Chapter 11The Physical Geography of Europe

Section 1: The Land

Terms to Know Places to Locate• Dike * North Sea• Polder * Iberian Peninsula• Glaciation * Balkan Peninsula• Fjord * Alps• Loess * Rhine River

What you will learn in this chapter?• Europe’s important land formations• Rivers, mountains, plains, islands & peninsular features

• Important natural resources

Section 1: The Land• Europe and Asia share landmass• Eurasia• Unlike other continents

• Europe – 2nd smallest of continents• After Australia

• Europe – distinct region• Juts westward from Asia has unusual long, irregular coastline• Touches many bodies of water• Atlantic Ocean• Baltic sea• North Sea• Mediterranean Sea• Black Sea

Struggle with the SeaMost of Europe lies within 300

miles of seacoast◦Shaped lifestyles of people

The Netherlands – water is friend or foe◦25% of country lies below sea level

Dutch built dikes to hold back water◦Large banks of earth and stone

Reclaimed new land from sea

Struggle with the SeaReclaimed new land from sea

◦Polders – reclaimed landsOnce drained and kept dry by

windmills◦Today – other power sources run

pumps to remove seawaterPolders provides lands for

farming and settlement◦Sometimes stormy seas breach dikes

& create floods

The Northern PeninsulasEurope is large peninsula made of

smaller peninsulasScandinavian Peninsula – far northGlaciation – process where

glaciers form and spread over peninsula

Glaciers carved out long, narrow, steep-sided inlets – fjords (fee * AWRDZ)◦Atlantic coastline

The Northern PeninsulasMost of Norway and n. Sweden is

mountainousS. Sweden – lowlands slope to

Baltic SeaNorway, Sweden and Finland – Ice

Age glaciers left behind thousands of sparkling lakes

The Northern PeninsulasJutland – peninsula that forms

mainland of Denmark and extends into North Sea (toward Norway & Sweden)

Glaciers deposited sand & gravel on Jutland’s flat western side◦Carved fjords in the higher coastline

on eastFlat lands or low hills – most of

Jutland’s interior

The Southern PeninsulasIberian Peninsula – SW edge of

Europe◦Home of Spain and Portugal

Separates Atlantic Ocean form Mediterranean Sea

Strait of Gibraltar – separates southern tip from Africa◦20 miles of water

The Southern PeninsulasMost of peninsula is semiarid

plateau◦Rises above coastal plains

In north – Pyrenees (PIHR * uh * NEEZ) Mountains cut off peninsula from rest of Europe◦Result – people of peninsula isolated

from rest of Europe & oriented towards the sea

The Southern PeninsulasApennine (A*puh*NYN) Peninsula – Italy is

located there◦Extends into Mediterranean Sea◦Like a giant boot

Coastline varies from high, rocky cliffs to long, sandy beaches

Apennines – mountain chain that includes an active volcano – Mount Vesuvius◦Near city of Naples

Plains cover 1/3 of area◦Largest fertile plain of Lombardy◦Along Po River in north

The Southern PeninsulasBalkan peninsula – se Europe

◦Bounded by Adriatic and Ionian Seas on west & Aegean/Black Seas on east

◦Made up of mountain ranges and valleys stretch southward from Danube River

◦Travel difficult b/c of craggy landscape

Europe’s IslandsEurope has many islands

◦Iceland – located south of Arctic Circle in N. Atlantic Ocean Lies along Mid-Atlantic Ridge Has volcanoes, hot springs and geysers

◦Glaciers found next to volcanoes & hot springs Due to Iceland’s northern location

Europe’s IslandsHomes and industries – most

located in capital of Reykjavik (RAY*kyah*VEEK)◦Pipe in water from hot springs for heat

Coast made up of grassy lowlandsLand rises sharply to form inland

plateau

Europe’s IslandsBritish Isles – nw of European

mainland◦Two large islands

Great Britian & Ireland

◦Thousands of smaller islandsN. and W. G.B. – mountain ranges,

plateaus and deep valleys S. G.B. – low hills & gently rolling

plains

Europe’s IslandsIreland – called “Emerald Isle”

