Asinara
A map showing the location of Asinara island
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Mediterranean Sea, Stintino Capo Falcone in Sardinia |
| Coordinates | 41°04′N 8°16′E / 41.067°N 8.267°ECoordinates: 41°04′N 8°16′E / 41.067°N 8.267°E |
| Area | 51.9 km2 (20.0 sq mi) |
| Length | 17.4 km (10.81 mi) |
| Width | 0.29–6.4 km (0.18–3.98 mi) |
| Coastline | 100 km (60 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 408 m (1,339 ft) |
| Highest point | Punta Scomunica |
| Administration | |
| Region | Sardinia |
| Province | Province of Sassari |
| Commune of | Porto Torres |
| Largest settlement | Cala d' Oliva |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1 (2001) |
| Ethnic groups | Italians |
| Additional information | |
| Northwestern tip of Sardinia | |
Asinara is an Italian island of 52 km2 (20 sq mi) in area. The name is Italian for "donkey-inhabited", but it is thought to derive from the Latin "sinuaria", and meaning sinus-shaped. The island is virtually uninhabited. The census of population of 2001 lists one man. The island is located off the north-western tip of Sardinia, and is mountainous in geography with steep, rocky coasts. Because fresh water is scarce, trees are sparse and low scrub is the predominant vegetation. Part of the national parks system of Italy, the island was recently converted to a wildlife and marine preserve. It is home to a population of wild Albino donkeys from which the island may take its name.
Asinara is located at the north-western tip of Sardinia. It is a territory of 51.9 km2 (20.0 sq mi) with a length of 17.4 km (10.8 mi) and a width which ranges from 290 m (951 ft) at Cala di Sgombro to 6.4 km (4.0 mi) of the northern part, as well as 110 kilometres (68 miles) of coast length. The highest point, at 408 m (1,339 ft), is Punta della Scomunica. The territory is entirely state property. The island is formed by four mountainous sections linked by a narrow, flat coastal belt. The windswept west coast is steep and rocky with a very deep sea bottom. The west coast turns down towards the bay of Asinara.
As an extension of the larger island, Asinara is the second largest island after Sant'Antioco. The surface is hilly, covered by thick Mediterranean scrub and few trees, with the exception of a wooded area in the northern part of the island. In the other parts of the island only small trees survive, mostly junipers. The island has indented coast, as seen from Cape Falcone. The west side of the island is more rocky and steep, while the east has wide, flat areas with a maximum height of 50 m (164 ft). There are only three sandy beaches, all on the eastern coast. As of 2008[update], 107.32 km2 (41 sq mi) of the surrounding marine and underwater environment is a protected natural area. From a geological point of view, the Asinara is part of the Nurra of north-western Sardinia, made up by more than 80% of metamorphic rock. The rock characterizes the island landscape together with the woody vegetation. Among the metamorphic rocks, great interest is attached to rare black Hercynean amphibolites 950 million years old, the oldest rocks in Italy.
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Wikipedia