2. Physical Geography Of Europe
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 the size of a state in the USA
Europe is a peninsula with many smaller peninsulas formed by bays and harbors
RUSSIA
The largest country in the world
¼ of Russia lies within Europe, with the reminder lying in Asia.
The word peninsula comes from the Latin words for “almost”(paene) and “island” (insula).

4. Landforms - Peninsula Northern Europe
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.
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/sq. mi.)
Successful timber industry (forests)

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

8. 4 Major Land Regions Central Uplands
Area of mountains and plateaus, less rugged than the mountainous regions
Rocky Land – not good for farming, mostly used for cattle and mineral resources
This region played an important role in Europe’s Industrial Revolution as well as an Agrarian Revolution.
Countries covered by the upland are France, Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, and parts of Poland & Austria.

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
Mont Blanc is the highest peak (4807m) and Aletsch Glacier (23.6km) is the longest glacier

10. WATER Important Rivers Seine River –France
Rhine, Elbe & Danube Rivers –Germany
Seine River –France
Po River –Italy
Thames River –England
Volga River- Russia
Seine River –France
Rhine & Danube Rivers – Germany
Thames River –England
Volga River -Russia

11. * Easier & quicker to travel over water than land
* 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 1. 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 2. Mediterranean Climate Mediterranean Sea
Hot and dry summers
Mild and rainy winters

17. 4 Major Climate Regions 3. Humid Continental - Central Europe
Inland areas away from major bodies of water experience very cold winters & very hot summers
4. Northern Europe – Sub Arctic climate
Short, cool summers and very long cold winters
Warmest days maybe 40º F
Much of Russia has extreme climates