Europe is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on Europe is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the south by the the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the south by the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, and the Caspian Sea; the eastern boundary Mountains, and the Caspian Sea; the eastern boundary runs along the Ural Mts.runs along the Ural Mts.

Major European Major European landformslandforms

Peninsulas:Peninsulas: Rivers:Rivers: Mountain Mountain ranges:ranges:

ScandinavianScandinavian VolgaVolga UralsUrals

JutlandJutland DanubeDanube CaucasusCaucasus

BalkanBalkan RhineRhineCarpathiansCarpathians

ItalianItalian Po Po AlpsAlps

IberianIberian PyreneesPyrenees

Europe is Europe is composed of the composed of the westward-westward-projecting projecting peninsulas of peninsulas of Eurasia and Eurasia and occupying nearly occupying nearly one-fifteenth of one-fifteenth of the world's total the world's total land area.land area.

Peninsula of Peninsula of peninsulaspeninsulas

ScandinaviScandinaviaaA a region in A a region in Northern Europe Northern Europe named after the named after the Scandinavian Scandinavian Peninsula. Peninsula. "Scandinavia" and "Scandinavia" and "Nordic region" are "Nordic region" are often used often used interchangeably. interchangeably. The most common The most common definition includes definition includes continental continental Denmark, mainland Denmark, mainland Norway and Norway and Sweden.Sweden.

NorwayNorway

The northernmost The northernmost country in Europe with country in Europe with a toothy western a toothy western coastline, a jagged coastline, a jagged expanse of islands and expanse of islands and fjords. It’s capital, fjords. It’s capital, Oslo occupies an arc of Oslo occupies an arc of land at the land at the northernmost end of northernmost end of the the Oslofjord..

HardangerfjordHardangerfjord

SwedenSweden

Its nine million Its nine million people are spread out people are spread out over an area roughly over an area roughly the same as the State the same as the State of California. Mof California. Most of ost of the inland consists the inland consists of forests and of forests and mountainous mountainous wilderness.wilderness.

Capital: StockholmCapital: Stockholm

With a population of 5.2 With a population of 5.2 Million, Finland is an advanced Million, Finland is an advanced industrial economy. Metal, industrial economy. Metal, engineering and electronics engineering and electronics industries account for 50 % of industries account for 50 % of export revenues, forest products industry for 30 %. export revenues, forest products industry for 30 %. Finland is one of the leading countries in Internet use. Finland is one of the leading countries in Internet use.

FinlandFinland

DenmarDenmarkk

The KingdomThe Kingdom of Denmark of Denmark is the smallest, is the smallest, southernmost southernmost and oldest of and oldest of the Nordic the Nordic countries. It countries. It borders the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, and borders the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, and consists of a peninsula named consists of a peninsula named JutlandJutland attached attached to Northern Germany.to Northern Germany.

FjordFjord - - A long, narrow arm of the sea, usually A long, narrow arm of the sea, usually

formed by entrance of the sea into a deep glacial trough.formed by entrance of the sea into a deep glacial trough.

The mountain range The mountain range that runs roughly that runs roughly north and south north and south through western through western Russia marks the Russia marks the northern part of the northern part of the (arbitrary) border (arbitrary) border between the between the continents of continents of Europe and Asia.Europe and Asia.

The Ural MountainsThe Ural Mountains

Lake BalatonLake BalatonLake Balaton is the largest lake of Central EuropeLake Balaton is the largest lake of Central Europe

Caucasus MountainsCaucasus Mountains

The Caucasus Mountains form part of the Euro-Asian border between Russia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

Danube RiverDanube River

The second longest The second longest river in Europe, it is river in Europe, it is one of the major one of the major methods of methods of transportation. It is transportation. It is the only major the only major European river to European river to flow west to east, flow west to east, going through eight going through eight countries and three countries and three capitals including: capitals including: Budapest, Hungary; Budapest, Hungary; Vienna, Austria; and Vienna, Austria; and Belgrade, Serbia.Belgrade, Serbia.

Balkan Mts.Balkan Mts.

This is an extension of This is an extension of the Carpathian the Carpathian mountain range, mountain range, separated from it by separated from it by the Danube River.the Danube River.

The The Balkan Balkan PeninsulaPeninsulaThe Balkans is The Balkans is the historic and the historic and geographic geographic name used to name used to describe describe southeastern southeastern Europe. Europe.

