Europe

Physical Geography 4 major landforms dominate Northwest Highlands North European Plain Central Uplands Alpine System

A Peninsula of Peninsulas Iberian – Spain and Portugal Italian (Ionian)– Italy Balkan – Greece, southern Slavs Scandinavian – Norway, Sweden Jutland - Denmark

Importance of Water Long coastline with many harbors Fjords of Norway

Major Islands Great Britain – England, Wales, Scotland Ireland

Islands Sicily - Italy Sardenia - Italy Crete - Greece Iceland Malta Corsica – France Cyprus (Greek), Turkish Balearic Islands - Spain

Extensive River System Rhine – Europe’s most important Danube – important to Eastern Europe Po – northern Italy Thames – London and southern England Elbe – Germany Shannon - Ireland Tagus - Spain Vistula - Poland

Beautiful Mountains Alps – highest and most extensive Pyrenees – rugged range between Spain and France Carpathians – found throughout Eastern Europe Balkans/Dinaric Alps – southern Slavic republics down to Greece Apennines – backbone of Italy Kjolen – Norway and Sweden

Warm ocean currents effect climate Despite its relatively high latitude 40 to 70 degrees North, climates are primarily temperate. Gulf Stream-North Atlantic current brings warm water to Western Europe

Climate Zones Marine West Coast (Maritime) – British Isles and many coastal areas of Western Europe Mediterranean – much of Southern Europe Humid Continental – interior of the continent

Climate Zones Semi-Arid – Iberian Peninsula Highland – Alps SubArctic – northern Scandinavia

Geographic Advantages Abundant natural resources Arable land, rich fishing waters, iron and coal, extensive forests, wildlife for food and domestication, temperate climate Centrality of global location Trade