Geography of Europe

Europe is a peninsula made of many other peninsulas. Peninsula: a piece of land that is surrounded by water on all sides but one. What countries are located on peninsulas?

Coastline: Jagged and irregular (What does that create?) Surrounded by ocean and Seas Europe is 1/3rd the size of Africa but has 3 times the coastline. No part of Western Europe is more than 400 miles from the sea.

Effects of Coastline: Great for trade and transportation Creates interdependence: when nations or areas of the world depend upon each other.

Mediterranean Sea What is North of the Sea? What is South? What does the Sea connect to in the West? Europe, Africa Atlantic Ocean

Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar

Effects of the Mediterranean Sea: Allows people to spread their ideas, cultures, Empires.

Pyrenees Mountains: What two countries does the Mountain range separate? The mountain range runs from what two bodies of water? France and Spain Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea

Alps Largest mountain range in Europe. Located in Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

Alps Mountain Range, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria Germany.

Effects of the Alps This large mountain range limits cultural diffusion and creates cultural diversity. For example: France and Italy boarder each other but speak different languages because they were separated by the mountains.

Northern European Plain Stretched from GB to France to Germany to Russia. Rich, Fertile Land

Effects of the Northern European Plain Many people have tried to take this “breadbasket” of Europe throughout history. Many Europeans farm and grow crops in this area.

Natural Resources Many natural resources are spread out throughout Europe. Natural resources include: coal, iron, good soil, forests, copper. There are a few natural resources in every European country.

Rivers There are MANY Rivers in Europe They flow in all directions They flow into oceans and seas.

Effects of Rivers Rivers are fantastic for transportation Allowed people to have access to oceans, seas and other rivers to travel throughout Europe. Travel through Europe via rivers encourages interdependence. (again!)

Parliament Building on the Danube River in Budapest. River Thames in London