The Physical Geography of Europe- The Land
By Mrs Rihab Hmad
Overview
The large peninsula of Europe is made of smaller peninsulas.
Mountains running along the interior and along the southern and
northern edges interrupt the plains that make up much of Europe. It
shares a land mass with Asia called Eurasia.
T
Northern Peninsulas
Scandinavian Peninsula:
large promontory of northern Europe,
occupied by Norway and Sweden.
The peninsula (area 289,500 sq mi [750,000 sq km])
essentially consists of a mountainous mass, much of
which is part of the ancient Baltic Shield, parts of
which were affected by glaciation.
Cont...
Norway and Sweden share the western and
eastern sides, respectively, of this mountain mass.
Sweden, however, has extensive slopes of gentle
gradient down to the Baltic Sea,
while Norway’s mountains reach to
the actual coastline and are deeply
dissected by fjords.
Fjords
It’s a U-Shaped valley that is connected to the sea and filled with seawater after
glaciers melt.
● Common in Norway
● Created by Glacier.
Cont
Jutland, Danish Jylland, projection of northern Europe forming the
continental portion of Denmark and small part of Germany The peninsula is
bounded to the west and north by the North Sea.
Glaciers deposited sand and gravel
on the western flat side of the Jutland
Southern Peninsulas
1. Iberian Peninsula: Is the home of Spain and Portugal.
2. Apennine Peninsula : Is the home of Italy.
3. Balkan Peninsula: Is Bonded by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas on the west,
Aegean Sea on the east, and Mediteranian sea from the south.
Test your Knowledge:
European Islands:
These are:
● Iceland
● Greenland
● Ireland
● Great Britain
● Sicily
● Crete
● Cyprus
● Sardinia
● Ibiza
● Corsica
Mountain Chains in Europe:
These are:
● Alps
● Pyrenees
● Apennine
● Balkan
● Caucus
● Ural
The Alps:
● The Alps are Europe’s most famous mountain ranges.
● They are the arc across France, Italy, Germany,Switzerland, Austria, and the
Northern Balkan Peninsula.
● They cut-off Italy from other European Countries.
Pyrenees and Apennine
Pyrenees:
They create a natural border between Spain and France.
Apennine:
They are the spine of the Italian Peninsula, it divide it into east and west.
Balkan and Caucasus
Balkan:
Block off Balkan Peninsula from Europe.
Caucasus:
Form a natural barrier between Europe and Asia to the South
The Ural Mountain
It forms a natural barrier between Asia and Europe.
Rivers:
Throughout Europe there is a network of rivers
They are used to transport goods between coastal Harbours and inland
rejoin,aiding economic growth.
Rivers
1, The Danube River: It flows through 9 Countries with 1771 miles length, it links
Europeans to the Black sea.
2. The Rhine River: Has served as a watery highway for centuries. It flows 820 miles
from the interior of Europe North to the North sea.
3. The Seine River: is a major river in France, it is also a commercial waterway.
4. The River Thames: is a major river in The United Kingdom that flows through
London, Southern England
Rivers:
Rivers
Rivers:
The Volga River: it is the longest river in Europe, the world’s 15th longest river.
It flows 2300 miles south from Moscow.It carries 60% of Russia’s river traffic. It
empties into The Caspian Sea.
Oceans and Seas
Europe being a peninsula it is surrounded by water,most places in Europe are only
about 100 miles from an Ocean or sea. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west and
Arctic Ocean to the north. Major sea include the sunny Mediterranean Sea, the
frigid North and Baltic Seas as well as the prosperous Black Sea.
Oceans and Seas
The North Sea: is the home to many oil rigs but is very turbulent and dangerous.
The Baltic Sea: it is frigid, considered to be very important as it is the only access
to the sea for Russia, Poland and other small countries in Europe.
The Black Sea is a large sea that connects Europe and Asia through trade
networks. The Danube River flows into the Black sea.
Oceans and Seas
The Mediterrainean Sea: it is Europe’s largest and most important sea. It is still a
major trade network, as it as in ancient times. Many waterways are linked together
through it such as the Atlantic Ocean, Black Sea , and many other rivers. It’s name
is literally translates to “ Middle Earth” from Latin. Medi means middle and terra
means Earth.
Fertile Plains:
Northern European Plain: is the most fertile agricultural region of the world. It
stretches through a huge curve across parts of France, Belgium, the
Netherland,Denmark, Germany, & Poland. It is relatively flat, very desirable
agricultural land. However, the plain’s flatness has also allowed armies and troops
of invaders to use it as an open route.
Other smaller fertile farming plains: Sweden, Hungary, Northern Italy’s Lombarry
