Subregions of Europe. Full list of European countries England belongs to Europe

Europe is the smallest and at the same time the most "close" part of the world in the world. Her closest neighbor is Asia, and together they form the largest mainland - Eurasia. But today the focus is foreign Europe.

General

There are various approaches to the division of Europe to the regions. Until the end of the 80s of the last century, in history and geography, under the term "Western Europe" was understood as the combination of independent European countries, which, after the end of World War II, continued capitalist development. They were numbered 32, and the countries of the Socialist Camp - Eastern Europe served as a counterweight. In 1991, after the collapse of the USSR and the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a new concept of "foreign Europe" appeared.

It combines 40 countries located in Europe, except those that are part of the CIS.

Geographical location of foreign Europe

Speaking about the physico-geographical situation of foreign Europe, it should be said that it occupies a fairly compact area in the scale of the globe territory: its total area is 5.4 million square meters. km. Svalbard Island is an extreme point in the north, and the island of Crete - in the south. The length of the region from north to south is 5000 km, and from west to east - 3000 km. Foreign Europe from three sides was washed by the waters of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and their seas. The coastline is very cut. At most of the territory the plains are dominated, and only about 17% occupy the mountains. Among them are the main - Alps, Pyrenees, Apennins, Carpathians, Mountains on the Balkan and Scandinavian Peninsula. Four climatic belts dominate in this region, which gradually replace each other from the north to south:

arctic (Arctic Islands of Europe): Here "Rubles" Marine Arctic Climate with a very frosty winter and cold summer;
subarctic (Iceland and North Coast of Mainland Europe): It is characterized by the predominance of the sea subarctic type of climate with cold, places soft in winter and cool summer with strong Western winds;
moderate (British Islands, most mainland Europe): There are two types of climate - marine moderate and continental moderate.
subtropical (South Mediterranean part of Europe): The type of climate is characteristic of these latitudes is a Mediterranean with warm winter and dry, hot summer.

Fig. 1 Regions of Foreign Europe

Regional division

Geographically foreign Europe is divided into four regions around the world: North, South, Western and East. However, recently, in addition to the North, South and Western Europe, new terms - Central-Eastern and Eastern Europe appeared in everyday life of geographers. The latter just includes Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Russia - the countries that are included in the CIS. How many states, and to which regions of foreign Europe are "credited", briefly set out in the following table:

Northern Europe

Southern Europe

Western Europe

Central Eastern Europe

Finland

Iceland

Norway

San Marino.

Gibraltar

Portugal

Switzerland

Germany

Netherlands

Great Britain

Ireland

Liechtenstein

Luxembourg

Croatia

Slovenia

Slovakia

Serbia and Montenegro

Macedonia

Bulgaria

Fig. 2 Modern leaders of the "Big Seven" countries

Economic development

Foreign Europe belongs to the number of most economically developed areas in the world. As in political terms and in the industry and territorial structure of the region, a variety and saturation is observed. If foreign Europe is represented in the form of a large four-story apartment building, then the country with transitional economies will be at the lowest: Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia. On the second and third - developed countries with a market economy: Spain, Greece, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and others. However, their level of economic and social development has not yet achieved a high level of leaders, which includes "neighbors" from the top floor - the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy. It is for them accounts for about 70% of the total GDP volume. They are also members of the "Group of Seven" or "Big Seven" - association of seven leading economically developed countries (USA, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan.

Features

Among the many features of foreign Europe should be noted one important - the presence of a "central development axis". Under this term, the Western European part of the length of 1600 km is meant, which, in fact, is the center, the core of the old world with the greatest concentration of the population (300 people per 1 km2) and the main branches of the economy. The conditional border of the "axis" takes his beginning from Manchester, then "bears" through Hamburg, Venice, Marseille and again returns to Hamburg, forming a loop on the form resembling a banana. It covers a large section of Europe, which includes the following parts: Regions of Great Britain, Western lands of Germany, North and South of France, Switzerland and North Italy.

