Corsica

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For other uses, see Corsica (disambiguation).
Collectivité territoriale de Corse
Flag of Corse
Territorial Collectivity flag Territorial Collectivity logo
Location
Map of France highlighting the Region of Corse
Administration
Capital Ajaccio
President of the Executive Council Ange Santini
(UMP) (since 2004)
Departments Corse-du-Sud
Haute-Corse
Arrondissements 5
Cantons 52
Communes 360
Statistics
Land area1 8,680 km²
Population (Ranked 25th)
 - January 1, 2007 est. 281,000
 - March 8, 1999 census 260,196
 - Density (2007) 32/km²
1 French Land Register data, which exclude lakes, ponds, and glaciers larger than 1 km² (0.386 sq. mi. or 247 acres) as well as the estuaries of rivers
France
Topography
Topography

Corsica (French: Corse; Corsican and Italian: Corsica) is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily, Sardinia, and Cyprus). It is located west of Italy, southeast of France, and north of the island of Sardinia.

Corsica is considered one of the 26 régions of France, although strictly speaking Corsica is a "territorial collectivity" (collectivité territoriale) by law. As a territorial collectivity, it enjoys greater powers than other French régions, but for the most part its status is quite similar. Corsica is referred to as a "région" in common speech, and is almost always listed among the other régions of France. Although the island is separated from the continental mainland by the Ligurian Sea and is much closer to the Italian than to the French mainland, politically Corsica is considered part of Metropolitan France.

Corsica is famed as the birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte. His ancestral home, Casa Buonaparte, is located there still.

Contents

[edit] Geography

[edit] Statistics

Corsica is 183 km (114 mi) long at longest, 83 km (52 mi) wide at widest, has 1000 km (621 mi) of coastline, more than 200 beaches, and is very mountainous, with Monte Cinto as the highest peak at 2706 m (8878 ft) and 20 other summits of more than 2000 m (6562 ft). Mountains comprise 2/3 of the island, forming a single chain. Forest comprises 1/5. Approximately 3,500 km² (1,351 sq mi) of the total surface area of 8,682 km² (3,352 sq mi) are dedicated to nature reserves (Parc Naturel Régional de Corse), mainly in the interior.[1]

The island is 90 km (56 mi) from Tuscany in Italy and 170 km (106 mi) from the Côte d'Azur in France. It is separated from Sardinia to the south by the Strait of Bonifacio, a minimum of 11 km (7 mi) wide.[1]

[edit] Major rivers

Corsica has several rivers, some with tributaries. They originate in inland lakes or mountain passes, flow through gorges featuring rapids and waterfalls, then meander through coastal alluvial deposits before discharging into the sea rather than into one of the many coastal étangs or "pools". The rivers and tributaries are as follows:[2]

  • Golo (Latin Tavola): From Col de Verghio eastward to the Tyrrhenian Sea south of La Marana; 82 km (51 mi).
    • Calasima: From Calasima village; 8 km (5 mi).
    • Asco: From Monte Cinto at Asco village; 16 km (10 mi).
    • Tartagine.
    • Casaluna.
  • Tavignano;75 km (47 mi).
    • Restonica
    • Vecchio
    • Manganello
  • Fium Orbo
  • Travo
  • Rizzanese
  • Taravo
  • Gravona;45 km (28 mi).
  • Prunelli
  • Liamine;40 km (25 mi).
    • Fiume Grosso
    • Cruzzini
  • Porto
  • Fango: from a ravine at Paglia Orba northwest to the Gulf of Galéria; 23.7 km (15 mi)
  • Ostriconi (Corsican Ustriconi): from the hill of Santa Maria on Monte di Reghja Pozzu in Pietralba commune northwest to the Plage d'Ostriconi in the Cove of Perajola and the Désert des Agriates near Isula Rossa; 23.2 km (14 mi).

[edit] Major communities

Main articles: Communes of the Haute-Corse department and Communes of the Corse-du-Sud department

In 2005 the population of Corsica was settled in approximately 360 communities.[3]

The Bay of Calvi: Corsica is the most mountainous Mediterranean island.
The Bay of Calvi: Corsica is the most mountainous Mediterranean island.

