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

Get familiar with the basic geography of Europe, including its size, borders, and notable mountain ranges like the Alps and the Carpathians.