1. Physical Geography of Eastern Europe Landforms The area is characterized by several mountain ranges that are extensions of the Swiss Alps. Lowlands within this region have a karst topography, areas of barren and rocky ground. The Balkan Peninsula’s rugged landscape makes traveling over land difficult, thereby increasing the importance of waterways for transportation. The Balkan Mountains provide a climate barrier between the Danube River valley and the transitional climate south of the mountains.

2. Water Systems Large rivers and seas act as natural borders between countries and are important to economic activities in the region. The Danube is the second largest river in Europe, passing through nine countries and emptying into the Black Sea. The Vistula River in Poland serves many major cities and industrial centers, including Warsaw. Other waterways, such as the Oder River, branch out from the main rivers to provide access inland. Physical Geography of Eastern Europe

3. Climate, Biomes, and Resources Much of Eastern Europe has a humid continental climate. The Carpathian and Balkan Mountains, along with the Hungarian Plain, make up the Danube region. Some coastal regions along the Black Sea have micro-biomes. The Carpathian Mountains contain large energy reserves, while areas around the Baltic Mountains rely on water as a natural resource. Physical Geography of Eastern Europe

4. Human Geography of Eastern Europe History and Government Eastern Europe is a shatter belt, or region of great political instability, that drove the area’s Balkanization, or the division of the region into smaller hostile regions. Yugoslavia attempted to reverse this process, since it combined smaller regions into one country, but it fell apart with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Power struggles led to civil war and ethnic cleansing, or the genocide of an ethnic group, and Balkanization has continued with countries declaring independence.

5. Population Patterns The Slavs are an ethnic group that includes Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, and Macedonians. The Roma are of Indo-European origin and are the largest minority population in Europe. The majority of people live in urban areas, although there are large populations along the Danube and Vistula Rivers. Eastern Europe experienced large migrations during and after World War II with people leaving to escape war and poor conditions. Human Geography of Eastern Europe

6. Society and Culture Today Countries have faced economic challenges in the transition to democratic governments. The area is marked by many different religious and ethnic groups. The family is the basic social unit and serves to reinforce social values. The long history of folk and classical music makes it an important art form among peoples of the region. Human Geography of Eastern Europe

7. Economic Activities Over the past 20 years, Eastern Europe has transitioned to a market economy. The region is known for low-cost, high quality electronic and automotive manufacturing, but still maintains its agricultural roots. As political stability has improved, the region has become increasingly linked to Western Europe through trade and, more recently, by joining the European Union. Human Geography of Eastern Europe

8. Managing Resources Rapid and intense industrialization without regard to the effects on the environment have damaged water quality. Illegal logging and the burning of those logs generates air pollution that has led to great losses in the area’s biodiversity. Interest in reforestation, or renewing forest cover, has increased, but countries continue to struggle with protecting the environment while providing opportunity for economic growth. People and Their Environment: Eastern Europe

9. Human Impact Eastern Europe’s high concentration of industry and excessive reliance on coal have had a devastating impact on the environment. Waterways have been affected by acid rain and meltwater, the result of melting snow and ice that have carried pollution into lakes and rivers. As Eastern European countries have joined the EU, environmental protection standards and strict emission controls are helping to address these problems. People and Their Environment: Eastern Europe

10. Addressing the Issues Serious efforts have been made to help clean up the environment, but directing and funding cleanup is difficult because the process involves many countries. For countries not yet admitted to the EU, gaining membership provides an important incentive to manage resources and minimize environmental impacts. Cooperation among Balkan countries is needed to ensure effective resource management. People and Their Environment: Eastern Europe