The Grand Canal, Venice, Italy. Author of. Glaciation is the process of land being transformed by glaciers or ice sheets. Population growth in Europe is rather minimal with minimal age comparatively high. I think this makes it easy to assume they are not part of continental Europe. For the political geography of Europe, see, Countries consisting solely of islands or parts of islands, Countries bordering or spanning another continent, Countries whose capital is not the most populous, List of countries by the number of other countries they border, Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 19:57, List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe, List of European tornadoes and tornado outbreaks, List of the highest European ultra-prominent peaks, Special member state territories and the European Union, Language facts European day of languages, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geography_of_Europe&oldid=1140367331, Lower Danubian Plain, between Balkan Mountains and, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 19:57. These physical features allowed for early communication, travel, and agricultural development. Continental shelvesformer land surfaces that have been covered by shallow seasare a feature of peninsular Europe, while the coasts themselves are both submerged or drowned, as in southwestern Ireland and northwestern Spain, and emergent, as in western Scotland and southern Wales, where raised former beaches are in evidence. International economic and military organizations developed on either side of the Iron Curtain. It is bounded by the North Sea in the north and west. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. European countries saw an increase in immigration after World War II. The Volga River in Russia. Holland is a nation of cyclists. Understanding Europe's Topography. Sub-regions such as Iberia and Italy contain their own complex features, as does mainland Europe itself, where the relief contains many plateaus, river valleys, and basins that complicate the general trend. Topographic maps (often called topo maps for short) are large scale maps, often greater than 1:50,000, which means that one inch on the map equals 50,000 inches on the ground. This is the largest landlocked country in the world. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. The continent also comprises numerous islands, somenotably the Faroes and Icelandlocated at a distance from the mainland. Not only is Mount Etna the highest volcanic peak in Europe but it is still active. In this case, the region of Western Europe includes the regions of northern Europe, southern Europe, Central Europe, and the British Isles. Europe Facts | Religion: Most of the European people are Christians (76%) and there are smaller numbers of Muslims (6%) and Jews and other beliefs. Literally, Europa is now thought to have meant Mainland, rather than the earlier interpretation, Sunset. It appears to have suggested itself to the Greeks, in their maritime world, as an appropriate designation for the extensive northerly lands that lay beyond, lands with characteristics vaguely known yet clearly different from those inherent in the concepts of Asia and Libyaboth of which, relatively prosperous and civilized, were associated closely with the culture of the Greeks and their predecessors. Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC43qCBEfmy-wouPmYlLSpIg/join#europe #India #gypsiesContact Us- info@themysticaland.. Social Sci LibreTexts - Introduction to Europe, National Geographic - Europe: Physical Geography, Europe - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Europe - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), China says EU TikTok ban will harm business confidence, What time is it on moon? Topography studies the . The northern plain contains the old geological continent of Baltica, and so may be regarded as the "main continent", while peripheral highlands and mountainous regions in south and west constitute fragments from various other geological continents. The gods could both reward and punish travelers and traders with favorable or unfavorable sea conditions. World War II also left more than 40 million refugees, contributed to the independence of European colonies throughout the world, and devastated the urban infrastructure of many European cities.As a result of the devastation of World War II, Western Europes leadership in global politics diminished. The Kimmel Falls are in Hohe Tauen National Park and are one of Austrias most visited tourist attractions. A study completed by the Berlin Institute for Population and Development found that Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, western Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria, and France have the best prospects of supporting vibrant and economically successful societies. Greater Milan is the largest Metropolitan Area in Italy. Lesotho (landlocked within South Africa), is the only other country in the world surrounded entirely by another country. