1. Physical Features

2. European Geographical Facts
Europe is the world’s 6th largest continent, making up 6.5% of the earth’s total land area.
Europe is the 3rd most populous continent, with a population of around 739 million.
Europe is a large peninsula made up of peninsulas
“a peninsula of peninsulas”
No more than 300 miles away from and ocean or sea
European countries have to take this into account with business, trade, and pleasure

3. Northern Peninsulas Scandinavian Peninsula- Norway and Sweden
Surrounded by the Norwegian Sea, North Sea, and Baltic Sea
The Ice Age really took a toll on this land leaving it very rough, rocky soil that is hard to farm
In Norway: Glaciers carved out fjords (steep U-shaped valleys that connect to the sea)

4. Southern Peninsulas
Southern part of Europe contains three major peninsulas
Iberian Peninsula: the home of Spain and Portugal. The Pyrenees Mountains block this peninsula from rest of Europe
Italian Peninsula: The home of Italy. Has 4,700 miles of coastline!
Balkan Peninsula: Home of Greece, Albania, Macedonia, etc.. Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, and the Aegean Sea

5. Islands Larger Islands: Located in the North Atlantic
Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, and Greenland
Smaller Islands: Located in the Mediterranean Sea
Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Crete

6. Crete
Corsica
Sicily

7. Mountain Ranges
The mountains of Europe act as walls to divide many people in Europe- Keeps them from trading, spreading ideas, etc…
Also affects climates!
The Alps-Most famous mountain chain in Europe
Cut off Italy from rest of Europe
Great for Tourism!
The Pyrenees
Cut off Spain and Portugal

8. Alpine System
The Alpine System consists of the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Apennines, the Dinaric Alps, the Balkan Mountains and the Carpathian Mountains.
Mont Blanc, of the Alps, is Western Europe’s highest point at 15,782 feet above sea level.
The Caucasus region also has several active volcanoes, including Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvius of Italy.

9. Mont Blanc

10. Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvius

11. Linking Europe by Rivers
Europe is a network of rivers that allow people and goods to come together
Major Rivers
Rhine River- Flows 820 miles from the interior of Europe to the North Sea
Danube River- Flows 1,771 miles and covers 9 countries from the west to east
Links Europeans to the Black Sea

12. The European Bounty Northern European Plain
Also known as the Great European Plain, this is the most densely populated area of Europe.
This is Europe’s most productive agriculture region and one of the most fertile regions in the world
Due to its flat land, it has allowed many armies to march into Europe

13. Europe’s Resources Has abundant supply of two natural resources Energy
Coal and Iron (needed for an industrialized economy)… hmmmm that is interesting! Think about where the Industrial Revolution began!!
Energy
Oil and Natural Gas can be found in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands around the North Sea.
Agriculture
33% of the land is suitable for agriculture
World average is 11%

14. Climate Marine West Coast exists in much of Europe
Warm summers and cool winters
Created by the nearby ocean and dominant winds
The North Atlantic Drift is a warm water current that is an extension of the Gulf Stream.
This warm current brings a milder climate to Western Europe and plenty of precipitation, which aids the Northern European Plain region in regard to agriculture.

15. Harsher Conditions Inland
The farther away from the Atlantic Ocean the climate becomes humid continental
Really cold, snowy winters and warm to hot summers
Sweden, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary

16. Sunny Mediterranean
Mild Climate which allows for people to live and vacation around the Mediterranean Sea
Spreads from southern Spain to Italy and Greece
Summers are hot and dry with clear skies and winters are moderate and wet.
Mountains help to create this climate. The cold air does not go over the Alps

17. Land of the Midnight Sun
Far northern Scandinavia, along the Arctic Circle, lies a band of Tundra climate
Has permafrost, no trees can grow
Experience sharp variations in the amount of sunlight
Winter has days when the sun never rises and Summer has days when the sun never sets