Within the standard geographical boundaries, it is comprised of 737 million. In fact, the tallest mountain in Europe is in Kazakhstan and is called Khan Tengri, standing 22,999 feet high, some 4,500 feet higher than the next tallest, Mount Elbrus in Russia. In the Alps, Mont Blanc rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 metres), which is the highest point on the continent. Whats the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom? Iceland, having area of 103 000 km, is larger than Ireland (84 406 km). She or he will best know the preferred format. World War I (1914-1918) left about 16 million people dead. Because of their remoteness, however, all these regions have distinct dialects that differ slightly from their parent language. Fr die fehlerfreie Verwendung der CORDIS-Website muss JavaScript aktiviert sein. Important Scandinavian companies focused on designed products include Electrolux, which makes home electronics, and Ikea and H&M, famous around the world for inexpensive but well-designed home furnishings and clothing, respectively. Il sito web di CORDIS prevede che JavaScript sia abilitato per funzionare correttamente. The link between these peninsulas has made Europe a dominant economic, social, and cultural force throughout recorded history.Europes physical geography, environment and resources, and human geography can be considered separately.Today, Europe is home to the citizens of Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), and Vatican City.Cultural GeographyEurope has a long history of human development and is considered the birthplace of Western Civilization. Przemek. This map shows the physical features of Europe, surrounding lands, and offshore areas. Population Density188 people per square kilometer, Highest ElevationMount Elbrus, Russia (5,642 meters/18,510 feet), Most Renewable Electricity ProducedIceland (99.9%; hydropower, geothermal), Largest Urban AreaMoscow, Russia (16.2 million people), Largest WatershedVolga River (1.38 million square km/532,821 square miles). Corrections? The Volga River in Russia is Europe's longest river. The European bison (Bison bonasus), the heaviest land animal on the continent, is one of the most threatened species.Beginning in the 20th century, many governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have worked to restore some of Europe's rich biodiversity. From there it flows to the Caspian Sea. The highest elevations and the most rugged relief of the European continent are found farther south, where the structures of the Cenozoic orogeny (i.e., from the past 66 million years) provide mountain scenery. Here are 21 things about this amazing continent that may just surprise you. The Central Powers (led by the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire) fell to the forces of the Allied Powers (led by the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire). It is the continent's second largest island (after Great Britain). Establishing fishing limits, protecting threatened habitats, and encouraging sustainable consumption habits are some efforts supported by European conservationists. [3] [4] It is bordered to the north and northeast by Russia, to the . For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Three smaller peninsulasIberia, Italy, and the Balkansemerge from the southern margin of the mainland. More than 200 languages are spoken in Europe. Can you think of anything notable you think I should have included? Reindeer herding is still an important aspect of Sami culture, which continues to thrive in northern Scandinavia and Russias Kola Peninsula.Distinct physical features had a lasting impact on how European cultures communicated with each other. MLS # 1863863 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. Above all, in southern EuropeAustria and Switzerland includedlevel, low-lying land is scarce, and mountain, plateau, and hill landforms dominate. It is the smallest country both in size and population. Those are coastal and interior lowlands, central uplands and plateaus, the northwestern highlands, and southern Europe. The northern plain contains the old geological continent of Baltica, and so may be regarded as the "main continent", while peripheral highlands and mountainous regions in south and west constitute fragments from various other geological continents. Ancient Greeks believed it was the home of the gods. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. A landlocked country of towering mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with . Author of. Read important geography facts about Ireland and information about Ireland's landscapes, topography, and coastline. Physiographically, it is the northwestern peninsula of the larger landmass known as Eurasia (or the larger Afro-Eurasia ); Asia occupies the centre and east of this continuous landmass. It's a multi-lingual continent. Regional climatic contrasts nevertheless exist: oceanic, Mediterranean, and continental types occur widely, as do gradations from one to the other. Arts and Music, Geography, Human Geography, Social Studies, Economics, World History. January average range from 13C in southern Spain and southern Greek islands to -20C in the northeastern part of European Russia. Enacting regional social policies and economic legislation, especially through bodies like the European Union, may help curb that trend. Asia is not Europe ;-). Topography and bathymetry are shown in a combination of color with shaded relief. In the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada of Spain, the highest of the peaks exceed 11,000 feet (3,400 metres). Topographic maps show a wide range of human and physical features of the