Europe comprises an area of 10 180 000 km² extending over From Asia To the Atlantic and From Africa To the Arctic. There are 50 countries in Europe with a combined population of more than 700 million, covering about 11% of the world's population. About 230 different languages are spoken in the area.
Origin of name
The name Europe is possibly derived from the princess Europa of Greek mythology, who was abducted by Zeus, who took the character of a bull. According to another theory, the name comes from the Phoenician word for sunset Ereb.
European borders
Europe's borders are defined differently depending on political, cultural or practical considerations.
In the Middle Ages, the river Don was considered the eastern border of Europe[1] and the Ural Mountains. Today, the eastern border is considered to be Black Sea and Caspian Sea between Caucasusin the mountains. The regions of the Caucasus have been considered to belong to Europe and sometimes to Asia.
All European countries according to the current geographical definition are Belarus and The Vatican City State members of the broader body of European cooperation, the Council of Europe, which also includes Armenia and Azerbaijan.
European Union
Today, the term Europe used to an increasing extent in this sense Of the European Union Member States.[2] There are currently 27 countries in the Union (of which Cyprus belongs geographically To Asia). In addition, a few countries are negotiating membership, and several other countries are expected to start negotiations in the future. Based on EU-centric practice, for example, Finland and Sweden did not belong to Europe before 1995, nor did Norway or Switzerland. As an economic policy concept, Europe can also mean the European Economic Area, which includes not only EU countries Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Regionalization
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| Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia) Rich and turbulent history, spectacular nature, charming multicultural cities, impressive monasteries and fortresses on the hillsides, and mountains surrounded by lakes and forests. |
| Baltics (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) Fascinating states with lots of coastline, medieval towns and beautiful nature. |
| Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg) A low area with a lot to offer. The Netherlands is known for its clogs, cheeses, tulips, windmills and liberal world of thought. Belgium is a multilingual state full of medieval cities and Luxembourg, on its border, is located in the hills of the Ardennes. |
| The British Isles (Guernsey, Ireland, Man, Jersey, United Kingdom) Britain is a melting pot of cultures, where cultures meet from near and far. Ireland’s rolling landscapes and quaint people, traditions and folklore. |
| Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) The Caucasus is a mountain range between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea as part of the border between Europe and Asia. The area is warm, friendly and generally safe, with diverse landscapes and plenty of ancient churches, cathedrals and monasteries. |
| Central Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland) Germanic and Slavic culture meet in Central Europe, which unites Western and Eastern cultures. The area is rich in historic towns, fairytale castles, beer, forests, unspoilt farmland and mountains such as the magnificent Alps. |
| France and Monaco France is the most popular travel destination in the world and one of the most geographically diverse countries in Europe. The main attractions are the capital Paris, the Riviera, the sandy beaches of the Atlantic, the alpine ski resorts, the castles, the rural landscape with its food cultures (especially wines and cheeses), history, culture and fashion. |
| Greece, Cyprus, Turkey Europe’s sunniest areas are found in the eastern Mediterranean, a paradise for beach holidaymakers, celebrants and culture-hungry people. In addition, the food culture of the area is booming. |
| Iberian Peninsula (Andorra, Spain, The rock, Portugal) These countries are great travel destinations thanks to their rich and unique culture, vibrant cities, beautiful countryside and friendly inhabitants. |
| Italy (Italy, Malta, San Marino, Vatican) Rome, Florence, Venice and Pisa are many tourist destinations, but they are only one part of Italy. Italy finds more culture and history than many other countries combined. |
| Belarus, Russia, Ukraine Russia is a huge country that stretches in the east all the way to the Pacific. Diverse Ukraine has a lot to offer, from a Black Sea beach holiday to the beautiful cities of Odessa, Lviv and Kiev. Belarus is known as the last dictatorship in Europe. |
| Nordic countries (Faeroe, Iceland, Norway, Swedish, Finland, Denmark) Incredible scenery such as lakes, mountains and fells, glaciers, hot springs and volcanoes. Lots of rugged wilderness, but there are also cozy little towns and a few smaller big cities in the area. |
History
Europe's cultural heritage is based in particular on ancient Greece, the Roman Empire and Christianity from the Middle East.
Since the 15th century, European kingdoms, in particular Spain (formerly Castile), Portugal as well as later Netherlands, France and Britain (previously English) built large colonialist empires To Africa, North- and To South America mixed To Asia.
The Industrial Revolution began in Europe in the late 18th century and contributed to accelerating demand for raw materials and markets.
A significant stage in European history is also the political situation that prevailed after the Second World War. During the Cold War, Europe was divided into two major political and economic blocs: the socialist states of Eastern Europe and the capitalist states. In western Europe. In the 1990s, the Eastern Bloc disintegrated.
