Europe

Europe is really a large peninsula that has smaller peninsulas branching off of it. Most locations in Europe are no more than 300 miles away from the coast. There are 5 main peninsulas that branch off of Europe: the Scandinavian, the Jutland, the Iberian, the Italian and the Balkan peninsula.

The Scandinavian peninsula consists of Norway and Sweden, and is surrounded by the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea. The land was scoured by glaciers, so most of the fertile top soil was removed, making it difficult to farm there. The glaciers also carved out fjords in Norway, which are U-shaped valleys that are filled with ocean water.

Fjords are excellent harbors, and are separated by smaller peninsulas. The Jutland peninsula is comprised of Denmark and part of northern Germany. It is swampy and has rolling hills that make it much different than the Scandinavian peninsula.

The Iberian peninsula is home to Spain and Portugal. It is separated from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees mountains. The Italian peninsula is home to Italy. The boot-shaped country has 4,700 miles of coastline. The Balkan peninsula is home to several countries, and is very mountainous, making land transportation difficult.

The mountains and uplands of Europe have separated the populations of Europe, creating distinct cultures that still exist today. The most famous mountain range in Europe are the Alps. They cover from France to the Balkan peninsula. The Alps cut off Italy from the rest of Europe.

The Pyrenees separate Spain and Portugal from France, and both the Alps and Pyrenees are famous for skiing and other outdoor activities. Down the center of Italy run the Apennine Mountains, and the Balkan Mountains cut off the Balkan peninsula from the rest of Europe. The Balkan mountains have also separated the ethnic groups that inhabit the Balkan peninsula.

Uplands are hills or low mountains that also contain mesas and plateaus. The Scottish highlands, and the central plateau in Spain called the Meseta along with the Massif Central in France are examples of uplands in Europe.

The rivers of Europe have linked people and goods together for centuries. The two main rivers of Europe are the Danube and the Rhine, and people continue to travel and trade along those rivers today. The plains of Northern Europe are some of the most fertile in the world. It is a very productive agricultural area, but the flatness has allowed armies to march back and forth as well.

Europe has many of the resources needed for industrialization and agriculture. Large deposits of coal and iron allowed the Industrial Revolution to begin in England and spread to France and Germany. Oil and natural gas have been discovered in the North Sea, and about 33% of Europe’s land is suitable for farming.

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