Europe's shape is in a constant change: The Mediterranean basin is shrinking, the Alps are rising and pushing North, and Scandinavia is still rebounding after having been crushed by the weight of a thick and huge ice sheet in the ice ages. The North European Plain, common to much of Poland, northern Germany, and Denmark, broadens in western France and continues, across the narrow seas, in southeastern Great Britain and Ireland. To read all future answers to your comment, please bookmark this page. Kazakhstan. City-states were unique in that they were governed not by a hereditary ruler, but by a political body that represented its citizens. Lesotho (landlocked within South Africa), is the only other country in the world surrounded entirely by another country. Sometimes considered a transcontinental country, it is located at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, [2] and is today generally regarded as part of Europe. 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. The Iron Curtain took on the physical shape of border defenses, walls, and limited diplomacy. [2] A prehistoric perspective would include Britain and Ireland as the core of a further very significant European peninsula prior to the post-glacial rise in sea-levels.[3]. Important Scandinavian companies focused on designed products include Electrolux, which makes home electronics, and Ikea and H&M, famous around the world for inexpensive but well-designed home furnishings and clothing, respectively. Fewer than a million people are fluent in Romansch. Today, this cultural wealth is used to solidify the European Community and is exported to the rest of the world as one of the continents greatest global assets.Historic CulturesIndigenous cultures shaped, and were shaped by, the varied geography of Europe. There are also central highlands and deserts features in the south. The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. The relationship between the United States, with a free-market economy, and the Soviet Union, with a communist economy, was known as the Cold War.The Iron Curtain represents Europes political geography during the Cold War. 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. Spain is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula to the south of France and Andorra and to the east of Portugal. Steppe plains cover the north of Kazakhstan. It is the smallest country both in size and population. The Netherlands shares its maritime borders with UK and France. Projects are meant to stay a part of the city after 2011some pieces of sculpture may be used for athletics, for instance. The five most spoken native languages in Europe are Russian, German, French English, Turkish and Italian. 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.Europe's main peninsulas are the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan, located in southern Europe, and the Scandinavian and Jutland, located in Northern Europe. In the face of an economic crisis, EU citizens of poorer member countries, such as the Roma of Bulgaria and Romania, often migrate to more developed EU countries in search of work. The geology of Europe is hugely varied and complex, and gives rise to the wide variety of landscapes found across the continent, from the Scottish Highlands to the rolling plains of Hungary. Here are 21 things about this amazing continent that may just surprise you. The Netherlands is a country located in Northwestern Europe. European countries saw an increase in immigration after World War II. Another important physical feature is the southeast-northwest zone of windblown loess deposits that have accumulated from eastern Britain to Ukraine. By size, Germany is the seventh-largest European country. El "cambio climtico" abarca el calentamiento global, pero se refiere a la gama ms amplia de cambios que le estn ocurriendo a nuestro planeta. During the Middle Ages, dominant European powers conquered the strategically important mountain territory of the Alps. A convenient division is made by a line linking the base of the peninsula of Jutland with the head of the Adriatic Sea. The principal articles discussing the historical and cultural development of the continent include history of Europe; European exploration; Western colonialism; Aegean civilizations; ancient Greek civilization; ancient Rome; Byzantine Empire; and Holy Roman Empire. The coasts of the northwestern highlandsand in particular the fjords of Norwayinvite maritime enterprise. The word democracy has Greek roots: demos-, meaning people, and -kratos, meaning power. Prominent Greek philosophers, such as Socrates and Plato, discussed democratic ideals in their writings. The other landlocked countries are "standalone" landlocked, not bordering any other such European one (the emphasis is necessary, since Kazakhstan borders Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, thus forming a vast landlocked expanse in Central Asia). The continent also comprises numerous islands, somenotably the Faroes and Icelandlocated at a distance from the mainland. Europe is the second-smallest continent. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. 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. The most important rivers in Europe are Danube, Volga, Rhine, Elbe, Oder and Dnieper, among others. The climate supports a wide variety of seasonal crops. Nonetheless, in manufacturing and agriculture Europe still occupies an eminent, if no longer necessarily predominant, position. Around 10% of the world's population lives in Europe. Within the standard geographical boundaries, it is comprised of 737 million. Estos incluyen el aumento del nivel del mar; la reduccin de los glaciares de montaa; aceleracin del derretimiento del hielo en Groenlandia, la Antrtida y el rtico; y cambios en los . 16 S Sunwood Ln , Sandy, UT 84092 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $1,295,000. To contact our editors please use our contact form. Elevations in those areas are mainly between about 500 and 2,000 feet (150 and 600 metres), and many steep slopes are to be seen. The land in those areas, however, is of little use for crops. Ancient Greeks believed it was the home of the gods. These physical features allowed for early communication, travel, and agricultural development. In this case, the region of Western Europe includes the regions of northern Europe, southern Europe, Central Europe, and the British Isles. Norway has the longest coastline in Europe. Europe occupies some 4 million square miles (10 million square km) within the conventional borders assigned to it. Today much of topography is focused on creating 3D representations of the Earth's surface. It is the continent's second largest island (after Great Britain). Economically, Russia and former Soviet states are not part of what we think of as Europe these days, because they are not part of the European Union. 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. (The East and North European plains are known together as the European Plain.) Flag. It even includes roads! The U.K. also includes Northern Ireland, which is on another island. