Travel guide

Sulcitan granitic massif hardly reaches 1000 m and surrounds from three
sides a vast basin which opens onto the western sea. The Iglesiente massif
exceeds the latter both in altitude (Monte Linas: 1263 m) and in majesty,
with peaks that remain visible also from a long distance. The regime of
watercourses depends on rainfall, which is never abundant. The most
important rivers are the Tirso (the longest one), the Flumendosa, the
Flumini Mannu, the Cixerri, the Temo, the Coghinas, the Posada, and the
Cedrino. There is only one natural lake (Baratz), whereas the most
important artificial one is Lake Omodeo, which is supplied by the River
Tirso. Oftentimes, watercourses give rise to vast lagoons. Along the coast,
rocky shores prevail with alternating walls of varying height (in the Gulf of
Orosei some cliffs reach up to 500 m), sometimes carved into coves as well
as low and sandy slopes.The Asinara is one of the major islands of
Sardinia. An unrivalled naturalistic treasure in the entire Mediterranean
Sea, it has preserved the ecological habitat of over a century ago.
Vegetation cover consists mainly of hollies and Mediterranean shrub, and it
preserves some typical plants unique to Sardinia, such as the ‘thorny
knapweed’ (Centaurea horrida). This is also an important area for the
breeding of several wild animals, some of which quite rare: the Sardinian
The biggest islands 245
Kmq
The morphology
Sant’Antioco 109 Kmq
Asinara 51 Kmq
San Pietro 50 Kmq
La Maddalena 20 Kmq
Caprera 15 Kmq
Total surface
Hills
Mountains
Plains
24.090 Kmq
16.352 Kmq
4.451 Kmq
3.287 Kmq
painted frog (Discoglossus sardus), the shag, the European mouflon, and
the Asinello bianco (white donkey), which has given name to the island
itself. There is only one road that connects both ends of the island. The
only buildings present are the remnants of the Castellaccio (a mediaeval
fortress belonged to the Doria family) and a high-security prison, which
was closed down in 1997. The latter event fostered a significant
9