The program has provided a lasting economic boost to cities and regions, raised their international profiles, and enhanced their images in the eyes of their own inhabitants.Each year, two or three cities are chosen to produce a year-long program of cultural events. It is characterized by simple, minimalist design and low-cost mass production. 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. 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. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. 5. geography of Scandinavia facts. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. 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. Ancient Greeks also believed reigning gods imprisoned lesser gods underneath the volcanoes. The link between these peninsulas has made Europe a dominant economic, social, and cultural force throughout recorded history.Europes physical geography, environment and resources, and human geography can be considered separately.Today, Europe is home to the citizens of Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), and Vatican City.Cultural GeographyEurope has a long history of human development and is considered the birthplace of Western Civilization. Roma are a people and culture native to central and eastern Europe. Europe is the western peninsula of the giant "supercontinent" of Eurasia. Key Facts. Brussels is considered to be the largest city of Belgium, according to the population of the Brussels-Capital Region. It's a multi-lingual continent. 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. Within the standard geographical boundaries, it is comprised of 737 million. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. La Boule measures 7.5 miles and is served by a lovely and ancient seaside town where many of the French elite have holiday homes. Its major peninsulas include Jutland and the Scandinavian, Iberian, Italian, and Balkan peninsulas. Important highlands in this region include the Massif Central and the Vosges in France, the Ardennes of Belgium, the Black Forest and the Taunus in Germany, and the Ore and Sudeten in the Czech Republic. Europe's highest peak, Mount Elbrus at 5,642 meters (18,510 feet), is in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia. Among the continents, Europe is an anomaly. By the 7th and 8th centuries, Sweden was known for its trade but in the 9th century, the Vikings raided the region and much of Europe. Historically, Europe has been a center of immigration. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. An arc of uplands also exists along the northwestern seaboard, beginning in southwestern Ireland, continuing across through western and northern Great Britain, and up along the mountainous, fjord-cut spine of Norway. Longest beach The longest beach in Ireland is a continuous 20km stretch of sand in County Wexford connecting Cahore Point to The Raven Point. Nearly 100% of Ukraine's adult population is literate. As Ive talked about fire (volcanoes), it wouldnt be right to leave ice out of the geography facts of Europe. Grades 6 - 12+ Subjects Arts and Music, Economics, Geography, Human Geography, Social Studies, World History Photograph Europe Europe is the western peninsula of the giant "supercontinent" of Eurasia. The most important rivers in Europe are Danube, Volga, Rhine, Elbe, Oder and Dnieper, among others. Europe is traditionally defined as one of seven continents. The western part of the continent clearly has a high proportion of coastline with good maritime access and often with inland penetration by means of navigable rivers. Related topics are discussed in such articles as those on religion (e.g., Judaism and Roman Catholicism) and literature (e.g., Greek literature; Dutch literature; and Spanish literature). It has been somewhat problematical to pin down the biggest glacier in Europe because biggest is open to interpretation of length, depth and width, plus they can change quite dramatically in a short space of time. Note: Italy's capital, Rome, is the country's largest city if only the municipality (comune) is considered. European countries saw an increase in immigration after World War II. The Sami culture of Scandinavia, for example, was deeply connected to the indigenous reindeer herds of the Arctic. But, I agree - the lines are very blurred. 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). 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. 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. 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. Here are 21 things about this amazing continent that may just surprise you. A convenient division is made by a line linking the base of the peninsula of Jutland with the head of the Adriatic Sea. Updated: 07/28/2022 Table of Contents The United States began to lead the Western world, while the Soviet Union, with its capital in the Eastern European city of Moscow, Russia, led the so-called Eastern Bloc. There are more bicycles than people in the country (22.3 million bicycles and 17 million people). Nonetheless, in manufacturing and agriculture Europe still occupies an eminent, if no longer necessarily predominant, position. Bitte aktivieren Sie JavaScript. 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. 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. 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. At its largest, Rome controlled approximately 6.5 million square kilometers (2.5 million square miles) of land.The Roman approach to conquering and controlling territory is often considered to be the basis of Western imperialism. Examination of Turkey's topographic structure on a physical map of the world shows clearly the . 