WSE - Physical Geography, con't. Lesson

Physical Geography, continued

Four Main Landforms of Europe

Europe has four main landforms which are commonly divided into: Alpine region, Central Uplands, Northern Lowlands, and Western Highlands:

Map of Landforms in Europe. Four main Landforms of Europe: Western Highlands, Northern Lowlands, Central Uplands, Alpine Region

Photograph of the Swiss AlpsAlpine Region

The High Alps, which range from eastern France to Slovenia, are central to the Alpine region. Included in the Alpine Range are the Pyrenees, located on the border between France and Spain; the Apennines, running the length of Italy; the Carpathians, looping around Romania from Slovakia; and finally, the shorter Dinaric Alps near the Adriatic Sea. Mountains usually provide minerals and ores. At times, they also isolate people by acting as a dividing range that can separate people into cultural groups. The Pyrenees, for example, separate France and Spain and act as a natural border between the two.

The Central Uplands

The region bordering the main Alps to the north, which includes a large portion of southern Germany extending eastward, is known as the Central Uplands. These foothills to the Alps are excellent sources of raw materials such as forest products and coal, which are valuable resources for industrial activities. The Central Uplands are also good locations for dairy farming and cattle raising. This middle portion of the continent has a mixed deciduous-coniferous forest, and the vegetation includes oak, elm, and maple trees intermingled with pine and fir trees. There are four distinct seasons in this region with moderate amounts of precipitation year-round.

Northern Lowlands

The Northern Lowlands are a great plain that extends across northern Europe from southern France, north through Germany, and then all the way to the Ural Mountains of Russia. This area has prairies and areas of tall grasses. The land is flat to rolling and possesses good soil that makes it good farmland. Similarly, the lowlands of southern England, Ireland, and central Scotland offer agricultural opportunities.

Photo of where the Western Highlands meet the Lowlands in Scotland

Western Highlands

On the western edges of the European continent arise short rugged mountains called highlands. They extend throughout Norway, parts of Britain, and portions of the Iberian Peninsula. These Western Highlands are less populated and are less attractive to large farming operations. Agriculture is usually limited to grazing livestock or farming in the valleys and meadows. The Scottish Highlands are noted for their wool products and Highland cattle.

Rivers 

Rivers are abundant in Europe and have provided adequate transportation for travel and trade throughout its history. Two main rivers divide Europe: the Danube and the Rhine. Both have their origins in the region of southern Germany on or near the border with Switzerland. The Rhine River flows north and empties into the North Sea in Rotterdam, Holland, one of the world's busiest ports. The Danube flows east through various major European cities, such as Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade before emptying into the Black Sea.

Panorama image of Passau

Ministates 

Within Europe, there are several curiously small countries (sovereign states) that are sometimes described as ministates due to their small size. The six smallest states in Europe by area include Vatican City, Andorra, San Marino, Malta, Monaco, and Liechtenstein. Andorra, Liechtenstein, and Monaco are all monarchies. A monarchy is a form of government in which a country is ruled by a monarch (a king or queen). The Vatican City is a Roman Catholic papacy.

Map of ministates

View the review presentation below.

 

Map Activity IconWestern and Southern Europe Map Activity

Identify the following key places on a map:

Countries:

  • Western Europe:
    • France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Republic of Ireland, Monaco, Wales, Northern Ireland
  • Southern Europe:
    • Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Greece, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Ministates:
    • Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City

Other Physical Locations to locate:

Bodies of Water:

  • Adriatic Sea
  • Bay of Biscay
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • North Sea
  • Strait of Gibraltar

 Mountains:

  • Alps
  • Pyrenees
  • Ural

 Peninsulas:

  • Iberian Peninsula
  • Italy

 Rivers:

  • Rhine
  • Danube
  • Seine

Be sure to track the flow of the rivers through major European cities. List the cities through which the rivers flow.

 

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.