Environment has always played a leading role in the ability of a country's inhabitants to thrive. Or not. I did not expect Italy's environment to be all that different from New York's seeing how both places are defined by the ocean. However, after living in Italy, I have come to realize that Italy's proximity to the sea has played a truly fundamental part in determining the success of this nation. And as with any environment, Italy's marine setting comes with both benefits and problems that Italians must adapt to.
The Italian environment is special because Italy is a peninsula, which means the country is mostly surrounded by water. In fact, the Italian peninsula is easy to spot on a map because it is shaped like a boot! Unlike many countries, Italy is bordered by different seas with the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the south. This marine character of the country causes many Italian businesses to be dependent on ships that transport materials such as food, cotton and rubber to and from parts of Italy and other countries in the world.
