Western Europe

Its Land and Early History

Section 1: A Land of Varied RichesEQ 1: How do you describe

Europe’s geography?

EQ 2: What factors affect Europe’s climate?

EQ 3: How do the natural resources of Europe affect what it produces today?

Location

Many factors determine where people live:

a. water b. fertile soil c. flat land d. climate e. food

LandEurope is part of Eurasia (Europe

& Asia)◦World’s largest landmass◦Ural Mountains divide Europe and

Asia◦¼ of Russia is in Europe

Land

Europe is a peninsula with many smaller peninsulas formed by bays and harbors.

Peninsula –A body of land nearly surrounded by water

Landforms- Peninsulas Scandinavian Peninsula

◦ Norway and Sweden◦ Fjords are found along the

coastline

◦ Fjord - a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea located between steep cliffs.

Iberian Peninsula ◦ Portugal and Spain◦ Separated from the rest of the

continent by Pyrenees Mtns.

4 Major Land Regions

1. Northwestern Highlands

◦ Far northern part of Europe (Norway & Sweden)

◦ Steep sloped mountains with thin soil

**Population Density –The average number of people living per sq mile or km. (25 people/square mile)

◦ Successful timber industry -forests

Austrian Alps

Norangsfjorden- Norway

4 Major Land Regions (cont.)

2. North European Plain◦ Covers over ½ of north

central Europe

◦ Most productive farmland

◦ Largest cities are located in this region today

◦ Most of Europe’s population lives on this landform.

◦ Loess -Rich dust like soil found in the European plain.

4 Major Land Regions (cont.)

3. Central Uplands

◦Area of mountains and plateaus

◦Rocky land –not good for farming

◦Mostly used for cattle and mineral resources

Grundlsee

4 Major Land Regions (cont.)

4. Alpine Mountains◦ Southern portion of

Europe

◦ From Spain across to Eastern Europe

◦ Alps are the highest mountains in this system

◦ Many popular vacation places

MountainsThe Alps The PyreneesThe BalkanUral**Rain Shadow –An area on the sheltered

side of a mountain that receives little rain fall.

Rivers◦Rhine, Elbe & Danube Rivers –

Germany◦Seine River –France◦Po River –Italy◦Thames River –England◦Volga River- Russia

PhotosAmsterdam

The Tulip Festival

Windmill

4 Major Climate Regions1. Marine West Coast- Northwestern Europe

◦ North Atlantic Current/ Gulf Stream

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

◦ Even though they are far to the North, they have a mild climate.

4 Major Climate Regions2. Mediterranean- along Mediterranean Sea

Hot and dry summers Mild 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. Sub Artic- Northern Europe

-Short, cool summers and very long cold winters

-Warmest days maybe 40º F

Vegetation

Varies as much as the climate

Forest- most natural vegetation

Taiga –A forest in Russia that covers 4 million sq miles…the largest forest in the world

VegetationSteppes –The Russian grasslandsCentral and Southern Europe once

covered by grasslands (prairie)◦Cleared for farming

VegetationTundra - A treeless plain where

only grasses and mosses grow

Permafrost –Permanently frozen soil

Natural ResourcesHydroelectric Power –Water

generated powerFossil Fuel –Fuel from fossils

◦Non-RenewableReserves –The available supplyof a fossil fuel