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. The well-watered plateaus give rise to many rivers and are well adapted to pastoral farming. The Mediterranean Sea to the south separates Europe from Africa. 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. A small troop of Barbary macaques lives on the tiny island of Gibraltar, between Spain and the African country of Morocco.The waters surrounding Europe are home to a number of organisms, including fish, seaweeds, marine mammals, and crustaceans. Only North Korea has such high literacy rates as Ukraine. The creation of the European Economic Community in 1957 and the EU in 1993 greatly enhanced economic cooperation between many of the continents countries. Russia is Europe's largest country. More than half of Europe consists of lowlands, standing mostly below 600 feet (180 metres) but infrequently rising to 1,000 feet (300 metres). The Balkan peninsula is separated from Asia by the Black and Aegean Seas. Routes detour around, or seek gaps through, those uplandswhose German appellation, Horst (thicket), recalls their still wooded character, while their coal basins give them great economic importance. Europe's main peninsulas are the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan, located in southern Europe, and the Scandinavian and Jutland, located in Northern Europe. Author of. Other European islands are much smaller. A landlocked country of towering mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with . 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). Ethnic Groups / People of Europe are at 87. But, I agree - the lines are very blurred. European Commission: European Capital of Culture. The United States and the Soviet Union built up huge nuclear arsenals, with many missiles aimed at targets throughout Europe. These nations do not feel an obligation to accept illegal immigrants, seeing them as both a threat and a burden.Supporters of the crackdown want to stop illegal immigration. Gouffre Mirolda is the 3rd deepest cave in the world after Krubera Cave and Illyuzia-Mezhonnogo-Snezhnaya Cave, both in Georgia (former Soviet Republic). When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. Sweden has a long history that began with prehistoric hunting camps in the southernmost part of the country. The southern regions are mountainous while moving north the terrain descends from the high Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathians, through hilly uplands, into broad, low northern plains, which are vast in the east. 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. Strict EU regulations place a heavy burden on developing countries to compete with their more developed neighbors.The global financial crisis, which began around 2008, has caused these tensions to elevate dramatically. Among the alternative boundaries proposed by geographers that have gained wide acceptance is a scheme that sees the crest of the Greater Caucasus range as the dividing line between Europe and Asia, placing Ciscaucasia, the northern part of the Caucasus region, in Europe and Transcaucasia, the southern part, in Asia. 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. Regional climatic contrasts nevertheless exist: oceanic, Mediterranean, and continental types occur widely, as do gradations from one to the other. Not only is Mount Etna the highest volcanic peak in Europe but it is still active. These projected changes will have two major effects: There will be a smaller work force to create a dynamic and industrious economy, and governments and citizens will have to care for more elderly people.These changes will affect different regions of Europe in different ways. Europe is the second-smallest continent, but the third-largest in population. Germany's largest wooded area,. 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. Today, this is the German-speaking region of the country.Around this same time, Roman conquerors took over present-day southern Switzerland. Critics believe the process of attaining EU membership is too difficult for Europes developing economies. Ukraine is the world's largest producer of sunflower seeds, and across every part of Ukraine, you'll see stunning fields of these yellow blooms. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. These countries included Greece, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal. It runs for 2,294 miles through central Russia. Glaciers are found in a surprisingly large number of European countries, including Iceland, Norway, Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. I think this makes it easy to assume they are not part of continental Europe. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. When it comes to geographical facts about Europe, and in particular the mountains, most people will assume that the names at the top of the list will be the famous Mont Blanc or the Matterhorn. Flourishing immigrant communities are bringing in new languages to the continent, including Arabic, Hindi, and Mandarin.A 2006 European study showed that 53 percent of respondents could speak a second language, while 28 percent could speak two foreign languages. It is the continent's second largest island (after Great Britain). It includes parts of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Poland, the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), and Belarus.Most of the Great European Plain lies below 152 meters (500 feet) in elevation. The empire of ancient Rome, at its greatest extent in the 2nd century ce, revealed, and imprinted its culture on, much of the face of the continent. The western part of the continent clearly has a high proportion of coastline with good maritime access and often with . In the Alps, Mont Blanc rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 metres), which is the highest point on the continent. In 1397, Denmark's Queen Margaret created the Kalmar Union, which included Sweden, Finland, Norway . Ive enjoyed my journey through some facts of European geography hope you did too! The Kimmel Falls are the tallest in Europe and also 5th in the list of the worlds highest waterfalls. Automobile companies such as BMW, Mercedes, and Audi are known throughout the world for creating cars with dynamic designs and an engaging driving experience. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Larger only than Australia, it is a small appendage of Eurasia. Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, and North Macedonia constitute a contiguous landlocked agglomeration of eight countries in Central Europe and the Balkans, stretching from Geneva all the way to Skopje. In spite of its internal diversity, Europe has thus functioned, from the time it first emerged in the human consciousness, as a world apart, concentratingto borrow a phrase from Christopher Marloweinfinite riches in a little room.. Which included sweden, Finland, Norway among others makes it easy to assume are. Mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with by size, Germany is the continent. 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