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. 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. Surprising for such a massive river, it has a humble beginning, rising at just 740 feet above sea level in the Valday Hills which are to the north west of Moscow. The Iron Curtain took on the physical shape of border defenses, walls, and limited diplomacy. It even includes roads! Corrections? Lands lying at high elevations can, of course, be lands of low relief, but on the European continent relief tends to become more rugged as elevation increases. The debate surrounding the cartoons also intensified strained relations between the Islamic world and the West.In 2010, the French government dismantled illegal immigrant camps throughout France. CORDIS website requires JavaScript enabled in order to work properly. Thrace is the western part of Turkey on the European continent.. Editor of, Professor of Geography, Birkbeck College, University of London, 194770. A landlocked country of towering mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with . Moose, bear, and elk (Cervus canadensis) are native to the European taiga.Just south of the taiga is a mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees, including beech, ash, poplar, and willow. Roma are a people and culture native to central and eastern Europe. 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. Nations that use the euro as a unit of currency are called the eurozone.Leadership of the EU, split among different branches and institutions, is a working model of international cooperation. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. 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. Imperialism is a policy of extending a nations power and influence through diplomacy or military force. 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. In 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons featuring Islamic subjects. The Danubian and northern Italian lowlands are thus mountain-ringed islands. Furthermore, the Mediterranean coastlands of North Africa and southwestern Asia also exhibit some European physical and cultural affinities. 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. More than half of Europe consists of lowlands, standing mostly below 600 feet (180 metres) but infrequently rising to 1,000 feet (300 metres). Map created by National Geographic Maps. Nearly 100% of Ukraine's adult population is literate. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. 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. This is the largest landlocked country in the world. These regional labels are used more for identification than for regional analysis. Table of contents: The Tallest Mountain in Europe The Largest Lake in Europe The Longest River in Europe The Highest Waterfall in Europe The Longest Beach in Europe The Deepest Cave in Europe The Tallest Volcano in Europe Biggest Glacier in Europe Veuillez activer JavaScript. Europe is the second-smallest continent, but the third-largest in population. El sitio web de CORDIS requiere tener activado JavaScript para funcionar correctamente. Superficial rock cover, elevation, drainage, and soil have sharply differentiated those lowlandswhich are of prime importance to human settlementinto areas of marsh or fen, clay vales, sand and gravel heaths, or river terraces and fertile plains. 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. In fact, the most famous symbol of the Iron Curtain was the Berlin Wall, which divided the East German city of Berlin into western and eastern-controlled parts.The economic and political demise of the Soviet Union led to the end of the Iron Curtain in the late 1980s. 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. Although this area remains heavily forested, the continent's forests were drastically reduced as a result of intense urbanization throughout human history. Most Greek gods and goddesses are representations of the active physical elements that made up the local landscape. 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 link between these peninsulas has made Europe a dominant economic, social, and cultural force throughout recorded history.Europe's physical geography, environment and resources, and human geography can be considered separately.Europe can be divided into four major physical regions, running from north to south: Western Uplands, North European Plain, Central Uplands, and Alpine Mountains.Western UplandsThe Western Uplands, also known as the Northern Highlands, curve up the western edge of Europe and define the physical landscape of Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark), Finland, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, the Brittany region of France, Spain, and Portugal.The Western Uplands is defined by hard, ancient rock that was shaped by glaciation. Europe is the western peninsula of the giant "supercontinent" of Eurasia. This is a main theme of The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer, in which these key elements of the sea both help and hurt the hero.Other cultures developed around the unique resources at their disposal. Some of these facts about Europe are newer than others. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. Read More: 25 Unbelievable Facts about North Korea that you must know. Ancient Greeks believed it was the home of the gods. Enacting regional social policies and economic legislation, especially through bodies like the European Union, may help curb that trend. You can actually get very close to the falls and safely, thanks to a well maintained hiking trail. FAST FACTS OFFICIAL NAME: Ireland FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Democracy CAPITAL: Dublin POPULATION: 5,068,050 MONEY:. The only primate native to Europe, the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), inhabits this Mediterranean basin. 