Semester 2- Study Before Exam

Landforms of Western Central Europe

Alpine Mountain System, the Northwestern Highlands, the North European Plains, and the Central Uplands.

Resources in Northern Europe

Although most of the soil in the region is not good for farming, the forests here support a successful timber industry, especially in Finland and Norway. Norway also benefits from the discovery of large deposits of natural gas and oil in the waters of the North Sea. Norway harnesses water to produce hydroelectric power, which is another renewable form of energy. Additionally, the ancient rock of the Baltic Shield is a rich source of mineral deposits, especially copper and iron.

Which of the Mediterranean countries is landlocked?

Andorra

Climate of Andorra

Andorra has cool, dry, sunny summers. Its winters are cold and snowy. Snow falls heavily in this mountainous nation, making travel difficult. The road that connects Andorra and France is often impassible during winter months.

Border of Andorra

Andorra is surrounded by the countries of Spain and France, France lying to the north and west and Spain to the south and east.

About Austria

Austria, once the center of the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, is now a nation that is slightly smaller than Maine. It is one of the few landlocked European nations. Climate: Austria's climate is moderate and continental. Its winters are cold and cloudy. It rains often in the lowlands, which also receive some snow. Snow is frequent at higher elevations. Austrian summers are moderate with occasional rain. Borders: Austria is bordered by Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Topography: The landscape of Austria is mostly mountainous since it's located in the Alps. Mountains dominate the western and southern terrain. The landscape in the east and north is mostly flat with some low hills. The Danube River runs through Austria.

Borders of Greece

Being a peninsula, Greece is bounded by water on three sides — the Aegean Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Its land borders to the north are Albania, Macedonia, and Bulgaria, while Turkey lies to the northwest.

About Belgium

Belgium is a small nation roughly the size of Maryland. Belgium is considered the center of Western Europe. The offices of both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) are in Brussels, its capital. Borders: Belgium is bordered by the North Sea, France, Luxembourg, Germany, and The Netherlands. Climate: Belgium's climate is moderate. Its winters are mild, and its summers are cool. The weather here is generally humid, cloudy, and rainy. Topography: The Ardennes Forest lies in Belgium's southeastern mountains. Plains run along its coast, becoming rolling hills in the country's interior regions. Belgium's rivers include the Scheldt, the Sambre, and the Meuse.

Denmark

Borders: Denmark, a nation approximately twice the size of Massachusetts, lies on a peninsula north of Germany. It's also bordered by the Baltic and North Seas. The islands of Sjaelland and Fyn are part of Denmark. Climate: Denmark lies south of the Arctic Circle. It's climate is temperate, and it's generally cloudy and humid. Its winters are mild and windy, while its summers are cool. Topography: Denmark's landscape is mostly low, flat plains. It's the flattest of the Nordic nations with an elevation less than 600 feet (183 m).

Finland

Borders: Finland, a nation slightly smaller than Montana, lies between Sweden and Russia. It's bordered by the water bodies of the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia, and the Gulf of Finland. Climate: Finland's climate is cold, but temperate. The climate here would be subarctic without the presence of the North Atlantic Current and its numerous lakes. Topography: More than sixty thousand lakes cover Finland's landscape, which consists mostly of flat plains with some low hills.

Iceland

Borders: Iceland, an island a bit smaller than the state of Kentucky, lies northwest of the United Kingdom between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is the westernmost European nation. Reykjavik, its capital, is the northernmost capital city in the world. Climate: Iceland's climate is temperate. Its winters are windy, but mild. Its summers are damp and cool. Topography: Iceland's plateaus are broken up by mountains and icefields. Its coasts are interrupted by bays and fjords. Glaciers cover more land here than in all of continental Europe.

Norway

Borders: Norway, a nation slightly larger than the state of New Mexico, is bordered by the North Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean, and by Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Climate: Like Iceland, Norway's climate is temperate along its coast. The nation's interior is colder and receives more precipitation. It rains all year long on the west coast. Topography: Norway's landscape is glaciated. Arctic tundra covers its northern landscape. Fertile valleys and plains interrupt its mountains and high plateaus. Norway is the most mountainous of the Nordic nations.

