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Physical Geography Of Europe
LANDEurope is part of Eurasia (Europe & Asia)World’s largest landmassUral Mountains divide Europe & Asia¼ of Russia is in Europe
The word peninsula comes from the Latin words for “almost”(paene) and “island” (insula).
LANDEurope 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.
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.
Landforms – Ural MountainsDivides 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
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)
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
4 Major Land Regions
4 Major Land Regions
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
Alpine Mountains
WATER
Volga River -Russia
Rhine & Danube Rivers – Germany
Seine River –France
Thames River –England
Important Rivers
Rhine, Elbe & Danube Rivers –GermanySeine River –FrancePo River –ItalyThames River –EnglandVolga River- Russia
* 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.
Dateline –The Chunnel
What are some advantages of the Chunnel?
How might improvements in transportation affect economic development?
Gulf Stream
CLIMATE
4 Major Climate Regions1. Northwestern Europe - Marine West Coast
North Atlantic CurrentEven 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
4 Major Climate Regions
2. Mediterranean Climate
Mediterranean Sea
Hot and dry summersMild and rainy winters
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 climateShort, cool summers and very long cold winters Warmest days maybe 40º F
Much of Russia has extreme climates