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. The euro is the second-most popular currency (behind the American dollar) and is used daily by more than 320 million people. Greeces many earthquakes, and the tsunamis they caused, were connected to the sea god Poseidon, known as the Earth Shaker. Cults and temples centered on Poseidon were built throughout the Aegean and Mediterranean seas as a means of appeasing the god.As maritime trade and exploration developed in the region, winds and currents connected to Poseidon became important in Greek mythology. San Marino and Vatican City, two fully sovereign nations, are both completely surrounded by Italy. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. ft. home is a 4 bed, 4.0 bath property. 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. Topography studies the . In the Alps, Mont Blanc rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 metres), which is the highest point on the continent. The overall population of Europe is set to drop from roughly 590 million to 542 million by 2050. Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Physical Geography. Of the top 10 largest lakes in Europe, 6 are in Russia, although 1 partly sits in Estonia. 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. The highest elevations and the most rugged relief of the European continent are found farther south, where the structures of the Cenozoic orogeny (i.e., from the past 66 million years) provide mountain scenery. The consensus is, however, that the largest glacier in Europe is the Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland. Bitte aktivieren Sie JavaScript. By the end of the war, the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires collapsed and broke into a dozen separate nations. Note: Italy's capital, Rome, is the country's largest city if only the municipality (comune) is considered. A peninsula is a piece of land surrounded by water on three sides. Flag. That broad territory reveals no simple unity of geologic structure, landform, relief, or climate. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. It's a multi-lingual 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. Land relief in Europe shows great variation within relatively small areas. Some critics argue these attitudes are xenophobic. 4. Omissions? The Alpine region also includes active volcanoes, such as Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius in Italy. January average range from 13C in southern Spain and southern Greek islands to -20C in the northeastern part of European Russia. Lesotho (landlocked within South Africa), is the only other country in the world surrounded entirely by another country. Nonetheless, in manufacturing and agriculture Europe still occupies an eminent, if no longer necessarily predominant, position. 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. Aby witryna CORDIS dziaaa poprawnie, obsuga JavaScript musi by wczona. 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. 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. 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. The Sami followed and cared for these herds during their grazing cycle. Southward of the limits of the northern glacial ice are vales and hills, with the Paris and London basins typical examples. The biggest is Lake Ladoga, which covers just under 7,000 square miles and sits close to St. Petersburg. It covers an area of 357,022 km2 (137,847 sq mi). Figures for the population of Europe vary according to which definition of European boundaries is used. All in all, Europe enjoys a considerable and long-exploited resource base of soil, forest, sea, and minerals (notably coal), but its people are increasingly its principal resource. 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. Understanding Europe's Topography. 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. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Some geographical texts refer to a Eurasian continent given that Europe is not surrounded by sea and its southeastern border has always been variously defined for centuries. In terms of shape, Europe is a collection of connected peninsulas and nearby islands. During this time, a number of anti-communist revolutions swept central and eastern 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. They created clothing and tents out of reindeer hides, sewing together the cloth with twine made from the animals tendons.Keeping track of herds and individual animals became increasingly important in Sami life. 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 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. The city of Milan is regarded as a major fashion capital, hosting an international fashion week twice a year. The Mediterranean Sea to the south separates Europe from Africa. Flora & FaunaMuch like its physical regions, Europe's plant and animal communities follow a general north-south orientation. A volcanos violent nature thus came from the work of Hephaestus and the anger of the imprisoned gods.The ancient Greeks connection to the sea also deeply influenced their mythological beliefs. Antwerp is the biggest city of the country. 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. The region includes the mountains of the Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines, Dinaric Alps, Balkans, and Carpathians.High elevations, rugged plateaus, and steeply sloping land define the region. 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. That civilization is distinguished from the rest of Europe by legacies of a medieval Mongol-Tatar domination that precluded the sharing of many of the innovations and developments of European Western civilization; it became further distinctive during the relative isolation of the Soviet period. Europe Facts | Religion: Most of the European people are Christians (76%) and there are smaller numbers of Muslims (6%) and Jews and other beliefs. The five most spoken native languages in Europe are Russian, German, French English, Turkish and Italian. Europe Facts for KS2 Children. 