The Peninsula of Peninsulas Europe The Peninsula of Peninsulas

Peninsulas A peninsula is a piece of land surrounded by water on 3 sides. Europe has 5 major peninsulas: 1) Scandinavian- Norway and Sweden, rocky soil, hard to farm 2) Jutland- Denmark and Germany, vast plain, rolling hills, fertile soil 3) Iberian- Spain and Portugal 4) Italian- Italy, shaped like a boot, 4,700 miles of coast line 5) Balkan-Greece, mountainous, transportation is difficult

Rivers Europe has 2 major rivers: 1) The Danube- longest river in Europe 1,771 miles long links Europeans to the Black Sea 2) The Rhine- flows 820 miles runs from the interior of Europe to the North Sea

Mountains Alps – largest and tallest mountain chain Pyrenees – separates Spain from France. Apennines – Run down the center of the Italian peninsula. Balkans – block the Balkan peninsula

Climate A Marine West Coast (cool rainy winters and warm rainy summers) climate exists in much of Europe, from northern Spain across most of France and Germany to western Poland. A Humid Continental (cold/snowy winters, and hot summers) climate exists in much of Sweden and Finland, and the eastern parts of Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. A Tundra and Subarctic (permafrost, no trees, very cold/harsh winters) climate exists in the northern parts of Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Iceland. A Mediterranean (hot/dry summers, moderate/wet winters) climate extends from southern Spain and France through Italy to Greece.

Northern European Plain One of the most fertile places on earth. Stretches across parts of France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Poland. Region has produced vast quantities of food over the centuries. Many Europeans live in this area.

The Netherlands The Netherlands is a European country that is also known as Holland. People who are from the Netherlands are called Dutch. At least 40% of the Netherlands was once under water! However, the Dutch reclaimed this land through drainage systems powered by windmills. Land that is reclaimed by draining is called a polder.

Venice, Italy There are more than 150 canals in Venice!!! Moving people and goods in Venice depends on these canals. Consequently, to get somewhere in Venice you have two choices: to take a boat or to walk. Almost anything that is moved on wheels elsewhere is moved by water in Venice!

Check out the picture on pg. 284 What are the advantages of having both streets and canals in Venice? What are the disadvantages? How have humans altered the environment of the islands of Venice?