1. Physical Geography of Europe

2. Northern Europe
Landforms
Northern Europe is made up of five countries: Norway and Sweden on the Scandinavian Peninsula, Denmark on the Jutland Peninsula, Finland in the eastern part of the region, and the island country of Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Glaciation is the primary process by which the landforms of Northern Europe came to be as they are today.
During the last ice age, ice filled the valleys and carved out fjords that are now filled with seawater, creating steep, rugged mountains.

3. Glaciation left hundreds of thousands of lakes in Northern Europe.
Water Systems
Glaciation left hundreds of thousands of lakes in Northern Europe.
Iceland’s rivers consist of glacial debris, making them cloudy.
Many of the rivers on the Scandinavian Peninsula contain falls and rapids that hamper transportation between cities.
The countries of Northern Europe harness the power of these falls and rapids to run hydroelectric power plants.

4. Climate, Biomes, and Resources
Northern Europe
Climate, Biomes, and Resources
The climate patterns and biomes of Northern Europe are affected by latitude, landforms, wind patterns, ocean currents, and distance from water.
Natural vegetation varies from forests to tundra plants.
While the area has oil and natural gas resources, the countries of the region are leaders in developing renewable energy.

5. Northwestern Europe consists of plains interrupted by mountains.
Landforms
Northwestern Europe consists of plains interrupted by mountains.
Filled with fertile soil and many rivers, the Great European Plain is an important area for farming.
The southern edge of the plains is covered in loess, a fine, rich soil left by glaciers.
The Alps, a tall, jagged mountain range, runs across the southern part of the region.

6. Most cities are within 300 miles of a sea or ocean coast.
Northwestern Europe
Water Systems
Water plays a critical role in the lives and economies of Northwestern Europe.
Most cities are within 300 miles of a sea or ocean coast.
The lakes in the Alps are an important water source.
With nearly 25 percent of the Netherlands below sea level, the Dutch have built a series of dikes, banks of earth or stone, to hold back water.

7. Climate, Biomes, and Resources
Northwestern Europe
Climate, Biomes, and Resources
The North Atlantic Current brings warm water up from the Caribbean, contributing to mild winters, cool summers, and abundant rainfall.
Local winds can cause changes to the normal weather pattern, like the foehn, dry winter winds that can cause avalanches, the destructive masses of snow and ice that slide down mountainsides.
The area’s abundant supply of coal and iron ore fueled industrial development.

8. Southern Europe
Landforms
Southern Europe is made up of three peninsulas: Spain and Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula, Italy on the Italian Peninsula, and Greece on the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula.
Andorra, San Marino, and Vatican City are smaller countries in the interior, while the island nations of Malta and Cyprus serve important functions in the Mediterranean Sea.
Mountain ranges like the Pyrenees and the Alps form a natural border with Northwestern Europe.

9. Southern Europe
Water Systems
Although important to the ecology of the region, Southern Europe’s shallow rivers are not viable transportation or trade routes.
The Ebro River in Spain provides hydroelectric power and water for agriculture.
The drainage from the Po River in Italy feeds the country’s most fertile plain.
Italy’s Tiber River is the primary water source for the capital city of Rome.

10. Climate, Biomes, and Resources
Southern Europe
Climate, Biomes, and Resources
The Alps block Atlantic winds from the north, causing the warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters of this Mediterranean climate.
The subregion is well suited for growing grapes, olives, shrub herbs, and raising livestock.
Tungsten, one of Spain’s many natural resources, is essential to the high-tech industry.
Italy has few mineral resources, while Portugal has large deposits of copper.

11. 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.

12. Eastern Europe
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.

13. Climate, Biomes, and Resources
Eastern Europe
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.

14. Russian Europe
Landforms
The Ural Mountains form a natural barrier between European Russia and Siberian Russia.
The majority of the Russian population lives in the southern part of the Northern European Plain where there are waterways and fertile soil.
Ukraine, the second largest European country, has vast stretches of plains and plateaus.
Belarus, the smallest of the three Slavic republics that were once part of the Soviet Union, is a landlocked country with many lakes.

15. Russian Europe
Water Systems
The longest river in Europe, the Volga, along with its tributaries, is an important commercial, transportation, and hydroelectric resource in Russia.
The Dnieper River in Ukraine creates hydroelectric power, enables commerce, and provides fresh water.
Lake Baikal in Siberia, the world’s oldest and deepest lake, is home to many unusual freshwater marine species.

16. Climate, Biomes, and Resources
Russian Europe
Climate, Biomes, and Resources
Russia’s vast expanse of land lies at a high latitude, resulting in cold, snowy winters.
The interior of the country experiences continentality, or the effect of extreme variation in temperature and very little precipitation.
Much of Russia’s abundant natural resources are in remote and climatically unfavorable areas, making them difficult to utilize.