Introduction

Physical Geography of Europe

Topographical map of Europe

Europe is one of the smallest continents, but it forms the western part of a large landmass called Eurasia. Several images may come to mind when you think of Europe’s physical geography. The European landscape includes a variety of features, from the snow-capped Alps Mountains to the warm beaches on the Mediterranean Sea. In this topic, you will take a closer look at Europe’s varied and beautiful landscapes.

Essential Question

 

Warm-Up

Take a moment to examine the following images. These images depict a few different physical landscapes from Europe and North America. As you compare the physical characteristics of the continents, think about answers to the following questions:

Pictured clockwise from top left: the Alps, grassland in Ireland, middle latitude forest in Germany, coastal Mediterranean climate in Greece


Pictured clockwise from top left: the Rockies, grassland in Kansas, middle latitude forest in Virginia, coastal Mediterranean climate in California