Page 24 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sicily

22  INTRODUCING SICIL Y

Sicily’s Geology, Sicilian Fauna
Landscape and Wildlife Sicily has preserved
a variety of habitats
The typical Sicilian landscape consists of coast in its large nature
and sun-baked hills. The irregular and varied reserves, the most
coastline is over 1,000 km (620 miles) long, famous of which is the
or 1,500 km (931 miles) if the smaller islands Painted frog Mount Etna National
are included. The island’s geological makeup Park. These parks are
is also quite varied, with sulphur mines in the home to a wide range of species, some
of which are endangered, including
centre and volcanic activity in the east. Sicily’s wildcats, martens and porcupines. The
many volcanoes, in particular Mount Etna (the birdlife includes the rare golden eagle.
largest in Europe), have created a landscape
that is unique in the Mediterranean.

Rugged Coasts and Stacks Sandy Coastlines
Around the Trapani area the
The Sicilian coastline Sicilian coast begins to slope
is steep and rugged, down to the Mozia salt marshes,
particularly along the followed by uniform and sandy
Tyrrhenian sea and the Medi terranean beaches. This
northern stretch of
the Ionian, where there type of coastline continues
along the Ionian side of Sicily,
are many peninsulas,
Vanessa butterfly river mouths, bays and Flamingo where there are marshy areas
populated by flamingoes.
rocky headlands. It is also characterized by These birds can be seen nesting as far inland
stacks, steep-sided pillars of rock separated as the Plain of Catania.
from the coastal cliffs by erosion.
The dwarf palm,
The sawwort called scupazzu in
Serratula Sicilian dialect, is a
cichoriacea is a typical western
perennial found Mediterranean plant.
along Sicily’s
coastlines.

The prickly pear is an
example of an imported
plant that was initially
Astroides calycularis is cultivated in gardens and
an alga that thrives in then ended up crowding
shaded cliff areas. out the local flora.

SC_022-023_Feat3.indd 22 17/11/2014 15:50
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Feature template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.3)
Date 18th October 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm