Download Ch. 10 - Human Geography of Northern Europe

Ch. 10:1 – Physical Geography of
Northern Europe
Ch. 10 - Physical Geography of Northern Europe
Landforms
• Northern Europe is made up of five countries:
Norway and Sweden on the Scandinavian
Peninsula, Denmark on the Jutland Peninsula,
Finland in the eastern part of the region, and the
island country of Iceland in the North Atlantic
Ocean.
• Glaciation is the primary process by which the
landforms of Northern Europe came to be as
they are today.
• During the last ice age, ice filled the valleys and
carved out fjords that are now filled with
seawater, creating steep, rugged mountains.
Ch. 10 - Physical Geography of Northern Europe
Water Systems
• Glaciation left hundreds of thousands of lakes in
Northern Europe.
• Iceland’s rivers consist of glacial debris,
making them cloudy.
• Many of the rivers on the Scandinavian
Peninsula contain falls and rapids that hamper
transportation between cities.
• The countries of Northern Europe harness the
power of these falls and rapids to run
hydroelectric power plants.
Ch. 10 - Physical Geography of Northern Europe
Climate, Biomes, and
Resources
• The climate patterns and biomes of Northern
Europe are affected by latitude, landforms, wind
patterns, ocean currents, and distance from
water.
• Natural vegetation varies from forests to
tundra plants.
• While the area has oil and natural gas
resources, the countries of the region are
leaders in developing renewable energy.
Ch. 10:2-3 Northern Europe
Ch. 10 - Human Geography of Northern Europe
History and Government
• Northern Europe, also referred to as the
Nordic countries, has been shaped by years of
invasions, migrations, and trade.
• Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland
have similar structures of societies and cultural
traits.
• Industrialization brought an influx of new
social classes, which changed the political
culture.
• Following World War II, the Nordic countries
developed democracies.
Ch. 10 - Human Geography of Northern Europe
Population Patterns
• Migration and ethnicity have influenced where
people have settled.
• The Sami are descendants of nomadic peoples
who lived in Scandinavia for thousands of years.
• The Nordic countries have lower population
densities than most other countries in Europe.
• Populations concentrate in areas near the sea
and in metropolitan areas.
the Sami people
Ch. 10 - Human Geography of Northern Europe
Society and Culture Today
• Protestant religions dominate in every Nordic
country.
• Northern Europe is filled with the world’s most
educated population, with literacy rates at
nearly 100 percent throughout the region.
• The governments function as welfare states,
providing social services but levying large taxes.
• Women are achieving equal status in Nordic
society, nearing the same status as men in the
workplace.
Ch. 10 - Human Geography of Northern Europe
Economic Activities
• All of the Nordic countries are small, open
economies that rely on foreign trade.
• Nordic countries rapidly evolved from agrarianbased economies into modern, industrialized
countries.
• Commercial fishing, mining, forestry, and
energy are the main resources in the area.
• The Nordic model emphasizes labor force
participation and promotes gender equality and
fiscal expansion.
Ch. 10 - People and Their Environment: Northern Europe
Managing Resources
• Natural factors and human activity are
causing environmental problems.
• The Baltic Sea has a unique ecology because of
its isolation from the open ocean.
• Increased shipping has brought a number of
invasive species, non-native organisms that
threaten local habitats.
• Industrialization has damaged many
wetlands.
Ch. 10 - People and Their Environment: Northern Europe
Human Impact
• Climate change, acid rain, and pollution are
affecting Northern Europe.
• Scandinavian scientists were among the first
to understand the environmental effects of acid
rain.
• The high latitudes and steep mountain valleys
make climate change more noticeable in
Northern Europe.
Pollution in Denmark
The United Nations
health agency reported
that air pollution
across Europe is
costing “a staggering”
$1.6 trillion a year in
deaths and diseases,
which amounts to
nearly one tenth of the
region’s gross
domestic product.
Ch. 10 - People and Their Environment: Northern Europe
Addressing the Issues
• Governments and civic groups are taking
steps to address environmental problems.
• Environmental management focuses on
sustainability and long-term planning.
• Conservation has been an important issue for
the Nordic countries for over 100 years.
• The region supports ecotourism, a way to
encourage tourism that limits damage to the
unique lands of Northern Europe.