1. A Peninsula of Peninsulas
European Geography

2. Four Major Landforms Northwest Highlands Northern European Plain
Central Uplands
Alpine Mountain System

3. Northwest Highlands
Make up Northwestern part of France; some of the Iberian peninsula; hills of England and Ireland; Scottish highlands; and mountains of Scandinavia
Glaciers scoured through Scandinavia and British Isles carving fjords on Norway’s coast

4. Northwest Highlands Continued
Fjords are narrow inlets of the sea set between high rocky cliffs
The glaciers left behind thin soils and thousands of lakes

5. Northern European Plain
Ranges from the Atlantic Coast to the Ural Mountains
Made up of numerous rivers where many river towns and port cities have developed
Contains large cities like Paris and Berlin
Due to its physical geography, human contact has been relatively easy – it has many rivers, short distances, and smooth terrain

6. Northern European Plain Continued
Such a geography has promoted trade between culture groups, and traveling and migrating have not been difficult
It is Europe’s most important farming and industrial area

7. Central Uplands
Massif Central of France and the Jura Mountains on the French-Swiss border
Moves northeastward across southern Germany to the Bohemian highlands

8. Central Uplands Continued
Composed of hills, small plateaus, forested slopes, and fertile valleys
Has productive coal fields which have nearby industrial towns and cities

9. Alpine Mountain System
Ranges from France’s Mediterranean Coast to the Balkan Peninsula
Alps – Europe’s major mountain range
The high mountains of this system have not deterred human interaction; not a serious barrier

10. Alpine Mountain System Continued
The Alpine mountain system also includes the Carpathian mountains in Eastern Europe, the Apennines in Italy, and the Pyrenees of France and Spain
This system was formed by tectonic plates pushing against each other

11. Water Europe is a peninsula so it is surrounded by water on 3 sides
The Mediterranean is in the South; the Arctic Ocean, North Sea, and Baltic Sea are around Northern Europe; and the North Atlantic Ocean is off of Western Europe

12. Water The North Sea has been an important hub for fishing and trading
The North Atlantic Ocean has transported explorers, fishers, and merchants for centuries

13. Europe’s Coastline
Europe’s coastline creates many natural harbors which are usually located at the mouths of navigable rivers
Navigable rivers are deep enough and wide enough for shipping
They have made trading by sea ideal

14. Europe’s Coastline Continued
Such a coastline has influenced Europe’s history
Harbors have offered protection for ships
Water offered opportunities to explore, fish, trade, and it promoted political and military power
The Phoenicians, Greeks, and Vikings sailed and explored Europe’s coastline
Helped Rome establish a vast empire

15. Europe’s Coastline Continued
The sea also provided global colonial and economic power
Spanish and Portuguese sailed around the world in the 1500s setting up trading posts and colonies
1700s and 1800s Great Britain was the world’s dominant colonial and sea power
How did the ability to travel the sea help establish empires?

16. Rivers The Rhine and Danube are Europe’s most important rivers
Numerous cities and industrial areas are located long the banks and both have barges constantly transporting goods
The Rhine starts in the Swiss Alps; it flows northwestward through Germany and the Netherlands to the North Sea
The Danube starts in the uplands of southern Germany and flows eastward through 9 countries in central and eastern Europe and ends in the Black Sea

17. Climates and Biomes 3 major climate types: Marine west coast
Humid continental
Mediterranean

18. Marine West Coast
Consists of more of northern and western Europe which includes southern Iceland, the British Isles, and it stretches from northern Spain to Poland and Slovakia
It has frequent rainfall because of storms coming off of the Atlantic
Mild temperatures
Cloudy, drizzly, or foggy days are common

19. Humid Continental
Includes the interior of Norway and Sweden to the Black Sea
Four distinct season, from severe winters to summer droughts in Hungary and Romania

20. Mediterranean Makes up most of southern Europe
Usually has mild, rainy winters because of North Atlantic Drift and sunny summers
North Atlantic Drift is a warm ocean current from the gulf stream in North America that warms the air above it which is carried by winds to Europe, brining mild temperatures and rain

21. Smaller Climate Regions
Subarctic climate is across northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland
The extreme northern part of these countries have a tundra climate
Most of Spain has a semiarid climate

22. Four Major Biomes Temperate forest Mediterranean scrub forest
Boreal forest
Tundra

23. Temperate Forest Most of Europe lies within this biome
Trees are common
Covered in fields and towns
Once covered in dense forests but now there are only remnants
Badgers, deer, and a variety of birds still live here

24. Mediterranean Scrub Forest
Composes the drier areas of southern Europe
Small trees, shrubs, and drought resistant plants
Still has roaming wild boars and wild sheep

25. Boreal Forest Large parts of northern and central Europe
Finland, Norway, and Sweden have Europe’s remaining woodlands
Provides much of Europe’s timber for building and papermaking

26. Tundra
In the far parts of northern Europe like Iceland and northern Scandinavia
Land is frozen most of the time
Treeless but does sustain migratory birds during the summer and reindeer and foxes

27. Natural Resources
Europe’s resources consist of forests, soils, fisheries, energy, and minerals
Much of the original forests have been cleared through the centuries and pollution has destroyed a lot that is left
Much of Europe has to import timber

28. Natural Resources Continued
Soil has been a critical asset to Europe – more than half of Europe is used for farming
Northern European Plain has the best soil, some of which is developed from loess – fine-grained, windblown soil; very fertile
Southern Europe benefits from alluvial soil that can produce a wide range of crops – areas like Italy’s Po Valley and Spain’s Guadalquivir are major farming centers

29. Natural Resources Continued
Some major crops include grapes, olives, potatoes, and wheat
Europe has the highest crop yields in the world because of modern technology
Chemical fertilizers
Crop rotations
Modern machinary

30. Natural Resources Continued
Polders
Land reclaimed by the sea
The Dutch built earthen walls called dikes along the shoreline
Windmills pumped out the seawater
Reeds are planted to draw out more water
Reeds are burned and plowed so its ready for farming
Allowed Dutch to increase amount of available farm land

31. Natural Resources Continued
Fishing as historically been a part of Europe’s economy
Fishing villages dot Europe’s long coastline and the water is covered in fishing boats
The North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and the North Sea have the best fishing
Some of Europe’s major fishing countries include Iceland, Norway, Spain, and Denmark
The industry is being threatened by overfishing and pollution

32. Natural Resources Continued
Energy and Minerals
Europe’s advanced technology requires resources of oil, iron, and other metals that it does not have so it must import
Does have a natural abundance of coal but oil has since replaced coal as the main energy source
Beneath the North Sea there are oil and natural gas deposits which benefit Norway and Britain
Hydroelectricity is an energy source produced in the mountains of Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland

33. Natural Resources Continued
Ocean Tidal power and solar power are produced in France
Iceland uses geothermal energy
Nuclear power is also an energy source for some Europeans but it is considered too dangerous
Some other mineral resources include iron ore, uranium, lead, and zinc which can be found in Sweden, France, and Spain
Southern Europe mines marble for building and art