Western Europe
Europe
1. Europe is the world’s 6th largest continent, making
up 2% of the earth’s surface.
2. Europe is the 3rd most populous continent, with a
population of around 737 million.
3. Europe is the northwestern peninsula of the
“supercontinent” Eurasia.
4. A peninsula is a body of land surrounded on three
sides by water.
5. Europe and Asia are divided by the Ural
Mountains, which are located in Russia.
6. Europe is the birthplace of Western Culture and
has controlled the Americas, Africa and large parts
of Asia.
Physical Geography of Europe
Europe’s Physical Geography
1. Europe is a continent of peninsulas and islands.
2. Physically, Europe can be divided into four
regions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Western Uplands
Northern European Plain
Central Uplands
Alpine System
Europe’s Physical Geography
Western Uplands
1. Also known as the Northern Highlands, this
region curves along the western edge of
Europe.
2. This is an area of hard, ancient rock shaped by
glaciers.
3. The region is covered by many marshlands,
lakes and fjords, which are long, narrow inlets
of the sea surrounded by high, rugged cliffs.
Fjords
Northern European Plain
1. Also known as the Great European Plain, this is
the most densely populated area of Europe.
2. This region has many navigable rivers which
have been historic routes for trade and
transportation.
3. This is Europe’s most productive agriculture
region.
4. This region has a mile climate due to:
1.
2.
prevailing westerly winds
North Atlantic Drift
Prevailing
Westerlies
1. The prevailing
westerlies are a
constant flow of are
from the west to the
east in the temperate
zones of the earth.
2. In Europe, these winds
blow across the
Northern European
Plain, keeping the
climate milder than
what its latitude would
indicate.
1. The North Atlantic Drift
is a warm water current
that is an extension of
the Gulf Stream.
2. This warm current
brings a milder climate
to Western Europe and
plenty of precipitation,
which aids the Northern
European Plain region in
regard to agriculture.
North Atlantic Drift
Central Uplands
1. The Central Uplands extend across a small
part of Central Europe.
2. This region is lower in altitude and less
rugged than the Alpine region.
3. This region is also heavily forested.
4. This region is sparsely populated except for
certain river valleys.
Alpine System
1. The Alpine System consists of the Alps, the
Pyrenees, the Apennines, the Dinaric Alps, the
Balkan Mountains and the Carpathian
Mountains.
2. High elevations, rugged plateaus and steeply
sloping land cover this region.
3. Mont Blanc, of the Alps, is Western Europe’s
highest point at 15,782 feet above sea level.
4. Europe’s highest point is Mt. Elbrus (18,510 feet
above sea level), located in the Caucasus of Russia.
5. This region also has several active volcanoes,
including Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvius of Italy.
Mont Blanc
Mt. Elbrus
Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvius
Western Europe’s Human Geography
1. In regard to human geography, Western
Europe is divided into three regions:
1. The British Isles and the Nordic Nations
2. Central Western Europe
3. Mediterranean Europe
The British Isles and the Nordic
Nations
The British Isles
1. Great Britain is the largest of the British Isles
2. The second largest, Ireland, is known as the
Emerald Isle.
3. This region is home to two countries: the United
Kingdom and Ireland.
4. The United Kingdom is actually a country of
countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland.
5. The Channel Tunnel, or Chunnel, connects the
islands of Great Britain to mainland Europe – it’s
the longest undersea rail tunnel in the world (a
little over 30 miles).
Ireland
The Nordic Countries
1. The Nordic Countries are Iceland, Norway,
Sweden, Finland and Denmark.
2. This region has a varied physical landscape.
3. The northern regions has very long winters
due to its northern latitude.
4. Iceland produces geothermal energy, which is
produced from the heat of the earth’s interior.
5. These countries have very diversified
economies but have always relied heavily upon
the sea.
The Sami
1. The Sami are the
indigenous people of
the Nordic Countries.
2. They have traditionally
lived in the northern
area known as
Lapland.
3. They are most well
known for reindeer
herding.
Central Western Europe
1. This region can actually be divided into three
regions of its own:
1. France and Germany
2. The Benelux Countries (Belgium, the
Netherlands and Luxembourg)
3. the Alpine Countries (Switzerland and Austria)
France and Germany
1. France and Germany are two of the largest
countries of Western Europe.
2. While 2/3’s of France is mountainous, it has
traditionally been an agricultural country.
3. The fashion industry is another important
industry of France.
4. Germany is Western Europe’s leading
industrialized nation.
The Benelux Countries
1. These countries are also known as the Low
Countries because most of it is low and flat.
2. This region is the most densely populated
region of Europe.
3. In the Netherlands, 1/5 of the land is actually
reclaimed from the sea with a series of dikes,
which are embankments of earth and rock used
to hold back the sea.
4. The polder is the land reclaimed from the land
is used largely for agricultural purposes.
The Netherlands
The Walloons
1. Belgium is a good example of cultural convergence
– the contact and interaction of one culture with
another.
2. The majority of Belgium’s population speaks
Flemish.
3. The smaller percentage (around 30%) of Belgium’s
population speaks French and are known as the
Walloons.
4. The Walloons controlled Belgium society for many
years.
5. Flemish became an official language of Belgium in
1898.
The Alpine Countries
1. The Alpine Countries of Switzerland and
Austria have over half of their land covered
by the Alps.
2. Switzerland is very culturally diverse – the
country is divided into cantons and each has
its own language, culture and economy.
3. Both countries have highly diversified
economies – Austria has more mineral
resources than Switzerland.
Mediterranean Europe
1. Mediterranean Europe consists of Portugal,
Spain, Italy and Greece.
2. Portugal has historically relied heavily on
agriculture while Spain is more diverse, as the
country gets drier as you move to the interior.
3. Italy and Greece have historically been
agricultural areas but are also more
economically diverse today.
4. Tourism is very important in Italy and Greece.
The Basques
1. In northern Spain, in one of the most
productive areas of the country, are the
Basques.
2. The Basques are an example of cultural
divergence – having the desire to protect
your culture from outside influences.
3. The Basques desire for independence within
Spain has at times led to violence between
them and the Spanish government.
The Vatican City
1. Inside of Rome, Italy, is the Vatican City.
2. The headquarters of the Catholic Church, the
Holy See is actually a sovereign state.
3. It covers less than a square mile, has a
population of less than 1000 and is the
smallest sovereign state in the world
The Vatican City
The European Union
1. The European Union is an economic and
political organization that was formed to
stimulate trade and build up the economies
of its member countries.
2. Formed in the 1950’s, it adopted a common
currency in 1999 – the euro.
The European Union