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