5 facts about europe's topography
Europe is sometimes called a "peninsula of peninsulas", to draw attention to the fact that Europe is a relatively small, elongated appendage to Asia, and that a large part of Europe is made up of peninsulas. [citation needed] These two halves are separated by the mountain chains of the Pyrenees and the Alps/Carpathians. A study completed by the Berlin Institute for Population and Development found that Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, western Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria, and France have the best prospects of supporting vibrant and economically successful societies. In the face of an economic crisis, EU citizens of poorer member countries, such as the Roma of Bulgaria and Romania, often migrate to more developed EU countries in search of work. Norway has the longest coastline in Europe. Ethnic Groups / People of Europe are at 87. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Kazakhstan. Europe, second smallest of the worlds continents, composed of the westward-projecting peninsulas of Eurasia (the great landmass that it shares with Asia) and occupying nearly one-fifteenth of the worlds total land area. [2] A prehistoric perspective would include Britain and Ireland as the core of a further very significant European peninsula prior to the post-glacial rise in sea-levels.[3]. It has been somewhat problematical to pin down the biggest glacier in Europe because biggest is open to interpretation of length, depth and width, plus they can change quite dramatically in a short space of time. Sometimes considered a transcontinental country, it is located at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, [2] and is today generally regarded as part of Europe. These revolutions eventually lead to the end of the Cold War, symbolized by the falling of the Berlin Wall in 1989.Contemporary IssuesEurope is now broadly defined in the context of the European Union (EU), an economic and political body officially created by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993. Flourishing immigrant communities are bringing in new languages to the continent, including Arabic, Hindi, and Mandarin.A 2006 European study showed that 53 percent of respondents could speak a second language, while 28 percent could speak two foreign languages. Critics argue the move was racist.Future IssuesAn important predictor of Europes political and economic future is its efforts to minimize the effects of climate change.Europe is often seen as a world leader in environmentally friendly technologies and legislation. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Figures for the population of Europe vary according to which definition of European boundaries is used. Physical features, weather-related phenomena, and local resources had a deep impact on how historic European cultures prospered, interacted, and believed their world worked.The geography and climate of the Mediterranean region, for example, directly influenced Greek mythology. 3. The nation of Germany was divided in two. Switzerland's administrative capital is Bern, while Lausanne serves as its judicial centre. Most Greek gods and goddesses are representations of the active physical elements that made up the local landscape. Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Physical Geography. All in all, Europe enjoys a considerable and long-exploited resource base of soil, forest, sea, and minerals (notably coal), but its people are increasingly its principal resource. By size, Germany is the seventh-largest European country. Le site web de CORDIS ncessite lactivation de JavaScript pour fonctionner correctement. Europe is home to the birthplace of democracy and Western culture in the ancient civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. As to the territorial limits of Europe, they may seem relatively clear on its seaward flanks, but many island groups far to the north and westSvalbard, the Faroes, Iceland, and the Madeira and Canary islandsare considered European, while Greenland (though tied politically to Denmark) is conventionally allocated to North America. Roma are a people and culture native to central and eastern Europe. January average range from 13C in southern Spain and southern Greek islands to -20C in the northeastern part of European Russia. A small troop of Barbary macaques lives on the tiny island of Gibraltar, between Spain and the African country of Morocco.The waters surrounding Europe are home to a number of organisms, including fish, seaweeds, marine mammals, and crustaceans. (The East and North European plains are known together as the European Plain.) The highest summit in Iceland is Hvannadals Peak, at 6,952 feet (2,119 metres), while Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Great Britain, stands at an elevation of only 4,406 feet (1,343 metres). East of the Vistula River, Europes expansive lowlands have something of the scale and character of those of northern Asia. Europe extends from the island nation of Iceland in the west to the Ural Mountains of Russia in the east. This is to be found at Le Baule-Escoublac, on the southern coast of Brittany. Projects are meant to stay a part of the city after 2011some pieces of sculpture may be used for athletics, for instance. The Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles conclude the Asian boundary. Only hill masses less than 800 feet (240 metres) in height rise gently within the Russian (East European) Plain, which continues northward into Finland, westward into the North European Plain, and southward in the Romanian, Bulgarian, and Hungarian plains. Thrace is the western part of Turkey on the European continent.. Topography and bathymetry are shown in a combination of color with shaded relief. San Marino and Vatican City, two fully sovereign nations, are both completely surrounded by Italy. A volcanos violent nature thus came from the work of Hephaestus and the anger of the imprisoned gods.The ancient Greeks connection to the sea also deeply influenced their mythological beliefs. 