Europe Geography: World’s second smallest continents occupying the western tip of Eurasian landmass. The old high lands lies to the north and west with the high peaks of Alps in the south. Europe’s northern coastline stretches deep into the Arctic Circle.
Here the Norway iceberg drift into the deep wide bottomed fjords. The north European plain has low rolling-hills and plains. Much of the area is cultivated and used for growing crops like wheat and sugar beet. Some of the world’s oldest rocks are found in northwest Europe. Erosion by glaciers in the last ice age created smoothed hills such as the mountain of Wales. The Alps are Europe’s major mountain chain. They were formed about 65 million years ago.
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Climate
Europe’s climate is temperate with few climatic extremes. In the far north, Europe extends into the Arctic Circle and the climate is so cold that in the winter, the Baltic Sea freezes over. Towards the Atlantic coast in the west, the climate becomes wetter and warmer because of a warm ocean current known as the ‘Gulf Stream’. The countries such as Italy and Spain, which borders the Mediterranean Sea, have long hot summers and low rainfalls.
Industry
The Western Europe has some of the world’s wealthiest countries. In countries such as France, Germany and U.K. traditional industries like iron and steel making are now being replaced by light industries such as electronics and services like finance and insurance. In Eastern Europe, industry was subsidized by the communist government for years. Many factories are old fashioned and need investment to improve their equipment and production methods.
Minerals
Europe has a few sizeable reserves of metallic minerals; most were used by industry during the last century. Oil, gas and coal are found in large quantities-gas in Northern Sea and oil in Volga basin.
Land Use and Agriculture
The North European plain is the heart of agriculture in Europe where fertile soil and ample rainfall mean that a variety of crops can be grown. Wheat is the main grain crops and a wide range of fruit and vegetable are also grown. Dairy and beef cattle are raised for their milk and meat throughout Europe. In the south, the Mediterranean climate allows citrus fruit and olives to grow. Forest covers much of the northern Scandinavia, while in the hills of British Isles sheep forming is common.
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