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Europe Physical Geography Slide 2 Land Europe is part of Eurasia (Europe & Asia) Worlds largest landmass Ural Mountains divide Europe & Asia of Russia is in Europe Slide 3 Land Europe is home to 48 countries Many are the size of a state in the USA Russia Russia is the largest country in the world of Russia lies within Europe Remainder lies in Asia Europe is a peninsula with many smaller peninsulas formed by bays and harbors. The word peninsula comes from the Latin words for almost(paene) and island (insula). Slide 4 Landforms - Peninsulas In Northern Europe, the Scandinavian Peninsula is home to Norway and Sweden. Along the jagged shoreline of this peninsula are beautiful fjords. A fjord is a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea located between steep cliffs. In Western Europe, the Iberian Peninsula includes Portugal and Spain. The Iberian Peninsula is separated from the rest of the continent by a mountain range called the Pyrenees. Slide 5 Landforms - Ural Mountains Divides Europe and Asia Also called the Stone Belt Divides Russia into two parts Extend 1,550 miles from the North to South One of the worlds oldest mountain ranges Covered with flat valleys with marshes, coniferous forests, deep ravines Slide 6 4 Major Land Regions Northwestern Highlands Far northern part of Europe (Norway & Sweden) Steep sloped mountains with thin soil Few people live here (25/square mile) Successful timber industry - forests Slide 7 4 Major Land Regions North European Plain Covers over of north central Europe Most productive farmland Largest cities are located in this region today ancient trading centers. Most of Europes population lives on this landform. Slide 8 4 Major Land Regions Central Uplands Area of mountains and plateaus Rocky land not good for farming Mostly used for cattle and mineral resources Slide 9 4 Major Land Regions Alpine Mountains Southern portion of Europe From Spain across to Eastern Europe Alps are the highest mountains in this system Many popular vacation places Slide 10 Water Important Rivers Rhine & Danube Rivers Germany Seine River France Thames River England Volga River - Russia Slide 11 Water Rivers have served as transportation highways for centuries people and goods. Easier & quicker to travel over water than land. Access to the Atlantic Ocean has been important for the shipping industry. Great harbors enable trade between countries. Volga River - Freezes solid for almost 3 months of the year Few rivers in Russia are used for trade, transportation or shipping Slide 12 Dateline The ChunnelThe Chunnel What are some advantages of the Chunnel? How might improvements in transportation affect economic development? Slide 13 Gulf Stream Slide 14 Climate Slide 15 4 Major Climate Regions Northwestern Europe - Marine West Coast North Atlantic Current Even though they are far to the North, they have a mild climate. Current carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe Winds off warm waters carry moisture onto land, making it wet and keeping temperatures warm Slide 16 4 Major Climate Regions Mediterranean Sea Mediterranean Climate Hot and dry summers Mild and rainy winters Slide 17 4 Major Climate Regions Central Europe Inland areas away from major bodies of water experience very cold winters & very hot summers Northern Europe Sub Arctic climate Short, cool summers and very long cold winters Warmest days maybe 40 F Much of Russia has extreme climates Latitude locations Massive landmass Long cold winters, short mild summers Slide 18 Vegetation Varies as much as the climate Most natural vegetation forest Cleared for farms, factories and cities Northern Europe still has large coniferous forests Forest covers most of Russia Two-fifths of the countrys total territory Taiga is the largest forest in the world Nearly one-fourth of the worlds total forested area Slide 19 Vegetation Central and Southern Europe once covered by grasslands. Cleared for farming Steppe - Located in Southwest Russia The natural vegetation of a true steppe consists of a mixture of grasses with only a few stunted trees in sheltered valleys. Slide 20 Vegetation Tundra in far northern region Northern Siberia Russia Treeless plain with grasses and mosses Ground is permafrost Winter lasts up to 9 months of the year Average temperature in January -60 F Consists of 75% of countrys landmass Slide 21 Natural Resources Germany Ruhr Valley region one of worlds major industrial regions (coal) North European Plain Fertile farmland Coastlines Hydroelectric power Most resources in Russia are located in Siberia Makes it difficult to develop Slide 22 Land Use Today Slide 23 Geographical Boundaries Many mountain ranges have separated the settlement of people. Different cultures have developed across Europe. Why would this cause people to stop migrating? Slide 24 How does location, climate and natural resources impact how people live and work? United Kingdom Consists of Great Britain (England, Scotland & Wales) and Northern Ireland Location & Climate Gulf Stream keeps the climate mild Good amount of rainfall to grow crops fertile farmland Rugged coastlines great for harbors Natural Resources North and West Highland Zone (mountainous) coal, oil and natural gas Oil and natural gas also found in the North Sea Majority people live in the lowland zone 1% of the population works in agriculture Live and Work Most people live in urban areas London is the largest city Service industries banking, insurance, tourism Manufacturing industries iron, steel and electronics Slide 25 How does location, climate and natural resources impact how people live and work? Russia Location & Climate Largest country in the world Extremely cold climate due to proximity to Arctic Ocean 10% of land suitable for agriculture wheat and barley fertile??? Natural Resources Large deposits of coal, oil, natural gas and forests Difficult to harvest and transport due to harsh climate and remote locations Live & Work Most people live in the western portion on the European Plain due to its milder climate Many goods are transported by railroad because rivers and lakes are frozen most of the year Slide 26 How does location, climate and natural resources impact how people live and work? Germany Location & Climate Warm mild summers with cool winters Doesnt experience a large amount of extreme weather Mild climate is great for agriculture about of Germanys land Natural Resources Manufacturing industry drives the countrys economy steel, building materials, automobiles Huge deposits of coal and iron ore in the Ruhr region Live & Work Ruhr Valley region (western Germany) is the most densely populated large amounts of factories, cities and towns Rhine River provides transportation for products to be traded Slide 27 How does location, climate and natural resources impact how people live and work? Italy Location & Climate Moderate climate with cool winters and warm summers Colder in the mountain regions covers 70% of land Close to central Europe beneficial for trading Natural Resources Grapes largest producer of wine in the world grow along mountainsides Few mineral resources have to import/trade most resources for industries Live & Work 2/3 of population live in the northern region industry and agriculture Tourism is the most important industry due to climate and history Slide 28 Environmental Issues Acid Rain Rain that has been polluted from the chemicals released into the air from the burning of fossil fuels Major concern in Germany East Germany burned a massive amount of brown coal in order to produce electricity Released sulphur dioxide into the air causing acid rain Brown coal still accounts for of Germanys energy production have closed inefficient plants to help reduce pollution Effects of acid rain More than of Germanys trees have either been damaged or killed by acid rain Pollutes rivers and lakes killing off plants and animals Damages brick and stonework buildings Changes Strict laws have been put into place to reduce the amount of emissions factories produce Cars must have a special converter on their exhaust systems Government is working to covert energy production to oil and natural gas Slide 29 Environmental Issues Air pollution Major concern in the United Kingdom Previously resulted from factory emissions or homes burning coal for heat. Pollution in the air mixed with the fog that is common in the region creating a smog 4,000 people died in the Great London Smog of 1952 Today, pollution is caused by car exhaust and factory emissions as well as ozone Carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides hover close to the ground contaminating the air we breathe Ozone adds to the problem, forming when air pollutants mix and react with sunlight to form smog Changes Government has tightened car emission standards Endorsed the use of cleaner fuels Encouraged citizens to use public transportation Slide 30 The End