after fifty years on the run".

Sport

Elba
Shirt badge/Association crest
AssociationElba Island Football Association
ConfederationCONIFA
First international
 Sicily 4–4 Elba
(Sicily; 11 September 2021)
Biggest win
Elba 5–0 Raetia 
(Capoliveri, Elba; 16 July 2022)
Biggest defeat
Elba 0–2 Sardinia 
(Capoliveri, Elba; 11 September 2021)

The Elba football team represents the island. They were approved as a

ConIFA European Football Cup
.

Elba Island played their first game as a ConIFA member on 11 September 2021 against the Sicily Football Team scoring a 4–4 tie against them.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Istat official population estimates". Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Elba". Parco nazionale dell'Arcipelago Toscano. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  3. ^ "The association of continental crust rocks with ophiolites in the Northern Apennines (Italy): implications for the continent-ocean transition in the Western Tethys" (PDF). els-cdn.com.
  4. ^ Bortolotti, Valerio; Fazzuoli, Milvio; Pandeli, Enrico; Principi, Gianfranco; Babbini, Amedeo; Corti, Simone (2001). "Login". Ofioliti. 26 (2a): 97–150.
  5. ^
    National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration
    . Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Elba/M. Calamita" (PDF). Servizio Meteorologico. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Monte Calamita – Elba". Servizio Meteorologico. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  8. ^ a b Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), Ilva
  9. ^ Race, W. H. (2008). Apollonius Rhodius: Argonautica. Vol. II. Loeb Classical Library. pp. 654–58, 381–3. See note 95, p. 383 for Strabo quote.
  10. ^ "Elba ISLAND, ITALY". www.britannica.com. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  11. ^ "History of Elba Island". elbaworld.com.[permanent dead link]
  12. .
  13. ^ Roberto Ferretti (a cura di), Aspetti e problemi di storia dello Stato dei Presìdi in Maremma, 1979; Giuseppe Caciagli, Stato dei Presidi, Pontedera, Arnera Edizioni, 1992
  14. ^ "Elba". Catholic Encyclopedia.
  15. ^ "History of Elba Island". Elbaworld.com.
  16. JSTOR 1843729
    .
  17. ^ Alphonse de Lamartine, p. 206. (Article XVII) His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon can take with him, and keep for his guard, 400 men, volunteers, officers, subofficers, and soldiers.
  18. ^ McGrann, Bill. "Operation Brassard | The Invasion of Elba". Peoples' War Stories. BBC. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  19. ^ "Operation Brazzard | The invasion of Elba". www.combinedops.com. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  20. ^ "BOAC Flight 781, Database". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  21. ^ Bohlen, Celestine (14 July 2014). "Italian Island of Elba Clings to Napoleon's Legacy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2022-01-01. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  22. ^ "Traversate traghetti Sardegna, Corsica e Isola d'Elba". CorsicaFerries / SardiniaFerries. Archived from the original on 2020-10-24. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  23. ^ "Ferries to Elba". Tuscany Live. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  24. ^ "Ferries to the island of Elba". Ferry Elba Reservation. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  25. ^ "Blunavy ticket reservation (EN)". Blunavy. Archived from the original on 2011-06-19. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  26. ^ "Toremar ticket reservation (IT)". Toremar. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  27. ^ "Moby Lines ticket reservation (EN)". Moby Lines. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  28. ^ "Home – Elba Island Airport". Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  29. ^ a b "Elba Island". CONIFA. Archived from the original on 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2022-12-10.

Further reading

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article: Elba. Articles is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license; additional terms may apply.Privacy Policy