EUROPE

 

HOME | BIOLOGY | FILMS | GEOGRAPHY | HISTORY | INDEX | MUSIC | THE BOAT  | SOLAR BOATS  | SPONSORS

 

 

 

Europe is a continent whose boundaries are generally regarded as being: the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Ural Mountains and Ural River (or Emba River) in the east, the Caspian Sea, Caucasus mountains (or the Kuma-Manych Depression) and Black Sea in the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Together with Asia, Europe forms the supercontinent Eurasia, of which Europe is the western fifth.

 

In terms of population it is the third largest continent after Asia and Africa. The population of Europe in 2001 was estimated to be 666,498,000: roughly one seventh of the world's population.

 

 

 

Physical map of Europe

 

 

Geographically Europe is a part of the larger landmass known as Eurasia. The continent begins at the Ural Mountains in Russia, which define Europe's eastern boundary with Asia. The southeast boundary with Asia isn't universally defined. Most commonly the Ural or, alternatively, the Emba River can serve as possible boundaries. The boundary continues with the Caspian Sea, and then the crest of the Caucasus Mountains or, alternatively, the Kura River in the Caucasus, and on to the Black Sea; the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles conclude the Asian boundary.

 

However, some geographers consider Azerbaijan's and Armenia's southern border with Iran and Turkey's southern and eastern border with Syria, Iraq and Iran as the boundary between Asia and Europe because of political and cultural reasons. The Mediterranean Sea to the south separates Europe from Africa. The western boundary is the Atlantic Ocean, but Iceland, much farther away than the nearest points of Africa, is also often included in Europe. There is ongoing debate on where the geographical centre of Europe is. For detailed description of the boundary between Asia and Europe.

 

The idea of a European "continent" is not universally held. Some non-European geographical texts refer to a Eurasian Continent, or to a European "sub-continent", given that "Europe" is not surrounded by sea and is, in any case, much more a cultural than a geographically definable area.

 

In terms of shape, Europe is a collection of connected peninsulas. The two largest of these are "mainland" Europe and Scandinavia to the north, divided from each other by the Baltic Sea. Three smaller peninsulas—Iberia, Italy and the Balkans—emerge from the southern margin of the mainland into the Mediterranean Sea, which separates Europe from Africa. Eastward, mainland Europe widens much like the mouth of a funnel, until the boundary with Asia is reached at the Ural Mountains.

 

Land relief in Europe shows great variation within relatively small areas. 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. An arc of uplands also exists along the northwestern seaboard, beginning in the western British Isles and continuing along the mountainous, fjord-cut spine of Norway.

 

This description is simplified. Sub-regions such as Iberia and Italy contain their own complex features, as does mainland Europe itself, where the relief contains many plateaus, river valleys and basins that complicate the general trend. Iceland and the British Isles are special cases. The former is a land unto itself in the northern ocean which is counted as part of Europe, while the latter are upland areas that were once joined to the mainland until rising sea levels cut them off.

 

The few generalizations that can be made about the relief of Europe make it less than surprising that the continent's many separate regions provided homes for many separate nations throughout history.

 

 

 

Topography of Europe

 

 

Geology

 

 

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.

 

 

Rivers

 

Important rivers of Europe with approximate length:

  1. Volga 3,690 km

  2. Danube 2,860 km

  3. Ural 2,428 km

  4. Dnieper 2,290 km

  5. Don 1,950 km

  6. Pechora 1,809 km

  7. Kama 1,805 km

  8. Oka 1,500 km

  9. Belaya 1,430 km

  10. Dniester 1,352 km

  11. Rhine 1,320 km

  12. Elbe 1,165 km

  13. Vistula 1,047 km

  14. Loire 1,012 km

  15. Sava, 933 km

 

 

Major islands

 

Iceland, Faroe Islands, Great Britain, Ireland, Isle of Man, Rockall, the rest of the British Isles, Gibraltar, Azores, Madeira, Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Ionian Islands, Crete, Aegean Islands, Åland Islands, Gotland, Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Jan Mayen, and Svalbard.

 

 

Plains and lowlands

 

  • East European Plain, the largest landscape feature of Europe

  • Northern European Lowlands

  • Pannonian plain

 

Mountain ranges

 

Some of Europe's major mountain ranges are:

 

  • Ural Mountains, which separate Europe and Asia

  • Caucasus Mountains, which also separate Europe and Asia, and is the namesake of the Caucasian race, not to be confused with Caucasian peoples

  • Carpathian Mountains, a major mountain range in Central and Southern Europe

  • Alps, the famous mountains known for their spectacular slopes are said to be a home of Bigfoot, along with the Himalayas and the Rocky Mountains

  • Apennines, which run through Italy

  • Pyrenees, the natural border between France and Spain

  • Pennines, which run through central England

  • Scandinavian Mountains, a mountain range which runs through the Scandinavian Peninsula

  • Kjolen Mountains, on Northern Norway and Russia

 

 

 


 

 

 

LINKS:

 

Earth Pulse Center (volcanoes) - Kiluoa , Pintabe, and St. Helena

Forces that effect our weather - an excellent website created for the Annenberg Project.  With activities and a storm chaser simulator, Well-written topics include:  The Atmosphere, Ice and Snow, Powerful Storms, etc.  Each section includes topical links, and "find out more" tutorials, such as Ozone Depletion under Atmosphere.

GeoWorld History: Europe to Eurasia GeoWorld History: Europe to Eurasia

Globalization - from PBS - in an effort to promote understanding - site is called commanding heights.