◦Lush green land of cool temps and lots of rainfall

◦Rugged coastline of GB feature rocky cliffs dropping to deep bays

Europe’s IslandsIslands – south of European

mainland◦In Mediterranean Sea

Rugged mountains form larger islands:◦Sicily, Sardnia, Corsica, Crete &

CyprusVolcanic & earthquake in region

◦Mt. Etna – highest active volcano – rises over Sicily

Europe’s IslandsSmaller islands in Med. Sea

◦Balearic Islands (Spain)◦Malta (5 islands)◦Greece (2,000 islands – Aegean Sea)

Draws tourists b/c of scenic, rugged landscape

Mountains and PlainsMainland consists of plains

interrupted by mountains◦run through interior◦Along northern and southern edges

Mountain RegionsNorthwestern mountains

◦Ancient rock formations◦Rounded by eons of erosion and glaciation◦Low peaks

Ben Nevis – highest mountain in British Isles – 4,406 feet

Central Uplands◦ Iberian Peninsula to eastern Europe◦Low, rounded mountains◦High plateaus◦Scattered forests

Include Meseta (Spain’s central plateau) and Massif Central (France central highlands)

Mountain RegionsSouthern Europe

◦Geologically younger mountains◦High & jagged

Pyrenees Mountains formed by crust lifting and folding◦Thrust upward to 11,000 feet

Alps formed by glaciation and folding◦Forms crescent from s. Europe to Balkan

Peninsula Highest peak – Mont Blanc – 15,771 feet on

border of France and Italy

Mountain RegionsMajor rivers originate in Alps

◦Rhine and PoAlps form barrier that separates

warm, dry climate of Mediterranean region from cooler climates of north

Carpathian Mountains – towering mountain chain◦Runs through eastern Europe from

Slovakia to Romania

Plains RegionsBroad plains curve around highlandsNorth European Plain – stretches

from SE England and W. France eastward to Poland, Ukraine and Russia

Fertile soil & wealth of rivers drew farmers to area◦Plain still major agricultural region◦Southern edge very fertile b/c deposits of loess Fine, rich, wind-borne soil that covers area

Plains RegionsDeposits in North European Plain

include coal, iron ore and other minerals◦Led to western Europe’s industrial

development in 1800s◦Today many large cities located on plain

Paris & Berlin

Great Hungarian Plain – from Hungary to Croatia, Serbia, Romania◦Cultivate gains, fruit and vegetables in area◦Also raise livestock in lowlands along Danube

Water SystemsMany water systems flow from

inland mountain and highland areas to coasts

Connect navigable rivers with canals◦Enhanced natural waterways as

transportation links◦Rivers & canals also provide water to

irrigate farmland and produce electricity

Water SystemsRivers have differing

characteristics◦Scandinavia – rivers short & do not

provide easy connection b/w cities◦Iberian Peninsula – main rivers too

narrow and shallow for large slips◦Thames River (TEHMZ) – in England

– allows ocean going ships to reach port of London

Water SystemsHeartland of Europe

◦Long rivers provide links b/w inland areas as well as to sea

◦Rhine – most important river in western Europe Flows from Swiss Alps through France &

Germany into Netherlands Connect many industrial cities to

Rotterdam Busy port on North Sea

Water SystemsDanube River – flows from

Germany’s Black Forest to Black Sea◦Eastern Europe’s major waterway◦Every year – millions of tons of cargo

carried on river by ships & bargesMain (MYN) River – tributary of

Rhine◦b/c connected to Danube in 1992◦Main-Danube Canal completed◦Linked North Sea with Black Sea

Water SystemsOther major European Rivers:

◦France: Seine, Rhone, Loire◦Germany: Elbe, Weser◦Poland: Vistula◦Italy: Po◦Ukraine: Dnieper

Natural ResourcesLong history of utilizing natural

resources◦i.e. energy sources, agricultural areas,

water and mineralsAbundant supply of coal & iron ore

◦Fueled development of modern industry

Natural ResourcesCoalMajor reserves in U.K., Germany,

Ukraine and PolandMany coalfields depleted or expensive

too mine◦Western Europe

Iron OreLarge deposits in n. Sweden, ne

France and s. UkraineOther mineral resources:

◦Bauxite, zinc, manganese

Natural Resources• Fuel is scarce – in some countries• Burn peat • Vegetable matter found in

swamps and usually composed of mosses

• Dug up, chopped into blocks and dried so it can be burned

• Mostly rely on coal, oil, gas and nuclear/hydroelectric power• Large deposits of oil and natural gas

under North Sea• Contribute to energy needs

• France – no oil or gas reserves• Nuclear power

Section 2: Climate & Vegetation

Terms to Know Places to LocateTimberline Gulf StreamFoehn North Atlantic DriftAvalancheMistralSiroccoChaparralPermafrost

Water and LandClimates and vegetation varyCold, barren tundra & subarctic

land of Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland

Warm, shrub-covered Mediterranean coasts of Italy, Spain and Greece

Water and LandWhat determines climate in Europe?

