With more than 20 peaks over 2,000 m/6,560 ft in elevation, over 55% of the surface area of the island lies above 400 m elevation, creating an array of valleys and hillsides with different elevations, expositions to wind and maritime influence, and mesoclimates.
A variety of soils exists with four main soil types: granite on the west side; schist in the north and the Cap Corse, the mountainous finger of land pointing Francewards in the far north; chalk and clay in Patrimonio immediately south of it; and marly sand and alluvial soils from Solenzara to Bastia on the east coast.
