CHAPTER 12 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY EUROPE CHAPTER 12 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Physical Characteristics The continent of Europe is a giant peninsula. Some refer to it as Eurasia. It is known as “a peninsula of peninsulas.”

Europe – “A Peninsula of Peninsulas”

The Northern Peninsulas Scandinavian Peninsula – Norway & Sweden Fjords – sea filled valleys carved out by glaciers Jutland – northern peninsula opposite the Scandinavian Peninsula is major geographical feature of Denmark

Fjords – Geirangerfjord in Norway

The Southern Peninsulas Iberian Peninsula – Spain and Portugal Apennine Peninsula – Italy, shaped like a boot, has 4,700 miles of coastline Balkan Peninsula – Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, mountainous so transportation is difficult

Apennine Peninsula Apennines in Emilia. The Apennine Mountains - mountain range stretching 1000 km from the north to the south of Italy along its east coast and forms the backbone of the country.

The Atlantic Islands Iceland – “Land of Fire and Ice” (Volcanoes and glaciers exist side by side on the island) British Isles – England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, & Ireland

Iceland: A New Island Forms Surtsey 16 days after the first eruption.

Iceland: A New Island Forms Surtsey is a volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland. It was formed in a volcanic eruption which began 130 meters below sea level, and reached the surface on 14 November 1963. The eruption may have started a few days earlier and lasted until 5 June 1967.

Mediterranean Islands Balearic Islands (Spain) Corsica (France) Sardinia (Italy) Sicily (Italy) Malta

Corsica

The port town of Sciacca, Sicily

Malta

Mountains Alps – arc across France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, & the northern Balkan Peninsula, cut off Italy from the rest of Europe Pyrenees Mountains - block off Spain & Portugal from the rest of Europe

Mountains (cont.) Apennine Mountains – run like a spine down Italy Balkan Mountains – block off the peninsula from the rest of Europe

The Alps

Pyrenees Mountains

Apennine Mountains

Rivers Rivers are important transportation routes to carry goods between the coastal harbors and the inland region Danube River – 1,771 miles long, links Europeans to the Black Sea, touches 9 countries Rhine River – flows 820 miles from the interior of Europe north to the North Sea

Danube River

Danube River

Rhine River

Europe’s Bounty 33% of land is suitable for agriculture Produce a variety of crops: grains, grapes, olives, citrus fruits, & even cork Northern European Plain stretches in a huge curve across parts of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, & Poland relatively flat very desirable agricultural land Produced vast quantities of food over the centuries Plains flatness has also allowed armies and groups of invaders to use it as an open route into Europe

Cork Oak Tree - Portugal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztr-RP0XYd8

Natural Resources Iron Coal Bauxite Potash (used to make fertilizer) Copper Lead Zinc Uranium Gold Silver Potash

Climate Marine West Coast climate – from northern Spain across most of France & Germany to western Poland, British Isles, some coastal areas of Scandinavia North Atlantic Drift, a current of warm water from the tropics, flows near Europe’s west coast Prevailing westerlies blow west to east picking up warmth from this current and carrying it over Europe MWC is very mild because of the modifying effects of the ocean. This climate does not have large seasonal extremes of temperature, summers are cool and winters are mild.

Comparing Climates at similar latitudes Latitude/Longitude = 49.1o N; 123.06o W Latitude/Longitude =51.3oN; .07o W

Climate Southern Europe is mostly a Mediterranean climate. Mediterranean climate has long, hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Sunny Mediterranean beaches attract tourists

Mediterranean beach

Climate Eastern & Northern Europe has a Humid Continental climate. The humid continental climate is marked by variable weather patterns and a large temperature range. The temperature difference between the warmest and coldest months increases inland, away from the moderating influence of the ocean. Cold, snowy winters & either warm or hot summers depending on latitude

Climate Land of the Midnight Sun Tundra climate along the Arctic Circle in northern Scandinavia Permafrost North of the Arctic Circle, there are winter days when the sun never rises and summer days when the sun never sets

Finland

Energy Oil & natural gas – beneath the North Sea floor North Sea oil fields are a major source of petroleum for the world

Resources Shape Life Ireland – lacks energy resources Irish cut peat from large beds and burn it as fuel Peat is partially decayed plant matter found in bogs

Human/Environment Interaction Polders: Land from the Sea Dutch reclaimed land from the sea for their growing population At least 40% of the Netherlands was once under the sea Polders – reclaimed land

Flower cultivation in the polders of The Netherlands.

Human/Environment Interaction Venice’s Canals City is made up of 120 islands & part of the mainland Grand Canal, a broad waterway, flows between 2 of the largest islands More than 150 canals that snake around and through the islands Water pollution threatens Venice Industrial waste, sewage, & saltwater are working to eat away the foundations of buildings Floods also endanger the city

Venice

Human/Environment Interaction Deforestation People have been clearing the forests of Europe since ancient times Provided wood to burn for fuel & building materials such as ships and houses Acid Rain Destroying forests such as the Black Forest in Germany

Germany - Black Forest The Black Forest is a wooded mountain region located in southwestern Germany. It is estimated that more than half the trees in the Black Forest have been damaged as a result of acid rain.