Chapter 10, Section 1
(Pages 274–280)
Physical Features
Geographic factors influence where people settle. As you read,
complete the chart below with key facts about the landforms,
waterways, and resources of Europe.
Features
Key Facts
Landforms
Waterways
Resources
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Landforms and Waterways
What are five types
of landforms found
in Europe?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(pages 275–277)
The continent of Europe shares a common landmass with
Asia. This landmass is called Eurasia. Europe is located on the
western portion of Eurasia.
Europe has a long coastline. It borders the Atlantic Ocean
and the Baltic, North, Mediterranean, and Black Seas. Only a
few countries are landlocked, or do not border an ocean or
a sea. Nearness to water has influenced Europe’s history and
people. Shipping and fishing encouraged trade and helped
build Europe’s economy. Exploration spread European culture
worldwide and brought ideas from Asia, Africa, and the
Americas to Europe.
Peninsulas and Islands
Europe is a huge peninsula. It has many smaller peninsulas
branching out from it. Europe also has many islands, including
Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, and Cyprus. At one time, seas,
rivers, and mountains separated people living on these peninsulas and islands. Thus, many different cultures developed.
Chapter 10, Section 1
67
Landforms and Waterways
(continued)
Plains
What does the word
navigable mean?
The Northern European Plain is Europe’s major landform.
The soil is rich, and the plain also holds underground deposits
of coal, iron ore, and other minerals. Most of Europe’s population live and work on this vast plain. Other lowland areas
include the Hungarian Plain and Ukrainian Steppe.
Mountains and Highlands
Europe’s highest mountain ranges form the Alpine Mountain
System. The Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Carpathians are included
in this system. People and goods travel through passes, or low
areas between mountains. Several other highland areas are used
for mining and grazing livestock.
Waterways
Many rivers, lakes, and other waterways are found in Europe.
The Danube and Rhine are two of Europe’s longest rivers. Many
of the rivers are navigable—wide and deep enough for ships to
use. People and goods travel on the rivers throughout Europe
and to the open sea. Fast-flowing rivers also provide electricity.
Europe’s Resources
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Europe has many valuable natural resources. These resources
have helped Europe become a leader in the world economy.
Energy Resources
Coal has been a key energy source for Europe. In the 1800s,
coal fueled early factories. Today Europe supplies almost half of
the world’s coal. Many people in Europe work as coal miners.
Two other energy resources are natural gas and petroleum.
Productive oil fields are found beneath the North Sea in areas
controlled by Norway and the United Kingdom.
Europeans also use clean energy sources that cause less
pollution. Swift-flowing rivers create hydroelectric power. Wind
farms use turbines with fanlike blades to make electricity.
Other Natural Resources
Other resources include iron ore and manganese used to
make steel. Marble and granite provide building materials. Many
of Europe’s once-vast forests have been cut down, however.
Fertile soil allows farmers to grow large amounts of crops,
including rye, oats, wheat, and potatoes. Europe’s waterways
provide another valuable resource—fish.
Chapter 10, Section 1
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Identify 10 of
Europe’s natural
resources.
(pages 278–279)
Environmental Issues
(pages 279–280)
Air Pollution and Acid Rain
Describe how
Europeans are
attempting to solve
each problem below.
Smoke from burning oil and coal creates air pollution, which
causes breathing problems and other health risks. When chemicals
in air pollution mix with precipitation, acid rain results. Acid rain
harms trees and damages the surfaces of buildings. Acid also
builds up in lakes and rivers, poisoning fish and other wildlife.
1. Air pollution,
acid rain
Water Pollution
The waterways in and around Europe are polluted. Sewage,
garbage, and industrial waste are dumped into the region’s seas,
rivers, and lakes. Chemicals in pesticides and fertilizers run off
from farmland into rivers, harming fish and other marine life.
Finding Solutions
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
2. Water pollution
Europeans are working to fix environmental problems.
Factories are trying to release fewer chemicals into the air.
Lakes are being treated with lime to reduce acid rain damage.
Waste and sewage are being treated to provide cleaner water.
Farmers are using less fertilizer to reduce the amount of chemical runoff. More Europeans are recycling and reducing the
amount of garbage they produce.
Wrap -Up
Answer these questions to check your understanding of the entire
section.
1. Evaluating How are waterways important to Europe?
2. Determining Cause and Effect How have Europe’s resources contributed to environmental problems?
Descri pt
ptive
Chapter 10, Section 1
On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph comparing and
contrasting the landforms in your area to the landforms found in
Europe. Which are similar? Which are different?
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