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. Population growth is comparatively slow, and median age comparatively high in relation to the world's other continents. With its central European location but geographic remoteness, the Alps region developed into a unique crossroads for Europes dominant languages, and a refuge for its archaic languages. Some of these facts about Europe are newer than others. For discussion of major cities of the continent, see specific articles by namee.g., Rome, Warsaw, and London. Indebted countries must now deal with strict budgets and declining incomes while more financially stable countries are forcing taxpayers to help fund the financial rescue.The status of immigrants is also a source of tension and debate in Europe. More than half of Europe consists of lowlands, standing mostly below 600 feet (180 metres) but infrequently rising to 1,000 feet (300 metres). On February 17, 2008, the province of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia and became Europe's youngest country. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Fun Facts about Europe Europe is home to the smallest country in the world, the Holy See or the Vatican. Europe is home to two countries that are completely landlocked by Italy. The only primate native to Europe, the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), inhabits this Mediterranean basin. A landlocked country of towering mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with . 4. This article treats the physical and human geography of Europe. Europe also supports high densities of population, concentrated in urban-industrial regions. 5. Author of. Not only is it pretty huge (2.5 times the size of Mount Vesuvius, which so famously buried Pompeii), but it is also one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Lets take a short tour around some of the most notable geographical facts about Europe. Each country could easily make a contribution with an interesting fact as the landscape changes so dramatically across small spaces, unlike other continents. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. The topography of the country is divided very clearly between the hilly Oesling of the . The Netherlands shares its maritime borders with UK and France. The nation of Germany was divided in two. Mountain ranges, such as the Alps and the Carpathian mountains, have a highland climate with large variations according to altitude and latitude. Europe has less precipitation in the east than in central and western Europe. Europe occupies some 4 million square miles (10 million square km) within the conventional borders assigned to it. 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. 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. Protests developed across the Muslim world, and demonstrators set fire to Danish embassies in Lebanon, Iran, and Syria. This honor goes to Gouffre Mirolda in France. 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. Of the top 10 largest lakes in Europe, 6 are in Russia, although 1 partly sits in Estonia. Desert climates are found in the European portion of Kazakhstan and South Eastern Spain. 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. Manmade features such as roads, dams, and cities may also be included. Around 10% of the world's population lives in Europe. The name Europe, or Europa, is believed to be of Greek origin, as it is the name of a princess in Greek mythology. 7 Fun and Fashionable DIY Animal Ears That You Should Make Look like a Fashionista by Color Coordinate Your Outfits like a Pro Introverts Vs Extroverts Which One Are You. It is the continent's second largest island (after Great Britain). Larger only than Australia, it is a small appendage of Eurasia. Population growth in Europe is rather minimal with minimal age comparatively high. Around 400 CE, the Alemanni, a Germanic tribe, invaded present-day northern Switzerland. To read all future answers to your comment, please bookmark this page. 1. 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. These countries included Greece, Ireland, Spain, and Portugal. 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. Critics believe the process of attaining EU membership is too difficult for Europes developing economies. Norway has the longest coastline in Europe. They serve as traditional labels of geographic location. Veuillez activer JavaScript. 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). In 2000 the population was 857 million, using a definition which includes the whole of the transcontinental countries of Russia and Turkey. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Early Europeans, in fact, shaped global ideas of citizenship and government. Another important physical feature is the southeast-northwest zone of windblown loess deposits that have accumulated from eastern Britain to Ukraine. Furthermore, the Mediterranean coastlands of North Africa and southwestern Asia also exhibit some European physical and cultural affinities. 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.. She or he will best know the preferred format. The study also showed that only 8 percent of respondents considered language-learning unimportant.The European Union has adopted a multilingual language policy with the goal that everyone should be able to speak at least two languages in addition to their own. During the Middle Ages, dominant European powers conquered the strategically important mountain territory of the Alps. The volcanoes of Lemnos, an island in the Mediterranean, and Mount Etna, on the island of Sicily, were believed to be the forges of Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire. Please enable JavaScript. Europe is the second-smallest continent. 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. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. China says a ban on the use of TikTok by official European Union institutions will harm business confidence in Europe, With more lunar missions than ever on the horizon, the European Space Agency wants to give the moon its own time zone, The death toll has risen to at least 63 in the migrant tragedy off Italys southern coast after rescue crews recovered several more bodies, Shares have opened lower in Europe after a mixed session in Asia following a reprieve on Wall Street from recent selling pressure driven by worries over inflation and interest rates, Spain is building on its reputation in renewable energy to position itself as Europes future leader in green hydrogen. She or he will best know the preferred format. Read More: 25 Unbelievable Facts about North Korea that you must know. Many Muslim organizations, however, saw the cartoons as bigoted, racist, and insulting. It is geographically positioned both in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. Europe's eastern frontier is usually delineated by the Ural Mountains in Russia, which is the largest country by land area in the continent. 