If you look at the map of Europe, then you can see that on the territory of the "Central Axis of Development" are "World Centers" - London and Paris, in each of which is located about thirty headquarters of the largest corporations. In addition, it is a place of concentration of more than half of the total industrial potential of Europe: coal-metallurgical enterprises, general engineering, automotive industry, enterprises of the chemical industry, the latest high-tech production, porto-industrial complexes and much more.

Fig. 3 "Central Axis of Development" Europe

What did we know?

Features of foreign Europe - under the scope of our attention. After considering this topic on geography for the 10th grade and grade 11, we arrive at the following conclusion: a relatively small area of \u200b\u200bthe territory on a huge continent is one of the most successful, developed in the quality of the life of the population, according to the structure of production, on the scale of economic activity and the level of technological development. Many factors contributed: geographical position, favorable natural conditions, small size countries and their close neighborhood, and much more.

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Europe is a part of the world, which is located in the northern hemisphere of our planet, it is washed by numerous seas and, together with Asia, forms Eurasia. In the ancient Greek mythology, Europe is the Phoenician Tsarevna, who was insidiously abducted by Zeus and was taken to the island of Crete.

There is a hypothesis that this name occurred from the Greek word, which the Greeks denoted all the territories located west of the Aegean Sea. There are other theories regarding the origin of this name.

General

Today more than 740 million people or 10% of the entire population live here. The total territory is more than 10 million square kilometers.

Europe's shores are washed with two oceans: the Atlantic and Northern Arctic, as well as numerous seas. The coast is strongly cut, the large area is occupied by numerous peninsula. Most of Europe occupy huge plains.

Here leaks a large number of rivers and there are many large lakes. The climate is moderate, in the western part - the oceanic, in the eastern part - continental. Europe is rich in mineral resources and other natural resources. It is here that countries are with the most developed economy.

This part of the world played a crucial role in human history. It should be noted the huge wealth and diversity of European cultures.

Borders

The borders of Europe changed to different periods of human history, the debates around them do not subside and so on. The ancient Greeks considered Europe the northern part of their country. Gradually, people better learned their world, and the borders gradually moved further to the east.

However, people mastered all new and new territories, went further to the east. The famous Russian historian Tatishchev offered to divide the mainland at the foot of the Ural Mountains. This point of view was first accepted in Russia, and then foreign geographers.

However, and at the moment there are controversial moments with respect to the exact boundaries of this part of the world. They are not global. Now there are several options for drawing borders. This question plays an important political role, because from where the border of Europe passes, it depends on which countries are included in its composition.

The border in the north passes along the coast of the Northern Ocean, Western - in the Atlantic Ocean, the Eastern Border - along the foot of the Ural Mountains, along the Emba River to the Caspian Sea and on the rivers of Manumch and Kuma to Done's mouth. Then the border goes along the northern coast of the Black Sea and the Black Sea Strait.

According to another opinion, the border passes through the Caucasus Range. There are other options for holding the borders that carry it south from the Caucasian Mountains.

Countries that are part of Europe

Europe is often divided into oriental and western, southern and northern, although this separation is somewhat conditional. It is more connected with political and cultural features. On a European political map you can find how large in the area of \u200b\u200bthe state (Russia, Ukraine, France) and completely tiny. Several countries are only partially located in Europe.

In total, this part of the world includes (in whole or in part) of 49 countries. Of these, several states are not always counted to Europe. There are also several territories with an indefinite status. They proclaimed independence, but she did not recognize the world community.

The borders of European states changed over the centuries as a result of numerous wars and revolutions.

So, what countries today are considered European? We have prepared a list for you by breaking it into four parts: Western European countries, countries that are in its north, countries of South and Eastern Europe. As well as those countries that are only partially in this part of the world.

