EUROPE- OverviewEUROPE- Overview

Geographic Geographic CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Western edge of EurasiaWestern edge of Eurasia Major Major world influenceworld influence IndustrializedIndustrialized Numerous Numerous nation-states nation-states Urbanized Urbanized populationpopulation High standards of livingHigh standards of living East v. West differencesEast v. West differences

Importance of LocationImportance of Location

Centrally located with capability of Centrally located with capability of contact with rest of world.contact with rest of world.

Every part of Europe is close to the Every part of Europe is close to the sea (within 300 miles).sea (within 300 miles).

Navigable waterwaysNavigable waterways Moderate distancesModerate distances

PHYSICAL LANDFORMS & FEATURES• Mountains:Mountains: The Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites, Carpathians, The Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites, Carpathians,

Kjolen, Apennines, Caucasus, UralKjolen, Apennines, Caucasus, Ural

• Peninsulas:Peninsulas: Scandinavia, Italian, Iberian, BalkanScandinavia, Italian, Iberian, Balkan

• North European PlainNorth European Plain

• Rivers:Rivers: Danube, Rhine, Seine, Thames, Tiber, Rhone, Po, Danube, Rhine, Seine, Thames, Tiber, Rhone, Po, Don, Volga, Loire, Elbe, Tagus, Dnieper, VistulaDon, Volga, Loire, Elbe, Tagus, Dnieper, Vistula

• Islands:Islands:

Iceland, an island south of the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Iceland, an island south of the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Ocean, features volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers. Ocean, features volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers.

The British Isles–primarily Ireland and Great Britain–are cool, The British Isles–primarily Ireland and Great Britain–are cool, hilly, and rainy. hilly, and rainy.

In the Mediterranean, five large islands–Sicily, Corsica, In the Mediterranean, five large islands–Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Crete–all have rugged terrain and Sardinia, Cyprus, and Crete–all have rugged terrain and volcanic mountains. volcanic mountains.

Greece’s nearly 2,000 islands in the Aegean Sea have rugged Greece’s nearly 2,000 islands in the Aegean Sea have rugged landscapes and a sunny climate that attracts tourists landscapes and a sunny climate that attracts tourists

Marine West CoastMarine West Coast dominates Western Europe.

Humid ContinentalHumid Continental dominates Eastern Europe.

Pockets of steppesteppe and highlandhighland climate.

MediterraneanMediterranean climate is found along the Mediterranean coastline.

Europe’s Climates

GeneralizationsGeneralizations on on ClimateClimate• Countries closer to warm Atlantic ocean currents and winds Countries closer to warm Atlantic ocean currents and winds

have milder temperatures than those farther east and north. have milder temperatures than those farther east and north.

• European climates vary according to distance from the sea European climates vary according to distance from the sea (idea of (idea of continentalitycontinentality).).

• Most of Europe is Temperate Mixed Forest, that is typically cleared for farming. Areas of Scandinavia are Coniferous forests while the Mediterranean coastline has scrubby vegetation known as chaparral.

• Land Use is typically Mixed Farming or Dairy Farming. Mediterranean farming would include the wine industry and olive oil production. Much of the highlands in the British Isles is used for grazing.

Biomes and Land Use in EuropeBiomes and Land Use in Europe

Declining share of the world’s population

Fertility at an all-time low

Fewer young people

Smaller working age population

Immigration partially offsetting losses

EUROPE’S CHANGING EUROPE’S CHANGING POPULATIONPOPULATION

URBAN TRADITIONURBAN TRADITION Urbanization- Urbanization- 73% of Europe is urbanized.73% of Europe is urbanized. Related conceptsRelated concepts

– Primate city-Primate city- largest city that encompasses largest city that encompasses the cultural idealsthe cultural ideals

– CBDCBD- downtown (business and commerce)- downtown (business and commerce)– MetropolisMetropolis- terms used to describe central - terms used to describe central

city and suburbs.city and suburbs.

LanguagesLanguages

In Europe, there are about 50 different In Europe, there are about 50 different languages and more than 100 languages and more than 100 dialects,dialects, most of which belong to the Indo-European most of which belong to the Indo-European language familylanguage family

SlavicSlavic languages in eastern Europe languages in eastern Europe GermanicGermanic languages in northern Europe languages in northern Europe RomanceRomance languages in southern Europe languages in southern Europe

ReligionsReligions- Europe is predominantly Europe is predominantly ChristianChristian. .

- Most of southern/western Europe’s Christians are Most of southern/western Europe’s Christians are Roman CatholicsRoman Catholics. .

- Most northern European Christians are Most northern European Christians are ProtestantsProtestants. .

- EasternEastern Orthodox Orthodox Christians dominate much of Christians dominate much of southeastern Europe. southeastern Europe.

- Many Many MuslimsMuslims also live in southeastern Europe also live in southeastern Europe (Turkish influence).(Turkish influence).

- JewishJewish communities exist in all major European communities exist in all major European cities.cities.