CarpathianCarpathianMountainsMountains

The Fagaras Massif in central The Fagaras Massif in central Romania's Transylvanian Alps forms Romania's Transylvanian Alps forms the most spectacular range of the the most spectacular range of the Carpathian MountainsCarpathian Mountains

Located in six Located in six countries of countries of East and East and Central Europe: Central Europe: Czech Czech Republic, Republic, Hungary, Hungary, Poland, Poland, Romania, Romania, Slovak Republic Slovak Republic and Ukraine.and Ukraine.

CarpathiansCarpathians

(left) Apuseni Apuseni Mountains in Mountains in Romania’s part Romania’s part of the of the CarpathiansCarpathians

The geologic The geologic structure of the structure of the inner part of inner part of the Western the Western Carpathians Carpathians is marked by a is marked by a break running break running from the from the east and the east and the south along south along a line of a line of dislocation dislocation in the Earth's in the Earth's crust.crust.

KarstKarstLandscapes Landscapes that show the that show the result of result of limestone limestone dissolution are dissolution are called karst. called karst. Most Most limestones are limestones are formed by the formed by the deposition and deposition and consolidation consolidation of the of the skeletons of skeletons of marine marine invertebratesinvertebrates .

StraitsStraits The Bosphorus and the Dardanelles are the The Bosphorus and the Dardanelles are the straits between the European and Southwest straits between the European and Southwest Asian sections of Turkey.Asian sections of Turkey.

AlpsAlpsThe Alps is the The Alps is the collective name for collective name for one of the great one of the great mountain range systems of systems of Europe, , stretching from stretching from Austria in the east, in the east, Slovenia, , Italy, , Switzerland, , Liechtenstein and and Germany, through to , through to France in the west. in the west. The word Alps The word Alps means mountains.means mountains.

IbexIbex

An An ibex challenges intruders in the challenges intruders in the AlpsAlps

Italian BootItalian Boot

The Italian peninsula or the The Italian peninsula or the Apennine peninsula is one Apennine peninsula is one of the greatest peninsulas of the greatest peninsulas of Europe, spanning 1000 of Europe, spanning 1000 km from the Alps in the km from the Alps in the north, to the central north, to the central Mediterranean Sea in the Mediterranean Sea in the south. Located in Southern south. Located in Southern Europe, it consists of Italy, Europe, it consists of Italy, the mainland San Marino, the mainland San Marino, which is an enclave of Italy in the northwest, and which is an enclave of Italy in the northwest, and Vatican City, an enclave in the Italian city of Rome.Vatican City, an enclave in the Italian city of Rome.

Raised walkways have been installed in places where the flooding is worst. These people are queueing to enter the Basilica di San Marco

A combination of man’s A combination of man’s activities and natural changes activities and natural changes threaten the very existence of threaten the very existence of this historical Italian city.this historical Italian city.

Sinking Sinking VeniceVenice

Venice floodingVenice flooding

High water regularly floods St. Mark's Square and High water regularly floods St. Mark's Square and other parts of Venice, forcing people to tread on other parts of Venice, forcing people to tread on raised walkways. The city itself is sinking, the level raised walkways. The city itself is sinking, the level of the Adriatic is rising and high tides are becoming of the Adriatic is rising and high tides are becoming more frequentmore frequent.

Venice LagoonVenice LagoonThe Venice Lagoon has a surface area The Venice Lagoon has a surface area of 55,000 sq, meters has and was of 55,000 sq, meters has and was formed nearly 6,000 years ago. In order formed nearly 6,000 years ago. In order to preserve the lagoon and adapt it to to preserve the lagoon and adapt it to existing needs - port, fish farms, land existing needs - port, fish farms, land reclamation, transport and industry – reclamation, transport and industry – for the past 5 centuries man has for the past 5 centuries man has undertaken increasingly consistent undertaken increasingly consistent works to achieve hydraulic regulation, mainly by works to achieve hydraulic regulation, mainly by diverting the principal rivers from the Lagoon into diverting the principal rivers from the Lagoon into the Adriatic Sea, and building numerous the Adriatic Sea, and building numerous reclamation systems on the lower lands to use reclamation systems on the lower lands to use them for agricultural purposes; in the last 50 them for agricultural purposes; in the last 50 years the wetlands have been significantly years the wetlands have been significantly reduced and the pollution load discharged into reduced and the pollution load discharged into the lagoon has been increased. the lagoon has been increased.

Industrial Industrial pollution in the pollution in the Venice lagoon, Venice lagoon, 19981998

.

SicilySicily

The Strait of MessinaThe Strait of Messina

is between the island of Sicily and the is between the island of Sicily and the Italian peninsulaItalian peninsula ItalItal

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Mediterranean SeaMediterranean SeaStr

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Mess

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Str

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Mess

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Mt. EtnaMt. Etna on the island of Sicily is one of on the island of Sicily is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. the world’s most active volcanoes.