Sweden

Borders: Sweden, a country that is a bit larger than California, is bordered by Norway to the northwest and Finland to the east. Surrounding waters include the Baltic, Kattegat, and Skagerrak Seas, and the Gulf of Bothnia. Sweden is strategically positioned along the straits of Denmark, which link the North and Baltic Seas. Climate: Sweden's northern regions are subarctic. Its southern regions are temperate with cold, cloudy winters, and summers that are cool and partly cloudy. Topography: Mountains dominate the northwestern portion of Sweden. Plains and lowlands make up the rest of the country. Several rivers originate in the mountains and flow southeast through the country, and into the Gulf of Bothnia.

About the United Kingdom

Borders: The UK is bordered by the North Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Republic of Ireland. Climate: The moderate climate of the UK is made milder as a result of the southwest winds, which blow over the North Atlantic Current. It's overcast here about half of the time. Topography: The UK's landscape is mostly low mountains and rugged hills. Plains dominate the landscape in the southeast and the east. No place in the UK is farther than 78 miles (125 km) from the ocean because of the UK's indented coastline. The River Thames runs through Great Britain.

Climate of Portugal

Climate in Portugal is affected by its elevation and its distance from the sea. In the north, it is cool and rainy—a climate very favorable for Portugal's vineyards. The southern part of the country is warmer and drier. The southernmost region is sunny and hot.

Which Nordic nation lies completely south of the Arctic Circle?

Denmark

Which country occupies the Jutland Peninsula?

Denmark

Italy

Do you see a country that is shaped like a boot? This boot-shaped country is Italy, a nation just a bit larger than Arizona. Most of Italy is a peninsula that juts out into the Mediterranean Sea.

The United Kingdom is made up of:

England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales Great Britain - England, Scotland, Wales

Borders of Italy

Find Italy's borders on the map. Notice that because most of Italy is a peninsula, its boundaries are primarily bodies of water. The Ionian and the Mediterranean Sea lie to the south. The Tyrrhenian, Ligurian, and Mediterranean Seas form its western border. It is bordered by Switzerland and Austria to the north. Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea lie to the east, and France to the northwest. Italy includes the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and a number of smaller islands.

Natural Disasters in Western Central Europe

Flooding is a major concern in Western Central Europe. Areas along the coast, near rivers, and in the lowlands, such as The Netherlands, are especially vulnerable. Cyclones, accompanied by heavy rainfall and flooding, are frequent visitors to Great Britain. Heavy rainfall often causes Europe's rivers to overflow their banks, flooding surrounding areas and causing serious damage. In 1953, storms caused the dikes of The Netherlands to fall, flooding the area and killing 1,800 people. The winter storms of 1994-1995 brought severe flooding to Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, and The Netherlands.

Biome that Covers Most of Western Central Europe

Forests are the main biome of the region. Although much of the forested land covering Western Central Europe has been cleared to make room for cities, farms, and industry, deciduous forests still cover a great amount of the landscape. Grasslands once covered most of the North European Plain of Central Europe. Like forests, these grasslands have been cleared to make room for human development.

About France

France, a country that's a bit smaller than Texas, lies southeast of the UK. Let's learn a bit more about the physical features of France. Borders: France is bordered by the Bay of Biscay, the English Channel, the Mediterranean Sea, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and The Netherlands. Climate: The climate of France is generally mild for most of the nation. Its summers are warm and its winters are cool. However, along the Mediterranean coast, the summers are hot. Occasionally strong mistrals blow across the land. Topography: France's landscape ranges from flat plains to steep mountains. The terrain is generally flat, with low hills in the north and the west. The Pyrenees dominate the southeastern landscape, and the Alps rise in the east. The Massif Central is a mountain chain in France's southern central region. France has a vast system of rivers including the Rhône and the Seine.

About Germany

Germany, a nation that's a bit smaller than Montana, lies on the North European Plain. Borders: The North Sea and the Baltic Sea form Germany's water boundaries. Its land boundaries are Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Climate: Germany is cool, cloudy, and wet in both winter and summer. Its mild climate is largely caused by its location near the North Sea. Topography: The Bavarian Alps lie in the south of the country. This mountainous terrain gradually tapers off into lower mountains, rugged hills, and high plateaus in the central region. The land in northern Germany is flat. Rivers in Germany include the Rhine, the Elbe, and the Danube.

Midnight Sun

In the northernmost part of (Northern Europe), during the middle of the summer, the sun really never does set for several weeks. The people who live in this area call these nights "white nights". The sun can shine for more than twenty hours in the middle of the summer. Conversely, in the middle of the winter, the sun may only shine for two or three hours a day.

