geography of western europe. where does europe stop? europe and asia are both continents, although...

Geography of Western Europe

Where does Europe STOP?

• Europe and Asia are both continents, although they are both located on the same great landmass (Eurasia).

• These two continents are separated by the Ural Mountains and the Bosporus Strait (which separates the Black Sea & the Mediterranean Sea.)

Why is Europe “Europe?” And Not Asia???

• When the Roman Empire split, the westerners wanted a separate name, so they named their land “Europe” after Europa – a Greek woman ‘born of the Gods.’

Western Europe

• Term Western Europe grew out of history rather than geography. After World War II, the continent was divided. The countries of Western Europe remained free of Soviet control.

Europe: A Europe: A Peninsula of Peninsula of Peninsulas?Peninsulas?

Europe: A Europe: A Peninsula of Peninsula of Peninsulas?Peninsulas?

Northern PeninsulasNorthern PeninsulasNorthern PeninsulasNorthern Peninsulas

Jutland Peninsula

Scandinavian Peninsula

Southern PeninsulasSouthern PeninsulasSouthern PeninsulasSouthern Peninsulas

Iberian Peninsul

a

Italian Peninsul

a

Balkan Peninsul

a

AnatoleanPeninsu

la

CrimeanPeninsul

a

BBooddiieess

ofof

WWaatteerr

BBooddiieess

ofof

WWaatteerr Mediterranean Sea

North Sea

AtlanticOcean Baltic

Sea

BlackSea

AegeanSea

Adriatic Sea

TyrrhenianSea

Bay ofBiscay

Strait ofGibraltar

DardanellesStrait

ArcticOcean

English Channel

CaspianSea

• Because of the continent’s shape, no place is more than 300 miles from the sea.

• How do you think this affects the cultural geography and movement of the region?

RRiivveerrss

RRiivveerrss Danube R.

Seine R.Rhine R.

Loire R.

Po R.

Tiber R.

Tagus R.

Thames R.

Elbe R.

Oder R.

Vistula R.

Dnieper R

.

Vo

lga R

.Don R.

Ebro R.

The Danube RiverThe Danube RiverThe Danube RiverThe Danube River

1770 miles1770 miles

The Danube RiverThe Danube RiverThe Danube RiverThe Danube River

Flows through the Flows through the 12 countries12 countries of Germany, Austria, of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Herzegovina, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Ukraine. Ukraine.

Where Buda Where Buda & Pest Meet& Pest MeetWhere Buda Where Buda & Pest Meet& Pest MeetBiking Biking

Along the Along the DanubeDanube

Biking Biking Along the Along the DanubeDanube

Why are most Why are most of the capitals of the capitals of Europe on of Europe on

major riversmajor rivers????

Why are most Why are most of the capitals of the capitals of Europe on of Europe on

major riversmajor rivers????

Capitals on the Rivers Capitals on the Rivers (1)(1)Capitals on the Rivers Capitals on the Rivers (1)(1)

Paris, right bank of the SeineParis, right bank of the SeineParis, right bank of the SeineParis, right bank of the SeineLondon on the ThamesLondon on the ThamesLondon on the ThamesLondon on the Thames

Rome on the TiberRome on the TiberRome on the TiberRome on the Tiber Vienna on the DanubeVienna on the DanubeVienna on the DanubeVienna on the Danube

Answer:Answer:Answer:Answer:

They are They are Europe’s lifeline!Europe’s lifeline!

They are They are Europe’s lifeline!Europe’s lifeline!

MMoouuttaaiinnss

&&

PPeeaakkss

MMoouuttaaiinnss

&&

PPeeaakkss

Alps Mts.Pyrennes Mts.

Apennines Mts.

Dinaric Alps

Carpathian Mts. Caucasus Mts.

Ural M

ts.

Mt. Etna ^

Mt. Vesuvius ^Mt. Olympus ^

The AlpsThe AlpsThe AlpsThe Alps

Cover most of Switzerland, Austria, Cover most of Switzerland, Austria, andand parts of Italy and France. parts of Italy and France.

Western Europe

• Pyrenees-forms a mountain wall between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. They are not as tall as the Alps, but are very rugged.

The Northern European Plain --> The Northern European Plain --> An Invasion Route into Asia An Invasion Route into Asia (& Vice (& Vice

Versa?)Versa?)

The Northern European Plain --> The Northern European Plain --> An Invasion Route into Asia An Invasion Route into Asia (& Vice (& Vice

Versa?)Versa?)

Mediterranean IslandsMediterranean IslandsMediterranean IslandsMediterranean Islands

Generally ruggedGenerally rugged & mountainous. & mountainous.

Mediterranean Mediterranean Sea so polluted Sea so polluted (will take 1000 (will take 1000 years to clean up). years to clean up).

SardiniaSardinia

CyprusCyprus

MaltaMalta

ClimatClimatee

ClimatClimatee

Climate• Three major climate types in Europe:

– Marine West Coast

– Humid Continental

– Mediterranean

– Mild climate in Europe is caused by the North Atlantic Drift. Altitude also affects climate. Places at high elevations are cooler than places at low elevations.

Natural Resources

• Most forests were cleared to make room for towns.

• Good use is made of soil – makes for good commercial agriculture.

• Major farming centers: Po River Valley in Italy & Guadalquivir River Valley in Spain.

• Oranges, grapes, vegetables, goats, hogs, olives, potatoes, and sheep.

• Fishing along coasts

Resources cont.• Rely heavily on mineral imports.

• DO have a lot of coal.

• Oil & natural gas from the North Sea

North Sea oil rig