Territory
Outstretched on the sea for 15 km from the Tuscan Coast with a width of 6,023 hectares, Argentario is a unique territorial system in its gender. It is linked to terra firma by two natural sandy tombolos, (Giannella and Feniglia) and by an artificial isthmus (Diga di Orbetello). Argentario promontory is almost utterly mountainous, its highest point reaching 635 m a.s.l. is the top of Monte Telegrafo. There is also a well identifiable ridge-line with direction N-W S-E that includes the ranges of Poggio Tondo (536 m), Poggio Bellavista (541 m), Monte Telegrafo (635 m) and Poggio Canaloni (535 m), which are the highest points in Argentario promontory.
Two different slopes can be distinguished. The N-E side, faces Orbetello lagoon leaning towards the sea in a continuous sequence of small rises, tiny valleys and minor alluvial plains covered by a rich and fertile red soil. The S-W slope is far more complex and diversified in itself as it shows rocky cliffs and steep ridges in the Southern side, while the other part offers gentle and moderate ranges surrounding the town of Porto Santo Stefano. Argentario coast is well-nigh utterly rocky, given its many precipices and perpendicular cliffs. Small isles face the many rocky beaches; some of them are classified just as rocks due to their dimensions, while others are considered as small isles. Isolotto is the widest of the promontory, thanks to its 500 m. in length, 200 m. width and 69 m . height; it is situated 300 m. from Le Viste Beach, a little south from Porto Ercole. Argentarola, raising up 500 m. far from Cala Moresca Beach, measures 200 m. in length per 80 m. in width and like the promontory, has many steep cliffs and precipices in its southern side..
Isola Rossa is only some dozen metres off Poggio Scorpacciate. It has a triangular shape, (160x160x100 m.) with a height of 46 m. Given the morphologic and climatic features of Argentario, the superficial hydrography of this promontory has to be considered as really scarce. The hydro-supply is guaranteed by an external firm, Acquedotto Del Fiora. Argentario is now a promontory but it has not been like this since ever. As a matter of fact, before being linked to terra firma, Argentario was truly an island; in Upper Miocene was a part of an only continental mass, and from then to present days it has never been submerged by the sea..
During Quaternary Age, Argentario was frequently linked to Continent owing to cyclical Pliocene and Pleistocene glaciations, which led to remarkable regressions of the sea. These are the ages of the links of the Tuscan Archipelago to dry land. The raise of Argentario is quite similar to the origin of the islands of Giglio, Montecristo and Elba. Its emersion from the sea was due to an upheaval of an enormous granitic pluton, pushing up all those sediments that covered it and formed also the real sea rock bed. Nowadays, Argentario promontory shows the most ancient soils to be found in Tuscany, such as Cavernous Limestone, with partial blending of other different soils. As far as its geologic nature is concerned, Argentario has many karst phenomena to be seen in the several caves, channels and karstic breaches. Grotta del Turco, alongside Cacciarella coast and Grotta Azzurra in Cala dei Santi are the only two that can be visited by the sea.
The latter contains pre-Tyrrhenian recalls dating back to 13,000 years ago, and also fossil sands showing marine fauna, bones splinters as well as some important hearths dating back to post-Tyrrhenian. But we shall not forget Grotta di Nonna Vittoria along Punta della Riccia, Grotta della Polveriera in Poggio Mortaio (location of a Tyrrhenian beach) and Grotta degli Stretti on the homonymous cape.