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. Europe extends from the island nation of Iceland in the west to the Ural Mountains of Russia in the east. European Commission: European Capital of Culture. Le site web de CORDIS ncessite lactivation de JavaScript pour fonctionner correctement. These nations do not feel an obligation to accept illegal immigrants, seeing them as both a threat and a burden.Supporters of the crackdown want to stop illegal immigration. Many of Europe's fjords are located in Iceland and Scandinavia.North European PlainThe North European Plain extends from the southern United Kingdom east to Russia. Corrections? In partitioning the globe into meaningful large geographic units, therefore, most modern geographers treated the former Soviet Union as a distinct territorial entity, comparable to a continent, that was somewhat separate from Europe to the west and from Asia to the south and east; that distinction has been maintained for Russia, which constituted three-fourths of the Soviet Union. Desert climates are found in the European portion of Kazakhstan and South Eastern Spain. The European Union has 23 official languages, and the continent has more than 60 indigenous languages. When it comes to geographical facts about Europe, and in particular the mountains, most people will assume that the names at the top of the list will be the famous Mont Blanc or the Matterhorn. Mount Olympus is Greece's highest mountain at 9,570 feet (2,917 meters) above sea level. Switzerland's small sizeits total area is about half that of Scotlandand its modest population give little indication of its international significance. These ideas have been tested during times of peace and military conflict, and continue to be redefined today.Historic IssuesEuropes early political history can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, both of which profoundly affected how Western civilizations govern their territories and citizens.Described as the birthplace of democracy, ancient Greece revolved around the polis, or city-state. The only primate native to Europe, the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), inhabits this Mediterranean basin. Most Greek gods and goddesses are representations of the active physical elements that made up the local landscape. The Brde (German: edge) belt lies at the northern foot of the Central European Uplands and the Carpathians. They created clothing and tents out of reindeer hides, sewing together the cloth with twine made from the animals tendons.Keeping track of herds and individual animals became increasingly important in Sami life. Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, and North Macedonia constitute a contiguous landlocked agglomeration of eight countries in Central Europe and the Balkans, stretching from Geneva all the way to Skopje. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. By supporting this policy, the European Union hopes it will strengthen social, educational, professional, and economic ties in Europe and make the continent more competitive in global markets.Europes cultural products also help unify the region. Nations that use the euro as a unit of currency are called the eurozone.Leadership of the EU, split among different branches and institutions, is a working model of international cooperation. Fewer than a million people are fluent in Romansch. Ireland is an island nation on the westernmost edge of Europe. Western Europe and parts of Central Europe generally fall into the temperate maritime climate (Cfb), the southern part is mostly a Mediterranean climate (mostly Csa, smaller area with Csb), the north-central part and east into central Russia is mostly a humid continental climate (Dfb) and the northern part of the continent is a subarctic climate (Dfc). Protests developed across the Muslim world, and demonstrators set fire to Danish embassies in Lebanon, Iran, and Syria. The Central Powers (led by the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire) fell to the forces of the Allied Powers (led by the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire). The U.K. also includes Northern Ireland, which is on another island. Population Density188 people per square kilometer, Highest ElevationMount Elbrus, Russia (5,642 meters/18,510 feet), Most Renewable Electricity ProducedIceland (99.9%; hydropower, geothermal), Largest Urban AreaMoscow, Russia (16.2 million people), Largest WatershedVolga River (1.38 million square km/532,821 square miles). A growing percentage of people in urban areas are employed in a wide range of service activities, which have come to dominate the economies of most countries. Around 10% of the world's population lives in Europe. These regional labels are used more for identification than for regional analysis. Wcz obsug JavaScript. The European bison (Bison bonasus), the heaviest land animal on the continent, is one of the most threatened species.Beginning in the 20th century, many governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have worked to restore some of Europe's rich biodiversity. The forests and grasslands of Western and Central Europe have been almost completely domesticated, with crops and livestock dominant.Finally, small, drought-resistant plants border the Mediterranean Sea, Europe's southern edge. By size, Germany is the seventh-largest European country. CORDIS website requires JavaScript enabled in order to work properly. 