European Geography Overview

European Geography Overview

• Europe is the second-smallest continent, covering approximately 10.1 million km² (3.9 million sq mi)
• Bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south
• Shares borders with Asia to the east, separated by the Ural Mountains

Mountain Ranges

• The Alps: stretching across 8 countries, including France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria
• The Carpathians: located in Central and Eastern Europe, covering parts of Romania, Ukraine, and Poland
• The Pyrenees: separating France and Spain
• The Apennines: running along the Italian Peninsula
• The Balkan Mountains: stretching across Bulgaria and Serbia

Major Rivers

• Danube River: flowing through 10 countries, including Germany, Austria, and Romania
• Volga River: longest river in Europe, flowing through Russia
• Rhine River: flowing through Switzerland, Austria, and Germany
• Elbe River: flowing through the Czech Republic and Germany
• Loire River: flowing through France

Islands and Peninsulas

• The British Isles: comprising the UK and Ireland
• The Iberian Peninsula: comprising Spain and Portugal
• The Italian Peninsula: comprising Italy
• The Balkan Peninsula: comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia
• Iceland: an island nation in the North Atlantic

Climate and Vegetation

• Temperate climate in the north and west, with cold winters and mild summers
• Mediterranean climate in the south, with hot summers and mild winters
• Alpines and mountainous regions have a harsher climate
• Vegetation varies from tundra in the north to forests in the middle latitudes and Mediterranean scrub in the south

European Geography Overview

• Europe is the second-smallest continent, covering approximately 10.1 million km² (3.9 million sq mi)
• It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south
• Europe shares borders with Asia to the east, separated by the Ural Mountains

Mountain Ranges

• The Alps stretch across 8 countries, including France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria
• The Carpathians are located in Central and Eastern Europe, covering parts of Romania, Ukraine, and Poland
• The Pyrenees separate France and Spain
• The Apennines run along the Italian Peninsula
• The Balkan Mountains stretch across Bulgaria and Serbia

Major Rivers

• The Danube River flows through 10 countries, including Germany, Austria, and Romania
• The Volga River is the longest river in Europe, flowing through Russia
• The Rhine River flows through Switzerland, Austria, and Germany
• The Elbe River flows through the Czech Republic and Germany
• The Loire River flows through France

Islands and Peninsulas

• The British Isles comprise the UK and Ireland
• The Iberian Peninsula comprises Spain and Portugal
• The Italian Peninsula comprises Italy
• The Balkan Peninsula comprises Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia
• Iceland is an island nation in the North Atlantic

Climate and Vegetation

• Temperate climate in the north and west, with cold winters and mild summers
• Mediterranean climate in the south, with hot summers and mild winters
• Alpines and mountainous regions have a harsher climate
• Vegetation varies from tundra in the north to forests in the middle latitudes and Mediterranean scrub in the south