In terms of shape, Europe is a collection of connected peninsulas and nearby islands. Many of its events encouraged community involvement and civic engagement. Many of the most socially and economically powerful elements of these societies will be led by immigrants.Developing countries, such as those in eastern and southern Europe, are expected to bear the worst of the depopulation trend. The low starting elevation makes the Volga a slow flowing river. Yet it was not until the 19th and 20th centuries that modern science was able to draw with some precision the geologic and geographic lineaments of the European continent, the peoples of which had meanwhile achieved domination overand set in motion vast countervailing movements amongthe inhabitants of much of the rest of the globe (see Western colonialism). If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Key Facts. For discussion of individual countries of the continent, see specific articles by namee.g., Italy, Poland, and United Kingdom. Holland is a nation of cyclists. Nearly 100% of Ukraine's adult population is literate. About 18% of all Europeans consider themselves as atheist or not religious. The Apennines, Dinaric Alps, and Balkan Mountains, as well as the arc-shaped Carpathian Mountains and their southern portion, the Transylvanian Alps, also exhibit high elevations. The southeast boundary with Asia is not universally defined, but the modern definition is generally the Ural River or, less commonly, the Emba River. Physiographically, it is the northwestern peninsula of the larger landmass known as Eurasia (or the larger Afro-Eurasia); Asia occupies the centre and east of this continuous landmass. One Capital of Culture of 2011, Turku, Finland, focused on cultures positive influence on health and well-being. A growing percentage of people in urban areas are employed in a wide range of service activities, which have come to dominate the economies of most countries. Critics argue the move was racist.Future IssuesAn important predictor of Europes political and economic future is its efforts to minimize the effects of climate change.Europe is often seen as a world leader in environmentally friendly technologies and legislation. Some of these concepts include the idea of an elected Senate and the stationing of military troops outside a countrys home region.World War I and World War II dramatically affected the political geography of Europe. It is the continent's second largest island (after Great Britain). Europe's population is 741.4 million people. Enacting regional social policies and economic legislation, especially through bodies like the European Union, may help curb that trend. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. With such a large number of nationalities compacted into such a small area, Europe strongly supports individual cultural identities and products.The European Capitals of Culture program, started in 1985, has become one of Europes most important and high-profile cultural events. Still another scheme with many adherents locates the continental boundary along the Aras River and the Turkish border, thereby putting Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in Europe. Iceland is usually included in Europe because it is over twice as close to mainland Europe as mainland North America. When it . It is bounded by the North Sea in the north and west. For discussion of major cities of the continent, see specific articles by namee.g., Rome, Warsaw, and London. Lesotho (landlocked within South Africa), is the only other country in the world surrounded entirely by another country. Mount Olympus is Greece's highest mountain at 9,570 feet (2,917 meters) above sea level. Trees also grow in that southernmost region, including the Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), cypress, and cork oak (Quercus suber). The five most spoken native languages in Europe are Russian, German, French English, Turkish and Italian. Kazakhstan. Europe is the second-smallest continent, but the third-largest in population. Glaciers are found in a surprisingly large number of European countries, including Iceland, Norway, Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The financial crisis, along with concerns about immigrants connections to terrorism and religious extremism, has caused Europe to develop a more guarded approach to immigration. Today, this is the German-speaking region of the country.Around this same time, Roman conquerors took over present-day southern Switzerland. Corrections? The tundra, found in Iceland and the northern reaches of Scandinavia and Russia, is a treeless region where small mosses, lichens, and ferns grow. Sub-regions such as Iberia and Italy contain their own complex features, as does mainland Europe itself, where the relief contains many plateaus, river valleys, and basins that complicate the general trend. (South of Northern Ireland is the separate country of Ireland, which gained its independence from the U.K. in 1937.) The major shallow water bodies submerging parts of the northern plains are the Celtic Sea, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea complex, and the Barents Sea. Kosovo is a. Literally, Europa is now thought to have meant Mainland, rather than the earlier interpretation, Sunset. It appears to have suggested itself to the Greeks, in their maritime world, as an appropriate designation for the extensive