CENTRAL and EASTERN EUROPE

EASTERN EUROPE 1.EUROPE’S LARGEST REGION 2.ADJOINS 3 OF 4 OTHER EUROPEAN REGIONS 3.CONTAINS THE MOST COUNTRIES 4.INCORPORATES EUROPE’S POOREST COUNTRY -- ALBANIA

Danube River

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS - Danube River: a.1,770 miles long b.Starts in Germany c.Enters the Black Sea in Romania

Danube River This river touches 9 countries, is 1,771 miles long, and links the rivers to the Black Sea. a.Starts in Germany b.Enters the Black Sea in Romania

Aral Sea: In order to irrigate crops in drier regions, the Soviet gov’t. would drain fresh water from the rivers that feed the Aral Sea. Water not replenished naturally. The sea is SHRINKING. - Drought and over irrigation of the Aral Sea have impacted both HUMANS and the PHYSICAL environment.

Lake Baikal: a.Largest & deepest lake in the world b.20% of the world’s fresh water

Lake Baikal

NORTHERN EUROPEAN PLAIN 1.Continues through Eurasia 2.Made Eastern Europe and Russia easy to invade 3.Also provides great soils a.Chernozem (Ukraine)

Climates

CLIMATES of Europe 1.Tundra in the north a.Six months of winter 2.Mediterranean climate in the south 3.Climate ranges affect plant growth: a.Little growth in the north b.Trees & grasses in the southern half of central Europe c.Semi-Arid areas in southern Russia

Population a.Few where it is cold b.Packed where the weather is moderate

Eastern Europe Cultures 1.Region is multiethnic: a.Multiethnic many ethnic groups (many different peoples) b.Sometimes separated by country c.Sometimes in a jigsaw pattern d.caused groups to BALKANIZE

BALKANIZATION 1.FROM THE VERB BALKANIZE, WHICH MEANS TO BREAK UP (AS IN A REGION) INTO SMALLER AND OFTEN HOSTILE UNITS a.ORIGINATES FROM A MOUNTAIN RANGE IN BULGARIA b.APPLIED TO THE SOUTHERN HALF OF EASTERN EUROPE