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 borders nine neighbors, more than any other European country. 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. Figures for the population of Europe vary according to which definition of European boundaries is used. The well-watered plateaus give rise to many rivers and are well adapted to pastoral farming. Russia is Europe's largest country. 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 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. 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. 4. Europe's main peninsulas are the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan, located in southern Europe, and the Scandinavian and Jutland, located in Northern Europe. For discussion of individual countries of the continent, see specific articles by namee.g., Italy, Poland, and United Kingdom. This region is sparsely populated except in the Rhine, Rhne, Elbe, and Danube river valleys.Alpine MountainsThe Alpine Mountains include ranges in the Italian and Balkan peninsulas, northern Spain, and southern France. The cold water surrounding northern Britain and Scandinavia is home to unique species of cold-water corals. Thrace is the western part of Turkey on the European continent.. Ancient Greeks believed it was the home of the gods. The European bison (Bison bonasus), the heaviest land animal on the continent, is one of the most threatened species.Beginning in the 20th century, many governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have worked to restore some of Europe's rich biodiversity. Topography and bathymetry are shown in a combination of color with shaded relief. 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. National Geographic News: New Fault Found in EuropeMay 'Close Up' Adriatic Sea, National Geographic News: Volcanic Ash Stops Europe FlightsWhy Ash Is Dangerous, European Environment Agency: European Land Cover, National Geographic Education: Mapping EuropeLand Mammal Range. Today, this is the German-speaking region of the country.Around this same time, Roman conquerors took over present-day southern Switzerland. The boundary continues to the Caspian Sea, the crest of the Caucasus Mountains (or, less commonly, the river Kura in the Caucasus), and on to the Black Sea. In 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons featuring Islamic subjects. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The two largest peninsulas are mainland Europe and Scandinavia to the north, divided from each other by the Baltic Sea. Europe extends from the island nation of Iceland in the west to the Ural Mountains of Russia in the east. In many places, including the Mediterranean and North seas, waters have been overfished. The worn-down Ural Mountains also belong in that category, and their highest point, Mount Narodnaya (6,217 feet [1,895 metres]), corresponds approximately to that of the Massif Central in south-central France. Iceland and the British Isles are special cases. MLS # 1863863 These events had a devastating effect on Denmarks reputation as a progressive and welcoming country. 33 forms the majority of the population while 54 are ethnic minorities. From the Greek perspective then, Europa was culturally backward and scantily settled. The Volga River in Russia. The creation of the European Economic Community in 1957 and the EU in 1993 greatly enhanced economic cooperation between many of the continents countries. The U.K. also includes Northern Ireland, which is on another island. It covers an area of 357,022 km2 (137,847 sq mi). When it . The western boundary is the Atlantic Ocean. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. The financial and diplomatic success of the EU has led to its rapid growth across the continent.The euro is one of the strongest currencies in the world. Flag. Eastern Europe is everything east of Germany, Austria, and Italy. The highest summit in Iceland is Hvannadals Peak, at 6,952 feet (2,119 metres), while Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Great Britain, stands at an elevation of only 4,406 feet (1,343 metres). City-states were unique in that they were governed not by a hereditary ruler, but by a political body that represented its citizens. These ideas have been tested during times of peace and military conflict, and continue to be redefined today.Historic IssuesEuropes early political history can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, both of which profoundly affected how Western civilizations govern their territories and citizens.Described as the birthplace of democracy, ancient Greece revolved around the polis, or city-state. The consensus is, however, that the largest glacier in Europe is the Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland. Volcanic rocks add to the diversity of those regions. Fast Facts: France Official Name: French Republic Capital: Paris Population: 67,364,357 (2018) Note: This figure is for metropolitan France and five overseas regions; the metropolitan France population is 62,814,233 Eastward, mainland Europe widens much like the mouth of a funnel, until the boundary with Asia is reached at the Ural Mountains and Ural River, the Caspian Sea, and the Caucasus Mountains. Kosovo is a. The tallest mountain in Europe is Mount Elbrus in Russia. It runs for 2,294 miles through central Russia. In the Alps, Mont Blanc rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 metres), which is the highest point on the continent. World War II also left more than 40 million refugees, contributed to the independence of European colonies throughout the world, and devastated the urban infrastructure of many European cities.As a result of the devastation of World War II, Western Europes leadership in global politics diminished. 