Western EuropeWestern EuropeGeographyGeography

Quick FactsQuick Facts

• 1/3 the size of the United States

• 380 million+ people

• Most countries are on peninsulas or islands

• Mountains act as barriers

Climate in Northwestern EuropeClimate in Northwestern Europe

• Mild climate in Northwestern Europe because of the North Atlantic Drift

• North Atlantic Drift = ocean current carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic Ocean.

Climate in Southwestern EuropeClimate in Southwestern Europe

• Climate effected by warm waters of Mediterranean Sea and dry air blown from Africa

• Hot dry summers and mild winters

Climate in Central EuropeClimate in Central Europe

• Continental Landmass affect climate

• Strong winds build up over Germany and France which blocks warm air

• Mountains/elevation in Central Europe also create a cooler climate

IslandsIslands

• Thousands of islands lie off the Atlantic coast of Western Europe and in the Mediterranean Sea

• Iceland, Malta, and the British Isles are the largest

Islands – British IslesIslands – British Isles

• Two nations make up the B.I. – Ireland and United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)

• Most of Ireland is lowland with rolling hills and bogs

• Ireland has mountains and the major river is the River Shannon (longest river in B.I.)

PeninsulasPeninsulas• Three penin. jut out from southern part of

W. Europe into Mediterranean Sea– Iberian

• Spain and Portugal• isolated by the Pyrenees mountains

– Apennine• Italy, San Marino, Vatican City• Apennine mountains

– BalkanGreece

Other peninsulasOther peninsulas

• Scandinavian– In far north, Sweden and Norway

• Jutland– Denmark

MainlandMainland

• Three major land regions

• Great European Plain– Flat, rolling land – Western Europe's best farmland– Densely populated– Polders – land gained from drained water

• Central Uplands– Low mountains and plateaus– Rocky land

MainlandMainland

• Alpine Mountain System– Made up of several mountain chains– Alps have some of highest mountains in

Europe

• Other features– Lochs – deep, narrow lakes (Scotland)– Firths – funnel-shaped bays