Europe

1.1 Physical Geography

• Europe is made up of several peninsulas with varied land regions and climates

• Large Peninsula- Western Eurasian

• Smaller Peninsulas– Italian– Scandinavian– Iberian

1.1 Physical Geography

• Europe also consists of many significant islands– Great Britain– Ireland– Iceland– Greenland– Sicily & Crete– Corsica

1.1 -Physical Geography

• Four major land regions of Europe– Western Uplands – stretch from the

Scandinavian peninsula to Spain and Portugal– Northern European Plain- lowlands that reach

across northern Europe– Central Uplands– Alpine- consists of the Alps and several other

mountain ranges

1.1 -Climate

• Europe has a mostly a humid temperate climate. Factors that influence that climate:– North Atlantic Drift- warm water current– Sirocco winds- winds that blow across

Mediterranean Sea that bring wet weather to southern Europe

– Mistral winds- cold, dry winds that blow across France

1.1 - 3 Climates of Europe

• Mediterranean – western Europe has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters; provides an extended growing season

• Humid Continental- eastern Europe has warm, wet summers and long cold winters

• Polar- Iceland, Greenland, and northern Scandinavia have cool summers and long, cold winter; very short growing season

1.2- Europe’s Coastline

• Trade- goods, ideas and religions have been moved throughout the world from the many ports of Europe

• Industry- fishing, ship building, harbors and even agriculture( polders).

• Exploration- around the world for wealth, religion and empires

• Settlement- almost every continent

1.3- Mountains

• Mountains– Alps- Switzerland, Germany and France– Pyrenees- separate France and Spain– Apennines- run along the Italian peninsula– Carpathian- extend through Poland, Romania,

and Ukraine– All of these mountains provide natural

resources( forestry, mining and agriculture)

1.3- Rivers

• Many navigable rivers used for transportation and trade

• Danube – flows through ten countries from the Alps to the Black Sea

• Rhine- flows from the Alps of Switzerland and Germany to the North Sea

• Canals have been built to connect rivers and form waterways across Europe

1.3 - Plains

• Northern European Plain – stretches from France all the way to Russia– Provides fertile soil – Many large farms– Location of most large cities in Europe

1.4 Protecting the Mediterranean Sea

• Human activities have a negative affect:– Over fishing– Pollution– Over development of coast- erosion

• What’s being done?– Marine reserves– Fishing quotas– Stricter pollution controls