[edit] Ecology

[edit] Zones by altitude

The island is divided into three major ecological zones by altitude.[4] Below 2000 ft (610 m) is the coastal zone, which features a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The natural vegetation is Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrubs. The coastal lowlands are part of the Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests ecoregion, in which forests and woodlands of evergreen sclerophyll oaks predominate, chiefly Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) and Cork Oak (Quercus suber). Much of the coastal lowlands have been cleared for agriculture, grazing and logging, which have reduced the forests considerably.

From 2000 ft (610 m) to 6000 ft (1829 m) is a temperate montane zone. The mountains are cooler and wetter, and home to the Corsican montane broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion, which supports diverse forests of oak, pine, and broadleaf deciduous trees, with vegetation more typical of northern Europe. The population lives predominantly below 3000 ft (914 m), with only shepherds and hikers at 2000-3000 ft.

From 6000 ft (1829 m) to 9000 ft (2743 m) is a high alpine zone. Vegetation is sparse. In spite the southern location, the highest elevations are snow-capped with small glaciers. This zone is uninhabited.

[edit] Zones by region

[edit] Parc Naturel Régional de Corse

The island has a natural park (Parc Naturel Régional de Corse), which protects thousands of rare animal and plant species. The park was created in 1972 and includes the Golfe de Porto, the Scandola Nature Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and some of the highest mountains on the island. This park is protected and cannot be reached on foot, but people can gain access by boat. Two endangered subspecies of hoofed mammals, the mouflon (Ovis aries musimon) and Corsican red deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus) inhabit the island; the Corsican red deer is endemic.

[edit] Extinguished animals

Corsica, like all the other Mediterranean islands, was home to indigenous animals of the Pleistocene, some endemic to it and some to it and Sardinia (as Sardinia was joined to Corsica for much of the Pleistocene). After the proliferation of man in the Mesolithic, these began to disappear, partly from extinction of the species, and partly from eradication only from Corsica. Blaming the extinctions on Mesolithic man is now known to be in error, as many survived well into historical times.[5]

The totally extinct species are Cynotherium sardous, Megaloceros cazioti, Soriculus corsicanus, Prolagus sardus, Bubo insularis and Athene angelis. Birds were especially hard-hit. Some that were eradicated from the vicinity are Haliaeetos albicilla and Aquila heliaca.

[edit] History

Main articles: Prehistory of Corsica, History of Corsica, and Medieval Corsica
Coastal boulevard in Ajaccio, the island's capital and Napoleon's birthplace.
Coastal boulevard in Ajaccio, the island's capital and Napoleon's birthplace.

Corsica has been occupied continuously since the Mesolithic. It acquired an indigenous population that was influential in the Mediterranean during its long prehistory. After a brief colonization by the ancient Greeks and an only slightly longer occupation by the Etruscans it was preempted by the Roman Republic and became with Sardinia a province of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the empire it was invaded by number of short-lived powers before being rescued by the March of Tuscany. As a medieval state speaking a Romance language it became an object of contention between the Republic of Pisa and the Republic of Genoa. The Genoese again took possession of the island in 1347, and governed it until 1729 - interrupted only by a brief intervention of the French in 1553.

In 1729 the Corsican Revolution for independence began. After 26 years of struggle the independent Corsican Republic was formed in 1755 under the leadership of Pasquale Paoli and remained sovereign until 1768. The first Corsican Constitution was written in Italian (the language of culture in Corsica until the end of 19th century) by Paoli. He proclaimed that Italian was the official language of Corsica.

The Corsican Republic was unable to eject the Genoese from the major coastal cities. In 1764 Corsica was purchased secretly by France from the Republic of Genoa. After an announcement and brief civil war in 1768-69, Corsica was incorporated into France in 1770, marking the end of Corsican sovereignity. However, national feelings still ran high.

[edit] Administration

Map of Corsica
Map of Corsica

The capital of Corsica is Ajaccio (Corsican: Aiacciu). The ruling body is the Corsican Assembly. The territorial collectivity is divided in two départements: Corse-du-Sud and Haute-Corse. These two départements were created on September 15, 1975 by splitting the hitherto united département of Corse.

Recent attempts to gain greater autonomy for the territorial collectivity of Corsica have failed. A local referendum held in 2003, aimed at disbanding the départements and leaving only the territorial collectivity with extended powers, was voted down by a narrow margin.

[edit] Economy

Corsica's spectacular coastline is a major drive for tourism (here by the town of Propriano).
Corsica's spectacular coastline is a major drive for tourism (here by the town of Propriano).

