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Chapter 11

Chapter 11. The Physical Geography of Europe. Section 1: The Land. Terms to Know Places to Locate Dike * North Sea Polder * Iberian Peninsula Glaciation * Balkan Peninsula Fjord * Alps Loess * Rhine River What you will learn in this chapter?

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Chapter 11

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  1. Chapter 11 The Physical Geography of Europe

  2. Section 1: The Land Terms to Know Places to Locate • Dike * North Sea • Polder * Iberian Peninsula • Glaciation * Balkan Peninsula • Fjord * Alps • Loess * Rhine River What you will learn in this chapter? • Europe’s important land formations • Rivers, mountains, plains, islands & peninsular features • Important natural resources

  3. Section 1: The Land • Europe and Asia share landmass • Eurasia • Unlike other continents • Europe – 2nd smallest of continents • After Australia • Europe – distinct region • Juts westward from Asia has unusual long, irregular coastline • Touches many bodies of water • Atlantic Ocean • Baltic sea • North Sea • Mediterranean Sea • Black Sea

  4. Struggle with the Sea • Most of Europe lies within 300 miles of seacoast • Shaped lifestyles of people • The Netherlands – water is friend or foe • 25% of country lies below sea level • Dutch built dikes to hold back water • Large banks of earth and stone • Reclaimed new land from sea

  5. Struggle with the Sea • Reclaimed new land from sea • Polders – reclaimed lands • Once drained and kept dry by windmills • Today – other power sources run pumps to remove seawater • Polders provides lands for farming and settlement • Sometimes stormy seas breach dikes & create floods

  6. The Northern Peninsulas • Europe is large peninsula made of smaller peninsulas • Scandinavian Peninsula – far north • Glaciation – process where glaciers form and spread over peninsula • Glaciers carved out long, narrow, steep-sided inlets – fjords (fee * AWRDZ) • Atlantic coastline

  7. The Northern Peninsulas • Most of Norway and n. Sweden is mountainous • S. Sweden – lowlands slope to Baltic Sea • Norway, Sweden and Finland – Ice Age glaciers left behind thousands of sparkling lakes

  8. The Northern Peninsulas • Jutland – peninsula that forms mainland of Denmark and extends into North Sea (toward Norway & Sweden) • Glaciers deposited sand & gravel on Jutland’s flat western side • Carved fjords in the higher coastline on east • Flat lands or low hills – most of Jutland’s interior

  9. The Southern Peninsulas • Iberian Peninsula – SW edge of Europe • Home of Spain and Portugal • Separates Atlantic Ocean form Mediterranean Sea • Strait of Gibraltar – separates southern tip from Africa • 20 miles of water

  10. The Southern Peninsulas • Most of peninsula is semiarid plateau • Rises above coastal plains • In north – Pyrenees (PIHR * uh * NEEZ) Mountains cut off peninsula from rest of Europe • Result – people of peninsula isolated from rest of Europe & oriented towards the sea

  11. The Southern Peninsulas • Apennine (A*puh*NYN) Peninsula – Italy is located there • Extends into Mediterranean Sea • Like a giant boot • Coastline varies from high, rocky cliffs to long, sandy beaches • Apennines – mountain chain that includes an active volcano – Mount Vesuvius • Near city of Naples • Plains cover 1/3 of area • Largest fertile plain of Lombardy • Along Po River in north

  12. The Southern Peninsulas • Balkan peninsula – se Europe • Bounded by Adriatic and Ionian Seas on west & Aegean/Black Seas on east • Made up of mountain ranges and valleys stretch southward from Danube River • Travel difficult b/c of craggy landscape

  13. Europe’s Islands • Europe has many islands • Iceland – located south of Arctic Circle in N. Atlantic Ocean • Lies along Mid-Atlantic Ridge • Has volcanoes, hot springs and geysers • Glaciers found next to volcanoes & hot springs • Due to Iceland’s northern location

  14. Europe’s Islands • Homes and industries – most located in capital of Reykjavik (RAY*kyah*VEEK) • Pipe in water from hot springs for heat • Coast made up of grassy lowlands • Land rises sharply to form inland plateau

  15. Europe’s Islands • British Isles – nw of European mainland • Two large islands • Great Britian & Ireland • Thousands of smaller islands • N. and W. G.B. – mountain ranges, plateaus and deep valleys • S. G.B. – low hills & gently rolling plains

