PONZA ISLANDS

also called Pontine Islands, Italian Isole Di Ponza, Latin Insulae Pontiae volcanic island group in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the west coast of south-central Italy, part of Latina province. The islands include Ponza (the largest), Palmarola, and Zannone in a western cluster and Ventotene and Santo Stefano in an eastern group, with a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 square km). The highest point of the island of Ponza is Monte Guardia (928 feet ). Regular steamer services connect Ponza with Naples and, in the summer, with Anzio and Formia. Kaolin and bentonite are mined on the islands, which have become popular as summer resorts. Used since ancient times as places of exile, Ventotene has a prison, and Ponza was used as a place of banishment for political prisoners under the fascist regime. Pop. (1989 est.) 4,126.