Chapter 6 Europe and Russia - Physical Geography

SECTION 1 - LAND AND WATER

NETHERLANDS - People created "polder", which are patches of new land reclaimed from the North Sea. Some of the richest farmland and largest cities in the Netherlands are located on polders.

Europe has a much higher population density than most of the world.

Russia - low population density...few people live in the Siberian region of Russia due to the harsh climate and poor soil.

Eurasia is he world's largest landmass.

Europe is the 2nd smallest continent(Australia is the smallest)

Russia is the largest country in the world.

MAJOR LANDFORMS OF EUROPE AND RUSSIA:

Plains and Upland regions: 4 major land regions - Northwestern Highlands, North European Plain, Central Uplands and the Alpine Mountain System.

Northwest Highlands - old mountains...steep slopes and little soil...few people live there.

North European Plain - covers half of Europe and European Russia...very fertile soil...largest cities in Europe.

Central Uplands - mountains and plateaus...rocky land - not good for farming.
Some people raise goats and sheep and others mine for minerals in this regions.

Alpine Mountains- The Alps are the highest mountains in this system...popular vacation place

Siberia - makes up 75% of Russia...only 20% of the population live there due to the harsh climate.

Rivers of Europe and Russia - Rhine River...major "highway" transportation.

Volga - longest river in Eurasia...however, a major portion of it freezes over in the winter...and it cannot be used for shipping, travel etc...trade routes are limited.