World geography europe

Compiled By - Dr. Bheekam Singh

Europe
• The most northerly point of Europe is North Cape and
Southernmost point is Trafalgar in Spain.
• Separated from Asia by Ural mountain, Caucasus and
Caspian sea.
• Except from the three Baltic states- Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania, remaining 12 have confederation of
independent state (CIS) to develop their economy.
• Large Parts of Russia and other nine counties
separated from USSR are its part.
• Netherlands has reclaimed land from sea by making
big embankment along the sea front called Dykes.

Europe
• Denmark comprises of Jutland peninsula.
• Iberian Peninsula consist of Spain and Portugal.
• Balkan Peninsulas- Peninsula in southern Europe
bounded on the east by the Black and Aegean Sea, on the
South by Mediterranean sea, and on the west by the
Adriatic and Ionian sea. The countries lying here called
Baltic countries.
• Balkan Sates: Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia,
Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, European Turkey and
Albania. Sometimes Romania and Slovenia also included
in the list.
• Scandinavia : consist of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland
and Denmark.

Europe
• Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
• Low Countries: Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg (Benelux), low
laying delta of Rhine and other rivers and lower than sea level.
• UK & France- Parts of west Europe.
• Germany- belongs to central Europe.
• France – called the country of farmers.
• Germany and UK- industrial nations.
• Vatican city- small independent country.

Physical Features
• Northwest Highlands
• Extends from Finland through Sweden, Norway, and British islands of
Iceland.
• Coastline of Norway is highly indented because of subsidence activity.
• Scandinavia exists on fanno-scandia which extends till Kola Peninsula
(Russia) and Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are located on it.
• Southern uplands in Scotland, Pennines in England and Cambrian
Mts. Of Wales are parts of it.

Physical Features
• North European Plains
• Plains of European Russia are among the most extensive plains. Volga
river drains these plains and fall into Caspian sea.
• West Siberian plains lie between Urals on West and river Yenisey on
east. River Ob, and Yenisey fall into Arctic ocean.

Physical Features
• Central Uplands
• Known by different names in different countries:
• Meseta in Spain and Portugal.
• Massif Central and Jura mountains in France.
• Black forest in Germany.
• Bakony forest in Chez Republic.
• Mainly two rivers drain the region:
• Rhine – Northward
• Rhone – southward
• Both rivers are connected by canal making it possible to navigate thorough the
continent.

The Alpine System
• Fold mountain system
• Stretch from Atlantic in the west to Caspian in east.
• Mountains are: Cantabrian Mountains Spain), Balkan, Pyrenees (make
boundary of France and Spain), Caucasus, Alps and Apennines (Italy),
Atlas (Africa) and Sierra Nevada (Spain). One more branch enters the
Asia as Dinarics and Pindus Mts. Through Yugoslavia and Greece
region. Island of Aegean and island form parts of it.
• Highest peak in Pyrenees is Pico De Aneto (3404 m)

The Alpine System
• Central Siberian Plateau lies between river Yenisey in the west and
River Lena in the East. Deeply eroded forest area.
• Moutains and uplands lies in the east of Siberia. Kamachatka
peninsula here in the region of earthquake and volcanic eruption.
• Caucasus run between black sea and Caspian sea. Mt. Elbrus (5633m)
is the highest peak of Europe lies in Russia.
• Mt. Blanc (4807 m) highest peak of Alps lies in France.

The Alpine System
• Pyrenees – makes border of France and Spain. Famous Andorra
(bases on which Andorra model is developed) is located here.
• Carpathian – mostly Ukraine and Romania.
• Caucasus- in Georgia, Armenia, and Caspian sea. Also has mt. Elbrus.
• Apennines are exclusively Italy.
• Between fold and Block mountain low land area exist:
• Plains of Andalusia, Aragon in Spain, Lower Rhone valley, Plain of
North Italy, Hungarian Plains.

Agriculture
• Wheat producing areas- Ukraine, Paris basin, Low countries (Belgium,
Netherlands, Luxemburg), North European Plains, Plains of Hungry and Po
valley of Italy.
• Flax- only fiber crop in Europe used to make Linen – grown in cool damp
lands of Belgium and Baltic states.
• Maize- France largest producer, Aquitaine and Mediterranean region, east
Europe are important producer, Orchards are important in Mediterranean
region.
• Barley and Sugar beat- Europe largest producer
• Rice – Po alley and delta region.

Agriculture
• Dairy Farming – France and Germany (major milk producers),
commercial dairy- Denmark, Scotland and Netherlands.
• Logging and Lumbering- in forest areas of Scandinavia and Russia
(Alpine and Taiga).
• Fishing- Dogger Bank (North sea), Great fisher bank. Deep sea fishing
in Norway. (technology transferred to India also).
• Important waterways- Rhine (busiest), Seine, Thames, Danube, and
Volga.

