Europe has several physical characteristics. It includes four peninsulas and three main islands. It is home to many fjords and two major mountain ranges, the Alps and Pyrenees. Rivers such as the Danube, Rhine, Seine and Thames are important. It has a varied climate affected by ocean currents. Economically, many industrial centers developed near coal and iron deposits. Trade and transportation links, like rivers, canals and the Chunnel are significant. Culturally, Europe was the birthplace of democracy, the industrial revolution and has had a large influence globally through colonization and alliances like NATO.

1. Europe

2. Leading countries according to GDP Switzerland Luxembourg Sweden

3. Leading countries according to Land Size Ukraine France Spain

4. Leading countries according to population Germany United Kingdom Italy France

5. PHYSICAL CHARATERISTICS Part of a large landmass called EURASIA Europe includes four peninsulas A peninsula is a body of land surrounded by water on three sides

6. Europe’s peninsulas are the Iberian, Italian, Scandinavian,and the Jutland

7. Europe also has three ISLANDS an island is a body of land completely surrounded by water Europe’s main three islands are Great Britain, Ireland and Sicily

8. Europe is also home to many FJORDS A fjord is a narrow valley or inlet from the sea--originally carved out by glaciers

9. Two Major mountain ranges exist in Europe Alps- Central Europe Pyrenees- border between France and Spain

10. The largest physical characteristic in Europe is the North European Plain The North European Plain is a large flat fertile stretch of land important for agriculture, especially in Western Europe

11. Rivers also play an important role in Europe. They are or were used for transportation, power, and trade. The most important are the Danube (Germany), Rhine (Germany), Seine (France), and the Thames (United Kingdom)

12. Seas Oceans Adriatic Atlantic Aegean Arctic Mediterranean Baltic Black North

13. Landmarks Strait of Gibraltar- separates Europe from Africa at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea Climates varied climate regions--everything from tundra to mediterranean

14. Europe’s climate is also affected by the North American Drift and the prevailing westerlies

15. North American Drift is a powerful ocean current that carries tropical water toward the coast of Europe. The winds which blow across the North American Drift are known as the prevailing westerlies.

16. Combined they help to produce a warm, moist climate in most of Europe

17. Economic Characteristics The Mountain regions of Europe are famous for tourism, recreation and mineral resources. Many areas of Europe are threatened by air and water pollution.

18. Forests --Black Forest of Germany (acid rain) Cities --Venice,Italy Rivers --Danube, Rhine, and Seine

19. Many of Europe’s largest industrial and transportation centers developed near mineral deposits, especially coal and iron ore Ruhr Valley (Germany) Po Valley (Italy)

20. Rivers and canals served as the major transportation links

21. There are oil reserves in the North Sea. Great Britain has claimed many of them. Most countries of Europe, especially Western Europe, have a well educated workforce.

22. Most are industrial or technological societies (Switzerland specializes in banking).

23. The countries of Western Europe also use advanced farming techniques which gives them high crop yields. Fertile soils and the chernozem (black earth of Russia) are also found in Europe.

24. Most of Europe has a well developed infrastructure. Infrastructure is things such as roads, power companies railroads and air carriers

25. France and Great Britain have built the Chunnel to provide a railroad transportation between their countries.

26. Western Europe and Eastern Europe have different industrial systems and different industrial development because of different economic and political systems since 1945.

27. Most of western Europe belongs to the Economic Union today. Eastern Europe is slowly catching up after changing their systems in the early 1990s

28. The Economic Union is a economic union used to tie the economies of Europe together for the benefit of all members. It is an ECONOMIC ALLIANCE.

29. Trade is important in Europe, especially to the island nations. Sweden and Denmark allow their governments to play a large role in their economies.

30. Eastern Europe has begun the switch from communism to capitalism the Netherlands grows crops on land reclaimed from the sea (Polders)

31. Their demographics are typical of a developed nations. High per capita GDP High literacy rate high life expectancy

32. low infant mortality low percentage of the population under the age of 15

33. Cultural Characteristics Europe is the birthplace to the Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution was the switch from hand or manual labor to using machines for labor

34. England was the center of the Industrial Revolution

35. Europe is the home to many ethnic groups each group brings different languages, religions and customs

36. This has led to sporadic conflict among the groups such as war and revolution

37. Europe is the birthplace of modern democracy Greece is the home of Democracy

38. Europe has spread its’ culture to other parts of the world through exploration colonization imperialism

39. Europe is highly urbanized It is one of the most densely populated areas of the world Most of Western Europe is a member in the political/military alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

40. All of the following cities act as centers for culture and trade in Europe Berlin, Germany Rome, Italy London, England Paris, France Madrid, Spain Athens, Greece Warsaw, Poland

41. Cultural Landscape In Paris the following cultural icons can be found: Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Eiffel Tower

42. In Italy the following cultural icons can be found: Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa, St. Peter’s Basilica

43. In Greece—the Parthenon In England--Westminster Abbey and Big Ben In Europe in general--windmills (Netherlands) and castles

44. Parthenon in Greece

45. Arc de Triomphe in Paris

46. Notre Dame

47. Eiffel Tower -- Paris

48. Colosseum--Italy

49. Leaning Tower of Pisa--Italy

50. Big Ben--England

51. Westminster Abbey

52. St. Peter’s Basilica

53. Windmills and Castles

54. Louvre

55. Fjord

56. Alps