Physical Geography of Europe

​Physical Geography of Europe

Objectives/Goals

​Vocabulary

• Identify the physical geographic features of Europe

• Explain how water features of Europe's geography are important to Europe's people

• Describe the distinct climate regions in Europe

• Fjord

• Peninsula

• North Atlantic Drift

​Essential Question: What are the major physical features of Europe?

Open Ended

Where in the World is Comet?

Clue 1: This location is surrounded by the Styrian countryside.

Clue 2: This location is located on the River Mur.

Clue 3: This location is found in the "City of Design".

Clue 4: This location is located on the River Mur.

Clue 5: This location is in the shape of a conch.

Where (name of place and city and country) is Comet?

​Europe's Location

• Europe + Asia = Eurasia

• Ural Mountains - Natural Boundary between Europe and Asia

• Mediterranean Sea - the continents of Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia all touch this body of water

• The Black Sea separates Europe from Southwest Asia

• Istanbul, Turkey - a city known as the "Gateway between Europe and Southwest Asia."

• "Peninsula of Peninsula"

  • peninsula: an area of land mostly surrounded by water

​Peninsulas of Europe

• Peninsula: an area of land mostly surrounded by water

• Importance of the Main European Peninsulas

  • Scandinavian Peninsula (Sweeden and Norway)

    • Largest peninsula in Europe

    • North - Artic Circle

    • South - agriculture, timber, iron, copper

  • Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal, and Andorra)

    • Second largest peninsula in Europe

    • Mining - iron, gold, and coal

    • 2,000 miles of coastline (Fishing: Tuna, Sardines, and anchovies)

​Peninsulas of Europe Continued

• Importance of the Main European Peninsulas

  • Jutland Peninsula (Denmark and Northern Germany)

    • Flatest peninsula in Europe

    • Canals (man-made waterways) for transportation and trade

    • Mining and Quarrying (rocks)

  • Italian Peninsula (Italy, Vatican City, and San Marino)

    • Nicknamed the "Boot"

    • Gargano (spur), Salento (the heel), Calabria (toe) - peninsulas within the Peninsula

    • Europe's only active volcano - Mt. Vesuvius

​Peninsulas of Europe Continued

• Importance of the Main European Peninsulas

  • Balkin Peninsula (Greece, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria)

    • Mountainous (made up of the Alps and Balkin)

    • Temperate Climate = good for agriculture, such as olives and grapes

    • Mining = coal, lead , and silver

​Mountain Chains

• Scandinavian Mountains

  • a Natural border between Norway and Sweden

  • Permafrost - permanently frozen ground

• Pyrenees Mountains

  • a natural border between Spain and France

  • Andorra is found in the Pyrenees Mts.

• The Alps

  • Europe's tallest mountain chain

  • Run through 8 countries (Alpine Countries)

  • The highest Mountain is Mont Blanc

• Carpathian Mountains

  • Filled with Timber and a biodiversity of plants and animals

  • Deforestation is a major threat

​Fjords

• Fjord: a long narrow inlet that was carved by glaciers

  • Some fjords can go inland for miles

  • Norway's Fjords: steep rock walls

  • 1700 Fjords

​Rivers of Europe

• Importance of Rivers to Europe

  • Trade, Travel, Technology

  • Transport goods and people from inland to the coastal ports

  • 25,000 navigable Rivers

• Danube

  • Connects Black Forest region to the Black Sea (10 countries)

  • The Danube was the ancient border for the Roman Empire

  • Famous Cities: Vienna, Belgrade, Budapest, etc...

• Rhine

  • Connects the Swiss Alps to Germany (Border for 6 countries)

    • Europe's largest waterfall

    • Important for strategy in war (Roman Empire, WW1 and 2,

    • Tourism is a major source of economy for this river and the countries

​The English Channel

• Separates England and northern France

  • 350 miles long

  • 20 to 150 miles wide

  • Strait of Dover - narrowest point in the channel

• Trade, Travel, and Technology

  • Connects Great Britain to the goods of Mainland Europe

  • Used as a defense for Great Britain

• Channel Tunnel: 31 mile undersea tunnel that connects England and France

​The Northern European Plain

• The Northern European Plain: a large area of flat (or gentle hills) in northern Europe

  • Countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Poland

  • Fertile Soil = agricultural "Breadbasket"

​European Climate Zones

• Features that Impact the Climate of Europe

  • Latitude - higher north, closer to the North Pole

  • Winds - The North Atlantic Drift brings warm water to the coast of Europe; the warm water warms the air that blows across Europe

  • Coastal Europe: mild climate from the warm North Atlantic Drift water and air

  • Continental Europe: Colder, as the region is closer to the north and does not have warm air from the North Atlantic Drift

  • Altitude: Mountainous regions of Europe often see colder climates

Open Ended

Which Peninsula would you most want to live?

How would you adapt to living on this peninsula?

Think about...

What job could you have?

How would you get food?

What type of house would you live in?

Peninsula Options: Iberian Peninsula, Italian Peninsula, Jutland Peninsula, Scandanavian Peninsula, Balkin Peninsula

You do not need to write in complete sentences - just jot down ideas