West Side:

France
Great Britain
Austria
Belgium
Germany
Ireland
Luxembourg
Liechtenstein
Monaco
Switzerland
Ireland

East End:

Bulgaria
Romania
Ukraine
Poland
Slovakia
Hungary
Czech Republic
Moldova
Belorussia

Europe is a part of the world, which has an area of \u200b\u200babout 10 million km² and the population of 740 million people (about 10% of the population of the Earth). Together with Asia, the continent of Eurasia is formed.

Etymology

Europe is named after the heroine of the ancient Greek mythology of Europe, the Phoenician princess, abducted by Zeus and taken to Crete (at the same time the epithet of Europe could also be born with the hero and Demetra). The origin of this name itself, how the French linguist P. Shartren is concluded, unknown. The most popular etymological hypotheses in modern literature were offered in antiquity (along with many others), but are controversial:

One etymology interprets him from the Greek roots of Evuri- and the OPS as "Broadcasting".

According to the lexicographer Gesichy, the name of Europe means "country of sunset, or dark", which later linguists were compared with Zap.-Sem. 'RB "Sunset" or Akkad. Erebu with the same meaning. M. West assesses this etymology as very weak.

Borders

The name of Europe is missing for a part of the world in ancient Greek literature (only Northern Greece is named Apollo to Apollo to Apollo to Apollon, and first recorded in the "Description of the Earth" of the Miletsky (end of the 6th century BC), the first book of which is dedicated to Europe.

Ancient Greeks initially considered Europe with a separate mainland, separated from Asia Aegean and the Black Seas, and from Africa - the Mediterranean Sea. After making sure that Europe is only a small part of a huge mainland, which is now called Eurasia, the antique authors began to hold the eastern border of Europe along the Don River (such representations are already found at Polybia and Strabo). This tradition dominated for almost two millennia. In particular, the Mercator has the border of Europe through Don, and from its source - strictly north to the White Sea.

In the XV century, when Muslims were ousted almost from all of Spain, and Byzantines were from Asia (Turks), Europe for a short time became almost synonymous with the Christian world, but at present most Christians live outside of its territory. In the XIX century, almost the entire world industry was in Europe; Today, most of the products are made abroad.

V.N. Tatishchev, in 1720, proposed to hold the eastern border of Europe on the Range of the Ural Mountains, and further along the YaIK River (Sovra. Ural) until the mouth, flowing into the Caspian Sea. Gradually, the new border became generally accepted first in Russia, and then beyond it. Currently, the border of Europe is carried out: in the north - in the Arctic Ocean; in the West - in the Atlantic Ocean; in the south - on the Mediterranean, Aegean, marble, black seas; In the East - on the eastern foot of the Ural Mountains, Mount Mulgarians, along the Embi River to the Caspian Sea, from His Kuma and Manych (Kuro-Manic Wpadina) to the mouth of Don (in particular, according to Encyclopedias: Big Soviet Encyclopedia and Briton Encyclopedia) or , less likely, in the Caucasian Range to the Black Sea). Further passage of the border between Europe and Asia through the Black Sea and the Black Sea Strait is supported by all sources.

By virtue of these circumstances, the inclusion of Azerbaijan and Georgia in the list of Europe countries is based primarily on a partial geographical location, as well as political, economic and cultural considerations and is not unambiguous. Cyprus is part of the European Union, but is geographically in Asia. A number of Islands of Greece, located near the coast of Turkish Anatolia, can also be assigned to Asia.

Despite the fact that Geographically Armenia is located in Asia, it has close political and cultural connections with Europe.

Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev wrote in 1906:

"The branch of Europe from Asia in all respects is artificially and over time will certainly smooth and, probably even disappear."

Bernard-Henri Levi

"Europe is not a place, but an idea."

Geography

Europe is washed by the Atlantic and North Arctic Oceans and their seas.

Islands area of \u200b\u200babout 730 thousand km². The peninsula accounts for about 1/4 of the territory of Europe (Kola, Scandinavian, Pyrenean, Apennine, Balkan, etc.).

