Journey to European
Countries
Virtual Field Trip
Europe
Physical Characteristics
• The Volga River is the longest river in
Europe.
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• The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow body of
water that connects the Mediterranean Sea and
the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the world's most
important sea lanes.
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• The English Channel is a body of water
between England and France that
connects the Atlantic Ocean and the North
Sea.
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Economic Characteristics
• Chernozem is a very black
topsoil, rich in humus, typical of
cool to temperate semiarid
regions, such as the grasslands
of European Russia.
• Europe is known for its
advanced farming techniques,
high crop yields, fertile soils,
black earth, and well-developed
infrastructure.
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• The "Chunnel" links the United Kingdom and France. It
opened in 1994. The Channel Tunnel lies beneath the
English Channel. It consists of three parallel tubes, two
of which carry trains between the United Kingdom and
France. The third tube is a service tunnel. This tube
supplies fresh air and maintenance access to the rail
tubes, and could be used for emergency evacuation.
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• The differences in Western and Eastern
European industrial development is due to
differing economic systems in prior years.
• Trade is important, especially to island nations;
interdependence
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• European Union (EU) is an
organization of 27 European
countries that promotes
cooperation among its members.
The members cooperate in many
areas, including politics and
economics.
• The union's members are
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
the Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and
the United Kingdom.
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Cultural Characteristics
• Europe has many ethnic groups--languages, religions, customs
• Sporadic conflict among groups (wars and
revolutions)
• Spread of European culture to many other
parts of the world (exploration,
colonization, imperialism)
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• Europe is highly urbanized
• Europe is one of the world’s most densely
populated areas
• Windmills and castles are among the sights
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Western Europe
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
Click to hear the
national anthem
Physical Characteristics
Economic Characteristics
Cultural Characteristics
• Thames River is the most famous and most
important river in England. The Thames is also
one of the longest rivers in England.
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• Grampian
Mountains,
also Grampian
Hills, mountain
system, central
Scotland,
forming the
natural division
between the
Lowlands and
Highlands.
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• The Industrial Revolution began in Britain (a
country now known as the United Kingdom)
during the late 1700's. Great Britain is a major
industrial and trade country.
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• London is the center of culture and trade.
It is home to the 2nd most people of all
European countries.
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• Westminster
Abbey is a major
landmark in
London, and the
site of coronation
for the English
monarchy.
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• Big Ben is the name given to the bell,
clock, and clock tower of the Houses of
Parliament in the Palace of Westminster in
London.
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Capital City
Language
Religion
London
English
Christian
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FRANCE
Western Europe
France
Click to hear the
national anthem
Physical Characteristics
Economic Characteristics
Cultural Characteristics
• The Seine River and its branches form
the chief commercial waterway of France.
The Seine River flows around the Ile de la
Cite (Island of the City).
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• The Rhine River is an important inland
waterway in Europe. It is about 820 miles
(1,320 kilometers) long and drains an area
of about 86,700 square miles (224,600
square kilometers).
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• The Rhone
River is an
important
commercial
waterway of
France. It is
famous for the
beauty of its
valley.
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• Alps are the largest mountain system in
Europe. The snow-capped peaks and
sheltered, peaceful valleys of the Alps are
among Europe's most spectacular sights.
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• Pyrenees is a mountain chain that forms a
natural barrier between France and Spain.
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• Massif Central, great
mountainous plateau, S central
France, covering almost a sixth
of the surface of the country.
HOME
• The Rhine River and the Seine River have
both been threatened by air and water
pollution.
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Capital City
Paris
Language
French
Religion
Catholic
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• Paris is the center of culture and trade. It
is home to the 3rd most people of all
European countries.
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• The Cathedral
of Notre
Dame, is a
famous
cathedral in
Paris. It stands
on the Ile de la
Cite, a small
island in the
Seine River, in
the center of
Paris.
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• The Arc de Triomphe, in Paris is the largest
triumphal arch in the world. It is known as the
Arch of Triumph in English.
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• The Louvre is one of
the largest and most
famous art museums
in the world. The
Louvre covers more
than 40 acres (16
hectares) on the
north bank of the
Seine River in Paris.
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GERMANY
Western Europe
Germany
Click to hear the
national anthem
Physical Characteristics
Economic Characteristics
Cultural Characteristics
The Danube River is the second longest
river in Europe. The Danube flows 1,770
miles from southern Germany to eastern
Europe.
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• The Black Forest is a mountain district in
southwestern Germany, covered with
forests of dark fir and spruce trees.
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• The North
European Plain
extends across the
northern reaches
of the country; this
flat, lowland terrain
is dissected by
numerous bogs,
rivers and streams,
and is mostly used
as farmland.
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• The Black Forest and the Danube River
are both threatened by air and water
pollution.
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• Ruhr valley is famous
for its industrial history,
originally based on coal
mining and steel
production and now
benefiting from its
industrial mix of energy
production,
environmental
technologies and
modern service
industries.
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Capital City
Language
Religion
Berlin
German
Protestant (34%)
Catholic (34%)
Muslim (4%)
unaffiliated/others (28%)
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• Berlin is the center of culture and trade.
Berlin is home to the most people of all
European countries. Berlin is Germany's
capital and largest city. It has a population
of about 3 1/2 million and is one of
Europe's great cultural, political, and
economic centers.
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SWITZERLAND
Western Europe
Switzerland
Click to hear the
national anthem
Physical Characteristics
Economic Characteristics
Cultural Characteristics
• The Rhine River is an important inland
waterway in Europe. The river rises in eastern
Switzerland. It forms part of the borders of
Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, France, and
Germany.
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• The Alps are the
largest mountain
system in Europe.
The snow-capped
peaks and
sheltered, peaceful
valleys of the Alps
are among Europe's
most spectacular
sights.
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• The Rhine River is threatened by air and
water pollution.
• Switzerland has a well-educated workforce
Industrial and technological societies
Banking
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Capital City
Language
Religion
Bern
German, French, Italian, Romansch
Catholic, Protestant
Switzerland is home to
many different ethnic
groups and religions.
Four (4) national
languages are
spoken in
Switzerland.
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Luxembourg
Western Europe
Luxembourg
Click to hear the
national anthem
Physical Characteristics
Economic Characteristics
Cultural Characteristics
Luxembourg is smaller than the state of
Rhode Island. (Rhode Island is the smallest state in the US)
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• Luxembourg is very prosperous. Many
businesses have headquarters there.
Luxembourg is home to the 2nd largest steel
producing company in Europe.
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Capital City
Luxembourg
Language
Letzeburgish, German, French
Religion
Catholic
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Next Stop…
Southern Europe