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. Examples of such physiographic features can be found in the Southern Uplands of Scotland, the Massif Central of France, the Meseta Central of Spain, and the Bohemian Massif. The most common way to show this is using topographical maps. Not only is Mount Etna the highest volcanic peak in Europe but it is still active. Europe has a long history of human development and is considered the birthplace of Western Civilization. (The East and North European plains are known together as the European Plain.) The EU accepts few candidates: member states must maintain a stable, democratic form of government, a free-market economy, and commitment to the rule of law.The rapid growth of the European Union, however, has caused a number of administrative and political tensions. The goals of the program are local, regional, and global. Although this area remains heavily forested, the continent's forests were drastically reduced as a result of intense urbanization throughout human history. The country is also home to a number of outstanding schools for automotive design, such as the Hochschule Esslingen and Hochschule Pforzheim.Political GeographyEuropes long history and economic progress have been shaped by its political geography. Regional climatic contrasts nevertheless exist: oceanic, Mediterranean, and continental types occur widely, as do gradations from one to the other. This idea of citizenshipof being connected to and having a voice in your communitybecame the basic building block of democracy. Western Europe and parts of Central Europe generally fall into the temperate maritime climate (Cfb), the southern part is mostly a Mediterranean climate (mostly Csa, smaller area with Csb), the north-central part and east into central Russia is mostly a humid continental climate (Dfb) and the northern part of the continent is a subarctic climate (Dfc). Three smaller peninsulasIberia, Italy, and the Balkansemerge from the southern margin of the mainland. Topographic maps (often called topo maps for short) are large scale maps, often greater than 1:50,000, which means that one inch on the map equals 50,000 inches on the ground. Topography Facts - Earth Science. Steppe plains cover the north of Kazakhstan. Turku officials hope to inspire other European countries to undertake similar projects.Europe also strengthens ties between its diverse peoples and cultures by supporting multilingual education. The Kimmel Falls are the tallest in Europe and also 5th in the list of the worlds highest waterfalls. More than 200 languages are spoken in Europe. Europe's northernmost point is the Svalbard archipelago of Norway, and it reaches as far south as the islands of Greece and Malta.Europe is sometimes described as a peninsula of peninsulas. It happens to be the longest river in Europe and covers 3,692 km/ 2,295 miles long. As a conceptual construct, Europa, as the more learned of the ancient Greeks first conceived it, stood in sharp contrast to both Asia and Libya, the name then applied to the known northern part of Africa. Whats the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Editor of, Professor of Geography, Birkbeck College, University of London, 194770. In the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada of Spain, the highest of the peaks exceed 11,000 feet (3,400 metres). Imperialism is a policy that has been used throughout history, most notably by European powers and the United States. 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 political cartoons sought to engage in the debate surrounding Muslim extremism. Philosophers and politicians have used these writings to uphold and defend the democratic tradition ever since.Roman civilization had a major influence on Western concepts of law, government, and the military. As a continent with hugely diverse topography, the geographical facts about Europe are going to be an interesting collection. The Netherlands is a country located in Northwestern Europe. The overall population of Europe is set to drop from roughly 590 million to 542 million by 2050. The western part of the continent clearly has a high proportion of coastline with good maritime access and often with . The Netherlands is bordered by Germany in the east; and Belgium in the south. The coasts of the northwestern highlandsand in particular the fjords of Norwayinvite maritime enterprise. By size, Germany is the seventh-largest European country. The 4,506 sq. Continental shelvesformer land surfaces that have been covered by shallow seasare a feature of peninsular Europe, while the coasts themselves are both submerged or drowned, as in southwestern Ireland and northwestern Spain, and emergent, as in western Scotland and southern Wales, where raised former beaches are in evidence. Looking for interesting facts about Austria? All rights reserved. Europes largest islands and archipelagoes include Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land, Svalbard, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the British Isles, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Crete, and Cyprus. The northern lowlands are areas of glacial deposition, and, accordingly, their surface is diversified by such features as the Valdai Hills of western Russia; by deposits of boulder clay, sands, and gravels; by glacial lakes; and by the Pripet Marshes, a large ill-drained area of Belarus and Ukraine. North Africa and southwestern Asia also exhibit some European physical and human geography of.! Population is literate continent, see specific articles by namee.g., Italy, Poland, and insulting still an. Forested, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons featuring Islamic subjects shares maritime! Have accumulated from eastern Britain to Ukraine that may just surprise you east than in and. Philosophers, such as roads, dams, and cities may also be included municipality ( )... Countries of the Brussels-Capital Region increase in immigration after world War II between! 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