EUROPE & RUSSIA
November 2014
INTRODUCTION
 Eurasia
world’s largest landmass; continents of Europe + Asia together

Europe
second smallest continent in the world; contains 48 countries

Russia

Ural Mountains
largest country in the world; part of Russia is in Europe (where most of their
people live) and part of Russia runs the entire northern part of Asia
mountain range that separates Europe from Asia

Siberia
Asian part of Russia, it runs from Europe to the Pacific Ocean
PHYSICAL
FEATURES

plateau

population
density
1.
What are the main physical features of Europe and Russia?
The three primary land forms are: mountains (Alpine Mountain system includes the
Alps Mountains, the Balkan Mountains, and the Pyrenees Mountains); plateaus
(Central Uplands); and plains (Northern European Plains). There are also MANY
rivers and tributaries throughout Europe and Russia, including the Volga River, the
Danube River, the Rhine River, and the Rhone River. Europe is surrounded by the
Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Norwegian Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean
Sea, Black Sea, and Caspian Sea.
large, raised area of flat land
European Region
Location
Northwestern Highlands
Northern parts of Great
Britain, France, and
Scandinavia
North European Plains
Southern England and
France to the foothills of
the Ural Mountains.
Central Uplands
Central Europe
Alpine Mountain System
Southern Europe (Alps are
central south; Balkans
from Greece to the Black
Sea; Pyrenees are
between France and
Spain)
Features
Ancient mountains eroded
by wind and weather;
climate is severe, soil is
thin and farming is poor.
Large flat area, gently
rolling hills, rich soil, great
farming, large
populations.
Plateaus mainly; too rocky
to farm, but rich in
minerals and good for
grazing goats/sheep.
Spectacular mountains are
used for winter sports and
for the glaciers and snow
they capture.
EUROPE & RUSSIA
November 2014
SIBERIA
Nuggets:






RIVER RESOURCES
2.
Siberia is not a part of Europe, but a part of Russia east of the Ural Mountains
Northern Asia, east of the Ural Mountains
Long, cold winters, harsh conditions
Small population due to harsh conditions
Much of the land is covered by the taiga
Plains, plateaus, and mountains, with 20 active volcanoes
How do the rivers of Europe and Russia create transportation corridors
throughout the continent?
Like what the highways and streets do for cars, rivers, tributaries, and canals
form a network of water ways for boats that reach every part of Western
Europe.

tributary
river or stream that flows into a larger river

navigable
wide enough, deep enough, and clear of obstacles to allow ship travel
Nuggets:




EFFECTS OF
OCEAN’S CURRENT

3.
peninsula
VEGETATION
Melting snow and glaciers are the source for many important rivers.
Rhine River begins as two streams coming from the Alps, runs for 865 miles, and
flows to the North Sea.
Volga River is the longest river on the continent; found in Easter Russia; empties into
the Caspian Sea; frozen three months of the year (as are most rivers in Russia).
Danube River is the second longest river in Europe; runs through right countries and
empties into the Black Sea; navigable year round.
How do the physical processes of the ocean affect the continent of Europe?
Warm water from the Gulf of Mexico, called the Gulf Stream, flows north and
east along the western edge of Europe. The warm waters keep the northern
coastlines of Great Britain and Norway from freezing in the winter, even if the
land is covered in ice and snow. Moist, warm air blows inland from the coast,
along the North European Plains warming the land. As the moist air rises over
the Alpine Mountain system, it condenses and falls as snow on the mountains.
The melting snow creates many of the rivers in northern Europe; the rain
shadow (warm, dry side of the mountains) is along the Mediterranean Sea,
creating a sub-tropical climate far north of the Tropic of Cancer.
body of land with water on three sides
4.
How do people adapt to climate conditions in different parts of Europe and
Russia?
Climates, unlike weather, do not change from day-to-day, so people have an
opportunity plan ahead and be prepared for their climate. Their clothing, homes,
and food reflect the climate conditions and resources of where they live.
EUROPE & RUSSIA
November 2014
5.
How have people learned to modify and use the physical environment and
natural vegetation of Europe and Russia?
The North Central Plains were once covered by dense, deciduous forests. These
forests were cut to expand the farming areas. With its dark, rich soil, favorable
climate (due to the warming winds from the Gulf Stream), and plentiful water, this
area now produces most of what is needed to feed Europeans. Cities have grown up
in this area, and the North Central Plains is the second most densely populated
region on Earth. (Only areas in Asia are more densely populated.) As you go farther
north and the climate is much colder, only moss and grasses grow on the tundra and
fewer people have adapted to this climate.