Racial Structure
• Predominantly white race is found, called Caucasoid.
• Nordic- northwest part of Europe, Holland, Denmark, Britain, North
Germany, and Scandinavia.
• Mediterranean – west if Ireland and Scotland.
• Alpine People- mountainous areas of Central and Eastern Europe.
• Slavs- eastern Europe.
• Magyars- Hungry.

Straits and Gulfs
• Strait of Gibraltar- known as ‘key to Mediterranean’ , controlled by UK.
• Strait of Kerch- joining sea of Azov and Black sea.
• Dardanelles st- key to Black sea
• English Channel- separates France and Great Britain, South Hampton (Britain) is main
port.
• Dover St. – shortest sea route between England and European Mainland, famous for
under sea tunnel.
• Gulf of Bothnia- northern extension of Baltic sea.
• Gulf of Finland- Arm of Baltic sea, low salinity and important ports- Helsinki, St.
Petersburg and Tallinn.
• Bay of Biscay- has fine Harbors, strong currents and storms, borders Spain and France.
• Kiel Canal- connects north sea to Baltic sea.

IMPORTANT RIVERS OF EUROPE
RIVERS DRAINS INTO SIGNIFICANCE
Rhine North sea Pass through rift valley, Rotterdam located on it.
Pass through Germany, France and Netherlands,
boundary between France and Germany
Rhone Gulf of Lions-
Mediterranean
Switzerland and France, connected to Rhine by
canal.
Denube Black Sea Borders Slovakia and Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania
and Bulgaria, Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia),
Budapest (Hungry), Belgrade (Serbia), and Bucharest
(Romania) are important capitals on it.
Dniper Black sea Passes through Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
Dneister Black sea Make boundary between Ukraine and Moldavia
Don Sea of Azov Exclusively in Russia and Rostov located on it.
Volga Caspian sea Longest river of Russia.
Seine English Channel Paris is located on it

IMPORTANT RIVERS OF EUROPE
RIVERS DRAINS INTO SIGNIFICANCE
Po Adriatic sea Important for agriculture, Italy, Switzerland, France
Tiber Tyrrhenian sea Rome located on it, Italy
Elbe North sea Hamburg located on it, Germany
Weser North sea Exclusively in Germany
Oder Baltic sea Makes boundary between Germany and Poland
Ebro Mediterranean sea Drains Spain
Vistula Baltic sea Warsaw (capital of Poland) located on it.
Thames North sea England, Navigation
Arranged from west to east
Loire, Seine, Rhine, Weser, Elbe, Oder, Vistula, Thames

Drainage system
• Mediterranean System- Ebro (Spain), Rhone (France), Tiber and Po
(Italy).
• Baltic System- Oder and Vistula (Poland), Neman, Savina (Baltic
states), small rivers of Finland and Luxemburg.
• North sea System- Elbe and Weser (Germany), Rhine (Germany)
• Atlantic system- Loire (France), small rivers of Spain, Portugal,
Norway, Scotland, and Ireland.
• Amu Darya and Syr Darya drain into Aral sea and Illay river join lake
Balkash.

Climate and vegetation
• Major portion lies in temperate zone.
• North Atlantic drift keeps western Europe Ice free.
• Westerlies bring warm air and create rainfall.
• Rainfall heavy in the west and reduces towards east.
• Maritime climate prevails in the west.
• Summer dry and winter rainfall climate called Mediterranean climate.
• Tundra climate in Scandinavian countries.
• Taiga and mixed forest in great plains of Europe.
• Mediterranean climate in south Europe and trees like Oak, Cyprus, Olive,
Ceder etc are important.

European Union
• European Union is a politico-economic union of 28 countries.
• The institutions under EU are : European Commission (Belgium,
Luxemburg), Council of European Union (Belgium, meting place and
presidency by Luxemburg), European Council (Belgium),Court of
Justice of European Union (Luxemburg), European Central Bank
(Frankfurt, Germany), European Court of Auditors (Luxemburg) and
European Parliament (Luxemburg).
• The European Parliament is elected every five years by EU citizens.

European Union
• The EU originated from European Coal and Steel Community (ECSE)
and European Economic Community (EEC) formed by inner six
countries (Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxemburg,
Netherlands) in 1951 and 1958.
• The last major amendment happened in EU was the Treaty of Lisbon
in 2009.
• Developed a single market through standard laws.

European Union
• The monetary union was established in 1999 and currently composed
of 19 states which use Euro as their legal tender.
• Passport system has been abolished in Schengen area (26 countries).
• The de facto capital of EU is Brussels (Belgium).

