Chapter 12 Lesson 1
What comes to your mind when you think
about the physical geography (landforms,
waterways, climate, resources etc)of Northern
Europe? (Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark,
Finland)
How about Southern Europe? (Italy, Spain,
Greece, Portugal) List as many things as you
can think of.
Characterized by rugged
mountains, rocky soil
and jagged coasts
2 penninsulas make up
most of Northern Europe:
Jutland (Denmark) and
the Scandinavian
peninsula (Norway and
Sweden)
Northern Europe includes
many Islands including
the country of Iceland.
Denmark has over 400
islands alone.
Scandinavian peninsula
has a spine of rugged
mountains
Glaciation-the
weathering and erosion
caused by moving
masses of ice carved
the mtns and plateaus
we see today
Iceland’s rugged
terrain caused by
volcanic activity (over
200 volcanoes)
Few important rivers in
Northern Europe
The Glomma River (Norway)
is the largest in the region
Scandinavian peninsula
surrounded by seas and
bays
Norway’s West coast is
dotted with narrow, water
filled valleys called Fjords
Baltic Sea borders Sweden
and Finland
Major port cities, but the
Baltic is likely to freeze in
the winter due to low
concentration of salt
Finland is the land of
56,000 lakes carved out by
glaciers…Remind you of
anywhere?
What are the 5 countries of Northern Europe?
What geologic force shaped the landscape of
the Scandinavian peninsula?
What shaped Iceland?
What is the largest river in Norway?
What is the other name for Denmark’s
peninsula?
What is a fjord?
Southern Europe also
has several peninsulas:
Italian (Italy), Iberian
(Spain and Portugal),
and Balkan (Greece)
Many Mediterranean
Islands in Southern
Europe including the
independent nations of
Malta and Cyprus, the
large Italian islands of
Sicily and Sardinia as
well as Crete, the
largest Greek island
Two major mountain
ranges…remember their
names?
Apennines are a mountain
range the length of Italy
(volcanic and subject to
earthquakes)
Mount Olympus: tallest in
Greece famous in
mythology
Most of Spain lies on a
plateau called the Meseta
Central (Mtns to the north
and South)
Portugal characterized by
rolling plains in the South
and wide valleys and steep
hills in the North
The Tagus River flows E
to W through Portugal
and Spain
Ebro River: 2nd largest on
the Iberian peninsula
Po River flows Eastward
in Northern Italy
Mediterranean Sea is the
most important body of
water in Southern Europe
Adriatic and Aegean seas
within Mediterranean
3 important straits:
Gibraltar (Iberia),
Bosporus, Dardanelles
(Turkey)
What are the 5 major countries of Southern
Europe?
What are the 3 microstates in Southern
Europe?
What are the 2 independent Island countries?
What is the name of the peninsula that makes
up Spain and Portugal?
What is the tallest mountain in Greece?
What is the river that flows E-W thru Spain
and Portugal?
Where is the strait of Gibraltar?
Northern Europe has a cool
or cold climate. Conditions
much harsher in some areas
than others
What factors? (Same as last
chapter)
Areas blocked by
mountains much colder
Sweden, Eastern Iceland
and Eastern Norway
relatively mild
Finland has a continental
climate (very cold winters
and hot summers)
Arctic regions are mostly
Tundra- regions where the
subsoil is frozen and only
lichens and mosses can
grow
Most common climate
type in Southern Europe
is Mediterranean (Warm
summers and mild
winters with rainy spring
and fall and dry
summers)
Southern California also
has a Mediterranean
climate
Northern Italy is much
cooler (Alps) Why?
Meseta Central region in
Spain has a very dry
continental climate (cold
winters and hot
summers)
Northern Europe has vast
forests
Lumber is the main plant
resource
Norway is Europe’s largest
producer of oil and natural
gas (North Sea)
Northern European
countries have some of the
richest mineral resources
(iron ore, copper, gold, zinc
and lead)
Denmark has few
resources, so it utilizes
wind turbines to supply
electricity
Sweden and Norway utilize
hydroelectric power
Iceland has enormous
reserves of geothermal
energy
Northern European
countries have long-
standing fishing
traditions
Fewer people work in
fishing today because of
ships carrying large nets
behind them called
“factory ships” or
trawlers increase catch
yields
Whaling used to be a
huge industry, but
reduced whale
populations has led to
the practice being limited
or outlawed
Much of Southern Europe
has poor soil and a dry
climate
Many areas are Scrubland-
places where short grasses
and shrubs are the
dominant plants
Grapes and olives are 2 of
the most important plants
(Wine and olive oil)
Fishing an important
industry in Spain and
Portugal (Atlantic coast)
Fishing also important on
the Mediterranean, but the
sea lacks the nutrients to
support large fish
population. Also pollution
and overfishing.
What are the differences in climate between
Northern European and Southern European
countries?
What are some similarities between Finland
and Minnesota?
What characterizes a Mediterranean climate?
What are some ways different Nordic
countries utilize their natural energy
resources?
What is a “trawler”?
What are the 2 most important plant
resources in Southern Europe?
Complete your blank maps for the remainder
of the class period
1st Quiz will be on Friday
Ch. 12 Vocab tomorrow
Spain, Greece, Italy country packets open