Andorra

It is only about two-and-a-half times the size of Washington, D.C. Andorra is the only landlocked nation in the region.

Northern Lights

It's during the winter months that the Northern Lights shine the brightest in the Nordic nations. The Northern Lights, also called the Aurora Borealis, are red and greenish white lights that are visible in the night sky of the Northern Hemisphere.

This country is shaped like a boot.

Italy

Natural Resources of Italy

Italy has few natural resources. Its mountainous terrain and harsh climate are not favorable for agriculture. Despite its long coastline, the surrounding waters do not support much commercial fishing. Its most important mineral resources are natural gas and marble.

Topography of Italy

Italy is a mountainous nation. The Alps stretch across its northern landscape extending from France, its northwestern border, to Slovenia, its southeastern border. Italy's highest point is Mount Blanc, which lies on the border of three nations—Italy, France, and Switzerland. The Apennines mountain range, running down the center of the country, has been the site of earthquakes and volcanoes. One of the few flat areas in Italy is the Plain of Lombardy, which lies between the Alps and the Apennines. Narrow plains run along its coasts. Italy's coastline provides ships with few safe harbors. Its coast along the Adriatic Sea is sandy and shallow. Except for the area near Venice, this part of the coast cannot be accessed by most ships. Access to its eastern coast is hindered by offshoots of the Apennines. The western coast, however, with its bays and gulfs, provides several safe harbors, including Genoa, Naples, and Salerno. Seismic activity disrupts Italy's terrain. Mount Vesuvius, the only active volcano on the European mainland, is located on the Bay of Naples. Another active volcano in Italy is Mount Etna, located on the island of Sicily. Minor earthquakes are a frequent occurrence in Italy's southern region. Italy has many rivers. Two of the largest are the Po and the Adige. Both of these rivers are navigable and empty into the Adriatic Sea.

Climate of Italy

Italy's climate is one of extremes. In the northern regions are the Alps and the Apennines, which area is very cold. In southern Italy, the climate is Mediterranean with sunshine all year long. Italy's climate is influenced by both external and internal factors—the waters without and the mountains within. The Alps in the north prevents moisture from the Atlantic Ocean from reaching southern Italy. As a result, this region is hot and dry during the summer months. The Apennines on Italy's mainland causes climate variations in both temperature and precipitation. Areas along the western coast are mild and sunny because of the breezes that blow in from the Mediterranean Sea. The northwestern winds that blow across the eastern and northern regions make them much colder than they would otherwise be. The Apennines prevents the winds from the sea from reaching the Plain of Lombardy. As a result, this plain has warm summers and cold winters.

Ice on the Baltic Shield

Long ago the lands of the Baltic Shield were completely covered by ice. Because of the weight of the ice, the land began to sink. When the ice melted, the land rose again. However, it's estimated that the land is still sinking at the rate of one meter per century. This sinking has caused flooding in some of the lower areas in the region.

What is another name for Southern Europe?

Mediterranean Europe

Rhine

Melting glaciers in Switzerland's Alps are the origin of the Rhine River. The Rhine flows northwest from eastern Switzerland through Austria, Liechtenstein, France, Germany, and The Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. The Rhine is one of the most important rivers for commerce in the world. Its waters carry many products and passengers to their destinations.

Natural Resources of Spain

Mineral deposits of iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, coal, and marble have been found near the Pyrenees. Other mineral deposits include copper, mercury, and uranium. The waters of the rivers running through the Pyrenees have been harnessed to produce hydroelectric power.

Climate of Spain

Most of Spain has a harsh climate, which is influenced by the country's mountains. The Pyrenees Mountains prevent moist air currents from the Atlantic Ocean from reaching northeastern Spain. In France, north of the Pyrenees, precipitation is plentiful. In Spain, south of the Pyrenees, rainfall is sparse. The Cantabrian Mountains block the moist winds blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean and prevent them from providing sufficient rainfall for the area's farms. During the summer months on the large plateau known as the Meseta, the climate is so arid that most streams dry up and the region commonly suffers from drought. Southwestern Spain's climate is semiarid. Siroccos, hot dry winds from Africa, blow over this region, making it drier than other areas. Irrigation is needed to grow the citrus and olive trees raised here. Along the northern and northwestern coasts, the climate is milder. Summers are warmer and cloudy; winters are partly cloudy and cool. Spain's southern coast enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Here the summers are hot and the winters mild. The Canary Islands have a subtropical climate.