Russia
• Called country of two continents.
• Dec 1991- broke into 15 nations (USSR).
• Except Latvia, Lithuanian and Estonia 12 made Confederation of
Independent States (CIS).
• Has 76% area of former USSR, most of the independent area lies in
Europe, west of Ural mountains.
• Ural River and Caspian sea divide into Asia and Europe parts.
• Kalingrad lies on the coast of Baltic sea is a part of Russia.
• Trans Siberian Railway is largest in the world.

Russia
• Moscow the capital is a port of five seas (Caspian, Black, Baltic, Lake
Ludoga and Arctic ocean through white sea) connected with Moscow
through canals.
• Murmansk is the only ice free port of Russia.
• River Amur falls into sea of Okhotsk is 400 km long.
• Strait of Tartar- Narrowest in the world, separate mainland Russia
from Sakhalin.

Physiography of Russia
• Can be divided into 4 parts.
• The plains of Russia – world’s largest plains from Arctic to
Black and Caspian sea. About one fourth of it drained by
Volga river.
• West Siberian Plain- beyond Ural mountain, drained by
the Ob and Yenisei river. Northward region is permafrost.
• Central Siberian Plains- east of the west plains, between
Yenisei and Lena river, country begun to rise here,
permafrost region with long winters.
• Mountain and Uplands- ranges, ridges, valleys and
volcanic mountains. Lake Baikal (deepest in the world) is
here. On kamchatka peninsula is the Mt. Klyuchevskaya
(4750m). In the south are the central Asian range and
Cacasus. Compiled By - Dr. Bheekam Singh

Drainage
• Longest waterways here are mainly under frost so useful in spring and
summer.
• Three great Siberian rivers : Ob, Yenisei, Lena. Flow parallel to each
other and falls into Arctic sea.
• Baltic is the destination of Western Dvina while Don falls into Black
sea.
• Volga is the principal river and largest in the Europe and falls into
Caspian sea.

Lakes and Vegetation
• Baikal in Siberia, ladoga and Onega in European part.
• Tundra – near Arctic region from Norway to Pacific.
• Taiga- south of Taiga lies largest forest of the world.
• Mixed Deciduous – further south mixed forest.
• Steppe- south of the Mixed deciduous lies steppe
grassland.
• Together mixed forest and steppe make ‘fertile
triangle’ or Slavic core land containing greatest part of
the Soviet Population and Economy.
• Extensive desert- together with a fringe and steppe
occupies plains and hilly part.

Population
• Composed of Ethnic Russians (80%), Slavs (5%),
Finish(5%) and Jews (10%).
• Divided in different type of physiography.
• Practically uninhabited- lee than 1 person/km in
Siberian tundra and taiga region.
• Region with relatively high population- 25-
50person/km, occasionally 100person/km in mixed
deciduous and steppe region.
• Region with intermediate population- European
tundra and Taiga region and the lower Volga and
south Siberia.

United Kingdom
• North Ireland and Great Britain are under one crown. Together they
are called United Kingdom.
• Irish republic is independent.
• English channel near France 33km wide is the nearest point.
• Westerlies make Winter warm and summer cool.
• Due to conservation of various air mass weather is not stable and
that’s why doesnt has any specific climate.

France
• Second largest after Russia in Europe.
• Separated by Pyrenees mountains from Spain, By Alps from Italy and
by Jura from Switzerland and Vosges from Germany.
• Use maximum amount of Nuclear energy in the world.
• Capital Paris is on the bank of Seine.
• Lorrain field is famous for iron ore.
• Corsica island belongs to France.

Germany
• Capital Berlin on the bank of Elbe.
• Kiel canal at Jutland peninsula belongs to it.
• Western part (Federal republic of Germany) and Eastern part
(German Demographic Republic) splitted after world war 2 and united
in 1990.
• Ruhr is biggest and richest cal producing area of Europe and Soar and
Saxony are other coal producing areas.

Finland and Iceland
• Finland is called land of thousand lakes.
• Capital is Helsinki known as ‘white city of the north’ and important
sea port.
• Capital of Iceland is Reykjavik also known as smoking bay- owning to
hot geysers.
• World’s north most capital.

Denmark
• Between North sea and Baltic sea.
• Smallest Scandinavian country
• Greenland (world’s largest island belongs to it).
• Capital – Copenhagen (largest city of Denmark), is an island called the
‘key to Baltic’.
• Shares Jutland peninsula with Germany.
• Have developed dairy industry.

Norway
• Highest per capita hydel power output capacity in the world.
• Capital Oslo
• Also called the ‘land of midnight sun’.

World geography europe

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