Europe — Location, Political Divisions and Physical Features

(a) Fjords

(b) Basin

(c) Fold mountains

(d) Finland

(e) Volga River

(a) Europe looks like a peninsula extending westwards of the Asiatic Landmarks. Large arms of the Seas have penetrated deep into the land and have created smaller peninsulas. That is why Europe is called the "peninsula of peninsulas".

(b) Finland is called 'the land of thousand' lakes due to its abundance of lakes and water bodies. Finland has approximately 1,88,000 lakes, making it one of the most lake-rich regions in the world.

(c) Europe has been called a dynamic continent because it has always been home of inventions, discoveries and rapid rate of progress and has always influenced the world politically, economically and culturally.

Europe is the western most peninsula of the giant supercontinent Eurasia and the second smallest continent in the world. It lies entirely in the temperate zone of the Northern hemisphere and extends from the island nation of Iceland in the West to the Ural Mountains of Russia in the east. It extends from 36°N to 72°N latitude and approximately 25°W to 60°E longitude.

Two countries which are called Balkan states are:

1. Albania
2. Bosnia

The Alps and the Caucasus are the two examples of new fold mountains in Europe.

Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are together known as lowland countries. They are called so because they are made up of lowlands. Some parts of these countries lies below sea level.

Netherlands is also known as Holland. It is located in western europe, between Belgium and Germany.

Spain, Portugal and Andorra occupy the Iberian Peninsula. It is located in the extreme south-west of Europe.

United Kingdom consists of:

1. England
2. Scotland
3. Wales
4. Northern Ireland

Three countries bordering the Baltic Sea are:

1. Estonia
2. Latvia
3. Lithuania

European Union was formed for the purpose of achieving political and economic integration, reducing trade barriers and increasing cooperation among its members. Protection of natural environment and the exploitation of alternative energy sources have become the core vision for the development of Europe.

The European Union was formed on November 1st, 1993 by the Treaty of Maastricht.

Europe can be divided into four major physical regions:

1. Northwestern highlands.
2. North European Plains or Central plains.
3. Central Uplands.
4. The Southern mountain system.

1990

South of Europe.

Mt. Elbrus

Ladoga

Gibraltar

Temperate, northern.

Cape Nordkinn

Peninsula

Great Britain

Low countries

Iberian Peninsula.

Maastricht

Finland

Mt. Blanc

Hydroelectricity