2.19. Eastern Europe: Geography and Countries

• Eastern Europe includes Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo.
• Among these, the countries of the Balkan Peninsula are Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo.
• Bulgaria and Romania are also known as countries of Southeastern Europe.

Geographical Position

• Eastern Europe extends from the Western European sub-region to the Russian region.
• To the north, it is bordered by the Baltic Sea, while to the southwest, it is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea.
• Eastern Europe has a fairly favorable geographical position because it can connect with all European sub-regions, as well as the regions of Russia, North Africa, and Southwest Asia.
• The exit of the sub-region to some seas (Baltic, Black Sea, Mediterranean) as well as river valleys in the interior creates connecting routes and suitable areas for the transport of goods and people.

Physical Conditions

• Eastern Europe is an area with quite diverse physical conditions.
• The terrain combines mountains, hills, and plains.
• To the north extends the German-Polish plain, which crosses the North European Plain.
• In the central and southern parts, there are mountainous and hilly areas, separated by small fertile plains.
• West of Transylvania is a continuation of the Carpathian Mountains.
• The plain of Wallachia extends between them, crossed by the Danube River.
• To the north of these plains are the mountains of Central Balkans, while to the southwest are the Dinaric Alps.
• As for the climate, the Eastern European sub-region is an intermediate zone between the marine climate of Western Europe and the continental climate in the east.
• The Mediterranean climate is found in the West to the interior of the Balkans.
• In the eastern part, the continental climate becomes more pronounced in eastern Poland.
• The southeastern territories of these countries, with a Mediterranean climate, are affected by air masses coming from the Black Sea.
• The sub-region has a dense network of rivers, the largest of which is the Danube.
• Danube rises in southern Germany and flows into the Black Sea.
• It is a navigable river and along its course passes through 8 countries of the sub-region (Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova and Ukraine) and two outside of it (Austria and Germany).
• The river is an important transport route that connects the countries of the sub-region.
• There are also a series of other rivers that flow into the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean.
• Eastern Europe also stands out for the diversity of its soils and living organisms.

Population of Eastern Europe

• The Eastern European sub-region has approximately 190 million inhabitants, with an average density of around 16 inhabitants per square kilometer.
• The most densely populated areas are northeastern Czechia, southern Poland, the urban areas of Ukraine, and the area around Budapest, while the mountainous areas have the lowest density.

Overview of Eastern European countries including Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine. Focus on geographical position, bordering seas and connections with other sub-regions. Includes countries of the Balkan Peninsula.