1. Europe
Physical Geography

2. Land Europe is part of Eurasia (Europe & Asia)
World’s largest landmass
Ural Mountains divide Europe & Asia
¼ of Russia is in Europe

3. Land Europe is home to 48 countries
Many are the size of a state in the USA
Russia
Russia is the largest country in the world
¼ of Russia lies within Europe
Remainder lies in Asia
Europe is a peninsula with many smaller peninsulas formed by bays and harbors.
The word peninsula comes from the Latin words for “almost”(paene) and “island” (insula).

4. Landforms - Peninsulas
In Northern Europe, the Scandinavian Peninsula is home to Norway and Sweden. Along the jagged shoreline of this peninsula are beautiful fjords.
A fjord is a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea located between steep cliffs.
In Western Europe, the Iberian Peninsula includes Portugal and Spain. The Iberian Peninsula is separated from the rest of the continent by a mountain range called the Pyrenees.

5. Landforms - Ural Mountains
Divides Europe and Asia
Also called the “Stone Belt”
Divides Russia into two parts
Extend 1,550 miles from the North to South
One of the world’s oldest mountain ranges
Covered with flat valleys with marshes, coniferous forests, deep ravines

6. 4 Major Land Regions Northwestern Highlands
Far northern part of Europe (Norway & Sweden)
Steep sloped mountains with thin soil
Few people live here (25/square mile)
Successful timber industry - forests

7. 4 Major Land Regions North European Plain
Covers over ½ of north central Europe
Most productive farmland
Largest cities are located in this region today – ancient trading centers.
Most of Europe’s population lives on this landform.

8. 4 Major Land Regions Central Uplands Area of mountains and plateaus
Rocky land – not good for farming
Mostly used for cattle and mineral resources

9. 4 Major Land Regions Alpine Mountains Southern portion of Europe
From Spain across to Eastern Europe
Alps are the highest mountains in this system
Many popular vacation places

10. Water Important Rivers Rhine & Danube Rivers – Germany
Seine River – France
Thames River – England
Volga River - Russia

11. Water
Rivers have served as transportation highways for centuries – people and goods.
Easier & quicker to travel over water than land.
Access to the Atlantic Ocean has been important for the shipping industry.
Great harbors enable trade between countries.
Volga River - Freezes solid for almost 3 months of the year
Few rivers in Russia are used for trade, transportation or shipping

12. Dateline –The Chunnel What are some advantages of the Chunnel?
How might improvements in transportation affect economic development?

13. Gulf Stream

14. Climate

15. 4 Major Climate Regions Northwestern Europe - Marine West Coast
North Atlantic Current
Even though they are far to the North, they have a mild climate.
Current carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe
Winds off warm waters carry moisture onto land, making it wet and keeping temperatures warm

16. 4 Major Climate Regions Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Climate
Hot and dry summers
Mild and rainy winters

17. 4 Major Climate Regions Central Europe
Inland areas away from major bodies of water experience very cold winters & very hot summers
Northern Europe – Sub Arctic climate
Short, cool summers and very long cold winters
Warmest days maybe 40º F
Much of Russia has extreme climates
Latitude locations
Massive landmass
Long cold winters, short mild summers

18. Vegetation Varies as much as the climate
Most natural vegetation – forest
Cleared for farms, factories and cities
Northern Europe still has large coniferous forests
Forest covers most of Russia
Two-fifths of the country’s total territory – Taiga is the largest forest in the world
Nearly one-fourth of the world’s total forested area

19. Vegetation Central and Southern Europe once covered by grasslands.
Cleared for farming
Steppe - Located in Southwest Russia
The natural vegetation of a true steppe consists of a mixture of grasses with only a few stunted trees in sheltered valleys.

