This a summary of Unit 3: Europe as a review for the next Test.
1. POLITICAL EUROPE - Political Map
- Europe is the second smallest continent in the world and it is made up of many different countries.
- Some European countries are separated by natural borders, such as rivers, mountain ranges or seas. But all countries are separated by political borders.
- Political borders: invisible lines created by people to divide up areas of land.
- Natural borders: natural features of landscapes which are between countries and form a natural border between them: The Pyrenees separates Spain form France.
- Spain:
- borders three countries: Portugal, France and Andorra.
- Is the fourth largest country in Europe (el cuarto país más grande).
- Andorra:
- It has two borders with two countries: Spain and France.
- It's located in the Pyrenees mountains.
- Its capital city is Andorra La Vella, which is the highest capital city in Europe.
- Its official language is Catalá, but people also speak Spanish, French and English.
- European Countries facts:
- The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. It is located in Rome, the capital city of Italy.
- The three largest countries in Europe are: Russia, Ukraine and France.
- The Scandinavian countries are: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland.
- The central countries in Europe are: Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
- Germany is bordered by nine different countries.
Oceans and seas in Europe
- Europe is bordered:
- to the north by the Artic Ocean.
- to the south by the Mediterranean Sea.
- to the east by the continent of Asia.
- to the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean separates Europe from North and South America.
- The North Sea is part of the Atlantic Ocean and it connects to the English Channel and the Baltic Sea.
- The English Channel separates the United Kingdom from France and mainland Europe.
- The Mediterranean Sea connects to the Atlantic Ocean at the Estrecho de Gibraltar.
- The Estrecho de Gibraltar forms a natural border between the Iberian Peninsula and Africa.
- In the east of Europe, The Black Sea and the Caspian Sea form a natural border between Europe and Asia.
Mountains in Europe
- The Alps...(Los Alpes)
- are the highest mountain range in Europe (la cordillera más alta).
- extend across eight different countries.
- form a natural border between Italy and France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.
- Mount Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps (4.810 meters).
- The Ural Mountains...(Montes Urales)
- are located in the east of Russia.
- form a natural border between Europe and Russia.
- The Scandinavian Mountains...(Montes Escandinavos)
- are the longest mountain range in Europe (la cordillera más larga).
- are located in Norway and Sweden and form a natural border between them .
- The Caucasus Mountains...(El Caúcaso)
- also form an eastern natural border between Europe and Asia.
- has Mount Elbrus, which is the highest peak in Europe (5.642 meters).
Rivers in Europe
- Hundreds of rivers run across Europe. Some rivers form a natural border between countries.
- The Volga... (Volga)
- is the longest river in Europe.
- is the most important river in Russia.
- has over 200 tributaries (afluentes) and flows for 3.530 km to its mouth (desembocadura) in the Caspian Sea.
- The Danube... (Danubio)
- is the second longest river in Europe.
- runs through 10 different countries and 4 capital cities: Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary) and Belgrade (Serbia).
- travels 2.860 km to its mouth in the Black Sea.
- The Rhine... (Rin)
- travels 1.232 km to its mouth in the North Sea.
- separates Switzerland from Germany.
- also forms part of the border between Germany and France.
