1. UNIT 4:
EUROPE

2. Chapter 13 – Natural Environments of Europe
Section 1 – Physical Features
(pgs )

3. Landforms Europe stretches East to West:
North to South:
Artic Ocean
Mediterranean Sea
East to West:
Atlantic Ocean  Ural Mountains

4. Major Islands
Great Britain, Ireland & Iceland

5. Major Peninsulas
Scandinavian Iberian,
Italian Balkan

6. 4 Major Landform Regions
Northwest Highlands
Northern European Plain
Central Uplands
Alpine Mountain System

7. Northwest Highlands rugged hills, low mountains To the NORTH
Ireland, England, Scotland, Scandinavia, NW France, part of Iberian Peninsula
Glaciers & fjords carved landscapes during last ice age

8. Northern European Plain
To the SOUTH
Coastal plain with lots of rivers stretching from France to Ural Mountains = river towns & port cities like Paris & Berlin
Many rivers, short distances, smooth terrain = travel, trade, & migration
Densely or Sparsely Populated?

9. Central Uplands Hills & small plateaus, fertile valleys
Stretches from France NE to S Germany
Eroded region = rounded hills & mountains
Known for coal & industry

10. Alpine Mountain System
Includes the Swiss Alps
Stretches from France’s Mediterranean coast to the Balkan Peninsula
Many peaks higher than 14,000 feet
Large snowfields and glaciers
Also includes Carpathian Mountains in E. Europe & Pyrenees Mountains in France & Spain
Tectonic process created this region and continues to cause earthquakes and volcanoes today

11. Europe’s Major Landform Regions
Objective: Describe Europe’s major landform regions.
Europe’s Major Landform Regions
Northwest Highlands
hills & low mountains, created by glaciers, many lakes, thin soils
Northern European Plain
Broad coastal plain, many rivers
Central Uplands
Hills & small plateaus, old & eroded, coal fields, fertile valleys
Alpine Mountain System
High mountains, glaciers, tectonic activity (earthquakes)

12. Water in Europe Europe is a peninsula of peninsulas (p.295)
North Sea-important for trade & fishing (Baltic Sea freezes in winter)
North Atlantic Ocean-Explorers, Fishers, Merchants
Natural harbors along coast are located near navigable (deep enough & wide enough for shipping) rivers=good for trade by sea

13. Water in Europe-Thames River
pronounced: [timz]
England

14. Water in Europe-Seine River
pronounced: [la sɛn]
France

15. Water in Europe-Rhine River
Rises in the Swiss Alps, NW through Germany, enters the North Sea

16. Water in Europe-Danube River
Begins in the uplands of S Germany, E through 9 countries in Central & Eastern Europe, empties into the Black Sea
The Danube River is 1,771 miles long and the second longest river in Europe after the Volga.

17. Major Challenge: POLLUTION entering ocean from rivers
Water in Europe
Major Challenge:
POLLUTION
entering ocean from rivers

18. Objective: Identify the major rivers and bodies of water found in Europe.

19. Chapter 13 – Natural Environments of Europe
Section 2 – Climates and Biomes
(pgs )

20. Europe: 3 Major Climates
Marine West Coast
Humid Continental
Mediterranean

21. Marine West Coast Climate
throughout N & W Europe
Atlantic storms bring clouds & rain
Snow & frost in winter
Mild temperatures
Cloudy, drizzly days are common

22. Humid Continental Climate
4 distinct seasons
Severe winters
Summer droughts hurt Hungary & Romania

23. Mediterranean Climate
Separated from other 2 climates by high mountains like the Alps
Most rain occurs during mild winter
Long, dry, sunny summers in S Europe

24. 4 Minor Climates Subartic (Norway, Sweden, Finland)
Tundra (Iceland & N Scandinavia)
Humid Subtropical (S, SE of Alps)
Semiarid (parts of Spain blocked from ocean by mountains)

25. Major Climates Minor Climates Climates of Europe Marine West Coast
Mild temperatures, clouds & fog
Subartic
Found in Northern Norway Sweden & Finland
Humid Continental
Distinct seasons, cold winters, mild to cool summers
Tundra
Northernmost Denmark, Norway & Sweden (Scandinavia) & Iceland
Mediterranean
Mild & rainy winters, long summers
Humid Subtropical
South & southeast of the Alps
Semiarid
In Spain where mountains block the rainfall

