Corsica
| Corsica Corse |
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| — Region of France — | |||
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| Country | France | ||
| Prefecture | Ajaccio | ||
| Departments |
2
Haute-Corse
Corse-du-Sud |
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| Government | |||
| - President | Paul Giacobbi (PRG) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 8,680 km2 (3,351.4 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2008-01-01) | |||
| - Total | 302,000 | ||
| - Density | 34.8/km2 (90.1/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| GDP/ Nominal | € 7 billion (2006)[1] | ||
| GDP per capita | € 20,300 (2006)[1] | ||
| NUTS Region | FR8 | ||
| Website | corse.fr | ||
Corsica (French: Corse, IPA: [kɔʁs]; Corsican: Corsica; Italian: Corsica) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia.
Corsica is one of the 26 régions of France, although strictly speaking Corsica is designated as 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 closer to Italy than to the French mainland, politically Corsica is part of Metropolitan France. It was once briefly an independent Corsican Republic, until being incorporated into France in 1769.
Napoléon Bonaparte was born here; his ancestral home, Casa Buonaparte, is also located here. Corsica is also the birthplace of French singer Alizée.
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History
Corsica has been occupied continuously since the Mesolithic era. It acquired an indigenous population that was influential in the Mediterranean during its long prehistory. After a brief occupation by the Carthaginians, 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. In the 5th century, the Roman Empire collapsed and the island was invaded by the Vandals, the Visigoths, the Saracens and the Lombards. Pepin the Short, king of the Franks and Charlemagne's father, expelled the invaders and granted Corsica to pope Stephen II through the exarchate of Ravenna (756), which was the starting point of the temporal power of the papacy.
The Genoese took possession of the island in 1347, and governed it until 1729 - interrupted only by a brief occupation by forces of a Franco-Ottoman alliance in the Invasion of Corsica (1553).
In Corsica, vendetta was a social code that required Corsicans to kill anyone who wronged the family honor. It has been estimated that between 1683 and 1715, nearly 30,000 out of 120,000 Corsicans lost their lives to vendetta,[2] and between 1821 and 1852, no less than 4,300 murders were perpetrated in Corsica.[3]
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 1769. The first Corsican Constitution was written in Italian (the language of culture in Corsica until the end of the 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. Following French losses in the Seven Years War, Corsica was purchased by France from the Republic of Genoa in 1764. After an announcement and brief war in 1768-69 Corsican resistance was largely ended at the Battle of Ponte Novu. Despite triggering the Corsican Crisis in Britain, no foreign military support came for the Corsicans. Corsica was incorporated into France in 1770, marking the end of Corsican sovereignty. However, nationalist feelings still run high.
During World War II, the island was nicknamed "USS Corsica" as the United States military established 17 airfields on Corsica which were the bases for American tactical bomber groups attacking targets in Italy. One of the pilots who was stationed here was Joseph Heller who would use many of his wartime experiences in the creation of his famous novel Catch 22.
Geography
Corsica was formed as an island through volcanic explosions. It is known as the most mountaineous island in the Mediterranean. Corsica is 183 kilometres (114 mi) long at longest, 83 kilometres (52 mi) wide at widest, has 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) of coastline, more than 200 beaches, and is very mountainous, with Monte Cinto as the highest peak at 2,706 metres (8,878 ft) and 20 other summits of more than 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). Mountains comprise two-thirds of the island, forming a single chain. Forest comprises 20% of the island.
Approximately 3,500 km2 (1,400 sq mi) of the total surface area of 8,680 km2 (3,350 sq mi) is dedicated to nature reserves (Parc Naturel Régional de Corse), mainly in the interior.[4] Corsica contains the GR20, one of Europe's most notable hiking trails.