◦Northern latitude and relation to seaW. and S. Europe – lie near/along large

bodies of water◦Benefit from warm maritime winds◦Mild climate compared to other places in world

at same latitude i.e. Paris and Boston – same distance from Arctic Circle Jan. temps of Paris milder then Boston

E. and N. Europe – colder climate than rest of Europe◦Due to distance from warming effects of Atlantic

Ocean

Water and LandLocation influences vegetation in

Europe◦Natural vegetation varies from:

forests and grasslands Tundra and small shrubs

Western EuropeMarine West climate – most of W.

Europe◦Mild winters, cool summer, abundant

rainfall◦Gulf Stream in Atlantic Ocean and North

Atlantic Drift (northern extension of Gulf Stream) Bring warm waters to area from Gulf of

Mexico/regions near equator

◦Warm, most air blow across surface of Europe Due to prevailing westerly winds

Trees and HighlandsW. Europe – varieties of deciduous

and coniferous trees◦Deciduous trees thrive in marine west

coast climate◦Coniferous trees found in cooler Alpine

mountains up to timberline Elevation above which trees can’t grow

Trees and HighlandsAlps – highland climate

◦Colder temps and more precipitation then lowland areas

◦Sudden changes can occur with foehns (FUHNZ) winds Dry winds that blow down from mountains

into valleys and plains

◦This wind can trigger avalanches Destructive masses of ice, snow and rock

sliding down mountainsides

Ireland’s ForestsRegion originally covered by forestsVegetation transformed due to human

settlement and clearing of land◦ i.e. prior 1600s – midlands of Ireland covered

with forests of broad-leaved trees◦Afterwards – forests depleted due to

agriculture pressure and large-scale harvest of trees for firewood

1922- Ireland gained independence – only 1% of country woodland◦Woodlands building backup ◦Due to state-funded deforestation projects

Peninsulas of EuropePeninsulas – itself a peninsula of Eurasia, Europe

is characterized by the number of peninsulas that are found there. The most significant peninsulas are:A. Iberian Peninsula – Spain and Portugal B. Italian Peninsula – ItalyC. Jutland Peninsula – DenmarkD. Scandinavian Peninsula – Norway, Sweden, and

Finland Fjords are steep U-shaped valleys that connect to the sea

and that filled with seawater after the glaciers from an Ice Age melted.

E. Balkan Peninsula – Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia & Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, and Bulgaria (among others)

F. British Isles – England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland

A

B

C

D

E

F

Southern EuropeMediterranean climate

◦Warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters

Other climates found in small area◦i.e. humid subtropical climate from N.

Italy to central Balkan PeninsulaParts of Spain’s Meseta h- dry,

steppe climate

Southern EuropeAlps – block moist Atlantic winds

◦Less precipitation in S. EuropeWinds in region can cause changes

in normal weather patterns◦Mistral – strong north wind from Alps

Sends gusts of bitterly cold air into S. France

◦Siroccos – high, dry winds from N. Africa Bring high temps to area

Eastern & Northern EuropeClimate mostly humid continental

◦Cold, snowy winters and hot summers◦Atlantic currents – less influence in area

Farther away from Atlantic Ocean

Summer & winter temps vary more then rest of Europe

Eastern & Northern EuropeEastern Europe – mix of deciduous

and coniferous forests◦Coniferous trees – survive long, cold

winters Found in parts of Scandinavia and Baltic Sea

region

Grasslands – cover other parts of this area◦Esp. Hungary, Yugoslavia and Romania

Eastern & Northern EuropeFar N. Europe – such as Iceland, n.

Scandinavia and Finland◦Subarctic and tundra climates

Bitterly cold winters and short, cool summers

◦Permafrost – soil that is permanently frozen below surface

◦Little vegetation except mosses and small shrubs and wildflowers