deciduous
trees that lose their leaves

coniferous
trees with cones that cover their seeds and needle-like leaves

taiga
huge forested area (coniferous trees) across Russia (primarily Siberia)

prairies
grasslands

steppes
Russian grasslands

tundra
treeless plains in arctic and sub-arctic climates where the ground is permanently
frozen

permafrost
permanently frozen soil
Grassland
Russian Steppes
South American Pampas
North American Central Plains
Tundra
Arctic & sub-arctic climates
Treeless plains
Permafrost
NATURAL VEGETATION
Forest
Deciduous trees (leaves)
Coniferous (needles, cones)
Taiga covers most of Siberia
EUROPE & RUSSIA
NATURAL
RESOURCES
November 2014
6.
Where do fossil fuels come from, and how do they benefit Europe and
Russia?
Fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas) come from the decaying remains of ancient
plants and animals. They are found in abundance in parts of Europe, Russia, and the
surround seas. Fossil fuels are energy resources for industry and individuals: oil
(petroleum) is used for cars; natural gas is used to heat homes; and coal is used in
the generating of electricity and by industry.

fossil fuels
fuels – coal, oil, natural gas – that come from the decaying remains of ancient
plants and animals

non-renewable
resources that cannot be replaced once they are used up
Nuggets:







WATER / SOIL
RESOURCES
Norway and Iceland have a marine west coast climate – rainy year round.
Countries that form a ring around the Mediterranean Sea are in the “rain shadow”
of the Alpine Mountain system; its dry, warm weather creates a sub-tropical climate.
Most of Eastern Europe is humid Continental (cool summers, cold winters), though
there is much humidity from the winds blowing across the Gulf Stream.
Factors that influence climate: wind/water; size of region; latitude; elevation; and
mountains.
Factors that influence vegetation: temperature, rainfall, altitude, and latitude.
Tiaga in Russia covers more than 4,000,000 square miles.
In Iceland, Norway, and northern Russia people have had to find ways to raise food
and construct shelters without the natural resources that forests provide.
7.
How are water resources used in Europe and Russia?
Water uses: personal use, irrigation of crops, transportation, hydroelectricity, and in
manufacturing.
8.
What geographic features contribute to the fertile soil of Europe and
Russia?
Over thousands of years, flooding rivers have left alluvial soil on top of the soil and
winds have deposited dust-like soil called loess all across the North European Plain.
Rich soil, plentiful rainfall, and long growing seasons have enabled farmers to
produce abundant crops.

turbines
machines that spin to generate electricity

hydroelectric
power
electricity generated by moving water

loess
dust-like soil that is moved by wind
EUROPE & RUSSIA
November 2014
NATURAL RESOURCES
OF EUROPE
NATURAL RESOURCES
OF RUSSIA
Hydroelectricity
Bauxite
Coal
Iron
Phosphates
Gold
Diamonds
Natural gas
BOTH
Copper
Petroleum
Lead
Nuggets:











Europe is a wealthy region and a world leader in economic development due to its
abundant natural resources.
Russia has a wide variety of natural resources, but its harsh climate, frozen rivers,
and huge transportation distances make it difficult to turn these resources into
wealth.
Millions of years ago, marine plants and animals (plankton) died and settled on the
ocean floor. Mud and sand covered up this material, and the weight of the sand and
mud gradually changed the plankton into oil.
Oil drilling is the North Sea is expensive and dangerous, but the oil is so plentiful
countries pay high salaries to recover this oil.
Over millions of years the pressure of materials heaped on top of decay plant
materials create peat deposits, which eventually because brown coal (soft coal)
which is used by industries worldwide.
Russian and Ukraine have 1/3 of the world’s coal resources.
Hydro is the Greek word for water.
Norway gets almost all of its power from hydroelectricity.
Except in the Southern and Western portions of the country, the frozen rivers in
Russia and Siberia cannot be used to generate electricity.
Polluted rivers in Russia must be restored before they can be used for
hydroelectricity.
In the Ukraine, a black soil called CHERNOZEM is very fertile, and is extremely
important for food production in that country.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY: The physical features of the regions that make up Europe and Russia determine the land use, population
density, and transportation corridors. People find ways to adapt to the climate and to modify the natural vegetation
where they live. Europe and Russia are rich in both renewable and non-renewable resources.