Water in Western Central Europe

Most of the nations in the region have access to the ocean or the sea, access that's important for military purposes. For example, Great Britain, from the eighteenth century until the middle of the twentieth century, had the world's most powerful navy. The region's oceans, lakes, and rivers are also important for both trade and transportation.

Topography of Andorra

Mountains cover most of Andorra's landscape. The terrain of the eastern Pyrenees is very rugged with deep gorges and narrow valleys. Many streams come together to form the Valira River, which flows south through Andorra into Spain.

Topography of Portugal

Mountains rise in the northeast of the country north of the Tagus River. The Meseta extends from Spain into the eastern portion of Portugal. Mountain ranges extend from the plateau to the northern interior. These peaks taper to plains in the west and south. Portugal's two largest cities, Lisbon and Porto, are on these plains. The southernmost region is known for its miles of sunny beaches. Most of Portugal's rivers begin in the Meseta. Because rivers are beneficial for transportation and commerce, it is not surprising that Portugal's two largest cities are at the mouths of its two largest rivers. Lisbon is at the mouth of the Tajo River, the largest river in the country, while Porto is at the mouth of the Douro River, Portugal's second-largest river. Unlike Spain's rugged coastline, the coast of Portugal is straight and sandy. It provides a number of safe harbors for ships and beautiful beaches for tourists.

Norden or Nordic Nations

Northern Portion of Europe - Include Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark

Climate

The climate of most of this region is harsh. You probably know that mountains affect climate. This is true of Norway where the coldest areas lie east of the mountains that run through the country. The steep mountain range prevents the ocean winds from reaching the inland areas, resulting in a subarctic, cold, dry climate. However, Norway's climate isn't all subarctic. It is milder on the west coast. Southern Sweden, southern Iceland, and Denmark have milder climates as well.

Baltic shield

The countries of Finland, Sweden, and Norway occupy a large portion of the Baltic Shield. This area is also known as the Fennoscandian Shield or the Scandinavian Shield.

Greece

The country of Greece, a bit smaller than Alabama and including more than two thousand islands, lies on the Balkan Peninsula, one of the three peninsulas that comprise Southern Europe. No portion of Greece is more than sixty miles (100 km) from the sea.

Water systems in Western Central Europe

The major rivers in Western Central Europe include the Danube, Rhône, Loire, Seine, Rhine, and Elbe.

Mountains affect climate in Western Central Europe

The mountains in this region also affect its climate. As the winds rise up the western side of the Alpine Mountain system, the air cools causing precipitation to fall on countries west of the mountains. Parts of Great Britain, France, and Germany receive more precipitation than countries on the leeward or eastern side of the mountains.

Straits of Northern Europe

The region's straits, Skagerrak and Kattegat, are important for both trade and naval operations. These connect the Baltic and North Seas and are controlled by Denmark and Norway

North Atlantic Current

The waters of Western Central Europe help provide the area with its favorable climate. The North Atlantic Current warms the coastal areas and brings precipitation to the region year round.

About cyclones

The winds of a cyclone rotate counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Iceland resources

They harness the heat from within the earth to produce geothermal energy, which is a renewable form of energy. Geothermal energy provides much of the power Icelanders use for heat and electricity.

Land of Fire and Ice

This is the way many Icelandic people refer to their country. This is because in Iceland volcanoes exist right under glaciers, causing unimaginable flooding when they erupt. In 1875, the eruption of the Askja volcano caused widespread damage to Iceland's landscape and its economy. This is not unusual in Iceland, however, since it's located right on the Atlantic rift and is therefore one of the most volcanically active countries in the world. Eyjafjallajokull volcano, located in the southern part of Iceland erupted twice in April 2010, and the resulting ash cloud spread over a broad area, closing airports in Britain and even in Europe for a short period.

Countries of Western Central Europe

United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Monaco.

Why is Iceland called the "land of fire and ice"?

Volcanoes and glaciers exist together.

Natural Resources of Andorra

Water is Andorra's most important natural resource. Its abundance enables the country to produce 50 percent of its own electricity.

