Download GWG Chapter 11

The Land
Objectives
• Explain why Europe is sometimes called a
“peninsula of peninsulas.” 
• Identify some of the numerous islands
surrounding the continent of Europe. 
• Reinforce the importance of rivers to Europe’s
economy. 
• Discuss some of Europe’s most important
natural resources.
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Seas, Peninsulas, and Islands
• Struggle with the Sea Most of Europe
lies within 300 miles (483 km) of a
seacoast. 
• This closeness to the sea has shaped
the lifestyles of Europeans. 
• About 25 percent of the Netherlands
lies below sea level. 
• The Dutch have built dikes to hold
back the waters. 
• They have gained new land by
draining lakes and flooded areas. (pages 271–274)
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Seas, Peninsulas, and Islands (cont.)
• The Northern Peninsulas The
Scandinavian Peninsula in northern
Europe is mountainous. 
• Ice Age glaciers melted here, leaving
thousands of lakes. 
• Other glaciers carved out fjords along
the coastline. 
• Jutland, the peninsula on which
mainland Denmark lies, is mostly flat.
(pages 271–274)
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Seas, Peninsulas, and Islands (cont.)
(pages 271–274)
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Seas, Peninsulas, and Islands (cont.)
• The Southern Peninsulas
- Southwestern Europe’s Iberian Peninsula,
home to Spain and Portugal, separates the
Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic
Ocean. 
- Most of the peninsula is a plateau, but the
Pyrenees Mountains form a barrier between
it and the rest of Europe.
(pages 271–274)
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Seas, Peninsulas, and Islands (cont.)
- The Apennine Peninsula is a long, thin, bootshaped piece of land on which the country of
Italy lies. 
- The Apennines mountain range, which
includes the active volcano Mount Vesuvius,
extends down the center of the peninsula. 
- Only about 30 percent of the Apennine
Peninsula is plains. 
- The Balkan Peninsula in southeastern
Europe is a tangle of mountain ranges
and valleys. 
- Overland travel in this region is difficult.
(pages 271–274)
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Seas, Peninsulas, and Islands (cont.)
• Europe’s Islands Iceland, an island south
of the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic
Ocean, features volcanoes, hot springs,
and geysers. 
• The British Isles–primarily Ireland and
Great Britain–are cool, hilly, and rainy. 
• In the Mediterranean, five large islands–
Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, Cyprus, and
Crete–all have rugged terrain and
volcanic mountains.
(pages 271–274)
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Mountains and Plains (cont.)
• Plains Regions The fertile North
European Plain stretches from
southeastern England and western
France to Russia. 
• A major agricultural region, the plain
is home to some of Europe’s largest
cities. 
• The Great Hungarian Plain, another
fertile region, extends from Hungary
to Croatia, Serbia, and Romania.
(pages 274–275)
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Water Systems
• The rivers of Europe flow from inland
mountains and highlands to the coasts. 
• Europeans have built networks of canals
that aid transportation and irrigation. 
• Scandinavian rivers tend to be short. 
• Rivers on the Iberian Peninsula are
generally too shallow and narrow for
large ships. 
• England’s Thames River, however,
allows ships easy access to the inland
city of London.
(pages 275–276)
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Water Systems (cont.)
• The Rhine, western Europe’s major river,
runs through France and Germany into
the Netherlands, connecting inland
industrial cities to the North Sea. 
• The Danube, eastern Europe’s major
river, flows from Germany’s Black Forest
to the Black Sea. 
• The Main-Danube Canal, completed
in 1992, links the North Sea and the
Black Sea.
(pages 275–276)
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Water Systems (cont.)
(pages 275–276)
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Natural Resources
• Europe’s abundant supply of coal and
iron supported the development of
modern industry. 
• Today, many European coalfields
are depleted. 
• In places where other fuels are scarce,
Europeans burn peat, a dense, mossy
substance dug up in swamps and dried
for fuel. 
• Most Europeans rely on coal, oil, natural
gas, and nuclear and hydroelectric power.
(page 276)
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Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
D 1. long, steep-sided glacial valley
now filled by seawater
A. dike
__
B 2. low-lying area from which
seawater has been drained to
create new farmland
C. glaciation
__
A 3. large banks of earth and stone
that hold back water
E. loess
__
C 4. the process whereby glaciers
form and spread
__
E 5. fine, yellowish-brown topsoil
made up of particles of silt and
clay, usually carried by the wind
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B. polder
D. fjord
Critical Thinking
Comparing and Contrasting How does
the landscape of the Jutland Peninsula differ
from that of the Balkan Peninsula?
The Jutland Peninsula has lowlands in the
west and fjords on its slightly elevated
eastern coast. The Balkan Peninsula is
more rugged, with mountain ranges and
valleys.
