Geography: Countries of Europe

Europe Overview

• Second smallest continent
• Contains 44 countries: 10 in Northern, 10 in Eastern, 9 in Western, and 15 in Southern Europe

Northern Europe

• Subdivided into the Baltic region, British Isles, and Scandinavia
• Includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom

Eastern Europe

• Home to the largest and most populous nation in all of Europe
• Includes Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechia (Czech Republic), Hungary, Poland, The Republic of Moldova, Romania, The Russian Federation, Slovakia, and Ukraine

Western Europe

• Consists of member states of the European Union, except for Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Monaco
• Includes Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Monaco

Southern Europe

• Largest countries consist of Spain, Italy, and Greece
• Smallest countries consist of Vatican City, Malta, and San Marino
• Includes Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Vatican City

Transcontinental Countries

• Nations having territories on two continents

Countries in Both Asia & Europe

• Russia
• Turkey
• Kazakhstan
• Azerbaijan
• Georgia
• Armenia
• Cyprus

The British Isles

• The United Kingdom's official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• London is it's capital
• Full English Breakfast and Scone are gastronomy foods

United Kingdom vs Great Britain

• The United Kingdom is a sovereign nation
• The United Kingdom includes four constituent countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
• Great Britain is the largest island in the British Isles archipelago
• Great Britain encompasses three of the UK's constituent countries: England, Scotland, and Wales

The Constituents Countries of United Kingdom

• Wales
• Scotland
• England
• Northern Ireland

England (London)

• Tourist attractions include London Bridge, Big Ben, the London Eye (Millennium Wheel), Buckingham Palace, and Stonehenge

Wales (Cardiff)

• Cardiff Castle is a major tourist attraction

Scotland (Edinburgh)

• Tourist attractions include Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Great Glen (containing Lochy, Oich, and Ness), and the Loch Ness Monster (Surgeon’s photograph)

Northern Ireland (Belfast)

• The Giant’s Causeway and Titanic Belfast are major tourist attractions

Ireland (Dublin)

• St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated every March 17th with parades and good luck charms
• St. Stephen’s Day/Wren Day (Lá an Dreoilín) is a traditional festival on December 6th
• Leprechauns are part of Irish folklore
• Guinness Brewery
• Irish Stew, Coddle, Irish Corned Beef, and Colcannon are foods

Scandinavia

• Primarily includes Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
• Often includes Finland and Iceland
• Includes the Faroe Islands, a self-governing part of Denmark

Denmark (Copenhagen)

• Smørrebrød and Stegt Flæsk (national dish) are gastronomy foods
• The Little Mermaid, Egeskov Castle, and Nyhavn are major tourist attractions

Finland (Helsinki)

• Santa Claus is known as Joulupukki or "Yule Goat"
• Karjalanpaisti/Karelian Hot Pot (Karelian Stew), and Poronkäristys/Sautéed Reindeer are gastronomy foods
• Tourist attractions include Suomenlinna Fortress, Turku Castle, Lake Saimaa, and the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

Sweden (Stockholm)

• Meatballs and Surströmming (smelliest food) are gastronomy foods
• Tourist attractions include Kebnekaise (highest mountain), the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), Örebro Castle, and the Vasa Museum

Norway (Oslo)

• Tourist attractions: Lysefjord (Fjords), Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), Sognefjord (Fjord) (“The king of the Fjords”), and Svalbard

Iceland (Reykjavík)

• Tourist attractions include the Blue Lagoon, Aurora Borealis, Landmannalaugar, and Gullfoss Waterfall

Baltic Countries

• Estonia
• Latvia
• Lithuania

Estonia (Tallinn)

• The Singing Revolution was an independence movement between 1987-1991
• Tourist attractions include the Historic Centre (Old Town), Lahemaa National Park (Estonia’s largest national park), Rakvere Castle, and Jägala Waterfalls

Latvia (Riga)

• Pelēkie zirni ar speki (grey peas with bacon) and Rupjmaize are gastronomy foods
• Tourist attractions include Gauja National Park, Rundale Palace Museum, and Kuldiga

Lithuania (Vilnius)

• Cepelinai (Zeppelins) (National dish) and Fried Bread (Kepta Duona) are gastronomy foods
• Tourist attractions include the Hill of Crosses, Vilnius Old Town, and Trakai Island

Poland (Warsaw)

• Nicolaus Copernicus was a famous astronomer
• Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize
• Frédéric Chopin was a famous composer and pianist
• Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyla (John Paul II) was the first Polish pope
• Wawel Castle (legendary coronation sword szczerbiec)
• Malbork Castle
• Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines

Czechoslovakia (Prague)

• Existed from 1918-1992
• January 1, 1993, split into 2 countries: Czech Republic and Slovakia