Strait of Strait of GibraltaGibraltarr

Located at the western entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, this narrow sea-

level passage is

about 15

kilometers wide and 55 kilometers

long.

The Rock The Rock of of GibraltarGibraltar

Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency.British dependency.

Iberian Iberian PeninsulaPeninsula

Climatically, the Iberian Peninsula has hot summers, cold winters, and limited precipitation.

Westernmost Westernmost European European peninsula peninsula containing containing Portugal, Portugal, Spain, and Spain, and Andorra.Andorra.

MesetaMesetaThe middle of Spain The middle of Spain is a high, dry, flat is a high, dry, flat plateau called the plateau called the MesetaMeseta. In the . In the Meseta Meseta it can be it can be very hot in the very hot in the summer and cold in and cold in the the winter..

PyreneesPyreneesStretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Mediterranean in the East, a distance of some 250 miles (402.5km), the mountains of the Pyrenees form a natural barrier between Spain and the Iberian Peninsula in the south and France in the north.

Europe is a Europe is a well-watered well-watered continent with continent with many rivers. many rivers. Most of the Most of the continent's continent's drainage finds drainage finds its way to the its way to the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean via a number via a number of master river of master river systems, systems, whose whose watersheds watersheds interlock in a interlock in a most complex most complex manner. manner.

Europe’s riversEurope’s rivers

Volga Volga RiverRiverThe The Volga Volga RiverRiver in in Western Western Russia, Russia, Europe's Europe's longest river, longest river, with a length with a length of 3,690 km, of 3,690 km, provides the provides the core of the core of the largest river largest river system in system in Europe.Europe.

Danube RiverDanube River

Danube RiverDanube RiverDanube RiverDanube River

Formerly an obstacle to shipping, the “Iron Gate” Formerly an obstacle to shipping, the “Iron Gate” region where the Danube narrows between the region where the Danube narrows between the Carpathian and Balkan Mountains was cleared of Carpathian and Balkan Mountains was cleared of rock obstructions in the 1860s; the Sip Canal rock obstructions in the 1860s; the Sip Canal permits large river craft to get past the gorge.permits large river craft to get past the gorge.

Rhine River shippingRhine River shipping

The Rock The Rock of of GibraltarGibraltar

Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency.British dependency.

SiroccoSiroccoThis satellite image This satellite image shows a dust storm shows a dust storm over the over the Mediterranean Sea. Mediterranean Sea. The north African The north African winds, known as winds, known as SiroccoSirocco, blow dust , blow dust north-west out over north-west out over the Mediterranean Sea the Mediterranean Sea from the Libyan desert from the Libyan desert to the Italian mainland to the Italian mainland crossing the island of crossing the island of Sicily and part of Sicily and part of Sardinia island to the Sardinia island to the west. west.

MistralMistralThe mistral/maestral is a cold, northerly katabatic wind flowing into the Gulf of Lion from the southern coast of France. Mistrals are most common during winter and spring, although gale-force events can occur year-round. The wind is characterized by the sinking of cold air generated over the mountains and then funneled through the Garone Valley between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central.

Most of Europe Most of Europe was once was once covered by a covered by a hardwood hardwood forest. forest. Overgrazing, Overgrazing, bad soil bad soil management, management, inappropriate land-use, droughts, fires, and inappropriate land-use, droughts, fires, and political turmoil, caused considerable political turmoil, caused considerable deforestation, however, most of the forests of deforestation, however, most of the forests of Europe and were reduced to charcoal to supply Europe and were reduced to charcoal to supply heat for manufacturing processesheat for manufacturing processes.

DeforestationDeforestation

The Zuiderzee The Zuiderzee Works is a man-Works is a man-made system of made system of dams, land dams, land reclamation and reclamation and water drainage water drainage works, and the works, and the largest hydraulic largest hydraulic engineering engineering project project undertaken by undertaken by the Netherlands the Netherlands during the during the twentieth twentieth century.century.

ZuiderzeeZuiderzee

The project involved the damming off of the The project involved the damming off of the Zuiderzee,, a large, shallow inlet of the a large, shallow inlet of the North Sea, , and the reclamation of land in the newly enclosed and the reclamation of land in the newly enclosed water body by means of water body by means of polders..

ZuiderZeeZuiderZee

On the left side is the salty North Sea, and on the On the left side is the salty North Sea, and on the right side the freshwater lake created by the right side the freshwater lake created by the 'Afsluitdijk‘ dam.'Afsluitdijk‘ dam.

