Western Europe Its Land and Early History

Section 1: A Land of Varied Riches EQ 1: How do you describe Europe’s geography? EQ 2: What factors affect Europe’s climate? EQ 3: How do the natural resources of Europe affect what it produces today?

Location Many factors determine where people live: a. water b. fertile soil c. flat land d. climate e. food

Land Europe is part of Eurasia (Europe & Asia) ◦ World’s largest landmass ◦ Ural Mountains divide Europe and Asia ◦ ¼ of Russia is in Europe

Land Europe is a peninsula with many smaller peninsulas formed by bays and harbors. Peninsula –A body of land nearly surrounded by water

Landforms- Peninsulas Scandinavian Peninsula ◦ Norway and Sweden ◦ Fjords are found along the coastline ◦ Fjord - a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea located between steep cliffs. Iberian Peninsula ◦ Portugal and Spain ◦ Separated from the rest of the continent by Pyrenees Mtns.

4 Major Land Regions 1. Northwestern Highlands ◦ Far northern part of Europe (Norway & Sweden) ◦ Steep sloped mountains with thin soil ** Population Density –The average number of people living per sq mile or km. (25 people/square mile) ◦ Successful timber industry -forests Austrian Alps Norangsfjorden- Norway

4 Major Land Regions (cont.) 2. North European Plain ◦ Covers over ½ of north central Europe ◦ Most productive farmland ◦ Largest cities are located in this region today ◦ Most of Europe’s population lives on this landform. ◦ Loess -Rich dust like soil found in the European plain.

4 Major Land Regions (cont.) 3. Central Uplands ◦ Area of mountains and plateaus ◦ Rocky land –not good for farming ◦ Mostly used for cattle and mineral resources Grundlsee

4 Major Land Regions (cont.) 4. Alpine Mountains ◦ Southern portion of Europe ◦ From Spain across to Eastern Europe ◦ Alps are the highest mountains in this system ◦ Many popular vacation places

Mountains The Alps The Pyrenees The Balkan Ural **Rain Shadow –An area on the sheltered side of a mountain that receives little rain fall.

Rivers ◦ Rhine, Elbe & Danube Rivers – Germany ◦ Seine River –France ◦ Po River –Italy ◦ Thames River –England ◦ Volga River- Russia

Photos Amsterdam The Tulip Festival Windmill

4 Major Climate Regions 1. Marine West Coast- Northwestern Europe ◦ North Atlantic Current/ Gulf Stream  Current carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe  Winds off warm waters carry moisture onto land, making it wet and keeping temperatures warm ◦ Even though they are far to the North, they have a mild climate.

4 Major Climate Regions 2. Mediterranean- along Mediterranean Sea  Hot and dry summers  Mild and rainy winters

4 Major Climate Regions 3. Humid Continental- Central Europe ◦ Inland areas away from major bodies of water experience very cold winters & very hot summers 4.Sub Artic- Northern Europe -Short, cool summers and very long cold winters -Warmest days maybe 40º F

Vegetation Varies as much as the climate Forest- most natural vegetation Taiga –A forest in Russia that covers 4 million sq miles…the largest forest in the world

Vegetation Steppes –The Russian grasslands Central and Southern Europe once covered by grasslands (prairie) ◦ Cleared for farming

Vegetation Tundra - A treeless plain where only grasses and mosses grow Permafrost –Permanently frozen soil

Natural Resources Hydroelectric Power –Water generated power Fossil Fuel –Fuel from fossils ◦ Non-Renewable Reserves –The available supply of a fossil fuel