20. Vegetation Tundra in far northern region Northern Siberia – Russia
Treeless plain with grasses and mosses
Ground is permafrost
Winter lasts up to 9 months of the year
Average temperature in January -60º F
Consists of 75% of country’s landmass

21. Natural Resources Germany – Ruhr Valley region one of world’s
major industrial regions (coal)
North European Plain – Fertile farmland
Coastlines – Hydroelectric power
Most resources in Russia are located in Siberia
Makes it difficult to develop

22. Land Use Today

23. Geographical Boundaries
Many mountain ranges have separated the settlement of people.
Different cultures have developed across Europe.
Why would this cause people to stop migrating?

24. How does location, climate and natural resources impact how people live and work?
United Kingdom
Consists of Great Britain (England, Scotland & Wales) and Northern Ireland
Location & Climate
Gulf Stream keeps the climate mild
Good amount of rainfall to grow crops – fertile farmland
Rugged coastlines great for harbors
Natural Resources
North and West – Highland Zone (mountainous) coal, oil and natural gas
Oil and natural gas also found in the North Sea
Majority people live in the lowland zone – 1% of the population works in agriculture
Live and Work
Most people live in urban areas – London is the largest city
Service industries – banking, insurance, tourism
Manufacturing industries – iron, steel and electronics

25. How does location, climate and natural resources impact how people live and work?
Russia
Location & Climate
Largest country in the world
Extremely cold climate due to proximity to Arctic Ocean
10% of land suitable for agriculture – wheat and barley – fertile???
Natural Resources
Large deposits of coal, oil, natural gas and forests
Difficult to harvest and transport due to harsh climate and remote locations
Live & Work
Most people live in the western portion on the European Plain due to its milder climate
Many goods are transported by railroad because rivers and lakes are frozen most of the year

26. How does location, climate and natural resources impact how people live and work?
Germany
Location & Climate
Warm mild summers with cool winters
Doesn’t experience a large amount of extreme weather
Mild climate is great for agriculture – about ½ of Germany’s land
Natural Resources
Manufacturing industry drives the country’s economy – steel, building materials, automobiles
Huge deposits of coal and iron ore in the Ruhr region
Live & Work
Ruhr Valley region (western Germany) is the most densely populated – large amounts of factories, cities and towns
Rhine River provides transportation for products to be traded

27. How does location, climate and natural resources impact how people live and work?
Italy
Location & Climate
Moderate climate with cool winters and warm summers
Colder in the mountain regions – covers 70% of land
Close to central Europe – beneficial for trading
Natural Resources
Grapes – largest producer of wine in the world – grow along mountainsides
Few mineral resources – have to import/trade most resources for industries
Live & Work
2/3 of population live in the northern region – industry and agriculture
Tourism is the most important industry due to climate and history

28. Environmental Issues Acid Rain
Rain that has been polluted from the chemicals
released into the air from the burning of fossil fuels
Major concern in Germany
East Germany burned a massive amount of brown coal in order to produce electricity
Released sulphur dioxide into the air – causing acid rain
Brown coal still accounts for ¼ of Germany’s energy production – have closed inefficient plants to help reduce pollution
Effects of acid rain
More than ½ of Germany’s trees have either been damaged or killed by acid rain
Pollutes rivers and lakes – killing off plants and animals
Damages brick and stonework buildings
Changes
Strict laws have been put into place to reduce the amount of emissions factories produce
Cars must have a special converter on their exhaust systems
Government is working to covert energy production to oil and natural gas

29. Environmental Issues Air pollution Major concern in the United Kingdom
Previously resulted from factory emissions or homes burning coal for heat.
Pollution in the air mixed with the fog that is common in the region creating a smog
4,000 people died in the Great London Smog of 1952
Today, pollution is caused by car exhaust and factory emissions as well as ozone
Carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides hover close to the ground contaminating the air we breathe
Ozone adds to the problem, forming when air pollutants mix and react with sunlight to form smog
Changes
Government has tightened car emission standards
Endorsed the use of cleaner fuels
Encouraged citizens to use public transportation

30. The End