Geography
Europe is really just a group Eurasian the western peninsulas, which are The Baltic Sea separated Fennoscandia and Central Europe and diverging from the latter to the north Brittany Peninsula and Jutland as well as diverging into the southern Mediterranean Iberian Peninsula, Italy and Balkans[3]. To Russia upon entering, the peninsula widens until it meets the Asian border in the Ural Mountains.
Europe's surface shapes vary greatly over small distances. There are several mountains in the south, the most significant Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians and Caucasus Near the Asian border. To the north is the vast and low plain of northern Europe, and there are mountains In Scotland mixed ScandinaviaIn Scandinavia. There are several large areas in Europe islands, like Great Britain, Iceland and Ireland.
Geographical extremes
- highest mountain: depending on the point of view Mont Blanc (4,808 m) or Elbrus (5,642 m)[4]
- the biggest lake: Laatokka
- the longest river: Volga (3,685 km)
- the biggest island: Great Britain (219,000 km²)
- continental extremes: Nordkinn, Norway (71 ° 8 'N), Cabo da Roca, Portugal (9 ° 31 'W), Punta Marroqui, Spain (36 ° 0 'N), Ural mountains northern (approx. 63 ° E)
European mountains
European caves
- Postojna stalactite cave in Slovenia
- Caves of Baradla-Domica in Hungary / Slovakia
Climate and vegetation
Most of Europe belongs to the temperate zone, the southern parts belong to the subtropical zone and the northernmost parts belong to the cold zone. Local vegetation is determined by temperature and rainfall. Europe has quite subtropical vegetation due to the warming power of the Gulf Stream.
In northern Europe, on the Arctic coast, the terrain is lush and marshy tundra. In the Tundra regions, winters are cold and summers short. Heat is rare and rainfall is concentrated in late summer. There is taiga at the southern end of the northern parts. Birch, mixed and coniferous forests grow in the area.
There is deciduous forest in Central Europe.
The diverse Mediterranean vegetation grows in Europe on the shores of the Mediterranean, as a small separate "pocket" Crimea at the southern tip of the peninsula. The area grows leathery wooded forests, high forest-like thorn bushes and lower dense shrubs. In the driest regions, even semi-desert plants grow. In summer and early autumn the whole area is almost rainless and hot, but after a rainy winter in March-April the nature is very lush and in full bloom. During the dry season of summer, the fruits of plants such as citrus trees, almond trees, cork oak and olives ripen again.
European countries
| State | Area (km²) | Population (estimate 1.7.2002) | Population density (persons / km²) | Capital | form of government | The official languages | currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 28 748 | 3 544 841 | 123,3 | Tirana | republic | Albania | lek |
 Andorra | 468 | 68 403 | 146,2 | Andorra La Vella | principality | Catalan | euro |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | 51 129 | 4 448 500 | 77,5 | Sarajevo | federation | Bosnia, serbia, croatia | Bosnian markka |
 Bulgaria | 110 910 | 7 621 337 | 68,7 | Sofia | republic | Bulgaria | Bulgarian lev |
 Spain | 504 758 | 47 077 100 | 80,4 | Madrid | Constitutional monarchy | Spain | euro |
 Italy | 301 230 | 57 715 625 | 191,6 | Rome | republic | Italy | euro |
 Kosovo | 10 887 | 1 804 838 | 220 | Pristina | republic | Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Turkey | euro |
 Greece | 125 911 | 13 256 317 | 81,5 | Athens | republic | Greece | euro |
 Croatia | 56 542 | 4 390 751 | 77,7 | Zagreb | republic | Croatian | because |
 Cyprus | 5 995 | 780 133 | 130,1 | Nicosia | republic | Greece, Turkey | euro |
 Macedonia | 25 333 | 2 054 800 | 81,1 | Skopje | republic | Macedonia | Macedonian penny |
 Malta | 316 | 397 499 | 1 257,9 | Valletta | republic | Malta, English | euro |
 Monaco | 1,95 | 31 987 | 16 403,6 | Monaco | principality | France | euro |
 Montenegro | 13 812 | 616 258 | 48,7 | Podgorica | republic | Montenegro, Albania, serbia | euro |
 Portugal | 91 568 | 10 409 995 | 110,1 | Lisbon | republic | Portugal | euro |
 Romania | 238 391 | 21 698 181 | 91,0 | Bucharest | republic | Romania | Romanian Leu |
 San Marino | 61 | 27 730 | 454,6 | San Marino | republic | Italy | euro |
 Serbia | 88 361 | 7 495 742 | 89,4 | Belgrade | republic | Serbia | Serbian Dinar |
