Tuscan Archipelago

The Tuscan Archipelago is a chain of islands between the Ligurian Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea, west of Tuscany, Italy.

The islands' proximity to several major cities has made them a favourite tourist location. History and literature have ensured that most people are familiar with the islands of Elba and Montecristo.

Legends says the archipelago originates from a necklace that

The Tuscan Archipelago lies between Corsica and the Tuscan coast and contains seven major islands (Capraia, Elba, Giannutri, Giglio, Gorgona, Montecristo and Pianosa); all are protected as part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park. The Archipelago extends 166 kilometres (103 mi) from the northernmost island (Gorgona) to the southernmost (Giannutri) and 56 kilometres (35 mi) from the westernmost (Capraia) to the Tuscan coast.

Main Islands (from north to south):

There are several islets in the archipelago including:

and skerries as:

Others islets and skerries that are not part of the archipelago:

Geology

The Tuscan Archipelago represents a region of correlation between the

In the Quaternary the archipelago was related to the sea level fluctuations due to the glacial and interglacial periods; in the last glaciation the sea level fell 100 metres (330 feet), and Elba became a peninsula joined to the continent and to Pianosa. The Würm glaciation was followed by a warming phase, and the sea rose slowly to reach its current level.^[3]

Biodiversity

Fauna

The archipelago is distinguished by some

All the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago are a place where the

The rich productivity of the coastal waters provides habitats for various marine life, even dolphins and whales, including fin and sperm whales.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

Flora

The archipelago is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with high

The endemic species of the archipelago are Centaurea aetalieae (eastern Elba), Centaurea gymnocarpa (Capraia), Centaurea ilvensis (western Elba), Crocus ilvensis (western Elba), Limonium doriae (Formica Grande), Limonium gorgonae (Gorgona), Limonium ilvae (Elba), Limonium planesiae (Pianosa), Limonium sommerierianum (Giglio, Giannutri and Montecristo), Linaria capraria (all main islands except for Giannutri), Romulea insularis (Capraia) and Silene capraria (Capraia). Endemic taxa of lower rank are Biscutella pichiana subsp. ilvensis (Elba), Festuca gamisansii subsp. aethaliae (Elba), Mentha requienii subsp. bistaminata (Montecristo and Capraia) and Viola corsica subsp. ilvensis (Elba).^[13]

Islands

Elba

Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park and the third largest island in Italy, after Sicily and Sardinia. It is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, about 50 kilometres (30 mi) east of the French island of Corsica.

Giglio

Capraia

Capraia is an Italian island, is the north-westernmost of the seven islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, and the third largest after Elba and Giglio; it is also a comune (municipality) belonging to the Province of Livorno. The island has a population of about 400.

Montecristo

Pianosa

The small island of Pianosa, about 10.25 km² (3.96 sq mi) in area, has a coastal perimeter of 26 km (16 mi), forms part of Italy's Tuscan Archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Gorgona

Giannutri is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Tuscany, Italy; it is the southernmost island of the Tuscan Archipelago and it is a frazione of the comune of Isola del Giglio in the Province of Grosseto.

Islets

Formiche di Grosseto

The

Palmaiola

Palmaiola is an islet placed in the middle of Piombino Channel, at 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Elba and 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from Piombino; it is part of the comune of Rio Marina.

Skerries

Meloria

Scoglietto di Portoferraio is a rocky skerry without vegetation placed in front of Portoferraio. It is a marine protected area since 1971, and from January 2014 it is a Site of Community Importance. The skerry is 150 metres (490 ft) long and 124 metres (407 ft) wide and it is placed at 1.36 kilometres (0.85 mi) from Punta Capo Bianco and 1.14 kilometres (0.71 mi) from Punta Falconaia. On the islet is an active lighthouse.

Scoglio d'Africa

Gallery

• 
  L'Enfola, Elba island
• 
  Scaglieri beach, Elba island
• 
  Fetovaia beach, Elba island
• 
  Napoleon's house in Portoferraio
• 
  Cala Giovanna, Pianosa island
• 
  Capraia main village, Capraia island
• 
  Montecristo Island
• 
  Cannelle beach, Giglio island
• 
  Giannutri coast
• 
  Cala Spalmatoio, Giannutri island
• 
  The village of

  Gorgona

  seen from the harbour
• 
  Palazzo della Specola, Pianosa island

See also

• List of islands of Italy
• Arcipelago Toscano National Park
• Tuscany

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tuscan Archipelago.

• Official Tuscan Archipelago National Park website (in English)

42°45′N 10°18′E / 42.750°N 10.300°E / 42.750; 10.300