It consists of Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands. These are called Low Countries because most of their land is flat and low-lying. Much of the Netherland lies below sea level. The low countries of Europe are most densely populated countries, but most of their people have a high living standard. The Low Countries are largely flat and low lying. The two major rivers- the Meuse and the Rhine flow across the low countries of their mouth in the North Sea. At the coast of river Rhine deposit large quantities of sediments to form delta.
Landscape
In the Netherland land has been reclaimed from the sea since the Middle age by building dykes and drainage ditches. These areas of land are called ‘Polders‘. They are very fertile. The River Rhine erodes and carries large amount of sediments along its course. When it reaches the Netherlands it divides into three rivers. As they approach the North Sea, the rivers slow down depositing the sediments to form delta. The plain of Flanders in western Belgium has fertile soil which was deposited by glaciers during the last Ice Age. They provide excellent land for growing crops. The heartlands on the Dutch-Belgium border have thin sandy soils. The only plants which grow here are heathers and gorse. The hill of Ardennes was formed over 300 million years ago. They have many deep valleys, which have been eroded by rivers like Meuse.
Climate
The Low Countries share a similar climate with mild winters and warm summers. Only in the upland Ardennes region does rainfall increase and temperature decrease.
Industry
The low-countries are an important centre for the hi-tech and electronic industries. Good transport links to the rest of the Europe allow them to sell their product in other countries. The built up area stretching from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Antwerp in the Belgium has the greatest number of factories. Luxembourg is also an important banking centres, many international banks have its head quarter in its capital city.
Population
More than 25 million people live in Low Countries and nine out of every ten people live in town or city. The largest urban areaknown as the ‘Randstad Holland‘ is in the Netherlands. It runs in an unbroken line from Rotterdam in the south to Amsterdam in the west. Even most rural areas in the Low Countries are densely populated.
Farming and Land-Use
The fertile soil and flat plain of Low Countries provides excellent condition for farming. The main crops grown are barely potatoes, and flax for making linen. In the Netherlands much farmland is used for dairy-farming. The country is also famous for growing flowers.
Read Also: Europe: Climate, Industry, Minerals, Land Use and Agriculture
