Territory, Flora, Fauna

With an area of about 24,000 square km, Sardinia is the second largest Mediterranean island, Sicily being the largest. It boasts one of Europe’s most important natural heritages, which is popular with tourists from all over the world. An enchanting island, which is interesting from a number of viewpoints: the crystal clear sea, the vast interior and the character of its inhabitants, who are strongly attached to their traditions. Sardinia is an autonomous region, which has its own special constitution, consisting not only of the main island, but also numerous small islands, among which are La Maddalena, Asinara, Caprera, Sant’Antico and San Pietro. It lies between the Tyrrhenian Sea on the east, the Sardinian Sea on the west and the Mediterranean Sea on the south and is separated from Corsica to the north by the Bocche di Bonifacio. Its capital is Cagliari and it is divided into four administrative provinces: Cagliari, Nuoro, Oristano and Sassari. It also boasts a diversified coastline of sheer cliffs overlooking the sea, deep inlets, white beaches and secluded bays, which extends for 1,850 km (including the small islands) almost a quarter the length of the entire Italian coastline. Although the interior is made up largely of hills, it gives the visitor the impression of being a mountainous region by virtue of its irregular and fragmentary appearance. These granite and sedimentary mountains include the Marghine, the Goceano, the Gennargentu Supramonte, the Dimbara, the Sulcis, and the Iglesiente, the highest – La Marmora del Massiccio del Gennargentu – reaching a height of 1,834 m. To the south west, between Cagliari and Oristano, lies the vast fertile plain of Campidano, whereas to the north lies the Nurra plane. These planes extend as far as the coast, where they encounter the evocative landscape of dunes. The majority of the water courses are torrent-like and most have dams which form artificial basins: among the largest are the Tirso (158 km), the Flumendosa (127 km) and the Coghinas (123 km); among the smallest are the Mannu, the Cedrino, the Temo, and the Liscia. The only natural lake is the Baratz on the Nurra, while the coastal ponds, prevalent in the Oristano and Cagliari areas, are of considerable naturalistic importance. This richly varied landscape makes a noteworthy partnership with the flora and fauna that populate it. The oak tree, which represents a large percentage of the vegetation, is widespread in the region. Of the various species, such as the oak, the evergreen oak and the cork tree, the cork can be seen from Gallura at Barbagia in the north to the plateau of Abbasanta and Oristano. In some areas to the west of the Gennargentu chestnut trees can also be seen, there are still remains of the ancient yew and holly forest of the tertiary era. In the coastal area and Supramonte juniper and olive trees can be found, while the profusion of lentischio, cisto and artubus bushes form the rich Mediterranean undergrowth. The fauna, including numerous endemic species, the Sardinian deer can be seen, along with the moufflon, the symbol of the island, and very many wild boar. Among the other mammals present on the island are foxes, martens, wild cats, hares, dormice etc. Among the birds to be seen are the queen hawk, the pilgrim hawk, the Bonelli eagle and the golden eagle, and the griffon vulture. In the wetlands there are among others, the flamingo and the rare sultan cock. The sea is populated by the species common to the Mediterranean and by rarities like the turtle and the famous monk seal, located in the caves on the east coast.