Europe

Physical Geography of Europe

Mountains and Plains Landforms shaped lives of Europeans Geologically older mountains across northern Europe Younger, higher mountains in the south (Alps, Pyrenees) created by recent tectonic activity Alps separate warm, dry climate of Mediterranean from cooler northern Europe Carpathian Mountains in Eastern Europe Northern European Plain- across northern Europe Fertile soil, good for agriculture Location of largest cities in Europe Hungarian Plain- eastern Europe, good agricultural area Along Danube River, Long rivers in heartland of Europe- Rhine, Danube, Rhone, Seine, Po Europeans have altered waterways (canals, dikes) to connect industrial centers Danube most important river in eastern Europe, Rhine important to western Europe

Physical Geography of Europe Most people live within 300 miles of ocean/sea, shaped lifestyles Netherlands mostly below sea level For over 500 years Dutch built large dikes to hold back North Sea Polders are reclaimed land Provide land for settlement and farming Use windmills to pump out water

Land of Peninsulas Europe is a large peninsula Scandinavian Peninsula- Norway, Sweden, Finland Norway’s coast has many small inlets called fjords- evidence of glaciations Jutland-Denmark Iberian Peninsula- Spain and Portugal, most of it is a semiarid plateau, cut off from the rest of Europe by Pyrenees Mts., mts kept region isolated Apennine Peninsula- Italy, along spine of peninsula Apennines Mts., earthquakes, volcanoes common in region Balkan Peninsula- southeast Europe, tangle of mountains and valleys, historically kept people isolated

Islands Major Islands Iceland, Great Britain, Ireland located in Atlantic Climate moderated by warm North Atlantic current Sicily, Crete, Sardinia, Corsica in Mediterranean Characterized by earthquakes and volcanoes Mt. Etna Europe’s largest active volcano located on Sicily

Natural Resources Abundant supply of coal, iron ore helped fuel Industrial Revolution Many starting to be depleted Vast oil reserves in the North Sea Wind, hydroelectric and nuclear power in widespread use Geothermal energy abundant in Iceland

Climate and Vegetation Europe’s relationship to the sea influence climate and vegetation Western, Southern Europe benefit from maritime winds Western Europe- maritime west coast climate (mild winters, cool summers, abundant rainfall) Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Drift bring warm water from tropical regions, westerly winds carry warm moist air to European landmass, Scandinavian Peninsula and southern Iceland Arctic, subarctic climate types found across northern Europe

Climate and Vegetation Southern Europe- most is a Mediterranean climate Balkan Peninsula (subtropical), Spain (steppe ) Alps block moisture from Atlantic Local winds cause changes in the normal pattern- Mistral (brings cold air from Alps to southern France), Siroccos (brings hot dry air from North Africa to region) Eastern Europe humid continental climate, cold winters, hot summers Does not benefit from ocean influence Steppe climate in southwestern Europe characterize by drought, poor soils Influenced development of region