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Critical Thinking
Making Generalizations Europe’s
Mediterranean islands are popular vacation
destinations. What physical features make
these islands attractive to tourists?
A warm climate, beautiful coastlines, and
ocean sports like snorkeling, water skiing,
parasailing, and fishing draw tourists from
around the world.
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Critical Thinking
Drawing Conclusions How does Europe’s
network of rivers and canals contribute to
industrial development in the region?
The Rhine and the Danube rivers can
accommodate large ships and barges.
Because of their links to the North and
Black Seas, Europe’s rivers provide
important trade outlets for the continent’s
cities and industries.
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Analyzing Maps
Location Study the
physical-political
map of Europe at
right. What part of
Europe has the
lowest elevation?
The highest?
The Netherlands has
the lowest elevation,
and highest are the
Pyrenees and the
Alps.
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Applying Geography
Conflict Over Resources Use
the economic activity map on page
263 of your textbook to identify three
areas in which natural resources
cross international boundaries.
Describe the areas in which conflict
could arise because of the
management of these resources.
Possible answer: Conflict could
arise in the North Sea, on the
borders of Germany, Belgium, and
the Netherlands, and on the border
of Bulgaria and Romania. Conflict
would be less likely among
European Union members
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Close
Write a short essay on a part of Europe you
would like to visit. Mention what physical
features of the country, island, province, or
region help make that place interesting to
you.
Climate and Vegetation
Objectives
• Discuss the climate regions in Europe.
• Describe the physical features that
influence Europe’s climate. 
• Explain why most of Europe’s original
forests are gone.
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
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Europe’s physical geography and climate
have made it a popular setting for winter
Olympiads. Because winter Olympic sports
require ice or snow, they are usually held in
countries with cold climates and high
elevations. Europe’s Alps, for example, are
perfect for skiing. Of 19 winter Olympiads
since 1924, 11 have been held in Europe–
three in France; two each in Switzerland,
Norway, and Austria; and one each in
Germany and Italy. The 2006 Winter Olympics
also will be held in Italy.
Water and Land
• European climates vary according to
distance from the sea. 
• Countries closer to warm Atlantic
ocean currents and winds have milder
temperatures than those farther east
and north. 
• Vegetation varies according to climate.
(pages 277–278)
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Western Europe
• Trees and Highlands Forests in the
region include varieties of deciduous and
evergreen trees. 
• Conifers thrive in cooler sections of the
region, such as the mountains. 
• The Alps have a highlands climate with
colder temperatures and more
precipitation than nearby lowland
areas. 
• Occasional dry winds can trigger
avalanches.
(pages 278–280)
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Western Europe (cont.)
• Ireland’s Forests Much of Europe was
originally forested, but over the centuries
people have cleared away many of the
trees. 
• For example, by 1922 Ireland had cut
down 99 percent of its original forest. 
• Government-sponsored reforestation
efforts, as well as those of private
groups, have increased woodland
areas.
(pages 278–280)
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Southern Europe
• Most of southern Europe has a
Mediterranean climate with warm,
dry summers and mild, rainy winters. 
• The Alps block moist Atlantic winds,
so less precipitation falls in southern
Europe than in northwestern Europe. 
• The mistral, an Alpine wind,
occasionally blows bitter cold air
into southern France. 
• Siroccos–high, dry winds from North
Africa–sometimes bring hot weather
to Europe.
(pages 280–281)
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Eastern and Northern Europe
• Eastern and northern areas of Europe
have a humid continental climate–cold,
snowy winters and hot summers. 
• Warm Atlantic currents have less
influences on climates in these areas
farther from the Atlantic Ocean. 
• As a result, summer and winter
temperatures vary more widely in
eastern and northern Europe than
in the rest of Europe.
(page 281)
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Eastern and Northern Europe (cont.)
• Grasslands cover much of eastern
Europe, especially Hungary and
Romania. 
• Forests are mixed deciduous and
coniferous. 
• Far northern parts of Scandinavia
feature subarctic and tundra climates. 
• Winters are bitterly cold, and summers
are short and cool. 
• Much of the soil is permanently frozen
below the surface, and only the hardiest
(page 281)
vegetation can survive.
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Eastern and Northern Europe (cont.)
(page 281)
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Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
G 1. permanently frozen layer of soil
beneath the surface of the
ground
__
E 2. hot desert wind that can blow air
and dust from North Africa to
western Europe’s Mediterranean
coast
__
B 3. dry wind that blows from the
leeward sides of mountains,
sometimes melting snow and
causing avalanches; term used
mainly in Europe
__
A 4. elevation above which it is too
cold for trees to grow
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A. timberline
B. foehn
C. avalanche
D. mistral
E. sirocco
F.
chaparral
G. permafrost
Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
F 5. type of vegetation made up of
dense forests of shrubs and
short trees, common in
Mediterranean climates
A. timberline
__
C 6. mass of ice, snow, or rock that
slides down a mountainside
D. mistral
__
D 7. strong northerly wind from the
Alps that can bring cold air to
southern France
F.