Natural resources of Western Central Europe

Western Central Europe is a region rich in natural resources, including soil, water, and minerals. Rich fertile soil covers much of this region along its vast river valleys and the North European Plains. Over many years, the winds have deposited loess (sandy, fertile soil) on these plains, making it a productive agricultural area. Water is another valuable resource. Water is needed to irrigate crops; for drinking, sanitation, and transportation; and also to produce electricity. Many countries in this region are located along swiftly moving rivers. They are able to harness this water to generate electricity. Rivers running down mountains are dammed to produce hydroelectric power. Mineral deposits are another important energy resource. Deposits of natural gas, oil, and coal have been found in the United Kingdom, and Germany also has large deposits of coal. France boasts deposits of iron ore. In fact, mineral wealth made this region an industrial leader during the 1800s.

fjord

a deep, high-walled coastal valley created by glacier movement and filled by the waters of melting glaciers

drought

a long period of dry weather resulting in water shortages

harbor

a safe place for ships to dock

cyclone

a severe windstorm characterized by spiraling winds

glacier

a slow-moving river of snow and ice that moves on the earth's surface

mistral

a strong, dry, cold, north or northwestern wind that blows in France

sirocco

a windstorm that blows up clouds of dust or sand

navigable

able to be used for travel by water

What effect did the movement of glaciers have on the region?

caused the formation of fjords created thousands of lakes left the soil rocky (also removed a lot of soil so it it not suitable for farming)

dike

dam

Why is Andorra's water supply important to the country?

electricity

loess

fine-grained, fertile soil

North European Plains

has fertile soil that supports farming. These plains cover a vast area of Europe extending from France to Russia.

What are the most common renewable energy resources used in this region? Choose all that apply.

hydroelectric geothermal

How does the North Atlantic Current affect the region?

it makes the region warmer

polder

land below sea level from which water has been removed and is protected by dikes (dams)

North Sea

major fishing ground, valuable source of oil and natural gas

The fjords of Norway have been formed by _____.

melting glaciers

What is the climate of most of Western Central Europe?

moderate - with cool winters and mild summers.

Iberian

of Spain and Portugal

deciduous

referring to trees that lose their leaves in the fall

Switzerland's climate is moderate.

true

The Pyrenees Mountains separates which of these countries from the rest of Europe?

Spain

About the Netherlands

The Netherlands, sometimes referred to as Holland, is about twice the size of New Jersey. It lies on the mouth of three major European rivers—the Rhine, the Meuse, and the Schelde. Borders: The Netherlands lies east of the North Sea between Belgium and Germany. Climate: The climate in The Netherlands is moderate and marine. Like Belgium, its winters are mild and its summers cool. Topography: The name "Netherlands" literally means lowlands. As you might expect, the landscape here is mostly flat, although there are some hills in the southeast. A large portion of the country's land is polders, land that has been reclaimed from the sea.

What Are the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are charged particles from the sun — called ions — that are attracted by the magnetic field of the North Pole. The magnetic field draws the ions into the layer of the earth's atmosphere known as the ionosphere. When the ions crash into the gases of the ionosphere, they glow, producing a spectacular light show.

Northwestern Highlands

The Northwestern Highlands extend from Northern Europe to the Iberian Peninsula. The mountains here are old formations. Their landscape has been eroded by precipitation and wind throughout the years, and as a result, the soil here is not fertile enough for farming.

Nordic Peninsulas

The Scandinavia peninsula consists of the countries of Norway and Sweden. The Jutland peninsula forms the mainland of Denmark.

Baltic Sea

Separates Scandinavia from the rest of Europe

Central Uplands

South of the North European Plains are the Central Uplands. The plateaus and mountains of the Central Uplands have rocky soil, which is not good farmland.

Which country is the most mountainous of the Nordic nations?

Norway

Which countries occupy the Scandinavian Peninsula?

Norway and Sweden

Borders of Spain

Notice that its northern borders are the Bay of Biscayne — which is part of the Atlantic Ocean — and the Pyrenees Mountains. The countries that lie on Spain's northern border are France and Andorra. The Mediterranean Sea borders Spain to the east and south. The Atlantic Ocean borders the country to the south and southwest. Gibraltar is on Spain's southwestern border. Portugal lies to the west. The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean are also part of Spain.

Spain

Notice the large peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This peninsula is called the Iberian Peninsula, and located on it, the Iberian countries of Spain and Portugal are separated from the rest of Europe. Spain covers 85 percent of the peninsula and is the second largest country in Europe, France being the largest.

