Physical and Human Characteristics of Europe

Europe, World War I

World War II Europe

Europe Today

Landforms of Europe The Alps

The Alps

The Pyrenees

Rivers in Europe

Danube River Second Longest River in Europe Starts in Germany

Volga River Longest River in Europe

Europe’s Landscape Mountains in Europe are less steep and more rounded due to Glaciation Glaciation: The process in which glaciers are formed and spread Southern edge of Europe is fertile due to LOESS Loess: A fine, rich, wind-borne soil left by glaciers

Problems in Europe 25 % of the Netherlands is below sea level Dike System Large banks of earth and stone to hold out water

Dutch Polder System Polder: Reclaimed Lands protected by Dikes

Number Heads Together What are some of the benefits of the Dike/Polder system? What are some of the cons?

Northern Peninsula Peninsula: a region surrounded by water on 3 sides Glaciation creates Fjords, long cut, narrow, steep sided inlets

Jutland Peninsula

Southern Peninsula

Southern Peninsula Iberian Peninsula: Spain and Portugal Mostly Plateau Cut off from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees Italian Peninsula

European Islands The British Isles Iceland

Iceland Iceland Documentary

Number Heads Together What are some factors that lead make Iceland such an extreme climate?

Influences on Climate Altitude Latitude North Atlantic Current- Brings warm winds into the Europe during January, brings mild temperatures

High Latitude Regions Permafrost: Soil that is permanently frozen below the surface

High Latitudinal Regions Places like Sweden, Norway, Finland Look and feel more like mid latitudinal climates because of currents bringing warm air and water

Mid latitude Regions Mistrals, Siroccos, and Foehns Mistrals: a strong north wind from the Alps, sending gusts of bitterly cold air into southern France Siroccos: Hot dry winds from North Africa Foehns: Blow down from the mountains into valleys, can trigger avalanches

Dry Climate Regions Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine The farther away from the Atlantic the dryer they get The farther away from water the more extreme the temperature shifts

Number Heads together Why do large bodies of water, like the ocean, impact or change the climate?

Islands Summary Iceland: Volcanic, hot springs and geyzers; tundra climate, marine west coast climate British Isles: Consist of Great Britain and Ireland, Italian islands: Rugged mountains form islands from Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Crete, and Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea

Resources Petroleum Natural Gas Coal in the UK, Germany, Ukraine and Poland France invests heavily in Nuclear Power

Peninsulas They’re everywhere Glaciation Iberian Peninsula

Rivers Danube and Volga Rivers Important for transportation and Urban development

Northern European Plain Western France, Through Poland, Ukraine and into Russia

Mountains The Alps and the Pyrenees Alps are young, high, and jagged Source of Europe’s major rivers Form natural barriers between countries Separate climates as well