Tourism plays a major role in the Corsican economy. The island's pleasant climate, beautiful mountains and breathtaking coastlines make it a popular destination among the French and other Western Europeans. However, the island has not had the same level of intensive development as other parts of the Mediterranean and is thus relatively unspoiled. Tourism is particularly concentrated in the area around Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio in the south of the island and Calvi in the northwest.

[edit] Politics

Corsica is currently governed almost as any other région of France, as explained in the introduction. There are several movements on the island calling for some degree of Corsican autonomy from France, or even full independence. Generally speaking, autonomist proposals focus on the promotion of the Corsican language, more power for local governments, and some exemptions from national taxes in addition to those already applying to Corsica.

The French government is opposed to full independence, as it would threaten France's unity, but has at times shown support for some level of autonomy. There is support on the island for proposals of greater autonomy, but polls show that a large majority of Corsicans are opposed to full independence.

Some groups who claim to support Corsican independence have carried out a violent campaign since the 1970s that includes bombings and assassination, usually targeting buildings and officials representing the French government or Corsicans themselves for political reasons. A war between two rival independence groups has made several death in the 90's. The peaceful occupation of a pied-noir vineyard in Aléria in 1975 marked a turning point when the French government responded with overwhelming force, generating sympathy for the independence groups among the Corsican population. However, events such as the murder of préfet Claude Érignac on February 6, 1998 (for which Yvan Colonna was arrested five years later) have only served to convince many in Corsica, as well as in the French government and the general French public, that Corsican nationalists cannot be trusted with more autonomy.

The influence of Pisa in Corsica can be seen in the Romanesque-Pisan style of the Church of Aregno
The influence of Pisa in Corsica can be seen in the Romanesque-Pisan style of the Church of Aregno

Some of the independence groups are known to practice extortion and other intimidatory tactics, not dissimilar from mafia activity in Sicily and southern Italy. Non-Corsican homeowners may be threatened with the destruction of their home, able to be avoided only through paying a ransom. Journalists writing articles critical of the armed groups have sometimes been threatened. Prosecutions are made difficult by a pervasive "law of silence". It is sometimes suggested that such behavior could be directly related to longstanding cultural traditions of banditry in the rugged interior of the island.

In 2000, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin agreed to grant increased autonomy to Corsica in exchange for an end to violence. The proposed autonomy for Corsica would have included greater protection for the Corsican language (Corsu), the island's traditional language (which is also considered to be a dialect of Italian), whose practice and teaching, like other regional or minority languages in France, had in the past been discouraged. According to the UNESCO classification, the Corsican language is currently in danger of becoming extinct. However, the plans for increased autonomy were opposed by the Gaullist opposition in the French National Assembly, who feared that they would lead to calls for autonomy from other régions (such as Brittany or Alsace), eventually threatening France's unity as a country.

In a referendum on July 6, 2003, a narrow majority of Corsican voters opposed a project from the government of Jean-Pierre Raffarin and Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy that would have suppressed the two départements of the island and granted greater autonomy to the territorial collectivity of Corsica.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Price, Gillian. Walking on Corsica: Long-Distance and Short Walks. Cicerone Press Limited, page 9. ISBN 1-85284-387-x. 
  2. ^ Dawson, Simon; Edward Carpenter. Corsica River Guide.
  3. ^ Keyser, William (2005). Corsican Villages and Towns (pdf). Corsica Isula. Retrieved on 2008-04-29.
  4. ^ Gregory, Desmond (1985). The ungovernable rock: a history of the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom and its role in Britain's Mediterranean strategy during the Revolutionary War, 1793-1797. London: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, page 16. ISBN 0838632254. 
  5. ^ MacPhee, R.D.E.; Hans-Dieter Sues (1999). Extinctions in Near Time: Causes, Contexts, and Consequences. Springer, page 179. ISBN 0306460920. 

[edit] Bibliography

  • Loughlin, John. 1989. "Regionalism and Ethnic Nationalism in France: A Case-study of Corsica". Thesis. San Domenico, Italy: European University Institute.
  • Loughlin, John, and Claude Olivesi (eds.). 1999. Autonomies insulaires: vers une politique de différence pour la Corse. Ajaccio: Editions Albiana. ISBN 2905124474
  • Saul, John Ralston. 1992. Voltaire's Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason in the West. New York: Free Press; Maxwell Macmillan International. ISBN 0029277256

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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