0. Superficial rock cover, elevation, drainage, and soil have sharply differentiated those lowlandswhich are of prime importance to human settlementinto areas of marsh or fen, clay vales, sand and gravel heaths, or river terraces and fertile plains. In order to distinguish herds, families and communities developed a pattern of cuts and notches on the animals ears.Reindeer were also the Samis main method of transporting goods during their nomadic journeys. The creation of the European Economic Community in 1957 and the EU in 1993 greatly enhanced economic cooperation between many of the continents countries. Greeces many earthquakes, and the tsunamis they caused, were connected to the sea god Poseidon, known as the Earth Shaker. Cults and temples centered on Poseidon were built throughout the Aegean and Mediterranean seas as a means of appeasing the god.As maritime trade and exploration developed in the region, winds and currents connected to Poseidon became important in Greek mythology. Topographic maps show a wide range of human and physical features of the Earth. Nonetheless, in manufacturing and agriculture Europe still occupies an eminent, if no longer necessarily predominant, position. Brussels is considered to be the largest city of Belgium, according to the population of the Brussels-Capital Region. Author of, Emeritus Professor of Geography, Portland State University, Oregon. From there it flows to the Caspian Sea. Greece is well known for the thousands of islands dotting the three seas that surround the country. The lowest terrain in Europe, virtually lacking relief, stands at the head of the Caspian Sea; there the Caspian Depression reaches some 95 feet (29 metres) below sea level. Most extensive between the Baltic and White seas in the north and the Black, Azov, and Caspian seas in the south, the lowland area narrows westward, lying to the south of the northwestern highlands; it is divided also by the English Channel and the mountains and plateaus of central Europe. These projected changes will have two major effects: There will be a smaller work force to create a dynamic and industrious economy, and governments and citizens will have to care for more elderly people.These changes will affect different regions of Europe in different ways. A peninsula is a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides. Kazakhstan and Russia are in Asia. Important Scandinavian companies focused on designed products include Electrolux, which makes home electronics, and Ikea and H&M, famous around the world for inexpensive but well-designed home furnishings and clothing, respectively. Italian fashion is also an important cultural export. You cannot download interactives. Mount Olympus became the first national park in Greece. Iceland is usually included in Europe because it is over twice as close to mainland Europe as mainland North America. That broad territory reveals no simple unity of geologic structure, landform, relief, or climate. Elevations in those areas are mainly between about 500 and 2,000 feet (150 and 600 metres), and many steep slopes are to be seen. [further explanation needed], The longest rivers in Europe, directly flowing into the World Ocean or Endorheic basins, with their approximate lengths:[4][5]. The link between these peninsulas has made Europe a dominant economic, social, and cultural force throughout recorded history.Europes physical geography, environment and resources, and human geography can be considered separately.Today, Europe is home to the citizens of Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), and Vatican City.Cultural GeographyEurope has a long history of human development and is considered the birthplace of Western Civilization. Routes detour around, or seek gaps through, those uplandswhose German appellation, Horst (thicket), recalls their still wooded character, while their coal basins give them great economic importance. The geology of Europe is hugely varied and complex, and gives rise to the wide variety of landscapes found across the continent, from the Scottish Highlands to the rolling plains of Hungary. The Volga River in Russia is Europe's longest river. The program has provided a lasting economic boost to cities and regions, raised their international profiles, and enhanced their images in the eyes of their own inhabitants.Each year, two or three cities are chosen to produce a year-long program of cultural events. 4. Ive enjoyed my journey through some facts of European geography hope you did too! The tallest mountain in Europe is Mount Elbrus in Russia. Here are 21 things about this amazing continent that may just surprise you. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. In the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada of Spain, the highest of the peaks exceed 11,000 feet (3,400 metres). [2] A prehistoric perspective would include Britain and Ireland as the core of a further very significant European peninsula prior to the post-glacial rise in sea-levels.[3]. Glaciation too has left its mark over wide areas, and the processes of erosion and deposition have created a highly variegated and compartmentalized countryside. Topography is the study of the Earth's surface. Political geography is the internal and external relationships between governments, citizens, and territories. Europe is the second-smallest continent. Is now thought to have meant mainland, rather than the earlier interpretation, Sunset which is on island. Park in Greece ) belt lies at the northern foot of the Central European Uplands and the continent comprises... 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