1. Physical Geography of Europe
SSWG6a. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Europe.

2. Mountains/Highlands
Major features: Alps, Pyrenees, Balkan, Caucus, Ural
Ural Mountains form the border between Asia & Europe
Alps & Pyrenees are world renown for skiing & other winter sports

3. Mountains
Alps
Ural

4. Mountains
Mt. Elbrus in the Caucus Mts.
Balkan Mts.

5. Plateaus Major Feature: Central Siberian Plateau
Takes up good part of central Russia
Rocky in some places, green in others
People here are primarily herders

6. Plateaus
Central Siberian Plateau
Native family

7. Rivers
Seine River, Rhine River, Rhone River, Danube River, Volga River, Ob River
Europe is made of rivers & have been primary shipping routes for centuries
Danube River is the longest and connects eastern & western Europe—begins in the Black Forest of Germany
Canals connected the Volga to the Baltic Sea

8. Rivers
Danube River
Seine River

9. Seas
North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Aral Sea,
Mediterranean waters are vital to the economies of 20 European countries, supporting tourism and other industries
The human population has increased & Black Sea is suffering. Urban & industrial development has poured increasing amounts of waste into the Black Sea & rivers around it.
Aral Sea is shrinking at an alarming rate

10. Seas
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea Pollution

11. Additional Water Features
Major Features: Strait of Gibraltar, English Channel, Lake Baikal
Strait is close enough to see to the other side to Africa.
English Channel separates the UK and the rest of mainland Europe
Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world

12. Additional Water Features
Strait of Gibraltar
English Channel

13. Plains
Major Feature: North European Plain (also called Great European Plain)
Greatest uninterrupted expanses of plain on the Earth’s surface
From France through Russia
Narrow in the west, broader in the east
Lowest elevation on any continent

14. Plains
GEP wind power
Wheat harvest in Ukraine

15. Additional Land Features
Major Features: Iberian Peninsula, Scandinavian Peninsula, Italian Peninsula, Greek arcipelago