Transcript Europe - Pamela West's blog

SSWG6a. Describe the location of major
physical features and their impact on Europe.
SSWG6b. Describe the major climates of
Europe and how they have affected Europe
SSWG6c. Analyze the importance of Europe’s
coastal location, climatic characteristics, and
river systems regarding population, economic
development and world influence.
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Europe is part of the large landmass Eurasia
Scandinavian – Norway and Sweden
Jutland – Denmark
Iberian – Spain and Portugal
Balkan – Greece
Italian – Italy
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Major features: Alps, Pyrenees, Balkan,
Caucus, Ural
Ural Mountains form the border between
Asia & Europe
Alps & Pyrenees are world renown for skiing
& other winter sports
Europe’s mountains act as a wall blocking
people, goods, ideas and affect climate
ALPS
URAL
MT. ELBRUS IN THE
CAUCUS MTS.
BALKAN MTS.
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Major Feature: Central Siberian Plateau
Takes up good part of central Russia
Rocky in some places, green in others
People here are primarily herders
CENTRAL SIBERIAN
PLATEAU
NATIVE FAMILY
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Several networks of rivers flow through
Europe transporting goods and ideas
Seine River, Rhine River, Rhone River,
Danube River, Volga River, Ob River
Danube River is the longest and connects
eastern & western Europe—begins in the
Black Forest of Germany
Canals connected the Volga to the Baltic Sea
Many of the rivers on the interior are large
enough for ships to travel
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Helped connect all of Europe to the world
DANUBE RIVER
SEINE RIVER
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North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea,
Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Aral Sea,
Mediterranean waters are vital to the
economies of 20 European countries,
supporting tourism and other industries
The human population has increased &
Black Sea is suffering. Urban & industrial
development has poured increasing amounts
of waste into the Black Sea & rivers around
it.
Aral Sea is shrinking at an alarming rate
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
BLACK SEA POLLUTION
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Major Features: Strait of Gibraltar, English
Channel, Lake Baikal
Strait is close enough to see to the other side
to Africa.
English Channel separates the UK and the
rest of mainland Europe
Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world
STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR
ENGLISH CHANNEL
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Major Feature: North European Plain
Greatest uninterrupted expanses of plain on
the Earth’s surface
From France through Russia
Narrow in the west, broader in the east
Lowest elevation on any continent
The plain is relatively flat and has produced
vast quantities of food over the centuries
The flatness has also allowed armies and
groups of invaders to use it as a route into
Europe
GEP WIND POWER
WHEAT HARVEST IN
UKRAINE
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Much of Europe is further north than the US
Europe has a milder climate than expected
because of the North Atlantic Drift
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A current of warm water from the tropics, flows
near Europe’s west coast
Winds pick up the warmth from the current and
carry it over Europe.