Europe-Russia Combo. PHYSICAL NOTES

Layout of Europe Europe and Asia share a common landmass called Eurasia. Yet Europe is a distinct region jutting westward from Asia. Europe is a peninsula of Asia. Europe itself has many peninsulas extending from it. Because of this it has a long irregular coastline that has shaped the lifestyles of its people. Northern Peninsulas Scandinavian Jutland Southern Peninsulas Iberian Apennine (Italian) Balkan Scandinavian Jutland Iberian Balkan Italian

Northern Peninsulas Scandinavian Peninsula Includes Norway and Sweden Very mountainous Has fjords along the coastline Jutland Includes Denmark Mostly flat surface

The Southern Peninsulas Balkan Peninsula Includes Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Romania, Servia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Albania and Greece Bordered by the Adriatic, Mediterranean and Aegean Seas. Mainly a tangle of mountain ranges and valleys. Apennine (Italian) Peninsula Includes Italy Apennine mountain range, including Mount Vesuvius. 30% is plains Iberian Peninsula Includes Spain and Portugal Separates Mediterranean Sean from the Atlantic Ocean Mostly a plateau but includes the Pyrenees Mountains. Also has the small passage known as the Straight of Gibraltar.

ISLANDS Small Islands Large Islands Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Cyprus and Crete-all. All have rugged terrain and volcanic mountains. Large Islands Great Britain, Irelands, Iceland & Greenland. These islands are found in the North.

Mountains Europe’s northwestern mountain have some of the world’s oldest rock formations. However due to erosion and glaciation have made their peaks low. Pyrenees- restricts Spain and Portugal’s interaction with the rest of Europe. The Alps- the most famous mountain range in Europe. Mount Vesuvius- near the city of Naples. Most famous for erupting in 79 AD and burring the city of Pompeii, Stabiae and Herculaneum under mounds of lava, ash and mud. Uplands- are very low mountains. Examples of uplands in Europe include: Scottish Highlands, Massif Central and Meseta.

Plains One of the most fertile agricultural regions in the world is the Northern European Plain. 33% of Europe’s land is suitable for agricultural use, this is high compare to the world average of 11%. Olives, fruits, and vegetables grow in southern areas; grains and livestock are raised in northern areas.

Rivers Thames River Danube River Rhine River England's most important river Allows ships to access London (inland city) Thames.mp4 Danube River Eastern Europe's major river Flows from the Black Forest (Germany) to the Black Sea Main canal links North Sean and Black Sea Rhine River Western Europe's major river Runs through France and Germany into the Netherlands Connects Europe's industrial cities

Human-environment Interaction Human-environment interaction can be seen throughout the region Dikes- large bank of stone and earth that holds back water. Polders- low-lying area from which seawater has been drained to create new land.

Russia One-sixth of the Earths land surface!!!

Mountains Urals Caucasus Mark the boundary of Europe and Asia Stretch across land between Black and Caspian Sea

Plains Northern European Plain West Siberian Plain Covers most of European Russia 75% of the Russian population lives there West Siberian Plain Covers almost one million square miles Arid and Arctic due to river flow toward the Arctic Ocean

Oceans, Lakes, Seas, and Rivers Arctic Ocean Smallest and shallowest of the earths major oceans Lake Baikal Southern Siberian freshwater lake Deepest lake in the world Holds almost 20% of the earths freshwater Caspian Sea Third largest sea in the world Really a saltwater lake Black Sea Warm water outlet to the Mediterranean Sea Lake Volga Canals link Russia to the Caspian, Black, and Baltic Seas

Resources Europe is mostly an Industrial society Oil and natural gas are abundant Found on the North Sea Floor Places like Ireland lack natural resources Use peat- partially decayed plant matter found in bogs

Russia Black Earth Belt Siberia Abundance of natural resources Strethches from Ukraine to Souhwest Russia Fertile land for farming Siberia 1/5th of the worlds forested land Taiga is the world’s largest forest Abundance of natural resources Coal, gas, oil, hydroelectric power

Climate and Vegitation Western Europe Marine west coast climate North Atlantic Drift A current of warm water from the tropics Flows near Europes West Coast Prevaling Winds Carry the N.A. Drift over the region Marine Westcoast Climate

Climate and Vegitation Sub Arctic & Tundra Found in northernmost areas Humid Continental Common in most of Eastern Europe Mediterranian Climate Chaparral- most common vegetation found in this climate Forests of shruba and trees Highland Climate- exists in areas of elevation such as the Alps Coniferous trees- thrive in this climate and elevation Deciduous trees- found in west coast climate zones (Germany’s Black Forest)

Winds Mistral- an Alpine wind, occasionally blows bitter cold air into southern France Siroccos– high, dry winds from North Africa–sometimes bring hot weather to Europe.

Human Environment Interaction Venice, Italy, is made up of about 120 islands The people of Venice depend on the more than 150 canals that snake around and through the islands to move people or goods Trade has helped Venice grow To build Venice, wooden pilings were sunk into the ground to support buildings Venice is sinking due to the weight of the buildings and rising sea levels Polution is also threatning Venice as are floods

Human Environment Interaction Most of Europe lies within 300 miles (483 km) of a seacoast About 25 percent of the Netherlands lies below sea level Dutch built seaworks to hold back the destructive impact of the sea They also built windmills to power pumps that drain the land

Human Environment Interaction The Trans-Siberian Railroad was completed in 1904 Covers 5700 miles Built for faster travel and to populate the region

Human Environment Interaction Deforestation Pollution European Union has strict environmental regulations for its member countries Pollution that crosses national borders requires international cooperation. Acid Rain Europe’s factories emit sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide These combine with water vapor and oxygen to form acid rain or snow. Winds carry the emissions to other parts of Europe. Emissions By the 1990s, 40 percent of Russia’s land was “ecologically stressed”–heavily polluted Russia’s soil has been damaged by toxic waste dumps, oil spills, and pesticides sprayed on crops. Industries and fossil fuel emissions have polluted the air