Western Europe

Europe Europe is the world’s 6th largest continent, making up 2% of the earth’s surface. Europe is the 3rd most populous continent, with a population of around 737 million. Europe is the northwestern peninsula of the “supercontinent” Eurasia. A peninsula is a body of land surrounded on three sides by water. Europe and Asia are divided by the Ural Mountains, which are located in Russia. Europe is the birthplace of Western Culture and has controlled the Americas, Africa and large parts of Asia.

Physical Geography of Europe

Europe’s Physical Geography Europe is a continent of peninsulas and islands. Physically, Europe can be divided into four regions: Western Uplands Northern European Plain Central Uplands Alpine System

Europe’s Physical Geography

Western Uplands Also known as the Northern Highlands, this region curves along the western edge of Europe. This is an area of hard, ancient rock shaped by glaciers. The region is covered by many marshlands, lakes and fjords, which are long, narrow inlets of the sea surrounded by high, rugged cliffs.

Fjords

Northern European Plain Also known as the Great European Plain, this is the most densely populated area of Europe. This region has many navigable rivers which have been historic routes for trade and transportation. This is Europe’s most productive agriculture region. This region has a mile climate due to: prevailing westerly winds North Atlantic Drift

Prevailing Westerlies The prevailing westerlies are a constant flow of are from the west to the east in the temperate zones of the earth. In Europe, these winds blow across the Northern European Plain, keeping the climate milder than what its latitude would indicate.

North Atlantic Drift The North Atlantic Drift is a warm water current that is an extension of the Gulf Stream. This warm current brings a milder climate to Western Europe and plenty of precipitation, which aids the Northern European Plain region in regard to agriculture.

Central Uplands The Central Uplands extend across a small part of Central Europe. This region is lower in altitude and less rugged than the Alpine region. This region is also heavily forested. This region is sparsely populated except for certain river valleys.

Alpine System The Alpine System consists of the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Apennines, the Dinaric Alps, the Balkan Mountains and the Carpathian Mountains. High elevations, rugged plateaus and steeply sloping land cover this region. Mont Blanc, of the Alps, is Western Europe’s highest point at 15,782 feet above sea level. Europe’s highest point is Mt. Elbrus (18,510 feet above sea level), located in the Caucasus of Russia. This region also has several active volcanoes, including Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvius of Italy.

Mont Blanc

Mt. Elbrus

Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvius

Western Europe’s Human Geography In regard to human geography, Western Europe is divided into three regions: The British Isles and the Nordic Nations Central Western Europe Mediterranean Europe

The British Isles and the Nordic Nations

The British Isles Great Britain is the largest of the British Isles The second largest, Ireland, is known as the Emerald Isle. This region is home to two countries: the United Kingdom and Ireland. The United Kingdom is actually a country of countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Channel Tunnel, or Chunnel, connects the islands of Great Britain to mainland Europe – it’s the longest undersea rail tunnel in the world (a little over 30 miles).

Ireland

The Nordic Countries The Nordic Countries are Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. This region has a varied physical landscape. The northern regions has very long winters due to its northern latitude. Iceland produces geothermal energy, which is produced from the heat of the earth’s interior. These countries have very diversified economies but have always relied heavily upon the sea.

The Sami The Sami are the indigenous people of the Nordic Countries. They have traditionally lived in the northern area known as Lapland. They are most well known for reindeer herding.

Central Western Europe This region can actually be divided into three regions of its own: France and Germany The Benelux Countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) the Alpine Countries (Switzerland and Austria)

France and Germany France and Germany are two of the largest countries of Western Europe. While 2/3’s of France is mountainous, it has traditionally been an agricultural country. The fashion industry is another important industry of France. Germany is Western Europe’s leading industrialized nation.

The Benelux Countries These countries are also known as the Low Countries because most of it is low and flat. This region is the most densely populated region of Europe. In the Netherlands, 1/5 of the land is actually reclaimed from the sea with a series of dikes, which are embankments of earth and rock used to hold back the sea. The polder is the land reclaimed from the land is used largely for agricultural purposes.

The Netherlands

The Walloons 1. Belgium is a good example of cultural convergence – the contact and interaction of one culture with another. The majority of Belgium’s population speaks Flemish. The smaller percentage (around 30%) of Belgium’s population speaks French and are known as the Walloons. The Walloons controlled Belgium society for many years. Flemish became an official language of Belgium in 1898.

The Alpine Countries The Alpine Countries of Switzerland and Austria have over half of their land covered by the Alps. Switzerland is very culturally diverse – the country is divided into cantons and each has its own language, culture and economy. Both countries have highly diversified economies – Austria has more mineral resources than Switzerland.

Mediterranean Europe Mediterranean Europe consists of Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece. Portugal has historically relied heavily on agriculture while Spain is more diverse, as the country gets drier as you move to the interior. Italy and Greece have historically been agricultural areas but are also more economically diverse today. Tourism is very important in Italy and Greece.

The Basques In northern Spain, in one of the most productive areas of the country, are the Basques. The Basques are an example of cultural divergence – having the desire to protect your culture from outside influences. The Basques desire for independence within Spain has at times led to violence between them and the Spanish government.

The Vatican City Inside of Rome, Italy, is the Vatican City. The headquarters of the Catholic Church, the Holy See is actually a sovereign state. It covers less than a square mile, has a population of less than 1000 and is the smallest sovereign state in the world

The Vatican City

The European Union The European Union is an economic and political organization that was formed to stimulate trade and build up the economies of its member countries. Formed in the 1950’s, it adopted a common currency in 1999 – the euro.

The European Union