European Geography
Northern Peninsulas
The Scandinavian Peninsula, which is bordered by the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea, extends across the Arctic Circle and is divided into Norway and Sweden. The movement of glaciers during the Ice Age in this region is evident in the remaining soil. The glaciers stripped away the rich topsoil and left behind only thin, rocky soil that is not ideal for agricultural production.
Carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age, fjords are a landform found in Iceland and Scandinavia. Often separated by narrow peninsulas, fjords are rugged, steep, U-shaped valleys that extend far inland as connections to the sea that filled with seawater after the glaciers melted. They can reach depths of over 4,000 feet. Today, small villages can often be found at the head of fjords, where an entering stream may create a delta that enriches the soil and is ideal for agriculture and settlement. Fjords can be found in other locations, such as New Zealand, Chile, Alaska, and British Columbia.
The Jutland Peninsula lies directly across the North Sea, reaching up toward Scandinavia. Both Denmark and a small portion of Germany are contained on this extension of a broad plain that reaches across northern Europe. The soil here is very different from that found on the Scandinavian Peninsula, as the plains consist of gently rolling hills and swampy low-lying areas.
Southern Peninsulas
The Iberian Peninsula, which consists of Spain and Portugal, is separated from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees Mountains. This peninsula divides the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea and features the Strait of Gibraltar, where ships can enter the Mediterranean from the Atlantic. In this area, less than one mile separates the continents of Europe and Africa.
The boot-shaped Italian Peninsula is the location of Italy. This peninsula extends into the Mediterranean Sea and has approximately 4,700 miles of coastline.
The Balkan Peninsula is located in the southeastern corner of Europe. With Greece at its tip, this peninsula is divided into multiple countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and part of Turkey. It is bordered by the Adriatic, Mediterranean, and Aegean Seas. Its mountainous terrain makes transportation especially challenging.
Not only does Europe contain numerous peninsulas, but it also has several island countries found in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. These island nations have all relied upon Europe's intricate trade networks to survive and thrive throughout history. Europe's North Atlantic islands are Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, and Greenland. The latter two of these islands were settled by Scandinavians and are far from mainland Europe, but they have maintained cultural ties with the mainland throughout history. Although Greenland is self-governing, it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which is located on the European mainland. Europe's Mediterranean islands include Cyprus, Malta, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Crete. They were settled by a variety of people.
United Kingdom
Greenland
Iceland
Mediterranean Islands
Mountains and Uplands
Europe's mountains and uplands are landforms that have not only affected the climate of the region, but have also affected the ways in which the population is distributed and interacts. Just as these landforms act as barriers against winds that affect the climate, they also prevent the interaction and spread of people, goods, and ideas. Mountainous areas typically provide opportunities for skiing, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
The Alps are a mountain system that extends for almost 700 miles into south-central Europe, and they comprise the most famous of Europe's mountain chains. The Alps have ranges that form a crescent shape from southern France's coastline to Albania's coastline on the Adriatic Sea. This mountain range effectively provides a natural barrier between Italy and the rest of Europe.
Pyrenees Mountains, located between France and Spain. These mountains, which extend approximately 270 miles from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea, restrict movement from France to Spain and Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula.
The Apennine Mountains are often described as the spine or backbone of the Italian Peninsula, as they run north to south for 830 miles through the center of Italy. These mountains not only divide the Italian Peninsula into eastern and western sections, but are also the source of almost all of the rivers there.
Dividing the Balkan Peninsula from the rest of Europe, the Balkan Mountains extend from Serbia across Bulgaria. Throughout history, these mountains have isolated various groups of people in the region.
The highest points in Europe are Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus Mountains, at 18,481 feet tall, and Mont Blanc in the Alps, at 15,771 feet tall. Mont Blanc, which can be found between France and Italy, is a little more than half as high as Mount Everest. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world and reaches over 29,000 feet. Over the course of time, both France and Italy have claimed Mont Blanc as their own.
Europe's Rivers
Europe contains a network of rivers that connects regions and enables the transport of people, goods, services, and ideas. The rivers in Europe are important resources for travel, industry, agriculture, transportation, and infrastructure. Many of Europe's rivers connect the continent's interior with the surrounding seas and oceans, enabling larger connections and the ability to travel to, and trade with, a wider variety of people.
The Danube River is the most multinational river basin in the world, as it passes through the center of Europe at its west to the Black Sea in the east. Stretching about twice the length of California, the Danube touches nine countries in its 1,771-mile course
The Rhine River, which is about half as long as the Mississippi River, stretches 820 miles from Europe's interior to the North Sea. The port city of Rotterdam is at the mouth of the Rhine River.
On the Iberian Peninsula, the Tagus River flows from the peninsula's center to the Atlantic Ocean.
Near the Cantabrian Mountains in Spain, the Ebro River runs almost the entire length of the Iberian Peninsula and empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
Located in the north of France, the Loire River runs north to empty into the Bay of Biscay.
The Seine River has always been important to French culture and the spreading of ideas as well as goods. It runs north through Paris to the coast at the English Channel.
The Rhône River runs south through Lyon, France, to the Mediterranean Sea.
East of the Rhine River are three rivers that run vertically in eastern Europe: the Elbe River, Oder River, and the Vistula River.
The Elbe runs north through Germany to the North Sea. The Oder and Vistula run north through Poland to the Baltic Sea.
Moving down to the Alps, you will find the Po River.
The Tiber River runs close to Rome.
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