Europe

Leading countries according to GDP Switzerland Switzerland Luxembourg Luxembourg Sweden Sweden

Leading countries according to Land Size Ukraine Ukraine France France Spain Spain

Leading countries according to population Germany Germany United Kingdom United Kingdom Italy Italy France France

PHYSICAL CHARATERISTICS Part of a large landmass called EURASIA Part of a large landmass called EURASIA Europe includes four peninsulas Europe includes four peninsulas A peninsula is a body of land surrounded by water on three sides A peninsula is a body of land surrounded by water on three sides

Europes peninsulas are the Iberian, Italian, Scandinavian,and the Jutland Europes peninsulas are the Iberian, Italian, Scandinavian,and the Jutland

Europe also has three ISLANDS Europe also has three ISLANDS an island is a body of land completely surrounded by water an island is a body of land completely surrounded by water Europes main three islands are Great Britain, Ireland and Sicily Europes main three islands are Great Britain, Ireland and Sicily

Europe is also home to many FJORDS Europe is also home to many FJORDS A fjord is a narrow valley or inlet from the sea--originally carved out by glaciers A fjord is a narrow valley or inlet from the sea--originally carved out by glaciers

Two Major mountain ranges exist in Europe Two Major mountain ranges exist in Europe Alps- Alps-Central Europe Pyrenees- Pyrenees- border between France and Spain

The largest physical characteristic in Europe is the North European Plain The largest physical characteristic in Europe is the North European Plain The North European Plain is a large flat fertile stretch of land important for agriculture, especially in Western Europe The North European Plain is a large flat fertile stretch of land important for agriculture, especially in Western Europe

Rivers also play an important role in Europe. Rivers also play an important role in Europe. They are or were used for transportation, power, and trade. They are or were used for transportation, power, and trade. The most important are the Danube (Germany), Rhine (Germany), Seine (France), and the Thames (United Kingdom) The most important are the Danube (Germany), Rhine (Germany), Seine (France), and the Thames (United Kingdom)

Seas Oceans Seas Oceans AdriaticAtlantic AdriaticAtlantic AegeanArctic AegeanArctic Mediterranean Mediterranean Baltic Baltic Black Black North North

Landmarks Landmarks Strait of Gibraltar- separates Europe from Africa at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea Strait of Gibraltar- separates Europe from Africa at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea Climates Climates varied climate regions-- everything from tundra to mediterranean varied climate regions-- everything from tundra to mediterranean

Europes climate is also affected by the North American Drift and the prevailing westerlies Europes climate is also affected by the North American Drift and the prevailing westerlies

North American Drift is a powerful ocean current that carries tropical water toward the coast of Europe. North American Drift is a powerful ocean current that carries tropical water toward the coast of Europe. The winds which blow across the North American Drift are known as the prevailing westerlies. The winds which blow across the North American Drift are known as the prevailing westerlies.

Combined they help to produce a warm, moist climate in most of Europe Combined they help to produce a warm, moist climate in most of Europe

Economic Characteristics The Mountain regions of Europe are famous for tourism, recreation and mineral resources. The Mountain regions of Europe are famous for tourism, recreation and mineral resources. Many areas of Europe are threatened by air and water pollution. Many areas of Europe are threatened by air and water pollution.

Forests--Black Forest of Germany (acid rain) Forests--Black Forest of Germany (acid rain) Cities--Venice,Italy Cities--Venice,Italy Rivers--Danube, Rhine, and Seine Rivers--Danube, Rhine, and Seine

Many of Europes largest industrial and transportation centers developed near mineral deposits, especially coal and iron ore Many of Europes largest industrial and transportation centers developed near mineral deposits, especially coal and iron ore Ruhr Valley (Germany) Ruhr Valley (Germany) Po Valley (Italy) Po Valley (Italy)

Rivers and canals served as the major transportation links Rivers and canals served as the major transportation links

There are oil reserves in the North Sea. Great Britain has claimed many of them. There are oil reserves in the North Sea. Great Britain has claimed many of them. Most countries of Europe, especially Western Europe, have a well educated workforce. Most countries of Europe, especially Western Europe, have a well educated workforce.

Most are industrial or technological societies (Switzerland specializes in banking). Most are industrial or technological societies (Switzerland specializes in banking).