Earth. Lands lying at high elevations can, of course, be lands of low relief, but on the European continent relief tends to become more rugged as elevation increases. Europes largest and longest river is the Volga. Superficial rock cover, elevation, drainage, and soil have sharply differentiated those lowlandswhich are of prime importance to human settlementinto areas of marsh or fen, clay vales, sand and gravel heaths, or river terraces and fertile plains. By the end of the war, the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires collapsed and broke into a dozen separate nations. Europe's northernmost point is the Svalbard archipelago of Norway, and it reaches as far south as the islands of Greece and Malta.Europe is sometimes described as a peninsula of peninsulas. Germany's largest wooded area,. You cannot download interactives. The empire of ancient Rome, at its greatest extent in the 2nd century ce, revealed, and imprinted its culture on, much of the face of the continent. It happens to be the longest river in Europe and covers 3,692 km/ 2,295 miles long. Kazakhstan and Russia are in Asia. The political cartoons sought to engage in the debate surrounding Muslim extremism. European Commission: European Capital of Culture. The geology of Europe is hugely varied and complex, and gives rise to the wide variety of landscapes found across the continent, from the Scottish Highlands to the rolling plains of Hungary. These features typically include natural formations such as mountains, rivers, lakes, and valleys. Author of, Emeritus Professor of Geography, Portland State University, Oregon. Europe is the second-smallest continent. A convenient division is made by a line linking the base of the peninsula of Jutland with the head of the Adriatic Sea. Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Physical Geography. Europe occupies some 4 million square miles (10 million square km) within the conventional borders assigned to it. This article treats the physical and human geography of Europe. The creation of the European Economic Community in 1957 and the EU in 1993 greatly enhanced economic cooperation between many of the continents countries. The Louvre is the most visited attraction in Europe Even though the country borders have been redrawn since the Soviet days, the continental borders never have. As a conceptual construct, Europa, as the more learned of the ancient Greeks first conceived it, stood in sharp contrast to both Asia and Libya, the name then applied to the known northern part of Africa. Europe is a peninsula of the Eurasian supercontinent and is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas to the south.Europe's main peninsulas are the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan, located in southern Europe, and the Scandinavian and Jutland, located in Northern Europe. These physical features allowed for early communication, travel, and agricultural development. Europe has a long history of human development and is considered the birthplace of Western Civilization. Manmade features such as roads, dams, and cities may also be included. As part of an international agreement signed at the conference, all 27 member states of the European Union agreed to reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020 (from 1990 levels).The EU also notified the UN of a conditional offer to increase this cut to 30 percent, provided that other major emitters agree to take on their fair share of a global reduction effort. This conditional offer illustrates the tension that was present at the conference between developed countries high carbon emissions and developing countries low or rising carbon use. Indented by numerous bays, fjords, and seas, continental Europes highly irregular coastline is about 24,000 miles (38,000 km) long. Europe is home to the birthplace of democracy and Western culture in the ancient civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. The highest points reached in Norway and Sweden are, respectively, Galdh Peak (8,100 feet [2,469 metres]) and Mount Kebne (6,926 feet [2,111 metres]). Xenophobia is an intense dislike or fear of people from other places or cultures.Two events demonstrate this debate. Today, this cultural wealth is used to solidify the European Community and is exported to the rest of the world as one of the continents greatest global assets.Historic CulturesIndigenous cultures shaped, and were shaped by, the varied geography of Europe. They are very detailed and are often produced on large sheets of paper. The nation of Germany was divided in two. Russia is Europe's largest country. The continent also comprises numerous islands, somenotably the Faroes and Icelandlocated at a distance from the mainland. Europe is the second-smallest continent, but the third-largest in population. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. In spite of its internal diversity, Europe has thus functioned, from the time it first emerged in the human consciousness, as a world apart, concentratingto borrow a phrase from Christopher Marloweinfinite riches in a little room.. Traders and travelers also reported that the Europe beyond Greece possessed distinctive physical units, with mountain systems and lowland river basins much larger than those familiar to inhabitants of the Mediterranean region. The lowest terrain in Europe, virtually lacking relief, stands at the head of the Caspian Sea; there the Caspian Depression reaches some 95 feet (29 metres) below sea level. Geography of Europe Europe is traditionally defined as one of seven continents. Please enable JavaScript. (South of Northern Ireland is the separate country of Ireland, which gained its independence from the