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| INFORMATION ABOUT THE REGION:
Trentino Alto Adige (in German: Trentino-Südtirol, in Italian: Trentino Alto Adige) is an autonomous region in northern Italy. It consists of two distinct areas, the Italian-speaking Trento and the largely German-speaking Alto Adige(South Tyrol), part of Austria until its annexation by Italy in 1919.
The region is bordered by Austria to the north and by the Italian regions of Lombardy to the west and Veneto to the south. It covers 13,619 km² (5,256 mi²). It is extremely mountainous, covering a large part of the Dolomites and the southern Alps. The lowest pass across the Alps, the Passo Brennero, is located at the far north of the region on the border with Austria.
The fertile valleys of Trentino Alto Adige produce wine, fruit, dairy products and timber, while its industries include paper, chemical and metal production. The region is a major exporter of hydroelectric power. Tourism is an important source of revenue and the region is renowned for its winter skiing opportunities, especially in the Val Gardena area.
Trentino Alto Adige has a population of about 900,000 people. The main ethnic groups are Italian-speakers (about 60% of the total) and German speakers (a little under 40%), with a small minority speaking the Ladin language. In the South Tyrol (Alto Adige, Südtirol), the majority language is German (about 65% of the population); the proportions are virtually reversed in Trento. |
