Province of Alessandria
The province is the most south-eastern province of Alessandria in the Italian region of Piedmont. After Turin and Cuneo it is the third largest province of Piedmont. To the north it borders on the province of Vercelli, on the east by the province of Asti. It borders three other regions: Lombardy (Province of Pavia), Emilia -Romagna ( province of Piacenza) and Liguria ( Genoa and Savona provinces ).
Geography
The area of the province is mountainous or hilly two-thirds. To the north, the hills of the Basso Monferrato, through which run the rivers Po and Tanaro. In the center is a fertile plain, which is crossed by the Tanaro, the Bormida and their tributaries. In the southwest lie nor the hills of the Val Bormida, the Val d' Erro and the Val d' Orba associated with the mountains of the Apennines; in the southeast form the hilly area of Novese and Tortonese together with the valleys of the Scrivia and its tributaries the foothills of the Ligurian Apennines, where the province bordering the province of Genoa.
Agriculture
The vast plain in the interior of the province is mainly used for the cultivation of grain: wheat, corn, soy, sunflower. Widespread is the cultivation of sugar beets for industrial production. In the shallow areas of the Casalese the landscape is characterized by extensive rice fields. The few flat areas of the Novese are dedicated and characterized by mulberry plantations during the 17th -19 cereal crops. Century have been introduced for sericulture. The hilly areas of the Novese, Casalese, Acquese and Tortonese be used without competition for viticulture.
Industry, Trade and Crafts
The main industrial centers are in the Alessandria ( Spinetta and Valenza ), Tortona ( Castelnuovo Scrivia and Pontecurone ), Novi Ligure ( Arquata Scrivia Serravalle Scrivia, Cassano Spinola, Casale Monferrato ) located. The main sectors of the industry are metalworking and jewelry production ( in Valenza ). The following are the food and chemical industries.
Largest communities
(As at 30 June 2005)