 Slovenia | 20 273 | 2 337 945 | 95,3 | Ljubljana | republic | Slovene | euro |
 Turkey | 783 562 | 70 586 256 | 93 | Harsh | republic | Turkey | Turkish lira |
 Vatican City State | 0,44 | 900 | 2 045,5 | Città del Vaticano | absolute electoral monarchy, theocracy | Italy | euro |
 Armenia | 29 800 | 3 229 900 | 101 | Yerevan | republic | Armenia | Armenian dram |
 Azerbaijan | 39 730 | 4 198 491 | 105,7 | Baku | republic | Azeri | manat |
 Georgia | 69 700 | 4 661 473 | 64 | Tbilisi | republic | Georgia | Georgian Lari |
 Moldova | 33 843 | 4 434 547 | 131,0 | Chisinau | republic | Moldova | Moldovan Leu |
 Ukraine | 603 700 | 48 396 470 | 80,2 | Kiev | republic | Ukraine | Ukrainian hryvnia |
 Belarus | 207 600 | 10 335 382 | 49,8 | Minsk | republic | belarus, russia | Belarusian ruble |
 Russia | 17 075 400 | 142 200 000 | 26,8 | Moscow | Federal Republic | Russia | Russian ruble |
 Netherlands | 41 526 | 16 318 199 | 393,0 | Amsterdam, Hague | Constitutional monarchy | Netherlands | euro |
 Belgium | 30 510 | 10 274 595 | 336,8 | Brussels | Constitutional monarchy | Dutch, French, German | euro |
 Ireland | 70 280 | 4 374 119 | 55,3 | Dublin | republic | English, Irish | euro |
 Luxembourg | 2 586 | 448 569 | 173,5 | Luxembourg | Constitutional monarchy | Luxembourg, Germany, France | euro |
 France | 547 030 | 59 765 983 | 109,3 | Paris | republic | France | euro |
 Great Britain | 244 820 | 62 100 835 | 244,2 | London | parliamentary monarchy | English | English pound |
 Austria | 83 858 | 8 169 929 | 97,4 | Vienna | Federal Republic | Germany | euro |
 Liechtenstein | 160 | 32 842 | 205,3 | Vaduz | Constitutional monarchy | Germany | Swiss franc |
 Poland | 312 685 | 38 625 478 | 123,5 | Warsaw | republic | Poland | Polish zloty |
 Germany | 358 021 | 83 251 851 | 233,2 | Berlin | Federal Republic | Germany | euro |
 Slovakia | 48 845 | 5 422 366 | 111,0 | Bratislava | republic | slovakia | euro |
 Switzerland | 41 290 | 7 301 994 | 176,8 | Bern | confederacy | German, French, Italian, Romansh | Swiss franc |
 Czech Republic | 78 866 | 10 256 760 | 130,1 | Prague | republic | Czech | Czech koruna |
 Hungary | 93 030 | 10 198 315 | 109,6 | Budapest | republic | Hungarian | Hungarian forint |
 Iceland | 103 000 | 279 384 | 2,7 | Reykjavik | republic | Iceland | Icelandic krona |
 Latvia | 64 589 | 2 366 515 | 36,6 | Riga | republic | Latvian language | euro |
 Lithuania | 65 200 | 3 601 138 | 55,2 | Wool | republic | Lithuania | euro |
 Norway | 324 220 | 4 525 116 | 14,0 | Oslo | constitutional monarchy | Norway | Norwegian krone |
 Swedish | 449 964 | 9 256 744 | 19,7 | Stockholm | constitutional monarchy | Swedish | Swedish crown |
 Finland | 336 593 | 5 612 537 | 15,4 | Helsinki | republic | Finland Sweden | euro |
 Denmark | 43 094 | 5 368 854 | 124,6 | Copenhagen | Constitutional monarchy | Denmark | Danish krone |
 Estonia | 45 226 | 1 415 681 | 31,3 | Tallinn | republic | Estonia | euro |
Cities
There are 17 cities in Europe with more than 1.5 million inhabitants. Until 1950, European capitals were among the largest cities in the world, but population growth in developing countries changed the situation.
Listed below are major European cities favored by tourists.
Population
There are currently around 680 million people in Europe. Population growth is slow compared to other continents. In contrast, the population is aging rapidly: in 2005, the proportion of people over the age of 65 was 16%, and by 2050 it is estimated to increase to 28%.[5]
Languages
There are about 230 languages spoken in Europe, which is only 3% of the number of languages in the world.[6] More than 90 percent speak Indo-European languages. The largest language groups are Slavic, Germanic and Romance languages.
Religions
About 75% of Europeans are Christians, 8% Muslims. Most Muslims live in the European parts of Russia and Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania.[7] About 17% do not profess any religion. There are less than one percent of Jews.
Sources
- ↑Large encyclopedia, part 3 (Edom-Gotthielf), art. Europe, Ottawa 1933
- ↑European and European problems Finnish Language Research Center, 2005
- ↑Template: Cite web
- ↑Mont Blanc, France / Italy Peakbagger.com
- ↑The Geopolitics of world population change Center for Strategic & International Studies, 2007
- ↑Interactive Language Map The National Virtual Translation Center, 2007
- ↑Muslims in Europe BBC, 2005