Geo Engage: 11/30 Get out a piece of paper, title it “Europe Physical Geography Group Loop”. What was the BEST thing you did over thanksgiving break? What was the BEST thing you ate over thanksgiving break?

Physical Geography Group Loop Europe and Russia Physical Geography Group Loop

Physical geo of europe Majority of Europe lies within 300 miles of the coast Some portions of Europe lie below sea level (the Netherlands) so the Dutch built dikes: large banks of earth and stone to hold back water from the North Sea Polders - reclaimed lands which were once drained and kept dry by windmills (now kept dry by other power sources); land was used for farming and settlement

Slide 1: Coastal Europe #1. Copy these notes: Majority of Europe lies within 300 miles of the coast #2. Define the following terms: Dikes Polders #3. Why did the Dutch build dikes? #4. Where in Europe do people use polders?

Peninsulas of europe Iberian peninsula The Apennine Peninsula Home to Spain and Portugal Pyrenees Mountains – northern part of the peninsula cuts off Spain and Portugal from the rest of the continent The Apennine Peninsula Home to Italy Extends like a giant boot to the Mediterranean Sea Varying coastline from high, rocky cliffs, to long sandy beaches Balkan Peninsula Southeastern Europe; bounded by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas on the west & the Aegean and Black seas on the east

Slide 2: Peninsulas of Europe #5. Make a quick sketch of the following peninsulas: a) Iberian Peninsula, b) Apennine Peninsula, and c) Balkan Peninsula. #6. Identify the countries that make up each peninsula & label the major bodies of water surrounding each. #7. How do think this physical feature impacts the lives of Europeans living on one?

Europe’s islands Iceland – island located south of the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Ocean (capital – Reykjavik) The British Isles – lie northwest of the European mainland; consist of two large islands and thousands of smaller islands Ireland & Great Britain – two large islands Islands of the Mediterranean Sea Formed by rugged mountains – Sicily, Corsica, Crete, and Cyprus

Slide 3: Europe’s Islands #8. Describe the relative location of Iceland in 3 different ways. #9. What are the major islands that make up the British Isles? What nations make up the UK? What is the official name of the UK? #10. How were the islands of the Mediterranean formed? Identify the five largest islands in the Mediterranean in order from west to east.

The mountains of europe The Alps Forms a crescent from Southern France to the Balkan Peninsula Mont Blanc – highest peak in the Alps; stands at 15,771 ft high on the boarder of France and Italy Origin spot of the Rhine and Po rivers The Carpathians Mountain chain that runs through Eastern Europe from Slovakia and Romania

Slide 4: Mountains of Europe #11. What are the east and west borders of the Alps? #12. What is the highest peak in the Alps? What major rivers have their source at this peak? #13. What is the major mountain range that runs through eastern Europe? Identify the two countries in which this mountain range starts and stops.

The water Thames River – (England) allows ocean going ships to reach the port of London The Rhine River- most important river in western Europe; flows from Swiss Alps through France and Germany and into the Netherlands, connecting many industrial cities to the port of Rotterdam in the North Sea The Danube – flows from Germany’s Black Forest to the Black Sea (major waterway of Eastern Europe)

Slide 5: The rivers #14. What is the Thames located? What major port city benefits from this river allowing for ocean going ships to reach its harbor? #15. Which river do you think is the most important in Europe? Why did you choose this river? #16. Which river flows from the Black Forest of Germany to the Black Sea? Which region of Europe benefits most from this river?

Trees & highlands Deciduous & Coniferous trees found Deciduous trees found in Marine West Coast Climates Coniferous trees found in Alps regions Timberline – the elevation in which above trees cannot grow Foehns – dry winds that blow down from mountains into plains and valleys which can cause avalanches – destructive masses of ice, snow, and rock that slide down a mountain side

Slide 6: Climate & Vegetation #17. Create a quick sketch of Europe. Shade in the following climates: Mediterranean, Humid Subtropical, Humid Continental, & Subarctic/Tundra #18. What is a timberline? What is a snowline? #19. What are Foehns? #20. What natural disaster is caused by Foehns? Draw this natural disaster.

Climate & Vegetation Climate Regions Marine West Coast – majority of western Europe – mild winders, cool summers, and abundant rainfall Mediterranean – southern Europe (near Mediterranean Sea) Humid Subtropical – small portion above Italy & Greece Humid Continental – Eastern Europe Subarctic & Tundra – Northern Europe in the Arctic Circle