Physical Geography of Europe

Physical Map of Europe

Where does Europe STOP? Europe and Asia are both continents, although they are both located on the same great landmass (Eurasia). These two continents are separated by the Ural Mountains and the Bosporus Strait (which separates the Black Sea & the Mediterranean Sea.)

Political Map of Europe

Europe: A Peninsula of Peninsulas?

Scandinavian Peninsula Northern Peninsulas Scandinavian Peninsula Jutland Peninsula

The Northern Peninsulas The Scandinavian Peninsula (occupied by Norway and Sweden) in northern Europe is mountainous. Click on link for definition of a Peninsula

Southern Peninsulas Crimean Peninsula Iberian Peninsula Italian Peninsula Balkan Peninsula AnatoleanPeninsula

The Southern Peninsulas The Iberian Peninsula home to Spain and Portugal. It separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean, except for the small passage known as the Strait of Gibraltar. Most of the peninsula is a plateau, but the Pyrenees Mountains form a barrier between it and the rest of Europe.

B o d i e s of W a t e r Arctic Ocean Atlantic Ocean North Sea Baltic Sea English Channel Caspian Sea Bay of Biscay Black Sea Dardanelles Strait Adriatic Sea Tyrrhenian Sea AegeanSea Strait of Gibraltar Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea 2,400 miles long & 1,000 miles wide The Mediterranean Sea is a large sea or body of water that is located between Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia 2,400 miles long & 1,000 miles wide “Crossroads of 3 Continents”

The English Channel The English Channel separates the island of Great Britain from France. The narrowest point is the Strait of Dover, which is 21 miles wide.

R i v e r s Volga R. Don R. Thames R. Vistula R. Elbe R. Rhine R. Oder R. Dnieper R. Seine R. Loire R. Danube R. Po R. Tagus R. Tiber R. Ebro R.

The Rhine River It is also the busiest waterway in Europe. The Rhine is about 765 miles (1,230 kilometers) long. The Rhine runs through the most populated part of Europe, and its steamers and barges carry a steady flow of cargoes.

The Danube River 1770 miles

The Danube River Flows through the 12 countries of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Ukraine.

M o u t a i n s & P e a k s Ural Mts. Carpathian Mts. Caucasus Mts. Alps Mts. Pyrennes Mts. Dinaric Alps Apennines Mts. Mt. Vesuvius ^ Mt. Olympus ^ Mt. Etna ^

The Alps Cover most of Switzerland, Austria, and parts of Italy and France.

Pyrenees Mountains Pyrenees-forms a mountain wall between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. They are not as tall as the Alps, but are very rugged.

Ural Mountains The Ural Mountains are considered to be the natural boundary between Europe and Asia The Urals are about 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) long.

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 (farming). Olives, fruits, and vegetables grow in southern areas; grains and livestock are raised in northern areas.