U.K. in 1937.) Larger only than Australia, it is a small appendage of Eurasia. The northern lowlands are areas of glacial deposition, and, accordingly, their surface is diversified by such features as the Valdai Hills of western Russia; by deposits of boulder clay, sands, and gravels; by glacial lakes; and by the Pripet Marshes, a large ill-drained area of Belarus and Ukraine. The map was produced using a Lambert conformal conic projection, with standard parallels at 40 degrees north . If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. A peninsula is a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides. This linguistic diversity is present in the Alpine regions of many contemporary European countries today.Switzerland, for example, has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansch. The continent, excluding Russia, contains less than one-tenth of the total population of the world, but in general its people are well educated and highly skilled. Professor of Geography, University of Connecticut, Storrs. Its major peninsulas include Jutland and the Scandinavian, Iberian, Italian, and Balkan peninsulas. Geographically, Turkey forms a natural land bridge between the old world continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. Topography Facts - Earth Science. Encyclopedic entry. It stands 10,922 feet high on the coast of the Mediterranean island Sicily. Greece is well known for the thousands of islands dotting the three seas that surround the country. The Grand Canal, Venice, Italy. Luxembourg is a small country located in the Low Countries, part of North-West Europe It borders Belgium for 148 kilometres (92 miles) to the west and north, France (73 km [45 mi]) to the south, and Germany (138 km [86 mi]) to the east. The western part of the continent clearly has a high proportion of coastline with good maritime access and often with . 11. They created clothing and tents out of reindeer hides, sewing together the cloth with twine made from the animals tendons.Keeping track of herds and individual animals became increasingly important in Sami life. It is geographically positioned both in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Another important physical feature is the southeast-northwest zone of windblown loess deposits that have accumulated from eastern Britain to Ukraine. Political geography is the internal and external relationships between governments, citizens, and territories. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Sub-regions such as Iberia and Italy contain their own complex features, as does mainland Europe itself, where the relief contains many plateaus, river valleys, and basins that complicate the general trend. The tundra, found in Iceland and the northern reaches of Scandinavia and Russia, is a treeless region where small mosses, lichens, and ferns grow. Among the continents, Europe is an anomaly. Let's take a short tour around some of the most notable geographical facts about Europe. During the Middle Ages, dominant European powers conquered the strategically important mountain territory of the Alps. San Marino and Vatican City, two fully sovereign nations, are both completely surrounded by Italy. This idea of citizenshipof being connected to and having a voice in your communitybecame the basic building block of democracy. About 18% of all Europeans consider themselves as atheist or not religious. Topography studies the . The proportion of people older than 65 will grow from 16 percent to 28 percent. Those highland areas include lands of abundant rainfallwhich supplies hydroelectricity and water to industrial citiesand provide summer pastures for cattle. Strict EU regulations place a heavy burden on developing countries to compete with their more developed neighbors.The global financial crisis, which began around 2008, has caused these tensions to elevate dramatically. The temperature difference between summer and winter gradually increases from coastal northwest Europe to southeast inland Europe, ranging from Ireland, with a temperature difference of only 10C from the warmest to the coldest month, to the area north of the Caspian Sea, with a temperature difference of 40C. Veuillez activer JavaScript. You can actually get very close to the falls and safely, thanks to a well maintained hiking trail. Wcz obsug JavaScript. Germany's location at the heart of Europe has shaped its history both for good and bad. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Imperialism is a policy that has been used throughout history, most notably by European powers and the United States. A contrast exists between the configuration of peninsular, or western, Europe and that of eastern Europe, which is a much larger and more continental area. 2. Greeces many earthquakes, and the tsunamis they caused, were connected to the sea god Poseidon, known as the Earth Shaker. Cults and temples centered on Poseidon were built throughout the Aegean and Mediterranean seas as a means of appeasing the god.As maritime trade and exploration developed in the region, winds and currents connected to Poseidon became important in Greek mythology. The ancient, often mineral-laden rocks of the northwestern highlands, their contours softened by prolonged erosion and glaciation, are found throughout much of Iceland, in Ireland, and in northern and western Britain and Scandinavia. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Steppe plains cover the north of Kazakhstan. The financial and diplomatic success of the EU has led to its rapid growth across the continent.The euro is one of the strongest currencies in the world. Ive enjoyed my journey through some facts of European geography hope you did too!