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The two most important Italian islands are Sicily and Sardinia. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, it is easily recognizable by is triangular shape. Its primary features are its rugged mountainous terrain, fertile plains, and then towering Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Sicily is not only large, but located in the middle of the Mediterranean, making it hugely strategic. It is located about 100 miles (160 km) northeast of Tunisia (northern Africa). But is only separated from the mainland area of Calabria by the narrow Strait of Messina (2 miles) wide in the north and 10 miles (16 km) wide in the South. It is like a giant stopper in the mid-Mediterranean, creating two choke points to transit. While the Strait of Messina are narrow, the passage to the south is much wider. Malta is however, a choke point in the southern passage. As a result, massive battles have been fought there to control the southern passage. Sicily’s landscape is characterized by coastline cliffs, inland hills, fertile plains, and volcanic terrains. Sicily is drained by quite a number of small rivers. Island rivers are almost by definition small. Most of the rivers originate from the mountains and flow into the Mediterranean Sea. Salso is the longest river on the island and drains into the sea near Licata port. Simeto, which drains into the Ionian Sea, is the second-longest river. Other major rivers include Belice, Dittaino, Platani, and Gornalunga. The Allies during World War II invaded along the southern coast. Two coastal roads, the eastern and northern would channel the fight for the island, primarily because they both led to Messina, the port the Germans after a delaying action were retreating toward to escape back to the mainland and continue the war there.
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