The Physical Geography of Europe:

Locating Europe East of North America West of Asia North of Africa The Prime Meridian passes through Greenwich, England The Arctic Circle is just north of Iceland The Ural Mountains define Europe’s formal region to the east.

Europe is known as a “Peninsula of Peninsulas.” Scandinavian Peninsula: Norway & Sweden Jutland Peninsula: Denmark Iberian Peninsula: Spain & Portugal Balkan Peninsula: Serbia & Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, & Macedonia Aegean Peninsula: Greece Italian (Apennine) Peninsula: Italy

Four Landform Regions of Europe

Northwest Highlands: Ancient, eroded hills and low mountains Includes Norway & the fjords that were carved out by glacial movement

Fjords of Norway

Northern European Plain: Broad coastal plain that stretches from France to the Urals Excellent water and soil resources Many large cities located on Northern European Plain/Densely populated Home to most developed agricultural and industrial sites

Farming in France The plains in Poland

Central Uplands: Area of hills and small plateaus, forests, and fertile valleys Old, eroded region Has significant coal deposits

Alpine Mountain System: Includes Europe’s major mountains: Alps, Carpathians, & Apennines Stretches from France’s Mediterranean coast to the Balkan Peninsula. The youngest physical region

Countries in the Alpine Mountain Range

Did You Know? 27% of the Netherlands is below sea level? The name Holland means from “wooded land” NOT “hollow land?” The Dutch have reclaimed land from the sea by creating polders.? Even their capital city is built on a polder! Polders are home to both cities and agricultural areas. The 1 st were built over 200 years ago? Dikes (walls) hold back the sea, and the water is constantly pumped out of the land.

The Netherlands is famous for its many canals which cut through the country. They not only drain the land, but also serve as waterways.

Historic and Modern Windmills in the Netherlands

Water Europe is almost totally surrounded by water. North Sea: Fishing, Trade, deposits of oil and gas Mediterranean Sea Major Rivers within Europe: Danube Rhine Thames Due to high population densities and centuries of industrialization, most of Europe’s rivers are polluted.

The Bosporus Strait is the only link between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The Bosporus is the dividing line between Europe and Asia.

The Rhine River begins in the Swiss Alps, and flows into the North Sea.

The Thames River flows through London, England.

The Danube River flows eastward through nine counties in central and eastern Europe, and empties into the Black Sea.

Climate Regions Europe has three major climate regions and four smaller climate zones: Marine West Coast: most of northern and western Europe Mostly mild temperatures, clouds, rain, and fog are common Humid Continental: From Norway/Sweden to the Black Sea Four distinct seasons

Mediterranean: Most of southern Europe Rainy, mild winters Sunny, dry summers Other climate regions found in Europe: a)Tundra and sub-artic – Iceland b)Humid Subtropical c)Highland

North Atlantic Drift The North Atlantic Drift is a warm ocean current in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is a continuation of the Gulf Stream. Off the British Isles it splits into two branches, one going south (the Canary Current) and the other going north along the coast of W and N Europe. It exerts a considerable warming influence upon the climate as far as northwestern Europe.

Natural Resources Fertile soils help European farmers grow a large variety of crops Fishing is important in the North Atlantic Arctic Oceans, and Mediterranean and North Seas. Large deposits of coal Oil & natural gas under the North Sea Hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, tidal, and solar energies are renewable resources

Geothermal Energy in Iceland

Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Human activities have severely affected Europe’s plants and wildlife. As cities become larger and more polluted, animals and their habitats have disappeared. (Black Forest) Industrial Revolution – created may environmental concerns (Deforestation, mining, etc.)

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