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Europe. Europe is the second-smallest continent; only bigger than Australia Third-most populous continent with ~733 million people Contains 50 independent countries. “Peninsula of peninsulas”. Some see Europe as a peninsula of the Eurasian continent
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Europe Europe is the second-smallest continent; only bigger than Australia Third-most populous continent with ~733 million people Contains 50 independent countries
“Peninsula of peninsulas” • Some see Europe as a peninsula of the Eurasian continent • Peninsula: A piece of land bordered by water on three sides • Contains many smaller peninsulas, such as: • Balkan • Italian • Iberian • Scandinavian
Europe’s lowlands • Much of Europe is made up of grassland and forests • Only real desert areas are in Spain • Very fertile land for farming • Western Europe is made of hilly grasslands and mountains • Europe’s great plains are concentrated in the east
Europe’s Rivers • Unlike China and India, Europe was NOT one of the early river civilizations • However, Europe’s rivers were vital to Europe’s growth • Provided transportation, farmland, and trade routes • Europe’s longest rivers are the Volga and the Danube
Europe’s mountains • Europe has several ranges of Mountains • Alps (Northen Italy) • Caucasus (Southern Russia) • Pyrenees (Northern Spain) • Ural (Central Russia) • Europe’s mountains are smaller than those of Asia • Mt. Elbrus is Europe’s tallest mountain at 18,510 ft • Have still served as barriers to travel