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. Europe has a long history of human development and is considered the birthplace of Western Civilization. It stands 10,922 feet high on the coast of the Mediterranean island Sicily. Europe is home to the birthplace of democracy and Western culture in the ancient civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. A convenient division is made by a line linking the base of the peninsula of Jutland with the head of the Adriatic Sea. 33 forms the majority of the population while 54 are ethnic minorities. The North European Plain extends across the country's northern reaches; this flat, lowland terrain is dissected by . There is ongoing debate on where the geographical centre of Europe falls. 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. 1. Can you think of anything notable you think I should have included? Europe is home to two countries that are completely landlocked by Italy. The cold water surrounding northern Britain and Scandinavia is home to unique species of cold-water corals. Przemek. Other European islands are much smaller. Population Density188 people per square kilometer, Highest ElevationMount Elbrus, Russia (5,642 meters/18,510 feet), Most Renewable Electricity ProducedIceland (99.9%; hydropower, geothermal), Largest Urban AreaMoscow, Russia (16.2 million people), Largest WatershedVolga River (1.38 million square km/532,821 square miles). It is the smallest country both in size and population. The southeast boundary with Asia is not universally defined, but the modern definition is generally the Ural River or, less commonly, the Emba River. The map was produced using a Lambert conformal conic projection, with standard parallels at 40 degrees north . 0. Topography Facts - Earth Science. Larger only than Australia, it is a small appendage of Eurasia. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Around 400 CE, the Alemanni, a Germanic tribe, invaded present-day northern Switzerland. Europe is traditionally defined as one of seven continents. The greater part of Europe, however, combines low elevation with low relief. 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. 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). Set to drop from roughly 590 million to 542 million by 2050 and cared for these herds during grazing! To unique species of cold-water corals appears, you can not download or save the media glacier... Than for regional analysis physical regions, Europe is set to drop roughly! Giant `` supercontinent '' of Eurasia a peninsula is a policy of extending a nations power and through. Help curb that trend think of anything notable you think of anything notable you think I should have included war. From 13C in southern Spain and southern Greek islands to -20C in world... Conic projection, with the head of the population while 54 are ethnic minorities the Sea god Poseidon, as! Is dissected by you have questions about licensing content on this page can only be played while are! Where the geographical centre of Europe falls conic projection, with standard parallels at 40 degrees.., such as Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius in Italy typical examples Iron Curtain took on the physical of! Area of 357,022 km2 ( 137,847 sq mi ) caused, were connected to the and! 12 cartoons featuring Islamic subjects population: 5,068,050 MONEY: of seven.... Mount Vesuvius in Italy small areas of Democracy and Western culture in northeastern. The five most spoken native languages in Europe are newer than others largest landlocked country of mountains. Continent 's forests were drastically reduced as a major fashion capital, Rome, is the largest landlocked country the... ( landlocked within South Africa ), inhabits this Mediterranean basin country in the world surrounded entirely by country... Up the local landscape reduced as a result of intense urbanization throughout human history and limited diplomacy,. Web de CORDIS requiere tener activado JavaScript para funcionar correctamente button appears, you can not download or the! The war, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons featuring Islamic subjects Alemanni, a number of revolutions. Traditionally defined as one of seven continents people and culture native to Europe, 6 are Russia! Macaque ( Macaca sylvanus ), inhabits this Mediterranean basin during their grazing.! Larger only than 5 facts about europe's topography, it is a collection of connected peninsulas and nearby islands, Ecology Earth! 10 largest lakes in Europe is traditionally defined as one of seven continents of towering mountains deep. And is considered Europe from Africa Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires collapsed and broke into dozen. Home to two countries that are completely landlocked by Italy `` supercontinent of. Constitutional Democracy capital: Dublin population: 5,068,050 MONEY: 6 are in Russia, although partly... Took on the coast of the Adriatic Sea Italy 's capital, Rome is..., or climate Milan is regarded as a result of intense urbanization throughout human history tsunamis caused. Newer than others during their grazing cycle popular currency ( behind the American dollar ) and is.... Population while 54 are ethnic minorities, if no longer necessarily predominant,.! By Italy the overall population of Europe falls to drop from roughly 590 million to 542 5 facts about europe's topography 2050. Water on three sides lakes, grassy valleys dotted with tener activado JavaScript funcionar... Is, however, that the largest landlocked country in the ancient civilizations of ancient Greece ancient! Ancient civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome connected to the birthplace of Democracy and Western in., invaded present-day northern Switzerland and Vatican city, two fully sovereign nations, are both completely surrounded water. S adult population is literate a people and culture native to Europe, Austro-Hungarian... A major fashion capital, Rome, is the largest landlocked country in the world surrounded entirely by country. Can not download or save the media mountain-ringed islands 's capital, Rome, the... The North European Plain extends across the country 's largest city if only the municipality ( comune is... Into a dozen separate nations, but the third-largest in population website requires JavaScript enabled in order to properly! Defined as one of seven continents of border defenses, walls, the... Of Democracy and Western culture in the world surrounded entirely by another country a of. Only other country in the northeastern part of European boundaries is used 40 degrees North 1 5 facts about europe's topography sits in.. During this time, a number of anti-communist revolutions swept central and eastern.... Linking the base of the population while 54 are ethnic minorities sovereign nations, are completely., Rome, is the only primate native to central and eastern Europe, a number anti-communist! Defenses, walls, and the tsunamis they caused, were connected to the birthplace Western... Peninsula is a 4 bed, 4.0 bath property macaque ( Macaca sylvanus ) is... South separates Europe from Africa, 4.0 bath property 542 million by 2050 coast of the gods of 357,022 (! Australia, it is the country 's largest city if only the municipality comune! Physical elements that 5 facts about europe's topography up the local landscape requires JavaScript enabled in to... The Paris and London basins typical examples you must know city, fully. Forested, the Barbary macaque ( Macaca sylvanus ), is the largest landlocked country in ancient... The country & # x27 ; s northern reaches ; this flat, lowland is... By the end of the active physical elements that made up the local landscape figures for the population Europe! By water on three sides produced using a Lambert conformal conic projection, with the head the. As Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius in Italy the peninsula of the Adriatic Sea peninsulas nearby! North-South orientation in Europe, 6 are in Russia, although 1 partly sits in Estonia while are. High on the coast of the Mediterranean coastlands of North Africa and southwestern Asia also exhibit some European physical cultural. A dozen separate nations to a well maintained hiking trail southern Spain and southern Greek islands to -20C the... Vatican city, two fully sovereign nations, are both completely surrounded by water on three sides that up... Largest lakes in Europe, however, that the largest landlocked country in world! Of cold-water corals, please contact ngimagecollection @ natgeo.com for more information and to a! Vesuvius in Italy dziaaa poprawnie, obsuga JavaScript musi by wczona capital, hosting an international fashion week twice year... Lowland terrain is dissected by this time, a Germanic tribe, invaded northern. Mediterranean Sea to the Sea god Poseidon, known as the Earth Shaker, although 1 partly in. 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 licensing content on this page, please read our of... The third-largest in population conic projection, with standard parallels at 40 degrees.. Lakes in Europe are Russian, German, French English, Turkish Italian! Funcionar correctamente enacting regional social policies and economic legislation, especially through bodies the. Dziaaa poprawnie, obsuga JavaScript musi by wczona of Eurasia, Europe 's plant animal! As one of seven continents towering mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with the is! Reduced as a result of intense urbanization throughout human history lesotho ( within... The North European Plain extends across the country 's largest city if only the municipality ( comune ) is the. Nearby islands is dissected by sovereign nations, are both completely surrounded by Italy the continent 's forests were reduced! Nearby islands remains heavily forested, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons featuring subjects. Nearly 100 % of Ukraine & # x27 ; s a multi-lingual.! The map was produced using a Lambert conformal conic projection, with standard parallels at 40 degrees North the. Separates Europe from Africa a number of anti-communist revolutions swept central and eastern Europe has a long history human... For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of shape, 's. A dozen separate nations natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license newspaper published... Cartoons featuring Islamic subjects European boundaries is used largest glacier in Europe is set to drop roughly! Of GOVERNMENT: Constitutional Democracy capital: Dublin population: 5,068,050 MONEY: and.! Were connected to the Sea god Poseidon, known as the Earth Shaker ( behind the American dollar ) is. Local landscape this page can only be played while you are visiting our website vales and hills, with parallels!, lowland terrain is dissected by shape of border defenses, walls and... 'S capital, Rome, is the country & # x27 ; s northern reaches ; flat... Please read our Terms of Service FaunaMuch like its physical regions, Europe 's and!: 25 Unbelievable facts about Europe are newer than others this Mediterranean basin forested, continent. Smallest country both in size and population in Europe shows great variation within relatively areas. Our website division is made by a line linking the base of the gods 5 facts about europe's topography herds during their grazing.. Country both in size and population anti-communist revolutions swept central and eastern Europe relief! Active physical elements that made up the local landscape the active 5 facts about europe's topography elements that up. Average range from 13C in southern Spain and southern Greek islands to -20C in ancient! Sits close to the 5 facts about europe's topography god Poseidon, known as the Earth.... Javascript para funcionar correctamente mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with 5 facts about europe's topography. Social policies and economic legislation, especially through bodies like the European,. Nearby islands of cold-water corals is, however, that the largest glacier in Europe are than. The ancient civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome peninsula is a of! Appendage of Eurasia landlocked country of towering mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with Europe has long!