By: Mr. Mora

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Italy
Spain
Andorra
Greece
Portugal
6. Vatican City
7. Malta
8. Cyprus
9. San Marino

Physical Geography of
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.

Physical Geography of
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.

Physical Geography of
Southern Europe
Climates, 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 sub region is well suited for growing grapes, olives, and 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.

Human Geography of
Southern Europe
History and Government
• The civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome laid the foundation for Western civilization.
• The Renaissance marked a period of cultural revival and enlightenment.
• Spain and Portugal became leaders in the Age of
Exploration, establishing new empires.
• Nationalism and unification in the 1800s and 1900s brought political stability to the area.
• Recent economic challenges include high unemployment rates and credit problems.

Population Patterns
• Southern Europe is one of the most populated regions of the world.
• As the populations of Greece, Italy, and Spain age and the birthrates fall, care for the elderly is straining the social welfare systems.
• Demand for labor is being met by migrants within the European Union (EU).
• Economic migration throughout the EU has resulted in a growing diversity of cultures.

Human Geography of
Southern Europe
Economic Activities
• The global recession of 2008 hit Southern Europe hard.
• Spain and Italy continue to face challenges.
• As one of the least developed in the area, Greece’s economy remains weak as it grapples with high public spending, low productivity, and tax evasion.
• The EU is facing its first test of economic stability with Southern Europe suffering from record national debt and high unemployment.

Human Geography of
Southern Europe
Society and Culture Today
• Education in Southern Europe is mandatory for all children.
• The cultures of Greece, Spain, and Italy are centered on the family and are influenced by the Roman Catholic religion.
• Women have achieved a high level of gender equality in higher education and business, though their success in politics has been slower to develop.
• The Greeks and Romans developed many important elements of art and architecture.

People and Their
Environment
Managing Resources
• Large algae blooms are damaging the delicate marine biomes of the Adriatic Sea.
• Changes in the global climate has made weather more unpredictable.
• Effects of climate change include increased erosion, higher risk of fires, increased deforestation, and the loss of glaciers at high altitudes.

People and Their
Environment
Human Impact
• The decline of fish stocks has adversely affected the overall health of the marine biome.
• Manufacturing and tourism cause pollution that is a major threat to surrounding seas and agricultural resources.
• Pollutants and other human impacts have led to pollution hot spots, the extreme damage or even death of the local ecosystem.

People and Their
Environment
Addressing the Issues
• The EU created the European Environmental
Agency to effectively deal with environmental issues.
• Many nongovernmental organizations (NG0s), such as Earthwatch, are working on solutions to environmental problems.
• Certification is a way to combat deforestation and to ensure that forest resources are being used responsibly.