  16. Europe’s Islands • Ireland – called “Emerald Isle” • Lush green land of cool temps and lots of rainfall • Rugged coastline of GB feature rocky cliffs dropping to deep bays

  17. Europe’s Islands • Islands – south of European mainland • In Mediterranean Sea • Rugged mountains form larger islands: • Sicily, Sardnia, Corsica, Crete & Cyprus • Volcanic & earthquake in region • Mt. Etna – highest active volcano – rises over Sicily

  18. Europe’s Islands • Smaller islands in Med. Sea • Balearic Islands (Spain) • Malta (5 islands) • Greece (2,000 islands – Aegean Sea) • Draws tourists b/c of scenic, rugged landscape

  19. Mountains and Plains • Mainland consists of plains interrupted by mountains • run through interior • Along northern and southern edges

  20. Mountain Regions • Northwestern mountains • Ancient rock formations • Rounded by eons of erosion and glaciation • Low peaks • Ben Nevis – highest mountain in British Isles – 4,406 feet • Central Uplands • Iberian Peninsula to eastern Europe • Low, rounded mountains • High plateaus • Scattered forests • Include Meseta (Spain’s central plateau) and Massif Central (France central highlands)

  21. Mountain Regions • Southern Europe • Geologically younger mountains • High & jagged • Pyrenees Mountains formed by crust lifting and folding • Thrust upward to 11,000 feet • Alps formed by glaciation and folding • Forms crescent from s. Europe to Balkan Peninsula • Highest peak – Mont Blanc – 15,771 feet on border of France and Italy

  22. Mountain Regions • Major rivers originate in Alps • Rhine and Po • Alps form barrier that separates warm, dry climate of Mediterranean region from cooler climates of north • Carpathian Mountains – towering mountain chain • Runs through eastern Europe from Slovakia to Romania

  23. Plains Regions • Broad plains curve around highlands • North European Plain – stretches from SE England and W. France eastward to Poland, Ukraine and Russia • Fertile soil & wealth of rivers drew farmers to area • Plain still major agricultural region • Southern edge very fertile b/c deposits of loess • Fine, rich, wind-borne soil that covers area

  24. Plains Regions • Deposits in North European Plain include coal, iron ore and other minerals • Led to western Europe’s industrial development in 1800s • Today many large cities located on plain • Paris & Berlin • Great Hungarian Plain – from Hungary to Croatia, Serbia, Romania • Cultivate gains, fruit and vegetables in area • Also raise livestock in lowlands along Danube

  25. Water Systems • Many water systems flow from inland mountain and highland areas to coasts • Connect navigable rivers with canals • Enhanced natural waterways as transportation links • Rivers & canals also provide water to irrigate farmland and produce electricity

  26. Water Systems • Rivers have differing characteristics • Scandinavia – rivers short & do not provide easy connection b/w cities • Iberian Peninsula – main rivers too narrow and shallow for large slips • Thames River (TEHMZ) – in England – allows ocean going ships to reach port of London

  27. Water Systems • Heartland of Europe • Long rivers provide links b/w inland areas as well as to sea • Rhine – most important river in western Europe • Flows from Swiss Alps through France & Germany into Netherlands • Connect many industrial cities to Rotterdam • Busy port on North Sea

  28. Water Systems • Danube River – flows from Germany’s Black Forest to Black Sea • Eastern Europe’s major waterway • Every year – millions of tons of cargo carried on river by ships & barges • Main (MYN) River – tributary of Rhine • b/c connected to Danube in 1992 • Main-Danube Canal completed • Linked North Sea with Black Sea

  29. Water Systems • Other major European Rivers: • France: Seine, Rhone, Loire • Germany: Elbe, Weser • Poland: Vistula • Italy: Po • Ukraine: Dnieper

  30. Natural Resources • Long history of utilizing natural resources • i.e. energy sources, agricultural areas, water and minerals • Abundant supply of coal & iron ore • Fueled development of modern industry

  31. Natural Resources • Coal • Major reserves in U.K., Germany, Ukraine and Poland • Many coalfields depleted or expensive too mine • Western Europe • Iron Ore • Large deposits in n. Sweden, ne France and s. Ukraine • Other mineral resources: • Bauxite, zinc, manganese

