Ancient Greeks believed it was the home of the gods. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. 1. It covers an area of 357,022 km2 (137,847 sq mi). January average range from 13C in southern Spain and southern Greek islands to -20C in the northeastern part of European Russia. Europes largest and longest river is the Volga. The Mediterranean Sea to the south separates Europe from Africa. 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. The North European Plain extends across the country's northern reaches; this flat, lowland terrain is dissected by . Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. More than 200 languages are spoken in Europe. 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. Of the top 10 largest lakes in Europe, 6 are in Russia, although 1 partly sits in Estonia. The Holocaust was the mass murder of Jews under the Nazi regime. European Commission: European Capital of Culture. The population within the standard physical geographical boundaries was 701 million in 2005 according to the United Nations. Today, this is the German-speaking region of the country.Around this same time, Roman conquerors took over present-day southern Switzerland. 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. 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. The biggest part of the United Kingdom (also called the U.K.) is the island of Great Britain, which is made up of England, Wales, and Scotland. 1. Editor of, Professor of Geography, Birkbeck College, University of London, 194770. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. It is the continent's second largest island (after Great Britain). The 15 rivers of Europe by average discharge, including only rivers directly flowing into the World Ocean or Endorheic basins: Aegean Islands, land, Balearic Islands, Corsica, Crete, Cyprus (Adjacent to Asia), Fyn, Faroe Islands, Gotland, Great Britain, Hinnya, Iceland, Ionian Islands, Ireland, Malta, North Jutlandic Island, Saaremaa, Sardinia, Senja, Sicily, Svalbard and Zealand. El sitio web de CORDIS requiere tener activado JavaScript para funcionar correctamente. Kazakhstan and Russia are in Asia. The northern plain contains the old geological continent of Baltica, and so may be regarded as the "main continent", while peripheral highlands and mountainous regions in south and west constitute fragments from various other geological continents. The Danubian and northern Italian lowlands are thus mountain-ringed islands. Some reindeer herds have a home range of up to 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles). Land relief in Europe shows great variation within relatively small areas. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. 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. From the Greek perspective then, Europa was culturally backward and scantily settled. The overall population of Europe is set to drop from roughly 590 million to 542 million by 2050. Read More: 25 Unbelievable Facts about North Korea that you must know. 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 proportion of people older than 65 will grow from 16 percent to 28 percent. Omissions? 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. Por favor, active JavaScript. Glaciers are found in a surprisingly large number of European countries, including Iceland, Norway, Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. The European Union created a $957 billion rescue package for the EU economy, primarily for countries that had unsustainable debt rates. In fact, the tallest mountain in Europe is in Kazakhstan and is called Khan Tengri, standing 22,999 feet high, some 4,500 feet higher than the next tallest, Mount Elbrus in Russia. Enacting regional social policies and economic legislation, especially through bodies like the European Union, may help curb that trend. The North European Plain remains the most densely populated region of Europe.Central UplandsThe Central Uplands extend east-west across Central Europe and include western France and Belgium, southern Germany, the Czech Republic, and parts of northern Switzerland and Austria.The Central Uplands are lower in altitude and less rugged than the Alpine region and are heavily wooded. From there it flows to the Caspian Sea. In order to distinguish herds, families and communities developed a pattern of cuts and notches on the animals ears.Reindeer were also the Samis main method of transporting goods during their nomadic journeys. The continent is awash with stunning beaches so its only right that the facts of European geography include its longest beach. 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. This article treats the physical and human geography of Europe. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. Europe also supports high densities of population, concentrated in urban-industrial regions. The Netherlands is a country located in Northwestern Europe. Updated: 07/28/2022 Table of Contents Volcanic rocks add to the diversity of those regions. The political cartoons sought to engage in the debate surrounding Muslim extremism. A convenient division is made by a line linking the base of the peninsula of Jutland with the head of the Adriatic Sea. Wcz obsug JavaScript. Establishing fishing limits, protecting threatened habitats, and encouraging sustainable consumption habits are some efforts supported by European conservationists. A landlocked country of towering mountains, deep Alpine lakes, grassy valleys dotted with . 33 forms the majority of the population while 54 are ethnic minorities. 4. 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. Switzerland's small sizeits total area is about half that of Scotlandand its modest population give little indication of its international significance. In the Alps, Mont Blanc rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 metres), which is the highest point on the continent. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Indeed, Turkey has sought membership in the European Union (EU), and the Republic of Cyprus joined the organization in 2004. 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. 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. International economic and military organizations developed on either side of the Iron Curtain. 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. Europe is home to two countries that are completely landlocked by Italy. It is geographically positioned both in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. Author of. The consensus is, however, that the largest glacier in Europe is the Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland. Switzerland's administrative capital is Bern, while Lausanne serves as its judicial centre. Read important geography facts about Ireland and information about Ireland's landscapes, topography, and coastline. Fun Facts about Europe Europe is home to the smallest country in the world, the Holy See or the Vatican. 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. Russia is Europe's largest country. 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.Europes main peninsulas are the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan, located in southern Europe, and the Scandinavian and Jutland, located in northern Europe. 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. 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. Around 10% of the world's population lives in Europe. It is home to many navigable rivers, including the Rhine, Weser, Elbe, Oder, and Vistula. Europe Facts for KS2 Children. 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. 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. The Volga River in Russia is Europe's longest river. Developed countries, however, are also facing economic challenges. The name Europe, or Europa, is believed to be of Greek origin, as it is the name of a princess in Greek mythology. The biggest is Lake Ladoga, which covers just under 7,000 square miles and sits close to St. Petersburg. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Topography is the study of the Earth's surface. 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. Bitte aktivieren Sie JavaScript. 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 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. Lets take a short tour around some of the most notable geographical facts about Europe. Europe's highest peak, Mount Elbrus at 5,642 meters (18,510 feet), is in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia. For discussion of individual countries of the continent, see specific articles by namee.g., Italy, Poland, and United Kingdom. 3. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. The Central Powers (led by the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire) fell to the forces of the Allied Powers (led by the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire). 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. These regional labels are used more for identification than for regional analysis. Note: Italy's capital, Rome, is the country's largest city if only the municipality (comune) is considered. Corrections? Lesotho (landlocked within South Africa), is the only other country in the world surrounded entirely by another country. This honor goes to Gouffre Mirolda in France. 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]). 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. Italian fashion is also an important cultural export. Steppe plains cover the north of Kazakhstan. Whats the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Borders between existing nations, such as Poland and Russia, were entirely redrawn.World War II (1939-1945) left about 43 million Europeans dead, including about 6 million who died in the Holocaust. The goals of the program are local, regional, and global. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. 4. 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. Latin, the language of Rome, evolved into French in the western region, and Italian in the south. 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. It runs for 2,294 miles through central Russia. Rocks of all geologic periods are exposed, and the operation of geologic forces during an immense succession of eras has contributed to the molding of the landscapes of mountain, plateau, and lowland and has bequeathed a variety of mineral reserves. Asia is not Europe ;-). 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. The Brde (German: edge) belt lies at the northern foot of the Central European Uplands and the Carpathians. Europe is the western peninsula of the giant "supercontinent" of Eurasia. 11. Topography Facts - Earth Science. Ireland: geography and landscape. The forests and grasslands of Western and Central Europe have been almost completely domesticated, with crops and livestock dominant.Finally, small, drought-resistant plants border the Mediterranean Sea, Europe's southern edge. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. 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. 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