EUROPE Physical Geography Overview Video

The Peninsula of Peninsulas!

Peninsulas Northern Scandinavian Peninsula (Norway & Sweden) Jutland Peninsula (Denmark and Germany) Southern Iberian Peninsula (Spain & Portugal) Italian Peninsula (Italy) Balkan Peninsula (Greece - surrounded by Adriatic, Mediterranean, and Aegean Seas)

Fjords Steep u-shaped valleys carved by glaciers that connect to the sea and that filled with sea water after the glacier melted. Steep u-shaped valleys carved by glaciers that connect to the sea and that filled with sea water after the glacier melted. Found in Norway Found in Norway

Islands Large- Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland Large- Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland Small- Mediterranean Sea Islands (Sicily, Crete, Corsica Small- Mediterranean Sea Islands (Sicily, Crete, Corsica All depend on trade All depend on trade Sicily

The Walls of Europe? Mountains and uplands separate groups of people. Mountains and uplands separate groups of people. Make it difficult for people, goods and ideas to move easily from place to place (ex: languages – small countries). Make it difficult for people, goods and ideas to move easily from place to place (ex: languages – small countries). Also affect climate (ex: Alps blocking north wind into Italy). Also affect climate (ex: Alps blocking north wind into Italy).

Mountain Chains Alps: France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and northern Balkan Peninsula Alps: France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and northern Balkan Peninsula Pyrenees: separate Spain from France Pyrenees: separate Spain from France Apennine Mtns: like a spine down Italy Apennine Mtns: like a spine down Italy Balkan Mtns: cut off Balkan Peninsula from rest of Europe Balkan Mtns: cut off Balkan Peninsula from rest of Europe

UPLANDS (not mountains!)

Uplands are hills or very low mountains that may also contain mesas or plateaus. Kjølen Mountains: Scandinavia Kjølen Mountains: Scandinavia Scottish Highlands Scottish Highlands Meseta: plateau in Spain Meseta: plateau in Spain Massif Central: French uplands Massif Central: French uplands

Fertile Plains: Amber Waves of Grain Northern European Plain Northern European Plain –One of the most fertile regions in world –Huge! France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Poland –Great for farming! –Great for invaders attacking Europe!

Rivers Many rivers- important for trade and have helped in the development of Europe Many rivers- important for trade and have helped in the development of Europe the Rhine is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe, it is a vital and navigable waterway carrying trade and goods deep inland the Rhine is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe, it is a vital and navigable waterway carrying trade and goods deep inland

Rivers Thames – Flows through London Thames – Flows through London Seine – Flows through Paris Seine – Flows through Paris

Europe’s Natural Resources Coal & Iron (needed for industrial revolution) Coal & Iron (needed for industrial revolution) Oil from North Sea Oil from North Sea Agricultural land (33% of Europe is suitable for farming) Agricultural land (33% of Europe is suitable for farming) Timber- Scandinavian Peninsula Timber- Scandinavian Peninsula

Resources Shape Life! Food, jobs, houses, even culture (ex. Traditional European Folk Tales) Food, jobs, houses, even culture (ex. Traditional European Folk Tales) Distribution of resources creates regional differences (ex: peat used as fuel in Ireland instead of coal; tradition of coal miners in Poland) Distribution of resources creates regional differences (ex: peat used as fuel in Ireland instead of coal; tradition of coal miners in Poland)

Climate and Vegetation

Most of Europe : Marine West Coast Warm summer, cool winters Warm summer, cool winters North Atlantic Drift – warm water flow from tropics flows near Europe’s west coast North Atlantic Drift – warm water flow from tropics flows near Europe’s west coast Prevailing Westerlies pick up warmth from this current and carry it over Europe ( Also carry moisture providing adequate rainfall) Prevailing Westerlies pick up warmth from this current and carry it over Europe ( Also carry moisture providing adequate rainfall) Crops, such as grain and potatoes Crops, such as grain and potatoes

North Atlantic Drift

Inland : Humid Continental More severe weather changes More severe weather changes Cold, snowy winters Cold, snowy winters Warm or hot summers Warm or hot summers Adequate rainfall Adequate rainfall Sweden

Mediterranean Coast : Mediterranean Hot dry summers, mild wet winters Hot dry summers, mild wet winters Winds Winds –Mistral- cold, dry, north wind (received by France in winter) there are no mountains to block this wind

Winds- Winds- –Sirocco- hot, steady, southern wind from Africa into southern Europe Citrus fruits, olives, grapes Citrus fruits, olives, grapes tourism tourism Mediterranean Coast : Mediterranean

Arctic Circle : Tundra Winters- long hours of darkness Winters- long hours of darkness Summers- long days Summers- long days Inside the circle- Land of the Midnight Sun Inside the circle- Land of the Midnight Sun

In Finland and Norway Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights Northern Lights