Italy, the country shaped like a boot, is located in the south of Europe and is largely surrounded by sea. The north side of Italy is mountainous. Here are the Alps, with Mont Blanc, located partly in France and partly in Italy, as the highest mountain. The Apennines are another mountain range. This branch of the Alps forms the backbone of the peninsula and also determines the weather in large parts of Italy. The western side of the Apennines has a warm Mediterranean climate, while the eastern side has a warm maritime climate. Within the Apennines, you will find more moderate climate types. In the north, where the Alps lie, the temperate continental climate changes at higher altitudes to a cool continental climate and finally to a high mountain climate as soon as you get above 2000-2500 metres above sea level.