Europe

Political map of Europe

Shaded relief map of Europe

Europe is the continental landmass consisting of the major peninsulas of Eurasia, and covering some 15% of the world's land area. It is bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean; the north by the Arctic Ocean and Barents Sea; the east by the Ural Mountains; and on the south by the Caspian, Black, and Mediterranean Seas (a second mountain range, the Caucasus, serves as a land boundary between the Caspian and Black seas).

Land

Drainage

The major rivers in western Europe originate in the mountain ranges of central Europe. The Rhine, Rhone, Elbe, Seine and Vistula flow from the Alps and the Balkans northward, emptying into the English Channel, North and Baltic seas; the Po and Rubicon rivers flow into the Mediterranean Sea, while the Danube flows into the Black Sea. Long a navigable river, the Danube is further connected via locks and canals to the Rhine, ensuring a centuries-long free flow of commerce from both sides of Europe into the interior. In eastern Europe the major rivers flow towards the south, emptying in the Black and Caspian seas; among them are the Dnepr, Donets, and Volga. With the exception of the Mediterranean rivers, all European rivers have an even rate of flow as a result of an even spread of yearly precipitation; the faster-flowing rivers, particularly in the mountain highlands and Scandinavia, also aid in the production of hydroelectric power for home and industry.

Fauna

The lakes and rivers support an abundance of fish, including trout and salmon, while the coastal areas and inland seas support tuna, sardines, sturgeon, cod, haddock, halibut, and many others. Birds are widespread as well, including eagles, storks, ravens, and seabirds.

Although there are many mammal species on the continent (deer, lemmings, beaver, etc), they have been hard hit as a result of man's long occupation in Europe. The once common brown bear (Ursus arctos) is now restricted to isolated pockets of the Pyrenees and the far north of Scandinavia. The wisent (Bison bonasus), the largest mammal on the continent, has been over-hunted so extensively that only a few managed herds survive in central Poland, while a relative, the larger aurochs (Bos primigenius) was killed off by 1627.

People

Languages

The vast majority of the languages spoken on the European Continent come from the Indo- European language family. Under this category, the three largest branches are the Romance, Germanic, and Slavic groups. The European Languages, especially the Romance and Germanic groups, hold a special place among languages of the world, as they are the most wide-spread geographically and most-spoken of all languages. This is due to the widespread colonization and emigration by European countries from the 16th Century to the 20th, the political and military power of these countries, and their high economic importance.

Languages and their Groups

Under the Germanic branch, there are three sub-categories: Northern, Western, and Eastern (now extinct). Under the Northern group are included the Scandinavian languages: Swedish, Norweigan, Icelandic, and Danish. The Western Germanic group includes English, Dutch, German, Frisian, and Afrikaans.

Presence in the Americas

North and South America are, other than Europe, the continents with the most speakers of European languages. Spanish and Portuguese are spoken in South and Central America, while English and French are spoken in North America (not inluding Mexico). The Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries are collectively refered to as "Latin-America," as both of these languages are Romance languages and hence descendents of Latin. The United States of America and Canada are collectively refered to as "Anglo-America," as they both have a majority of English speakers and have strong cultural and historical roots to Great Britain/England.