Where in the World: European Physical Features

Italian Peninsula

I am a boot-shaped peninsula in Southern Europe. Italy is the major country located on me. The smaller countries of Vatican City and San Marino are also located on me. I am surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Mediterranean Sea

I am almost completely surrounded by land with coastlines in 21 countries. Europe is to my north, Asia is to my east, and Africa is to my south. I am connected the the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar. I have several islands in my waters, including Crete, Cyprus, Malta, and Sicily.

Caucacus Mountains

I am located along the border between southeastern Russia and the Asian countries of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, is in my mountain range. Some of my mountains hosted events for the Sochi Olympic Games in 2018. My region is culturally diverse, with several ethnic groups that developed in relative isolation due to the difficult conditions for travelers.

Black Sea

I am located between southeastern Europe and western Asia. I border the European countries of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Russia and the Asian countries of Turkey and Georgia. The Yalta Convention about WWII, between Churchill, FDR, and Stalin, was held in the city of Yalta on my northern coast. I was a busy waterway in the ancient world, with the Balkans to my west, Central Asia to my east, Mesopotamia to my south, and Greece to my southwest.

Scandinavian Peninsula

I am located in northern Europe. I include the countries of Norway and Sweden, as well as a small part of Finland. I am surrounded by the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and the Norwegian Sea. 25% of my land is located north of the Arctic Circle.

Balkan Peninsula

I am located in southeastern Europe. I am surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Aegean Sea. Countries located on my include Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovinia, Greece, Kosovo, Serbia, and the eastern part of Turkey. I am very mountainous and have dense forest areas.

Sicily

I am located in the Mediterranean Sea. According to Greek mythology, ships that pass between myself and Calabria are in danger of being attaced by the sea monsters, Scylla and Charybdis. My capital, Palermo, has been elected the European capital of street food. I am home to a large active volcano named Etna. The largest Italian opera house, Teatre Massimo, is located on my island.

Iceland

I am located in the North Atlantic Ocean. I am actually the top of an underwater volcano - my island formed from hot lava that cooled and turned to rock. I am known for my many volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers. Because I am so far norht, I also have several glaciers - but grassy lowlands stretch along my coasts.

Iberian Peninsula

I am located on the southwestern tip of Europe. Countries on my include Spain, Portugal, and Andorra. I am surrounded by the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. The Pyrenees form a land barrier in the northeast that separated me from the rest of Europe. I am only 5 miles away from Africa at its nearest point.

Crete

I am the largest of the Greek islands. I am an important place in Greek mythology, as I am belived to be the birthplace of Zeus as well as the home to the Minotaur and his labyrinth. My island is an important crossroad between Europe, Asia, and Africa, since I am located at an almost equal distance from all three continents. My waters are known as some of the clearest in Europe, and you can see over 40 meters down into the ocean.

Rhine River

I begin in the Swiss Alps at the Rheinwaldhoen Glacier. I flow through 6 countries - Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands - before reaching the North Sea. More than 40 castles and fortresses, that were built during the Middle Ages, are along my banks. I have been one of Europe's most important tranport routes since the Roman Empire.

North Sea

I border the Scandinavian Peninsula and the British Isles. I am a shallow sea with a depth of less than 150 feet in some areas. I am one of the busiest shipping areas in the world with my shores touching 7 European countries - Norway, Great Britain, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

British Isles

I consist of two main islands, the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as thousands of smaller islands. In the north and west there are mostly mountains, plateaus and valleys. In the south there are low hills and plains. Ireland, often called the Emerald Isle, is an island known for its lush green land and cool, rainy weather.

Danube River

I flow for 1,785 miles from the Black Forest in Germany to the Black Sea and am Europe's 2nd longest river. I flow through or along the border of 10 countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine and Romania. 4 European capitals are located on my banks - Vienna, Bratizlava, Budapest and Belgrade. Hungary's capital, Budapest, is one of Europe's most beautiful cities and is sometimes referred to as the "Queen of the __________"

Volga River

I flow through much of European Russia and played a significant role in Russian history and culture. I empty into the Caspian Sea and am Europe's longest river. Several of Russia's largest cities, including the capital Moscow, are located near my banks. Most of my length in the north is frozen over for three months during the winter.

Ural Mountains

I run from north to south through Russia, separating Europe and Asia. My mountains are some of the oldest in the world, some 250 to 300 million years old. I act as a natural barrier to winds from the Atlantic, so the region to my east - Siberia, is on the average colder and dryer.

English Channel

I separate Great Britain from France and connect the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. I am the busiest commercial waterway in teh world, with ferries, freighters, and fishing boats. I have a rail tunnel - nicknamed the "Chunnel" - built underwater connecting England and France for travelers.

Adriatic Sea

I separate the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. My two major shorelines have a striking contrast, with the Italian coast being relatively straigh with no islands, and the Croatian coast being more rugges and full of both large and small islands. Bari, Rijeka, and Venice are some of my chief ports, and my sea is well served by regional ferries.

Baltic Sea

I separate the Scandinavian Peninsula from the main land of Europe. The Norse (Scandinavian) merchants built a trade empire around my coast and dominated my region during the Viking Age. The 3 countries on my eastern shore - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - are nicknamed the "__________ States." During the winter, about 45 % of my surface turns to ice.

Pyrenees Mountains

I stretch between France and Spain and separate the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe. My mountain chain is about 270 miles long and 80 miles wide. Blocked by my mountains from the rest of Europe, Spain and Portugal developed stronger ties to Africa and the sea. The small country of Andorra lies among my peaks.

Alps

I stretch through France, Italy, Switzerland, and Austria. My high, snow-capped peaks are known throughout the world for their beauty. Mount Blanc is my tallest mountain at 15,781 feet high. Three of Europe's largest rivers - the Rhine, the Rhone, and the Po - start in my mountains.