  32. Natural Resources • Fuel is scarce – in some countries • Burn peat • Vegetable matter found in swamps and usually composed of mosses • Dug up, chopped into blocks and dried so it can be burned • Mostly rely on coal, oil, gas and nuclear/hydroelectric power • Large deposits of oil and natural gas under North Sea • Contribute to energy needs • France – no oil or gas reserves • Nuclear power

  33. Section 2: Climate & Vegetation Terms to Know Places to Locate Timberline Gulf Stream Foehn North Atlantic Drift Avalanche Mistral Sirocco Chaparral Permafrost

  34. Water and Land • Climates and vegetation vary • Cold, barren tundra & subarctic land of Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland • Warm, shrub-covered Mediterranean coasts of Italy, Spain and Greece

  35. Water and Land • What determines climate in Europe? • Northern latitude and relation to sea • W. and S. Europe – lie near/along large bodies of water • Benefit from warm maritime winds • Mild climate compared to other places in world at same latitude • i.e. Paris and Boston – same distance from Arctic Circle • Jan. temps of Paris milder then Boston • E. and N. Europe – colder climate than rest of Europe • Due to distance from warming effects of Atlantic Ocean

  36. Water and Land • Location influences vegetation in Europe • Natural vegetation varies from: • forests and grasslands • Tundra and small shrubs

  37. Western Europe • Marine West climate – most of W. Europe • Mild winters, cool summer, abundant rainfall • Gulf Stream in Atlantic Ocean and North Atlantic Drift (northern extension of Gulf Stream) • Bring warm waters to area from Gulf of Mexico/regions near equator • Warm, most air blow across surface of Europe • Due to prevailing westerly winds

  38. Trees and Highlands • W. Europe – varieties of deciduous and coniferous trees • Deciduous trees thrive in marine west coast climate • Coniferous trees found in cooler Alpine mountains up to timberline • Elevation above which trees can’t grow

  39. Trees and Highlands • Alps – highland climate • Colder temps and more precipitation then lowland areas • Sudden changes can occur with foehns(FUHNZ) winds • Dry winds that blow down from mountains into valleys and plains • This wind can trigger avalanches • Destructive masses of ice, snow and rock sliding down mountainsides

  40. Ireland’s Forests • Region originally covered by forests • Vegetation transformed due to human settlement and clearing of land • i.e. prior 1600s – midlands of Ireland covered with forests of broad-leaved trees • Afterwards – forests depleted due to agriculture pressure and large-scale harvest of trees for firewood • 1922- Ireland gained independence – only 1% of country woodland • Woodlands building backup • Due to state-funded deforestation projects

  41. Peninsulas of Europe • Peninsulas – itself a peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is characterized by the number of peninsulas that are found there. The most significant peninsulas are: • Iberian Peninsula – Spain and Portugal • Italian Peninsula – Italy • Jutland Peninsula – Denmark • Scandinavian Peninsula – Norway, Sweden, and Finland • Fjords are steep U-shaped valleys that connect to the sea and that filled with seawater after the glaciers from an Ice Age melted. • Balkan Peninsula – Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia & Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, and Bulgaria (among others) • British Isles – England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland

  42. D F C A E B

  43. Southern Europe • Mediterranean climate • Warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters • Other climates found in small area • i.e. humid subtropical climate from N. Italy to central Balkan Peninsula • Parts of Spain’s Meseta h- dry, steppe climate

  44. Southern Europe • Alps – block moist Atlantic winds • Less precipitation in S. Europe • Winds in region can cause changes in normal weather patterns • Mistral – strong north wind from Alps • Sends gusts of bitterly cold air into S. France • Siroccos – high, dry winds from N. Africa • Bring high temps to area

  45. Eastern & Northern Europe • Climate mostly humid continental • Cold, snowy winters and hot summers • Atlantic currents – less influence in area • Farther away from Atlantic Ocean • Summer & winter temps vary more then rest of Europe

  46. Eastern & Northern Europe • Eastern Europe – mix of deciduous and coniferous forests • Coniferous trees – survive long, cold winters • Found in parts of Scandinavia and Baltic Sea region • Grasslands – cover other parts of this area • Esp. Hungary, Yugoslavia and Romania

  47. Eastern & Northern Europe • Far N. Europe – such as Iceland, n. Scandinavia and Finland • Subarctic and tundra climates • Bitterly cold winters and short, cool summers • Permafrost – soil that is permanently frozen below surface • Little vegetation except mosses and small shrubs and wildflowers

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