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B. foehn
C. avalanche
E. sirocco
chaparral
G. permafrost
Critical Thinking
Predicting Consequences Prevailing
westerly winds bring warm air from the North
Atlantic Drift to the European continent.
What do you think happens when the winds
temporarily change course?
A shift could bring cold, dry air and lower
temperatures to the region.
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Critical Thinking
Analyzing Information What geographic
factors contribute to vegetation differences
between highlands and tundra climate
regions?
Highlands climate regions are located in high
elevations, and have chaparral and
coniferous vegetation. Tundra climate regions
are located in high latitudes, and have little
vegetation except for mosses, small shrubs,
and wildflowers.
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Critical Thinking
Identifying Cause and Effect How has
human interaction with the environment
caused changes in Europe’s vegetation
patterns?
Large percentages of European forests
have been lost to agriculture and urban
development.
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Analyzing Maps
Location Study this
map of Europe’s
climate regions.
Where are highlands
climate regions
found? What are their
physical features?
The Alps are in a
highlands climate
region. Their physical
features include high
elevations and
mountain ranges.
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Applying Geography
Physical Processes Describe the physical
processes that affect Europe’s climate and
vegetation. Provide specific examples related
to the variety of climates and vegetation
found in the region.
Possible answer: The Gulf Stream brings
moderate temperatures to western
Europe, which has deciduous and
coniferous forests. In southern Europe,
the drier climate with mistrals and siroccos
brings chaparral. Northern and eastern
Europe have a continental subarctic, or
tundra climate with a mix of deciduous
and coniferous forests.
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Close
How might climate and vegetation affect
the economy and culture in the different
regions of Europe?
Possible answer: Scandinavia has a strong
timber industry, in Switzerland the ski
industry thrives, and the Mediterranean area
depends on the tourist industry.
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Section 1: The Land (pages 271–276)
Key Points
• Europe is a huge peninsula extending
westward from the Eurasian landmass. 
• Europe has a long coastline with many
peninsulas and islands. 
• Europe has a large plains region in its northern
areas; mountains are found along the
continent’s eastern and southern boundaries. 
• Rivers provide important transportation in
Europe, linking the interior of the continent with
coastal ports. 
• Europe has important deposits of minerals, oil,
and natural gas.
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Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
Key Points
(pages 277–281)
• Warm ocean currents give much of Europe a
milder climate than other areas at similar
latitudes. 
• Areas of western Europe with a marine west
coast climate have generally moderate
temperatures. 
• Much of southern Europe has a Mediterranean
climate, with mild, rainy winters and warm, dry
summers. 
• Europe’s interior has more extreme seasonal
temperatures than do areas nearer the sea.
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Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
Key Points
(pages 277–281)
• Both climate and human activity affect the
natural vegetation of Europe.
Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that matches the definition below.
fjord
polder
foehn
sirocco
mistral
timberline
1. _________________
strong north wind from the
mistral
Alps that brings cold air to
southern France
sirocco
2. _________________
hot wind that blows from
North Africa to western
Europe’s Mediterranean
coast
timberline
3. _________________
elevation above which trees
cannot grow
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Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that matches the definition below.
fjord
polder
foehn
sirocco
mistral
timberline
4. _________________
deep, water-filled valley
fjord
carved by glaciers
5. _________________
dry wind that blows in the Alps
foehn
6. _________________
drained area reclaimed from
polder
the sea
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: The Land
Why is Europe a “peninsula of peninsulas”?
Europe is a large peninsula made up of
smaller peninsulas.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: The Land
What geographic area in Europe has rich,
fertile farmland and is a center of industry?
The North European Plain has fertile farmland
and is a center of industry.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: The Land
How have human actions over the centuries
changed Europe’s waterways?
They have built dams, introduced pollution,
and completed canals that link rivers.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
How do the Gulf Stream and the North
Atlantic Drift affect Europe’s climate?
The prevailing westerly winds blowing over
the currents carry warm, moist air across the
continent.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
What kinds of climate regions are found in
Iceland and the Scandinavian Peninsula?
Marine west coast, subarctic, tundra, and
humid continental climate regions are found
in Iceland and the Scandinavian Peninsula.
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Critical Thinking
Drawing Conclusions How did
geographic features help shape European
cultures? Provide examples to support
your answers.
Seacoasts and rivers facilitated trade and
industrialization. Mountain ranges created
distinct regional and political boundaries.
