Natural Environment of Europe

Small, yet diverse

Landforms• Northwest highlands

• Northern European Plain

• Central Uplands

• Alpine Mountains

Northwest Highlands• Rugged hills and low mountains

Norway’s coast Fjord

Fjord – Narrow deep inlets of the sea set between high rocky cliffs

Northern European Plain• Low flat land, from France to Western

Russia

• Home to many rivers, River cities (Berlin, Paris)

• Farming, industry, dense population

Very Dense Population

Central Upland• Old eroded, low rounded hills

• Coal deposits – industrial towns

Alpine Mountain SystemAlps, Carpathians, Apennines, Pyrenees

• High peaks, avalanches in winter

• Tectonic activity

• Mountain passes for travelers – Not a “huge” physical boundary

AVALANCHE! -video clip What causes them? Why are they

dangerous? Why so many in the Alps?

Swiss – Alpine Pass

Skiing is a way of life for Alpine Countries. Why?

The Matterhorn – Alps14,691 ft tall

How did it form?

CarpathiansEastern Europe

Apennines MountainsWhat Country?

Pyrenees MountainsBetween what countries?