Ocean Currents

Ocean currents also affect the climate of the Nordic nations. The North Atlantic Current helps keep the climate moderate and prevents ice from forming along the coastline. The North Atlantic Current is an extension of the Gulf Stream. Its slow-moving, shallow current brings warm waters to the Northern Atlantic, making the climate of the Nordic nations milder than other nations at the same northern latitudes. Scientists estimate that without the Northern Atlantic Current, the temperatures of the surrounding land would be 5°C colder.

This is the least mountainous country of Southern Europe.

Portugal

Which country in Southern Europe provides the best harbors?

Portugal

Natural Resources

Portugal is a nation rich in natural resources. Its most important mineral deposits include copper, gold, iron ore, kaolin (a clay used in pottery and china), marble, rock salt (halite), tin, uranium, and wolframite (a source of tungsten). Forests are another of Portugal's valuable resources. They cover more than 40 percent of its landscape.

Borders of Portugal

Portugal is bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and by Spain to the north and the east.

Portugal

Portugal, a rectangular-shaped country, shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain. The country, which is a bit smaller than the state of Indiana, lies on the western side of Spain, covering only 15 percent of the peninsula.

Topography of Spain

Spain is a country of many mountains. The Pyrenees Mountains, in northern Spain, separate the country from the rest of Europe. The Pyrenees form the border between France and Spain and extend from the Bay of Biscayne to the Mediterranean Sea. The Cantabrian Mountains, also on Spain's northern border, extend from the Pyrenees to the Atlantic Ocean. Steep cliffs stretch across much of the coastline, tapering into narrow plains. The country's interior is covered by the Meseta plateau, which is crossed by a number of mountain ranges. The largest of these ranges are the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Sierra de Gredos, which divide the country into northern and southern regions. Mountain ranges also surround the plateau. These ranges include the Cantabrian Mountains to the north, the Iberian Mountains to the east, and the Sierra Morena Mountains to the south. Narrow valleys lie between Spain's many mountains. These valleys are drained by swiftly flowing rivers. Of these rivers, only the Guadalquivir is navigable, that is, wide enough for ships to use for any distance. Swift rapids make the other rivers too rough for ships. Almost all of Spain's 2,400 lakes are small. The largest of these lakes, Lago de Sanabria, lies close to the Portuguese border. Spain's coastline is very rugged in most places. The rugged coastline presents advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, it has helped to protect the country from invasions because in many places, the coastal plains are interrupted by steep cliffs that descend right into the sea, making access difficult. On the other hand, the coastline provides few good harbors, hindering trade and transportation. The Straits of Gibraltar lies to the south of Spain, separating the continents of Africa and Europe.

Countries of Southern Europe

Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Italy, and Greece belong to this region. Because of their location along the Mediterranean Sea, these countries are often called the Mediterranean countries.

What separates Africa from Europe?

Strait of Gibraltar

About Switzerland

Switzerland, like Austria, is a landlocked nation. Switzerland is approximately twice the size of New Jersey. Borders: Switzerland's borders are France, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Germany. Climate: Switzerland's climate is moderate, but it gets colder at higher elevations in the Alps. Its winters are cold and cloudy with frequent rain and snowfall. Its summers range from cool to warm. During the summer months, the weather is generally cloudy and humid with occasional rain. Topography: Like Austria, much of Switzerland is mountainous. The Alps cover two-thirds of the nation's southern region. Switzerland has many lakes, including Lake Geneva and Lake Zurich. The Rhine and Rhône Rivers flow through Switzerland.

Swiss Alps Alps

The Alps are the highest mountains of the Alpine Mountain System, sometimes rearing over 15,000 feet high. The system passes through the countries of France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy, Austria, and into the Balkans.

Danube

The Danube is Europe's second longest river, with the Volga in Russia being the longest. The Danube begins in western Germany and travels eastward for 1770 miles (2850 km) before reaching the Black Sea. On its way to the sea, the Danube passes through nine countries. The Danube is the only major European river that flows from west to east.

European Union

The European Union (EU) provides disaster assistance to members and non-members alike. The EU's Community Mechanism for Civil Protection coordinates efforts in the event of natural disasters. Its main objective is to prepare for and provide the most effective response in the event of emergencies. Thirty nations participate in the Community Mechanism, pooling their resources. Since its beginning, the Mechanism has assisted in a number of disasters including: Iran's 2003 earthquake, Southeast Asia's 2004 tsunami, Portugal's 2005 fires, Bulgaria and Romania's flooding, The United States' Hurricane Katrina, and Pakistan and Indonesia's earthquakes.