The island is 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Tuscany in Italy and 170 kilometres (110 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 kilometres (6.8 mi) wide.[4]
Major communities
In 2005 the population of Corsica was settled in approximately 360 communities.[5]
Ecology
| Native name: Corsica Sobriquet: L’Île de Beauté The Isle of Beauty |
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 Topography of Corsica |
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  Corsica (France)
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| Geography | |
| Location | Mediterranean Sea |
| Area | 8,680 km2 (3,351 sq mi) |
| Length | 184 km (114.3 mi) |
| Width | 83 km (51.6 mi) |
| Coastline | 1,000 km (600 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 2,706 m (8,878 ft) |
| Highest point | Monte Cinto |
| Country | |
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France
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| Région | Corsica |
| Largest city | Ajaccio (pop. 63,723) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 302,000 (as of Jan. 2008) |
| Density | 35 /km2 (91 /sq mi) |
Zones by altitude
The island is divided into three major ecological zones by altitude.[6] Below 2,000 feet (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.
There is considerable birdlife in Corsica. In some cases Corsica is a delimited part of the species range. For example, the subspecies of Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix ssp cornix occurs in Corsica, but no further south.[7]
From 2,000 to 6,000 feet (610 to 1,800 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 3,000 feet (910 m), with only shepherds and hikers at 2,000 to 3,000 feet (610 to 910 m).
From 6,000 to 9,000 feet (1,800 to 2,700 m) is a high alpine zone. Vegetation is sparse. In spite of the southern location, the highest elevations are snow-capped with small glaciers. This zone is uninhabited.
Zones by region
Parc Naturel Régional de Corse
The island has a natural park (Parc Naturel Régional de Corse, Parcu di Corsica), 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 from the village of Galéria. 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.
Extinct 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. However it is now known that many species managed to survive the mesolithic, and many were still present well into historical times.[8]
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.
Demographics
In the 1999 census 90% of the population was born in Corsica with 10% (26,018) being foreign-born with the majority being from the Maghreb region, particularly Moroccans (41.9% or immigrants) but also Italians (18.7%) and Portuguese (12.3%).[9]
Culture
Language
Corsica is one of the few regions of France that retains its own language in everyday usage, spoken by less than 50% of the population. However since its takeover by France in the 18th century, French has imposed itself, and since 1960, 100% of the population is fluent in French (90% of the population has French as its first language).
Cuisine
The food of Corsica can best be defined as a fusion of the French and Italian cuisines, due to its close geographical positions with the two countries. Popular foods such as pizza, pasta, cured meats and sheep's milk cheeses can be found. Each region within the island has its own take on recipes. In the mountains, wild meat like boar, rabbit, and trout from the many rivers offer variety according to the seasons.
Administration
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.
Economy
Corsica is the least economically developed region in Metropolitan France.[1] Tourism plays a big part in the Corsican economy. The island's climate, mountains and coastlines make it popular among tourists. The island has not had the same level of intensive development as other parts of the Mediterranean and is thus mainly unspoiled. Tourism is particularly concentrated in the area around Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio in the south of the island and Calvi in the northwest.
In 1584 the Genoese governor ordered all farmers and landowners to plant four trees yearly, including a chestnut tree (plus an olive-, fig- and mulberry-tree). Many communities owe their origin and former richness to the ensuing chestnut woods.[10] Chestnut bread keeps fresh for as long as two weeks.[11] Corsica produces gourmet cheese, wine, sausages, and honey for sale in mainland France and for export. Corsican honey, of which there are six official varietals, is certified as to its origin (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) by the French National Institute of Origin and Quality (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine - INAO).
Transport
Railway
Corsica has 232 kilometres (144 mi) of narrow-gauge railway. The main line runs between Bastia and Ajaccio and there is a branch line from Ponte-Leccia to Calvi. The trains are operated by Chemins de fer de Corse (CFC).
There is also a third line along the east coast that is no longer in use due to heavy damage during World War II. There has been talk of restoring it but as yet nothing has happened.
Politics
Corsica is currently governed in almost the same way as any other région of France. There are several nationalist 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 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[12].
