Chapter 11 Physical Geography of Europe Unit IV
Dec 26, 2015
Seas, Peninsulas, and Island
• Most of Europe= 300 miles from a seacoast.– Shapes lifestyles of EuropeansExamples:
A. 25 % of Netherlands lies below sea levelB. Dutch have constructed dikes to hold back water.
• Scandinavian Peninsula- Northern Europe mountainous area. Ice Age glaciers melted here, leaving thousands of lakes.
• Fjords- areas carved by glaciers: Jutland, main peninsula of Denmark.
• http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery-detail.asp?name=netherlands
Southern Peninsulas
• Iberian Peninsula- contains Spain and Portugal, separates Mediterranean Sea from Atlantic Ocean.– Contains Pyrenees Mountainsa. Apennine Peninusula- long, thin, boot-shaped piece
of land which contains Italy. -Contains Apennines Mountains, which includes the active volcano, Mount Vesuvius.
b. Balkan Peninsula- Southeastern Europe, tangle of mountain ranges and valleys.
Southern PeninsulasSouthern Peninsulas
Iberian Peninsula
Italian Peninsula
Balkan Peninsula
AnatoleanPeninsula
CrimeanPeninsula
http://travel.wallpapers.tc/pictures/Spain/Spain Torla in Ordesa Huesca Province Pyrenees Mountains.jpg
Bodies
of
Water
Bodies
of
Water
Mediterranean Sea
North Sea
AtlanticOcean Baltic
Sea
BlackSea
AegeanSea
Adriatic Sea
TyrrhenianSea
Bay ofBiscay
Strait ofGibraltar
DardanellesStrait
ArcticOcean
English Channel
CaspianSea
Europe’s Islands
• Iceland- South of the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Ocean.– Features volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers!British Isles- Ireland and Britain- cool, hilly, and rainyMediterraneanA. SicilyB. CorsicaC. SardiniaD. CyprusE. CreteAegean Sea- nearly 2,000 islands with sunny climate. Popular
tourist destination…
The Mediterranean Sea: Mare NostrumThe Mediterranean Sea: Mare Nostrum
e 2,400 miles long & 1,000 miles widee “Crossroads of 3 Continents”
Caesarea on the Israeli coast
Strait of Gibraltar & the “Pillars of Hercules”
http://www.metrolic.com/travel-guides-iceland-160891/
http://www.daiwasports.co.uk/news-and-features/recent-features/061708221012/steve-souters-iceland-report/
http://www.travelwizard.com/luxurycruise/cruise-destinations/british-isles-cruises/
Mountains and Plains
• Mont Blanc- highest peak in the Alps- 15,771 Feet high
• Carpathians- long mountain chain that runs through Eastern Europe.
• North European Plain- stretches from southeastern England and western France to Russia. (home to some of Europe’s largest cities)
• Great Hungarian Plain- fertile region that extends from Hungary to Croatia, Serbia, and Romania.
Water Systems
• Europe has a network of canals that aid transportation and irrigation.
• Thames River- large river that allows ships easy access to London.
• The Rhine River- Western Europe’s major river, runs through France and Germany into the Netherlands.
• The Danube River- Eastern Europe’s major river, flows from Germany’s Black Forest to the Black Sea.
• Main-Danube Canal- links North Sea and Black Sea. Completed in 1992.
The Danube RiverThe Danube River
e Flows through the 12 countries of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Ukraine.
Where Buda & Pest MeetWhere Buda & Pest MeetBiking
Along the Danube
Biking Along the Danube
Capitals on the Rivers (1)Capitals on the Rivers (1)
Paris, right bank of the SeineParis, right bank of the SeineLondon on the ThamesLondon on the Thames
Prague on the VltavaPrague on the Vltava Budapest on the DanubeBudapest on the Danube
Capitals on the Rivers (2)Capitals on the Rivers (2)
Berlin on the SpreeBerlin on the SpreeMoscow on the Moscow RiverMoscow on the Moscow River
Rome on the TiberRome on the Tiber Vienna on the DanubeVienna on the Danube
Natural Resources
• At one time, an abundant supply of coal and oil supported the development of modern industry.– Today, European coalfields are depleted.Fuel Sources:A. Peat- dense, mossy substance dug up in swamps
and dried for fuel. B. Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, and hydroelectric
power.
Climate and Vegetation
• European climates vary according to distance from the sea.
1. Western Europe- forests include deciduous and evergreen trees. Conifers thrive in cooler sections of the region.
a. Alps- highlands climate with colder temperatures and more precipitation; dry winds trigger avalanches.
b. Deforestation- by 1922, Ireland had cut down 99 percent of its original forest. Government and private sponsored reforestation efforts have increased woodland areas as of late.
Climate and Vegetation
2. Southern Europe- Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. a. Alps block Atlantic winds=less precipitation falls in southern Europe.b. Mistral- an Alpine wind; occasionally blows bitter cold air into Southern France.c. Siroccos- high, dry winds from North Africa—bring hot weather to Europe.
Climate and Vegetation
3. Eastern and Northern Europe- humid continental climate—cold, snowy winters and hot summers.a. Grasslands cover much of eastern Europe, especially Hungary and Romania. Mixed deciduous and coniferous forests are found here.b. Northern parts of Scandinavia feature subarctic and tundra climates. Bitter cold winters, short and cool summers, permanently frozen soil beneath the surface.