northerly lands that lay beyond, lands with characteristics vaguely known yet clearly different from those inherent in the concepts of Asia and Libyaboth of which, relatively prosperous and civilized, were associated closely with the culture of the Greeks and their predecessors. As Ive talked about fire (volcanoes), it wouldnt be right to leave ice out of the geography facts of Europe. The coasts of the northwestern highlandsand in particular the fjords of Norwayinvite maritime enterprise. These camps were mostly populated by Roma, also called Gypsies. Swiss-Italian is distinguishable from Italian.Romansch, an endangered language, is also derived from Latin. The goals of the program are local, regional, and global. The Kimmel Falls are in Hohe Tauen National Park and are one of Austrias most visited tourist attractions. It is 1733 meters (5,686 feet) deep and is located near the Swiss and Italian borders, in the area of the Savoy Alps close to the village of Samoens. This rescue package has caused tensions to rise between economically competitive countries and the indebted countries that they are helping to rescue. Eastern Europe is everything east of Germany, Austria, and Italy. The western part of the continent clearly has a high proportion of coastline with good maritime access and often with . It is characterized by simple, minimalist design and low-cost mass production. The cold water surrounding northern Britain and Scandinavia is home to unique species of cold-water corals. Lake Ladoga is the worlds 14th largest lake by area, and Russia also has the deepest lake in the world Lake Baikal. 1. In 2000 the population was 857 million, using a definition which includes the whole of the transcontinental countries of Russia and Turkey. Europes largest and longest river is the Volga. Turkey and Cyprus in particular, while geologically Asian, possess elements of European culture and may be regarded as parts of Europe. Whats the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Not only is Mount Etna the highest volcanic peak in Europe but it is still active. A study completed by the Berlin Institute for Population and Development found that Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, western Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria, and France have the best prospects of supporting vibrant and economically successful societies. Regional climatic contrasts nevertheless exist: oceanic, Mediterranean, and continental types occur widely, as do gradations from one to the other. As observed on Germany's physical map, the country's topography varies significantly from north to south. Ethnic Groups / People of Europe are at 87. In partitioning the globe into meaningful large geographic units, therefore, most modern geographers treated the former Soviet Union as a distinct territorial entity, comparable to a continent, that was somewhat separate from Europe to the west and from Asia to the south and east; that distinction has been maintained for Russia, which constituted three-fourths of the Soviet Union. The only primate native to Europe, the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), inhabits this Mediterranean basin. The consensus is, however, that the largest glacier in Europe is the Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland. Europe extends from the island nation of Iceland in the west to the Ural Mountains of Russia in the east. The Danubian and northern Italian lowlands are thus mountain-ringed islands. Europe is the second-smallest continent. Topography often records the various elevations of an area using a topographical map. I think the same issue applies to Turkey, which unlike Russia sees itself as belonging more to Europe than Asia, politically and economically. MLS # 1863863 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. The population of the City of Brussels is ~175,000. Europe occupies some 4 million square miles (10 million square km) within the conventional borders assigned to it. Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Physical Geography. The name Europe, or Europa, is believed to be of Greek origin, as it is the name of a princess in Greek mythology. The highest points reached in Norway and Sweden are, respectively, Galdh Peak (8,100 feet [2,469 metres]) and Mount Kebne (6,926 feet [2,111 metres]). For the political geography of Europe, see, Countries consisting solely of islands or parts of islands, Countries bordering or spanning another continent, Countries whose capital is not the most populous, List of countries by the number of other countries they border, Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 19:57, List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe, List of European tornadoes and tornado outbreaks, List of the highest European ultra-prominent peaks, Special member state territories and the European Union, Language facts European day of languages, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geography_of_Europe&oldid=1140367331, Lower Danubian Plain, between Balkan Mountains and, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 19:57. The U.K. also includes Northern Ireland, which is on another island. This program must not only highlight the citys unique cultural heritage, but also feature new events that unite a range of cultural practices from across Europe. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. This description is simplified. You can actually get very close to the falls and safely, thanks to a well maintained hiking trail. The creation of the European Economic Community in 1957 and the EU in 1993 greatly enhanced economic cooperation between many of the continents countries. Europes continuing economic achievements are evidenced by its high standard of living and its successes in science, technology, and the arts. ft. home is a 4 bed, 4.0 bath property. Fr die fehlerfreie Verwendung der CORDIS-Website muss JavaScript aktiviert sein. The ancient, often mineral-laden rocks of the northwestern highlands, their contours softened by prolonged erosion and glaciation, are found throughout much of Iceland, in Ireland, and in northern and western Britain and Scandinavia. San Marino and Vatican City, two fully sovereign nations, are both completely surrounded by Italy. Europe's most significant geological feature is the dichotomy between the highlands and mountains of Southern Europe and a vast, partially underwater, northern plain ranging from Great Britain in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east. Political geography is the internal and external relationships between governments, citizens, and territories. Four broad topographic units can be simply, yet usefully, distinguished in the continent of Europe. This map shows the physical features of Europe, surrounding lands, and offshore areas. It was clear as well that a succession of climates, markedly different from those of the Mediterranean borderlands, were to be experienced as Europe was penetrated from the south. It has coastlines on the Bay of Biscay (a part of the Atlantic Ocean) and the Mediterranean Sea.Spain's capital and largest city is Madrid, and the country is known for its long history, unique culture, strong economy, and very high living standards. Italy is separated from the Balkans by the Adriatic Sea, and from Iberia by the Mediterranean Sea, which also separates Europe from Africa. Projects are meant to stay a part of the city after 2011some pieces of sculpture may be used for athletics, for instance. By size, Germany is the seventh-largest European country. About a quarter of marine mammals are threatened.Today, around 15 percent of Europe's animal species are threatened or endangered, mainly by habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation, and competition from invasive species. The eastward limits now adopted by most geographers exclude the Caucasus region and encompass a small portion of Kazakhstan, where the European boundary formed by the northern Caspian coast is connected to that of the Urals by Kazakhstans Emba River and Mughalzhar (Mugodzhar) Hills, themselves a southern extension of the Urals. Another widely endorsed scheme puts the western portion of the Caucasus region in Europe and the eastern partthat is, the bulk of Azerbaijan and small portions of Armenia, Georgia, and Russias Caspian Sea coastin Asia. It stands 10,922 feet high on the coast of the Mediterranean island Sicily. This linguistic diversity is present in the Alpine regions of many contemporary European countries today.Switzerland, for example, has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansch. Encyclopedic entry. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Europe has less precipitation in the east than in central and western Europe. Thrace is the western part of Turkey on the European continent.. Check out this amazing list of Austria facts that include history, food, culture, and more. Some critics argue these attitudes are xenophobic. During the Middle Ages, dominant European powers conquered the strategically important mountain territory of the Alps. It is the smallest country both in size and population. Updated: 07/28/2022 Table of Contents The population within the standard physical geographical boundaries was 701 million in 2005 according to the United Nations. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Reindeer herding is still an important aspect of Sami culture, which continues to thrive in northern Scandinavia and Russias Kola Peninsula.Distinct physical features had a lasting impact on how European cultures communicated with each other. Only hill masses less than 800 feet (240 metres) in height rise gently within the Russian (East European) Plain, which continues northward into Finland, westward into the North European Plain, and southward in the Romanian, Bulgarian, and Hungarian plains. Ancient Greeks also believed reigning gods imprisoned lesser gods underneath the volcanoes. In 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons featuring Islamic subjects. Many of Europe's fjords are located in Iceland and Scandinavia.North European PlainThe North European Plain extends from the southern United Kingdom east to Russia. The continents eastern boundary (north to south) runs along the Ural Mountains and then roughly southwest along the Emba (Zhem) River, terminating at the northern Caspian coast. Another important physical feature is the southeast-northwest zone of windblown loess deposits that have accumulated from eastern Britain to Ukraine. Historically, Europe has been a center of immigration. These revolutions eventually lead to the end of the Cold War, symbolized by the falling of the Berlin Wall in 1989.Contemporary IssuesEurope is now broadly defined in the context of the European Union (EU), an economic and