The Mediterranean Sea opened a link to
African and Asian cultures. Varying
climates and vegetation allowed for distinct
types of social, political, and economic
developments.
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Critical Thinking
Identifying Cause and Effect Why did
the North European Plain develop into a
densely populated industrial center?
The North European Plain developed into
a densely populated industrial center
because of its fertile soil, natural
resources, and a major river linking that
region to the North Sea.
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Locating Places
Match the letters on the map with the physical features
of Europe.
__1.
B
__2.
G
__3.
I
__4.
D
__5.
J
__6.
F
British Isles
Rhine River
Sicily
Apennines
Baltic Sea
Mediterranean
Sea
__7.
Scandinavia
C
__8.
Crete
H
__9.
Iberian Peninsula
A
__10.
Balkan Peninsula
E
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Choose the best answer for the following multiplechoice question based on the quote below. If you
have trouble answering the question, use the process
of elimination to narrow your choices.
1. What kind of place does the author want to escape to sometimes?
A
He wants a place where there is a lot of pressure and energy.
B
He wants a beautiful place halfway around the world.
C
He wants a unique, beautiful place that is different from where he
lives.
D
He wants a place where he can disappear into the crowds.
Test-Taking Tip When choosing an answer for a multiple-choice
question, sometimes more than one option may seem correct. Read the
question carefully, and then look in the reading for information about the
kind of place. Compare each answer with that information.
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In what country would you find Europe’s
highest and lowest points?
European Russia. The highest is Mt.
Elbrus at 18,510 ft. (5,642 m). The lowest
is at the Volga delta on the Caspian Sea
at 92 ft. (28 m) below sea level.
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Explore online information about the topics
introduced in this chapter.
Click on the Connect button to launch your browser and go to the
Glencoe World Geography Web site. At this site, you will find
interactive activities, current events information, and Web sites
correlated with the chapters and units in the textbook. When you
finish exploring, exit the browser program to return to this
presentation. If you experience difficulty connecting to the Web
site, manually launch your Web browser and go to
http://geography.glencoe.com
The people of Sweden, who endure long, cold
winters with few daylight hours, are united in their
respect for their country’s land. The Arctic blasts of
winter are made bearable by the promise of
summers in the country in the family’s stuga, or
cottage. Between June and August, many Swedes
forsake the cities, and, for five weeks, vacation in
small farming towns.
Economics Finland’s economy was once based on
lumber, Finland’s major natural resource. The Finnish
economy is now highly industrialized, with exports
making up a quarter of the country’s gross domestic
product. The United States is one of Finland’s main
export markets.
Finding and Summarizing
the Main Idea
Finding and summarizing the main idea in an article or book
will help you organize information. It will also help you identify
the most important concepts to remember.
Finding and Summarizing
the Main Idea
Learning the Skill
To identify the main idea, you may need to “read between the
lines” and interpret the facts and evidence that are presented.
Review the important details, and decide which ones are central
to the message. By looking closely at important details, you can
infer an author’s main meaning. When looking for a main idea,
follow these steps: 
• Skim the material to identify its general subject. Look at
any headings and subheadings. 
• Read the information to pinpoint the ideas that the details
support. Why is the author presenting these facts and this
evidence?
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Finding and Summarizing
the Main Idea
Learning the Skill
To identify the main idea, you may need to “read between the
lines” and interpret the facts and evidence that are presented.
Review the important details, and decide which ones are central
to the message. By looking closely at important details, you can
infer an author’s main meaning. When looking for a main idea,
follow these steps: 
• Identify the main idea. Ask yourself: How can I state the
main idea in my own words?
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Finding and Summarizing
the Main Idea
Practicing the Skill
Read the passage on page 282 of your textbook. Then
answer the following questions.
1. What is the general subject of the passage?
The subject is a description of a national park in
England and how it differs from national parks in the
United States.
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Finding and Summarizing
the Main Idea
Practicing the Skill
Read the passage on page 282 of your textbook. Then
answer the following questions.
2. What important facts and details does the passage
include?
Patterdale is the largest national park in England and
Wales. “National park” is a misnomer because it is neither
nationally owned nor a park per se; rather, it is a lived-in
landscape with a population of 40,000. British parks are
intended to exert control over the speed and nature of
change, not prevent it altogether. Authorities really have
little power over the parks.
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Finding and Summarizing
the Main Idea
Practicing the Skill
Read the passage on page 282 of your textbook. Then
answer the following questions.
3. What is the main idea of the passage? State the main idea
in your own words.
The United Kingdom and the United States have
different approaches to preserving wilderness.
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Maps
Europe: Physical-Political
Europe: Climate Regions
Europe: Natural Vegetation
Chart
Comparing Climate Regions: France and the United States
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