The countries of Western Europe also use advanced farming techniques which gives them high crop yields. The countries of Western Europe also use advanced farming techniques which gives them high crop yields. Fertile soils and the chernozem (black earth of Russia) are also found in Europe. Fertile soils and the chernozem (black earth of Russia) are also found in Europe.

Most of Europe has a well developed infrastructure. Most of Europe has a well developed infrastructure. Infrastructure is things such as roads, power companies railroads and air carriers Infrastructure is things such as roads, power companies railroads and air carriers

France and Great Britain have built the Chunnel to provide a railroad transportation between their countries. France and Great Britain have built the Chunnel to provide a railroad transportation between their countries.

Western Europe and Eastern Europe have different industrial systems and different industrial development because of different economic and political systems since Western Europe and Eastern Europe have different industrial systems and different industrial development because of different economic and political systems since 1945.

Most of western Europe belongs to the Economic Union today. Eastern Europe is slowly catching up after changing their systems in the early 1990s Most of western Europe belongs to the Economic Union today. Eastern Europe is slowly catching up after changing their systems in the early 1990s

The Economic Union is a economic union used to tie the economies of Europe together for the benefit of all members. It is an ECONOMIC ALLIANCE. The Economic Union is a economic union used to tie the economies of Europe together for the benefit of all members. It is an ECONOMIC ALLIANCE.

Trade is important in Europe, especially to the island nations. Trade is important in Europe, especially to the island nations. Sweden and Denmark allow their governments to play a large role in their economies. Sweden and Denmark allow their governments to play a large role in their economies.

Eastern Europe has begun the switch from communism to capitalism Eastern Europe has begun the switch from communism to capitalism the Netherlands grows crops on land reclaimed from the sea (Polders) the Netherlands grows crops on land reclaimed from the sea (Polders)

Their demographics are typical of a developed nations. Their demographics are typical of a developed nations. High per capita GDP High per capita GDP High literacy rate High literacy rate high life expectancy high life expectancy

low infant mortality low infant mortality low percentage of the population under the age of 15 low percentage of the population under the age of 15

Cultural Characteristics Europe is the birthplace to the Industrial Revolution Europe is the birthplace to the Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution was the switch from hand or manual labor to using machines for labor The Industrial Revolution was the switch from hand or manual labor to using machines for labor

England was the center of the Industrial Revolution England was the center of the Industrial Revolution

Europe is the home to many ethnic groups Europe is the home to many ethnic groups each group brings different languages, religions and customs each group brings different languages, religions and customs

This has led to sporadic conflict among the groups This has led to sporadic conflict among the groups such as war and revolution such as war and revolution

Europe is the birthplace of modern democracy Europe is the birthplace of modern democracy Greece is the home of Democracy Greece is the home of Democracy

Europe has spread its culture to other parts of the world through Europe has spread its culture to other parts of the world through exploration exploration colonization colonization imperialism imperialism

Europe is highly urbanized Europe is highly urbanized It is one of the most densely populated areas of the world It is one of the most densely populated areas of the world Most of Western Europe is a member in the political/military alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Most of Western Europe is a member in the political/military alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

All of the following cities act as centers for culture and trade in Europe All of the following cities act as centers for culture and trade in Europe Berlin, Germany Rome, Italy Berlin, Germany Rome, Italy London, England Paris, France London, England Paris, France Madrid, Spain Madrid, Spain Athens, Greece Athens, Greece Warsaw, Poland Warsaw, Poland

Cultural Landscape In Paris the following cultural icons can be found: In Paris the following cultural icons can be found: Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Eiffel Tower Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Eiffel Tower

In Italy the following cultural icons can be found: In Italy the following cultural icons can be found: Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa, St. Peters Basilica Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa, St. Peters Basilica

In Greecethe Parthenon In Greecethe Parthenon In England--Westminster Abbey and Big Ben In England--Westminster Abbey and Big Ben In Europe in general--windmills (Netherlands) and castles In Europe in general--windmills (Netherlands) and castles

Parthenon in Greece

Arc de Triomphe in Paris

Notre Dame

Eiffel Tower -- Paris

Colosseum--Italy

Leaning Tower of Pisa-- Italy

Big Ben--England

Westminster Abbey

St. Peters Basilica

Windmills and Castles

Louvre

Fjord

Alps