political body officially created by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993. Flag. 3. A landlocked country of towering mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with . Greece is well known for the thousands of islands dotting the three seas that surround the country. Glaciation is the process of land being transformed by glaciers or ice sheets. From the smallest town in the world to the biggest church on earth, and from a knighted penguin to a country free of mosquitoes, there are hundreds of random and fun facts about Europe. As to the territorial limits of Europe, they may seem relatively clear on its seaward flanks, but many island groups far to the north and westSvalbard, the Faroes, Iceland, and the Madeira and Canary islandsare considered European, while Greenland (though tied politically to Denmark) is conventionally allocated to North America. Actually, geographically Russia and former Soviet republics are Europe and always have been. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Inhabited plains, with only the minor interruption of the worn-down Urals, extend from central Europe to the Yenisey River in central Siberia. It is the continent's second largest island (after Great Britain). The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. By the end of the war, the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires collapsed and broke into a dozen separate nations. It is one of the biggest glaciers in the world, covering almost 9,000 sq km (3,500 square miles). Larger only than Australia, it is a small appendage of Eurasia. These events had a devastating effect on Denmarks reputation as a progressive and welcoming country. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Europes eastern boundary, however, is not a cultural, political, or economic discontinuity on the land comparable, for example, to the insulating significance of the Himalayas, which clearly mark a northern limit to South Asian civilization. Today much of topography is focused on creating 3D representations of the Earth's surface. Kazakhstan and Russia are in Asia. This idea of citizenshipof being connected to and having a voice in your communitybecame the basic building block of democracy. Topography and bathymetry are shown in a combination of color with shaded relief. In the Alps, Mont Blanc rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 metres), which is the highest point on the continent. Other political institutions of Rome persist throughout Europe and former European colonies. Luxembourg is a small country located in the Low Countries, part of North-West Europe It borders Belgium for 148 kilometres (92 miles) to the west and north, France (73 km [45 mi]) to the south, and Germany (138 km [86 mi]) to the east. Protests developed across the Muslim world, and demonstrators set fire to Danish embassies in Lebanon, Iran, and Syria. This is the largest landlocked country in the world. The continent also comprises numerous islands, somenotably the Faroes and Icelandlocated at a distance from the mainland. Europe Facts | Religion: Most of the European people are Christians (76%) and there are smaller numbers of Muslims (6%) and Jews and other beliefs. Certain countries and regions have even developed an identity or branding focused on specific products and exports.Scandinavian design, for instance, is primarily focused on fashion and home wares. Si prega di abilitare JavaScript. El sitio web de CORDIS requiere tener activado JavaScript para funcionar correctamente. Those are coastal and interior lowlands, central uplands and plateaus, the northwestern highlands, and southern Europe. It happens to be the longest river in Europe and covers 3,692 km/ 2,295 miles long. The former is of North Atlantic volcanic formation, while the latter consist of upland areas once joined to the mainland until cut off by rising sea levels. Europe is a peninsula of the Eurasian supercontinent and is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas to the south. It is home to many navigable rivers, including the Rhine, Weser, Elbe, Oder, and Vistula. During this time, a number of anti-communist revolutions swept central and eastern Europe. It looks at mountains and valleys, as well as rivers and oceans. The Sami followed and cared for these herds during their grazing cycle. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. The major peninsula of Scandinavia is mostly upland and highland, with its relief greatest at the descent to the Norwegian fjords and the sea; eastward and southward the seas are approached more gently. Other European islands are much smaller. Topography Facts - Earth Science. Europe, second smallest of the worlds continents, composed of the westward-projecting peninsulas of Eurasia (the great landmass that it shares with Asia) and occupying nearly one-fifteenth of the worlds total land area. Milan is also home to important European fashion magazines, such as Grazia, Vogue Italia, and Vera.German automotive design has a global reputation for excellence and prestige. Europe also supports high densities of population, concentrated in urban-industrial regions. It even includes roads! Imperialism is a policy that has been used throughout history, most notably by European powers and the United States. The Sami culture of Scandinavia, for example, was deeply connected to the indigenous reindeer herds of the Arctic.