EUROPE- Overview

Geographic Characteristics Western edge of Eurasia Major world influence Industrialized Numerous nation-states Urbanized population High standards of living East v. West differences

Importance of Location Centrally located with capability of contact with rest of world. Every part of Europe is close to the sea (within 300 miles). Navigable waterways Moderate distances

PHYSICAL LANDFORMS & FEATURES Mountains: The Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites, Carpathians, Kjolen, Apennines, Caucasus, Ural Peninsulas: Scandinavia, Italian, Iberian, Balkan North European Plain Rivers: Danube, Rhine, Seine, Thames, Tiber, Rhone, Po, Don, Volga, Loire, Elbe, Tagus, Dnieper, Vistula Islands: Iceland, an island south of the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Ocean, features volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers. The British Isles–primarily Ireland and Great Britain–are cool, hilly, & rainy. In the Mediterranean, five large islands–Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Crete–all have rugged terrain & volcanic mountains. Greece’s nearly 2,000 islands in the Aegean Sea have rugged landscapes and a sunny climate that attracts tourists

Europe’s Climates Europe’s Climate Marine West Coast dominates Western Europe. Humid Continental dominates Eastern Europe. Pockets of steppe and highland climate. Mediterranean climate is found along the Mediterranean coastline. Figure 3.7a: Climate types.

Generalizations on Climate Countries closer to warm Atlantic ocean currents and winds have milder temperatures than those farther east and north. European climates vary according to distance from the sea (idea of continentality). Biomes and Land Use in Europe Most of Europe is Temperate Mixed Forest, that is typically cleared for farming. Areas of Scandinavia are Coniferous forests while the Mediterranean coastline has scrubby vegetation known as chaparral. Land Use is typically Mixed Farming or Dairy Farming. Mediterranean farming would include the wine industry and olive oil production. Much of the highlands in the British Isles is used for grazing.

EUROPE’S CHANGING POPULATION Declining share of the world’s population Fertility at an all-time low Fewer young people Smaller working age population Immigration partially offsetting losses

URBAN TRADITION Urbanization- 73% of Europe is urbanized. Related concepts Primate city- largest city that encompasses the cultural ideals CBD- downtown (business and commerce) Metropolis- terms used to describe central city and suburbs.

Languages In Europe, there are about 50 different languages and more than 100 dialects, most of which belong to the Indo-European language family Slavic languages in eastern Europe Germanic languages in northern Europe Romance languages in southern Europe

Religions Europe is predominantly Christian. Most of southern/western Europe’s Christians are Roman Catholics. Most northern European Christians are Protestants. Eastern Orthodox Christians dominate much of southeastern Europe. Many Muslims also live in southeastern Europe (Turkish influence). Jewish communities exist in all major European cities.