Geographers Craft - site at the University of Colorado that explains and has many definitions for GIS.

Globalization, Limits on theory - PDF article by Henry Wai-chung Yeung Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1 Arts Link, Singapore 117570 geoywc@nus.edu.sg Forthcoming in ‘Special Issue on Global Economic Change’, Economic Geography, Vol.78(3), July 2002.

Geography games -  This site links you to over 40 geography games such as match the state flag to the state...

Geography Guide- Mining Co.'s Geography site. includes weekly articles about geography, annotated links to hundreds of the best sites for maps and geographical information, an online world atlas, a glossary, weekly quizzes, a bulletin board and chat room for those interested in geography, and much more.currently includesover 800 pages.

Geographic Superlatives -  the highest, the lowest, the best etc....

Information Please listing of superlatives - lakes, rivers, coastline, mountains, volcanoes, disasters, very large collection

Geography Teacher  - Over 600 links to resources, references, and lesson plans for high school students and teachers of geography organized by topic.  Great Resource.

Latitude and longitude - a brief tutorial

Latitude and longitude of US cities -

National Geographic Society - Best of the best

National Geographic Xpeditions - This website from the National Geographic Society contains an Atlas with printable maps; a Forum for exchanging geography ideas; Standards, ideas and activities; and the Xpedition Hall.

National Weather Service - From local to world weather, up to the minute: active flood warnings, severe thunderstorms, etc;

National Severe Storms Laboratory

Natural Wonders - On the ground, in the sky, sea or space

Ogden's Cartography links - over 6000 links to maps on the web

Passport to the WorldGrades 4-6 (This can also be adapted for higher grades.) Here's a world geography unit that takes two to four weeks to complete.  Students make or actually get a passport, then explore the world by participating in a variety of activities. Students will also enhance their skills in research, navigating the internet, composition, spelling, correspondence, cooking, presentation, money management, photography, map making, and even shopping!

Radar and Sattelite - Click on any city on the map to get current radar and satellite images.  A good resource for advanced weatherstudents, to practice reading and interpretation of satellite imaging.

Six Flags theme parks - take a journey around the United States and visit one of the 25 sites. The Six Flags site has almost all the animation and excitement to be found in their parks! Their first park opened in Texas. They may now be found in such diverse places as Baltimore, Albany,Wild Safari in New Jersey, Denver, Oklahoma City, or Waterworld in Concord, CA., amongst others.

Social Studies Geography

Themes - the five themes of geography

Tierra Firma Geography   WAMFU -  Harker Heights High School Geography Page: Interactive learning experience for elementary students --maintained by high school students.

Twentieth Century - historical atlas

U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Information Systems - What is GIS? How does it work?

 

 

WORLD GEOGRAPHY

 

 

 

Adelaide

Aden - Yemen

Africa

Alaska

Amsterdam

Antarctic

Argentina

Athens

Australia

Austria

Aztecs - Mexico

Bangladesh

Beachy Head, England

Belgium

Berlin

Bonneville, Utah, USA

Brazil

Brighton - West Pier

Canada

Canary Islands

Cape York - Au

Cayman Islands

Chichester Harbour

China

Columbo - Sri Lanka

Cowes, Isle of Wight

Cyprus

Czechoslovakia

Darwin - Australia

Denmark

Eastbounre Pier, England

Earthquakes

Egypt

Equator

Europe

Falmouth, Cornwall

Fiji

Finland

France

Galapagos Islands

Geography Links

Geography Records

Geography Resources

Geography Statistics

Germany

Gibraltar - Links

 

 

Greece

Greenland

Hawaii

Holland the Nertherlands

Hollywood, California, LA

Hong Kong

Hungary

Hurricanes

Iceland

India

Indonesia Links

Iran

Iraq

Ireland

Isle of Man

Isle of Wight - The Needles

Israel

Italy

Jakarta - Java

Japan

Kent, England

Korea

Kuwait

Life on Earth

London - Big Ben

London Eye

London Houses Parliament

London - Buckingham Palace

London - Old Bailey

London - Overview

London - The City

London - Tower Bridge

London - Trafalgar Square

Luxembourg

Maya Empire - Central America

Melbourne, Australia

Mexico

Mountains

Naples- Italy

National Geographic

New York

New Zealand

Norway

Oceans and Seas

Pakistan

 

 

 

Palermo - Sicily

Palma - Malorca

Panama Canal - Links

Paris

Planet Earth

Poland

Port Moresby - PNG

Port Said - Egypt

Portugal

Rome

Russia

Salt Lake City - Utah USA

Saudi Arabia

Scotland

Singapore

South America

Southampton

Spain - Espana

Sri Lanka - Links

Stonehenge

Suez Canal

Sussex, England Index

Sweden

Switzerland

Tahiti - Polynesia - Links

Taiwan

Tokyo, Japan

Tonga - Polynesia

Trinidad - Lesser Antilles

Tsunami

Tunbridge Wells, England

Turkey

UAE - United Arab Emirates

UK Statistics

Ukraine

United Kingdom

United Kingdom - Gov

USA

Venice

Vienna

Vietnam

Volcanoes

Wales

Washington D.C.

Wealden iron industry

World Peace Supporters

 

 



 

A taste for adventure capitalists

 

 

Solar Cola - a healthier alternative

 

 

This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2006  NJK.   The bird logo and name Solar Navigator are trademarks. All rights reserved.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.       Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.

 AUTOMOTIVE  |  BLUEBIRD  |  ELECTRIC CARS  |  ELECTRIC CYCLES  |  SOLAR CARS