Physical
Geography of
Europe
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Vocabulary Words
FJORDS- STEEP U-SHAPED VALLEYS THAT
CONNECT TO THE SEA AND THAT FILLED WITH
SEAWATER AFTER GLACIERS MELTED.
UPLANDS- HILLS OR LOW MOUNTAINS THAT MAY
ALSO CONTAIN MESAS AND HIGH PLATEAUS.
NORTH ATLANTIC DRIFT-A CURRENT OF WARM
WATER FROM THE TROPICS, FLOWS NEAR
EUROPE’S WEST COAST
Landforms and
Resources
• Major Peninsulas
•Scandinavian – Norway and Sweden
•Jutland -Denmark
•Iberian –Spain and Portugal
•Italian -Italy
•Balkan –Adriatic, Mediterranean, Aegean Sea’s
• Major Mountains
• Alps
•Stretch across France, Italy,
Germany, Switzerland,
Austria and Northern Balkans
• Pyrenees
•Border between France and
Spain
• Major
Rivers
• Rhine –flows
south to north
from the Alps
bordering
Switzerland ,
through Germany
and entering the
North Sea
through the
Netherlands
• Danube –cuts
through the heart
of Europe from
West to East,
linking Europe to
the Black Sea
Resources
• Europe is known for the
following resources:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Petroleum
Copper
Iron ore
Lead
Silver
Uranium and Zinc
Climate of Europe
• North Atlantic Drift
• Current of warm water from
the tropics
• Mistral
• Cold, dry wind from north
• Sirocco
• Hot, steady wind from North
Africa (this is why the
Mediterranean Sea is so warm)
Human Environment
Interaction
Waterways for
Commerce:
Venice’s Canals
Builders sunk
wooden pilings
into the ground
to help support
the structures
above. The city
is gradually
sinking due to
compressions of
these pilings and
rising sea levels.