Northern Europe is comprised of large islands and peninsulas, including the British Isles and Scandinavian Peninsula. The region has rough, rocky hills and low mountains, with more fertile farmland and plains found in southern parts. Glaciers have left their mark through coastal features like fjords and lakes. Natural resources from water, forests, soils, and energy sources have made Northern Europe wealthy, including oil and gas reserves in the North Sea, hydroelectric and geothermal energy, timber forests, and fertile land for agriculture. Despite seeming cold, the climate is actually mild due to warm ocean currents, bringing marine west coast climates to areas like Denmark, Britain, and western Norway.

1. Northern Europe
Chapter 14

2. Physical Geography
Section 1

3. Physical Features
 Comprised of large islands & peninsulas
 Two Regions
 British Isles: a group of islands located across the
English Channel from the rest of Europe
 Include islands of Great Britain, Ireland, & Greenland
(world’s largest island)
 Scandinavian Peninsula: islands and peninsulas in
far northern Europe
 Hills and Mts.
 Rough, rocky hills and low mts.
 Kjolen Mts.
 Farming in difficult

4.  Farmland and Plains
 Found in southern parts of
British Isles and
Scandinavia
 Rolling green hills of
Ireland
 Wide valleys in England
and Denmark have fertile
soil
 Effects of glaciers
 Left mark on coastlines
and lakes
 Cut deep valley’s into
Norway’s coastal mts.
 Fjord: a narrow inlet of the
sea set between high,
rocky cliffs

5. Natural Resources
 Made Northern Europe one of the wealthiest regions
in the world
 Primary resources:
 Water, forests and soils, & energy sources
 Energy
 Oil & natural gas reserves
 Found in North Sea
 Geothermal energy & hydroelectric energy
 Forests & soil
 Timber producing forests across Finland and
Scandinavian Peninsula
 Rich farmland: wheat and potatoes
 Livestock: sheep and diary cattle
 Water
 North Sea (ice free) important for trade & fishing

6. Climate
 Would seem quite cold, but actually mild temps
 Westerly winds blow over warm North Atlantic Drift
 Bring mild temps. & rain
 Marine West Coast climate
 Denmark, British Isles, and western Norway
 Sweden & Finland
 Humid continental climate
 4 true seasons
 Farther north
 Subarctic & tundra climates
 Winters long & days are cold & short
 Grass & moss grow here