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. The Netherlands shares its maritime borders with UK and France. By the 7th and 8th centuries, Sweden was known for its trade but in the 9th century, the Vikings raided the region and much of Europe. All rights reserved. To contact our editors please use our contact form. Examples of such physiographic features can be found in the Southern Uplands of Scotland, the Massif Central of France, the Meseta Central of Spain, and the Bohemian Massif. Understanding Europe's Topography. Flora & FaunaMuch like its physical regions, Europe's plant and animal communities follow a general north-south orientation. Literally, Europa is now thought to have meant Mainland, rather than the earlier interpretation, Sunset. It appears to have suggested itself to the Greeks, in their maritime world, as an appropriate designation for the extensive northerly lands that lay beyond, lands with characteristics vaguely known yet clearly different from those inherent in the concepts of Asia and Libyaboth of which, relatively prosperous and civilized, were associated closely with the culture of the Greeks and their predecessors. Imperialism is a policy that has been used throughout history, most notably by European powers and the United States. This rescue package has caused tensions to rise between economically competitive countries and the indebted countries that they are helping to rescue. Please enable JavaScript. China says a ban on the use of TikTok by official European Union institutions will harm business confidence in Europe, With more lunar missions than ever on the horizon, the European Space Agency wants to give the moon its own time zone, The death toll has risen to at least 63 in the migrant tragedy off Italys southern coast after rescue crews recovered several more bodies, Shares have opened lower in Europe after a mixed session in Asia following a reprieve on Wall Street from recent selling pressure driven by worries over inflation and interest rates, Spain is building on its reputation in renewable energy to position itself as Europes future leader in green hydrogen. The 4,506 sq. The Iron Curtain took on the physical shape of border defenses, walls, and limited diplomacy. The Louvre is the most visited attraction in Europe The major shallow water bodies submerging parts of the northern plains are the Celtic Sea, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea complex, and the Barents Sea. The United States and the Soviet Union built up huge nuclear arsenals, with many missiles aimed at targets throughout Europe. Corrections? During this time, a number of anti-communist revolutions swept central and eastern Europe. 0. The Iron Curtain was an ideological boundary that divided Europe into two blocsWestern countries influenced by the United States, and Eastern countries influenced by the Soviet Union. You cannot download interactives. A fjord is a long and narrow inlet of the sea that is surrounded by high, rugged cliffs. The two largest peninsulas are mainland Europe and Scandinavia to the north, divided from each other by the Baltic Sea. Not only is it pretty huge (2.5 times the size of Mount Vesuvius, which so famously buried Pompeii), but it is also one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Check out this amazing list of Austria facts that include history, food, culture, and more. The EU accepts few candidates: member states must maintain a stable, democratic form of government, a free-market economy, and commitment to the rule of law.The rapid growth of the European Union, however, has caused a number of administrative and political tensions. Xenophobia is an intense dislike or fear of people from other places or cultures.Two events demonstrate this debate. Related topics are discussed in such articles as those on religion (e.g., Judaism and Roman Catholicism) and literature (e.g., Greek literature; Dutch literature; and Spanish literature). City-states were unique in that they were governed not by a hereditary ruler, but by a political body that represented its citizens. 1. Fewer than a million people are fluent in Romansch. In the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada of Spain, the highest of the peaks exceed 11,000 feet (3,400 metres). There is ongoing debate on where the geographical centre of Europe falls. Indebted countries must now deal with strict budgets and declining incomes while more financially stable countries are forcing taxpayers to help fund the financial rescue.The status of immigrants is also a source of tension and debate in Europe. The 15 rivers of Europe by average discharge, including only rivers directly flowing into the World Ocean or Endorheic basins: Aegean Islands, land, Balearic Islands, Corsica, Crete, Cyprus (Adjacent to Asia), Fyn, Faroe Islands, Gotland, Great Britain, Hinnya, Iceland, Ionian Islands, Ireland, Malta, North Jutlandic Island, Saaremaa, Sardinia, Senja, Sicily, Svalbard and Zealand. Glaciation too has left its mark over wide areas, and the processes of erosion and deposition have created a highly variegated and compartmentalized countryside. Only North Korea has such high literacy rates as Ukraine. Volcanic rocks add to the diversity of those regions. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. Around 400 CE, the Alemanni, a Germanic tribe, invaded present-day northern Switzerland. The southern regions are mountainous while moving north the terrain descends from the high Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathians, through hilly uplands, into broad, low northern plains, which are vast in the east. Yet it was not until the 19th and 20th centuries that modern science was able to draw with some precision the geologic and geographic lineaments of the European continent, the peoples of which had meanwhile achieved domination overand set in motion vast countervailing movements amongthe inhabitants of much of the rest of the globe (see Western colonialism). This honor goes to Gouffre Mirolda in France. For discussion of major cities of the continent, see specific articles by namee.g., Rome, Warsaw, and London. These ideas have been tested during times of peace and military conflict, and continue to be redefined today.Historic IssuesEuropes early political history can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, both of which profoundly affected how Western civilizations govern their territories and citizens.Described as the birthplace of democracy, ancient Greece revolved around the polis, or city-state. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The proportion of people older than 65 will grow from 16 percent to 28 percent. One Capital of Culture of 2011, Turku, Finland, focused on cultures positive influence on health and well-being. This is a main theme of The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer, in which these key elements of the sea both help and hurt the hero.Other cultures developed around the unique resources at their disposal. It is characterized by simple, minimalist design and low-cost mass production. Encyclopedic entry. The five most spoken native languages in Europe are Russian, German, French English, Turkish and Italian. It was a barbarian worldthat is, a non-Greek one, with its inhabitants making bar-bar noises in unintelligible tongues. Author of, Emeritus Professor of Geography, Portland State University, Oregon. Editor of, Professor of Geography, Birkbeck College, University of London, 194770. Many of the most socially and economically powerful elements of these societies will be led by immigrants.Developing countries, such as those in eastern and southern Europe, are expected to bear the worst of the depopulation trend. From the Greek perspective then, Europa was culturally backward and scantily settled. Author of. A landlocked country of towering mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with . 4. Geographically, Turkey forms a natural land bridge between the old world continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. El sitio web de CORDIS requiere tener activado JavaScript para funcionar correctamente. Historically, Europe has been a center of immigration. Indented by numerous bays, fjords, and seas, continental Europes highly irregular coastline is about 24,000 miles (38,000 km) long. This is the largest landlocked country in the world. Holland is a nation of cyclists. In many places, including the Mediterranean and North seas, waters have been overfished. Yet the peninsular and insular western extremity of the continent, thrusting toward the North Atlantic Ocean, providesthanks to its latitude and its physical geographya relatively genial human habitat, and the long processes of human history came to mark off the region as the home of a distinctive civilization. Among the alternative boundaries proposed by geographers that have gained wide acceptance is a scheme that sees the crest of the Greater Caucasus range as the dividing line between Europe and Asia, placing Ciscaucasia, the northern part of the Caucasus region, in Europe and Transcaucasia, the southern part, in Asia. Mount Olympus is Greece's highest mountain at 9,570 feet (2,917 meters) above sea level. Furthermore, the Mediterranean coastlands of North Africa and southwestern Asia also exhibit some European physical and cultural affinities. Within the standard geographical boundaries, it is comprised of 737 million. 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. The former is of North Atlantic volcanic formation, while the latter consist of upland areas once joined to the mainland until cut off by rising sea levels. This description is simplified. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. About a quarter of marine mammals are threatened.Today, around 15 percent of Europe's animal species are threatened or endangered, mainly by habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation, and competition from invasive species. Europe Facts for KS2 Children. Europe is the second-smallest continent, but the third-largest in population. 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]). The continents eastern boundary (north to south) runs along the Ural Mountains and then roughly southwest along the Emba (Zhem) River, terminating at the northern Caspian coast. The Balkan peninsula is separated from Asia by the Black and Aegean Seas. It borders nine neighbors, more than any other European country. Kazakhstan and Russia are in Asia. In the Alps, Mont Blanc rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 metres), which is the highest point on the continent. 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. 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. Topographic maps (often called topo maps for short) are large scale maps, often greater than 1:50,000, which means that one inch on the map equals 50,000 inches on the ground. The financial crisis, along with concerns about immigrants connections to terrorism and religious extremism, has caused Europe to develop a more guarded approach to immigration. The euro is the second-most popular currency (behind the American dollar) and is used daily by more than 320 million people. 16 S Sunwood Ln , Sandy, UT 84092 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $1,295,000. Among the struggling economies that may suffer from carbon emission limits are Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova.Thus, it seems that Europes historic disparities between north and south, west and east, will continue to widen in the future. Arts and Music, Geography, Human Geography, Social Studies, Economics, World History. These physical features allowed for early communication, travel, and agricultural development. 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). The United States began to lead the Western world, while the Soviet Union, with its capital in the Eastern European city of Moscow, Russia, led the so-called Eastern Bloc. It runs for 2,294 miles through central Russia. France is known for being a world power and has been an economic and cultural center of Europe for hundreds of years. Other political institutions of Rome persist throughout Europe and former European colonies. These countries included Greece, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal. Updates? The land in those areas, however, is of little use for crops. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Europe has a diversity of terrains, physical features, and climates. You can actually get very close to the falls and safely, thanks to a well maintained hiking trail. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. The language survives in Switzerland because of the remote location of its native speakers.Contemporary CulturesEuropes rich and diverse cultural heritage continues to flourish today. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Europe Facts | Religion: Most of the European people are Christians (76%) and there are smaller numbers of Muslims (6%) and Jews and other beliefs. These nations do not feel an obligation to accept illegal immigrants, seeing them as both a threat and a burden.Supporters of the crackdown want to stop illegal immigration. The North European Plain, common to much of Poland, northern Germany, and Denmark, broadens in western France and continues, across the narrow seas, in southeastern Great Britain and Ireland. 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