Zuider ZeeZuider Zee

PolderPolder

Polder:Polder: An area of low-lying land, especially in An area of low-lying land, especially in the Netherlands, that has been reclaimed from a the Netherlands, that has been reclaimed from a body of water and is protected by dikes.body of water and is protected by dikes.

TerpenTerpen

These high earthen These high earthen platforms provide platforms provide safe places during safe places during floods and high tidesfloods and high tides

EnglishEnglish Channel

ChannelSt

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over

Stra

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The The United KingdomUnited Kingdom

FranceFrance

This part of the British coastline faces the Strait of This part of the British coastline faces the Strait of Dover and France with limestone cliffs reaching up to Dover and France with limestone cliffs reaching up to 350 feet high. The whiteness is a composition of chalk 350 feet high. The whiteness is a composition of chalk accentuated by streaks of black flintaccentuated by streaks of black flint.

The White Cliffs of DoverThe White Cliffs of Dover

Four countries Four countries make up the United make up the United Kingdom (also Kingdom (also known as Great known as Great Britain): Scotland, Britain): Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Wales, and England.England.

United United KingdomKingdom

PeatPeat is an is an accumulation of accumulation of partially partially decayed vegetation matter. . Soft and easily Soft and easily compressed, water is compressed, water is forced out under forced out under pressure. Upon pressure. Upon drying, peat can be drying, peat can be used as a used as a fuel, and is , and is traditionally used for traditionally used for cooking and cooking and domestic heating in domestic heating in many countries many countries including including Ireland and and Scotland, where , where trees are often trees are often scarce.scarce.

North Sea North Sea Oil FieldOil FieldNorth Sea oil and North Sea oil and natural gas were natural gas were first discovered in the first discovered in the 1960s. The North Sea, 1960s. The North Sea, however, did not however, did not emerge immediately emerge immediately as a key non-OPEC oil as a key non-OPEC oil producing area until producing area until the 1980s and 1990s, the 1980s and 1990s, when major discoveries when major discoveries began coming online. Oil and natural gas began coming online. Oil and natural gas extraction in the North Sea's inhospitable climate extraction in the North Sea's inhospitable climate - cold and windy - and at great depths requires - cold and windy - and at great depths requires sophisticated offshore technology.sophisticated offshore technology.

North Sea North Sea oil rigoil rig

While primary oil demand in European Union (EU) While primary oil demand in European Union (EU) countries is projected to increase by 0.4% per year from countries is projected to increase by 0.4% per year from now to 2030, North Sea output peaked in 1999 and has now to 2030, North Sea output peaked in 1999 and has been on the decline ever since. been on the decline ever since.

Gulf StreamGulf Stream

The effect The effect of the Gulf of the Gulf Stream is Stream is sufficient sufficient to cause to cause certain certain parts of parts of the west the west of Britain of Britain and Ireland to be an average of several and Ireland to be an average of several degrees warmer than most other parts degrees warmer than most other parts of those countries. of those countries.

The weather in this The weather in this otherwise cold climate otherwise cold climate zone, is moderated by zone, is moderated by the effects of The North the effects of The North Atlantic Drift which Atlantic Drift which originates from originates from the Gulf Stream along the Gulf Stream along North America and North America and from the northern from the northern Sargasso Sea. These Sargasso Sea. These waters then slowly flow waters then slowly flow northward into the northward into the Labrador and European Labrador and European Basins eventually Basins eventually becoming the NADC as it enters the Iceland Basin. becoming the NADC as it enters the Iceland Basin.

False-color image of the temperature of the Gulf Stream

North Atlantic DriftNorth Atlantic Drift

What What factors factors contribute contribute to the to the patterns of patterns of heavy and heavy and light light rainfall on rainfall on this map?this map?

Modern agricultureModern agriculture

Market gardening near Cheddar, Somerset, Market gardening near Cheddar, Somerset, England. This area, in the southwest of England, England. This area, in the southwest of England, has a mild climate as a result of the North has a mild climate as a result of the North Atlantic Drift, and the mix of clay and limestone in Atlantic Drift, and the mix of clay and limestone in the bedrock helps produce fertile soil.the bedrock helps produce fertile soil.

Market Market gardening gardening is cultivation on is cultivation on suburban land suburban land of high value, of high value, of vegetables of vegetables and flowers for and flowers for the supply of the supply of nearby cities. nearby cities.

The global ocean circulation system transports heat throughout the planet. White The global ocean circulation system transports heat throughout the planet. White sections represent warm surface currents. Purple sections represent deep cold currentssections represent warm surface currents. Purple sections represent deep cold currents.

Great ocean conveyor

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