Corsica: Homeland of the Corsicans

Map of France.
Corsica highlighted in Red.

            The Corsican homeland is on the island of Corsica to the Southeast of France located in the Mediterranean Sea.  Corsica has a tremendously diverse landscape.  The island is mountainous with beautiful coastlines, and has an interior decorated with pine trees. 

Men hiking the GR20.

            Corsica is home to one of the world’s most famous hiking trails called the GR20.  The trail takes approximately fifteen days to travel.  The hike begins in the Northern commune of Calenzana, and ends in the Southern commune of Conza.  The hike has its own website that discusses the experience in more detail.  The hike is also a part of the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse (Regional Natural Park of Corsica). 

Mouflon.

            The Parc Naturel Régional de Corse was established in 1972 to preserve the island’s beautiful natural habitat.  The island of Corsica is also home to several endangered animal species which the National Park protects including the mouflon, which is a type of sheep [pictured to the left], and the Corsican red deer. 

Topographical view of The Isle of Beauty

            “Natural areas cover 83% of the Corsican territory. The quality and the diversity of these natural places and landscapes make the island one of the last European natural reserves (via Viva Corsica).”  Corsica is often referred to as The Isle of Beauty.    

Sources:

Dillon, Paddy. GR20: Corsica: The High Level Route. Cicerone
Press Limited, 2012.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsica#Geography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsica#Ecology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GR20

http://www.gr20.be/jvanmeir/jan.nsf/gr20/index.html

http://www.parc-corse.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=105&Itemid=175

http://blog.vivacorsica.com/category/decouvrir/    

Pictures:

Topographical view of The Isle of Beauty: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Corse_region_relief_location_map.jpg

Mouflon: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mouflon_in_zoo.jpg

Men hiking the GR20: 
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Travel/Late_offers/pictures/2009/10/28/1256748507072/corsica-001.jpg