Czech Republic (Prague)

• Prague Castle
• St. Vitus Cathedral
• Old Town Square

Slovakia (Bratislava)

• Orava Castle
• Vikoline
• Spis Castle

Germany (Berlin)

• Known as "The Land of Poets and Thinkers"
• Hosts Oktoberfest, the world’s largest Volksfest
• Schnitzel and Black Forest Gateau are gastronomy foods
• Tourist attractions include the Black Forest, Cologne Cathedral, The Shrine of the Magi, Neuschwanstein Castle, and the Berlin Wall Memorial

Netherlands (Amsterdam)

• Tourist attractions include the Windmills of Kinderdijk, Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, and Heineken

Switzerland (Bern)

• Tourist attractions: Lake Brienz, Iseltwald, Geneva, Lake Geneva, Zurich (Switzerland's largest city), Matterhorn (on Toblerone packaging).

Republic of Belarus (Minsk)

• Braslav Lake
• Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park
• Mir Castle

Republic of Moldova (Chisinau)

• Chisinau
• Orheiul Vechi Archeological Landscape
• Cricova Winery
• Soroca Fort

Greece (Athens)

• Greece is divided into 3 regions, The mainland, the islands, The Peloponnese peninsula
• Moussaka and Souvlaki are gastronomy foods foods
• Acropolis of Athens
• Meteora
• Mount Olympus (Greece's highest mountain)
• Ancient Olympia

Turkey (Ankara)

• Hagia Sophia
• Cappadocia
• Troy

Italy and the Vatican

• Pasta, Pizza, Cheese, and Wine are gastronomy foods
• Colosseum (Roman amphitheater)
• The Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of Nativity of Saint Mary)
• Venice
• Trevi Fountain
• Naples
• Pompeii
• Pantheon

Vatican City (Vatican City)

• Smallest Country in the world
• Home of the pope
• Vatican City
• Papal Apartment
• Sistine Chapel
• Papal Basilica of Saint Peter (Saint Peter's Basilica)

France (Paris)

• Joan of Arc
• Napoleon Bonaparte
• Gabrielle Coco (Coco Chanel)
• Bernard Aurnalt (Louis Vuitton)
• Ratatouille
• Crème Brûlée
• Beef Bourguignon
• Different Types of Bread
• Eiffel Tower
• Louvre Museum and Pyramid (World’s largest and most visited museum)
• Notre Dame de Paris
• Arc de Triomphe

Russian Federation (Moscow)

• Largest country in the world
• Vinaigrette is a gastronomy food
• Beef Stroganoff
• Savior on the Spilled Blood (The Church of Resurrection)
• St. Basil’s Cathedral (Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed)
• Lake Baikal

Ukraine (Kyiv)

• "Breadbasket of Europe"
• Second largest country in Europe
• Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
• St. Sophia’s Cathedral
• Kamenets Podolsky Castle

Selected Countries in Balkan

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Kosovo
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• Portions of Greece and Turkey

Romania (Bucharest)

• Came from Latin word “Romanus” means “Citizen of the Roman Empire”
• Old Princely Court and Church
• St. Anthony’s Church
• Romanian Athenaeum

Bulgaria (Sofia)

• Land of the roses
• Varna (Sea Capital of Bulgaria)
• Veliko Tarnovo
• Zheravna
• Rila Monastery

Croatia (Zagreb)

• Minceta Tower
• Diocletian’s Palace
• Bokar Fortress

Iberian Peninsula

• Occupied by Spain and Portugal

Portugal (Lisbon)

• Caldo Verde
• Chicken Piri-Piri
• Guimarães
• Ponta da Piedade
• Monastery of the Demonicans of Batalha
• São Jorge Castle
• Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones)

Spain (Madrid)

• Philippines was named after Prince Philip (later King Philip II) of Spain.
• Gazpacho (Andalusian gazpacho)
• Tortilla
• Churros
• Paella Valenciana

Africa

• Second largest continent
• Egyptian word - Afru-ika = Motherland
• Greek word - Aphrike = Without cold
• Latin word - Aprika = Sunny
• Has 8 major physical regions: Sahara Sahel Ethiopian Highlands Savanna Swahili Coast Rainforest African Great Lakes Southern Africa
• Has 54 countries

Egypt (Cairo)

​ Egyptian Mummy

• ​ Cleopatra - last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt & last Pharaoh of the ancient civilization. Tourist Attractions: ​ Nile River ​ The Great Pyramids and Great Sphinx ​ The Great Pyramid of Giza (has 3 principal pyramids: Khufu (Cheops), Khafre, Menkaure ​ The Great Sphinx of Giza

Nigeria (Abuja)

“Giant of Africa” Tourist Attractions: ​ Zuma Rock