26. Objective: Analyze how ocean currents affect Europe’s climates
North Atlantic Drift
The North Atlantic Drift (which is an ocean current) warms the air above it. The current is then carried over Europe by winds. This creates moderate temperatures and precipitation in northern Europe.
warm, moist air creates mild temperatures & rain in NW Europe = good for farmers and sea movement (no ice in water)
An ocean current - The relatively warm waters of the North Atlantic Drift are responsible for moderating the climate of western Europe, so that winters are less cold than would otherwise be expected at its latitude. Without the warm North Atlantic Drift, the UK and other places in Europe would be as cold as Canada, at the same latitude. For example, without this steady stream of warmth the British Isles winters are estimated to be more than 5 °C cooler, bringing the average December temperature in London to about 2°C.

27. Plants & Animals: 4 Major Biomes
Objective: Identify the biomes found in Europe.
Plants & Animals: 4 Major Biomes
Temperate Forest
Mediterranean Scrub Forest
Boreal Forest
Tundra
Covers most of Europe
ash, beech, maple, oak trees
badgers, deer, many birds
southern Europe
small trees, shrubs, drought-resistant plants
wild boars, wild sheep
northern & central Europe
spruce, fir, pine trees
far northern Europe
treeless
frozen ground most of the year
migratory birds, reindeer, foxes

28. Temperate Forest (most of Europe has this)
Mediterranean Scrub Forest
Boreal Forest
Tundra

29. Human activities harming plants & animals:
Hunting leads to animal extinction
Logging depletes forests and harms animal habitats
Pollution harms waterways and animals drinking water

30. Chapter 13 – Natural Environments of Europe
Section 3 – Natural Resources
(pgs )

31. Natural Resources in Europe
Forests
Soils
Fisheries
Minerals
Energy

32. Natural Resources-Forests
Problems:
Clearing & overgrazing
Air pollution & acid rain
Solutions:
Reforestation & Forest Protection Programs for Sweden & Finland

33. Natural Resources-Soils
More than half of Europe’s land area is used for farming
Some soils developed from loess (fine-grained windblown soil that is very fertile)
River valleys are major farming centers
Efficient methods & modern technology help Europe have crop yields among the highest in the world (Chemical fertilizers, crop rotation, machines to plant & harvest)

34. Natural Resources-Fishing
Throughout history, an important part of Europe’s economy = fishing
Warm North Atlantic Drift mixes with cold polar waters (Iceland, Norway, Spain, Denmark)
Problems=Overfishing & coastal pollution

35. Objective: Locate Europe’s forest, soil, and fishery resources.
Fisheries
Sweden & Finland
Loess in Northern European Plain
&
Alluvial soil in Southern Europe
North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and North Sea
Loess - geologic term that refers to deposits of silt that have been laid down by wind action.
Alluvial soil - a fine-grained fertile soil deposited by water flowing over flood plains or in river beds

36. Natural Resources-Minerals
To meet industry & energy needs, Europe heavily imports minerals
Lack oil, iron, & other metals
(oil & gas come from Asia, Russia, Africa)
BUT, they have large deposits of coal (Germany-one of world’s largest, Britain, Poland)
Iron ore, uranium, lead, zinc, marble

37. The yellowish translucent amber is often made into jewelry.
The world’s largest deposits of amber are found along the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Some date back to 60 million years ago.
Preserved bodies of ancient insects have been found inside some deposits.
The yellowish translucent amber is often made into jewelry.

38. Natural Resources-Energy
Europe’s main oil & natural gas lie beneath North Sea (especially helps Norway & Britain)
Hydroelectricity is produced in Norway, Sweden, & Switzerland.
France has ocean tidal power & solar power
Iceland has geothermal energy
Nuclear power (France, Belgium, Bulgaria, & Sweden)

39. Objective: Identify the energy and mineral resources of Europe.

40. Europe’s Main Energy Resources
ENERGY SOURCE
LOCATION
Coal
Germany, Britain, Poland
Oil & Natural Gas
North Sea region
Hydroelectric Power
Norway, Sweden, Switzerland
Ocean Tidal Power & Solar Power
France
Nuclear Power
France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Sweden