World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Natural Environments of Europe
Preview
Section 1: Physical Features
Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Section 3: Natural Resources
Chapter Wrap-Up
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 1: Physical Features
Read to Discover
• What are Europe’s major landform regions?
• What are the region’s main rivers and
bodies of water?
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 1: Physical Features
Major Islands—Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland
Major Peninsulas—Scandinavian, Iberian, Italian, Balkan
Landform Regions of Europe
•
Northwest Highlands—Ancient eroded region of rugged hills and
low mountains
•
Northern European Plain—Broad coastal plain with rivers
•
Central Uplands—Hills and small plateaus, with forested slopes
and fertile valleys
•
Alpine Mountain System—Europe’s major mountain ranges
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 1: Physical Features
Question
What are the major bodies of
water in Europe?
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 1: Physical Features
Seas
Rivers
North Sea, Baltic
Sea, Mediterranean
Sea, Black Sea
Rhine, Danube,
Guadalquivir, Elbe,
Seine, Thames
Oceans
Arctic Ocean,
Atlantic Ocean
Europe’s
Major
Bodies
of Water
Straits
Bosporus, Gibraltar,
English Channel
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Read to Discover
• How do ocean currents affect the
distribution of Europe’s climates?
• Which biomes are found in this region?
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Ocean Currents and Climate
• The North Atlantic Drift, a warm ocean current,
creates a warm, moist air mass that is blown by
westerly winds across Europe, bringing mild
temperatures and rain.
• Without the effects of this current, Europe would
have a colder climate.
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Biomes
•
Temperate Forest—Ash, beech, maple, oak;
badgers, deer, birds
•
Mediterranean Scrub Forest—Small trees and
shrubs; wild boars, wild sheep
•
Boreal Forest—Evergreen trees
•
Tundra—Usually frozen; swamps and marshes;
migratory birds, reindeer, foxes
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Question
What are the locations, plants, and animals
of Europe’s biomes?
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 2: Climates and Biomes
Temperate
Forest
Mediterranean
Scrub Forest
• Covers most
of Europe
• Southern
Europe
• Ash, beech,
maple, oak
trees
• Small trees,
shrubs,
droughtresistant
plants
• Badgers, deer,
many birds
• Wild boars,
wild sheep
Boreal
Forest
• Northern and
central
Europe
• Spruce, pine,
fir trees
Tundra
• Far northern
Europe
• Treeless,
frozen ground
most of the
year
• Swamps
• Migratory
birds, reindeer,
foxes
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 3: Natural Resources
Read to Discover
• Where are Europe’s forest, soil, and fishery
resources located?
• What energy and mineral resources are
found in this region, and where are they
located?
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 3: Natural Resources
Question
What resources are found in each of
Europe’s physical regions?
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 3: Natural Resources
Northern European
Plain
Northwest
Highlands
Forests, fishing, coal,
oil, natural gas,
iron ore,
hydroelectricity,
geothermal power,
nuclear power
Central Uplands
Fertile soils, coal,
nuclear power
Europe’s
Natural
and
Energy
Resources
Fertile soils, fishing,
coal, natural gas,
uranium, ocean
tidal, solar power,
nuclear power
Alpine Mountain
System
Fertile soils, fishing,
marble, lead, zinc,
other metals,
hydroelectricity
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 3: Natural Resources
Forests
• Timber-producing forests are found in Sweden
and Finland.
• Many forests are depleted, but reforestation
and protection programs exist.
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 3: Natural Resources
Soils
• Northern European Plain has excellent soil.
• Southern Europe has good alluvial soils
(examples: Italy’s Po Valley, Spain’s
Guadalquivir River valley).
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 3: Natural Resources
Fisheries
• Fishing occurs along all coasts.
• Best fisheries are in North Atlantic and Arctic
Oceans, and in North Sea.
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 3: Natural Resources
Minerals
•
Coal—Germany (Ruhr field), Britain, Poland
•
Iron Ore—Sweden, France
•
Uranium—France
•
Lead, Zinc, Other Metals—Spain, southern
Europe
•
Marble—Italy, southern Europe
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Section 3: Natural Resources
Energy Sources
•
Oil and Gas—North Sea (Norway, Britain,
Netherlands)
•
Hydroelectricity—Norway, Sweden, Switzerland
•
Ocean Tidal and Solar—France
•
Geothermal—Iceland
•
Nuclear Power—France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Sweden
World Geography Today
Chapter 13
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
1. How have tectonic processes shaped the
physical environment of Europe?
2. Where can you find glacially scoured landscapes
in Europe? What are these landscapes like?
3. What are Europe’s three major climate types?
4. Which biome do large parts of northern and
central Europe have? How have people affected
it?
5. Where are Europe’s best fisheries located?