In 1972, the Italian company Montedison was dumping toxic waste off the Corsican coast, creating what looked like red mud in waters around the island with the poisoning of the sea, the most visible effects being cetaceans found dead on the shores.
At that time the Corsican people felt that the French government did not support them since it did not complain to Italy to make this situation change. To stop the poisoning, Corsicans decided to bomb one of the ships carrying the toxic wastes from Italy.
Organisations started to seek money, acting like the Mafia, to fund violence. Some groups that claim to support Corsican independence, such as the National Liberation Front of Corsica, 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 led to several deaths in the 1990s. 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 Erignac 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.
In 2000, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin agreed to grant increased autonomy to Corsica. The proposed autonomy for Corsica would have included greater protection for the Corsican language (Corsu), the island's traditional language (similar to 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, 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, Alsace, or Roussillon), 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 then-Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy that would have suppressed the two départements of the island and granted greater autonomy to the territorial collectivity of Corsica.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "GDP per inhabitant in 2006 ranged from 25% of the EU27 average in Nord-Est in Romania to 336% in Inner London". Eurostat. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2009/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2009_MONTH_02/1-19022009-EN-AP.PDF.
- ↑ "Corsican Soup and Pulp Fiction"
- ↑ "Wanderings in Corsica: its history and its heroes". Ferdinand Gregorovius (1855). p.196.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Price, Gillian. Walking on Corsica: Long-Distance and Short Walks. Cicerone Press Limited. p. 9. ISBN 1-85284-387-x.
- ↑ Keyser, William (2005). "Corsican Villages and Towns" (pdf). Corsica Isula. http://www.corsica-isula.com/downloads/Corsican_Villages_and_Towns.pdf. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
- ↑ 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. p. 16. ISBN 0838632254.
- ↑ C. Michael Hogan. 2009. Hooded Crow: Corvus cornix, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed, N. Stromberg
- ↑ MacPhee, R.D.E.; Hans-Dieter Sues (1999). Extinctions in Near Time: Causes, Contexts, and Consequences. Springer. p. 179. ISBN 0306460920.
- ↑ 2004 statistics:Atlas des populations immigrées en Corse. (French)
- ↑ The Chestnut Tree in terracorsa.
- ↑ The Grocer's Encyclopedia - Encyclopedia of Foods and Beverages. By Artemas Ward. New York. 1911.
- ↑ 89% Corsicans are opposed to Corsican independence according to the Nouvel Observateur poll
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
See also
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External links
- Costa, L.J.; Cécile Costa (2005). "Préhistoire de la Corse". Kyrnos Publications pour l'archéologie. http://www.prehistoire-corse.org/. Retrieved 2008-04-26. (French)
- Dumas, Alexandre (1845, 2003). "The Corsican Brothers". Arthur's Classical Novels. http://arthursclassicnovels.com/arthurs/dumas/corsic10.html. Retrieved 2008-04-27. (English)
- Corsica at the Open Directory Project (English)
- "Corsica". Wikitravel. 2008. http://wikitravel.org/en/Corsica. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- "National Geographic Magazine: Corsica Map". National Geographic Society. 2003. http://yellowbordermagazine.com/ngm/0304/feature3/map.html. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- "Corsica rejects autonomy offer by Paris". CNN.com. July 6, 2003. http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/07/06/corsica.poll/index.html. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- Keyser, Will. "Corsica from the inside!". Corsica Isula. http://www.corsica-isula.com. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- jabro. "Getting around in Corsica by bicycle". jabro.net. http://www.jabro.net/photos-fotky/by-bicycle/category/2-korsika-corsica-corse. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
- Lohninger, Hans (2004). "PhotoGlobe: Photos - Corsica". http://www.photoglobe.info/db_corsica/index.html. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- "Beautiful Corsica picture". 2010. http://translate.google.fr/translate?hl=fr&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corsephoto.eu%2FCorsePhoto%2FBienvenue.html. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
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