The average height is about 300 m, the maximum (if you carry out the border of Europe by the KoM-Manic Wpadine) - 4808 m, Mont Blanc, or (when carrying out the border of Europe in the Caucasus Range) - 5642 m, Elbrus, the minimum is currently OK . -27 meters (Caspian Sea) and varies with fluctuations in the level of this sea.

Plains prevail (large - Eastern European, Middle Eastern, Middle and Nizhnylandunai, Paris pool), mountains occupy about 17% of the territory (main - Alps, Caucasus, Carpathians, Crimean, Pyrenees, Apennins, Urals, Scandinavian Mountains, Mountains of the Balkan Peninsula) . The existing volcanoes are in Iceland and the Mediterranean.

For most of the territory, the climate is moderate (in the West - Oceanic, in the East - continental, with snowy and frosty winter), on the northern islands - subarctic and arctic, in southern Europe - Mediterranean, in the Caspian lowland - semi-desert. On the Islands of the Arctic, in Iceland, the Scandinavian mountains, the Alps - glaciation (Square Over 116 thousand km²).

Basic rivers: Volga, Danube, Ural, Dnieper, Western Dvina, Don, Pechora, Kama, Oka, White, Dniester, Rhine, Elba, Vistula, Tahoe, Loire, Oder, Neman.

Large lakes: Ladoga, Onega, Chosnual, Venern, Balaton, Geneva.

On the Arctic Islands and along the coast of the Arctic Ocean - Arctic deserts and tundras, south - Forestry, Taezhni, Mixed and Bilay Forests, Forests, Steppes, Subtropical Mediterranean Forests and Shrubs; In the south-east - semi-desert.

The largest sandy sandy desert in Europe (40,000 km²) is located in the intercourse of Volga and the Urals (in Kazakhstan and Russia), in Western Europe to close to the semi-desert type of communities sometimes consider the Tabernas massif in Spain. In addition, there was a desertification of extensive territories in Kalmykia, Russia, which occurred as a result of human activity on an industrial water fever from natural sources and the irrational use of land. In the dry steppe zone in the east of Europe there are a number of sandy arrays in Russia in the lower Don (Arched Dong-Don Sands, Tsimlyan Sands, etc.), Border Guards Kalmykia, Dagestan and Chechnya (Nogai Steppe), as well as on the territory of Ukraine (Alyoshkov Sands).

HISTORY OF EUROPE

Europe remained unknowable people for quite a long time. Where did a person come from to Europe, controversy. It is known only that Europe was not a place for the origin of mankind. There are the versions that the first hominids came to Europe from India. Genetic studies are consistent with this. But the most developed is a hypothesis about the arrival of hominids to Europe from Africa through the front Asia. There is an assumption that it happened in the middle of Villafrank time. Neanderthals stood up to Homo Sapiens Europe and West Asia.

The Geidelbergian man and his likely direct descendant of Neanderthal, and the latter presented a specialized form, adapted to the European climate from himself.

The earliest emergence of people of modern physical type (Homo Sapiens) in Europe, known at the moment, dates back to 35 thousand years ago, and 28 thousand years ago, probably finally disappeared by Neanderthal.

Countries of Europe

43 States are recognized by the majority of UN members, 2 states (territories) have limited recognition.

Western Europe

Austria
Belgium
Great Britain
Germany
Ireland
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
France
Switzerland

Eastern Europe

Belorussia
Bulgaria
Hungary
Moldova
Poland
Russia
Romania
Estonia
Ukraine
Czech Republic

Northern Europe

Denmark
Iceland
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Finland
Sweden
Macedonia

Southern Europe

Albania
Andorra
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vatican
Greece
Spain
Italy
Malta
Portugal
San Marino.
Serbia
Slovenia
Croatia
Montenegro

Partially in Europe

Azerbaijan (from 0% to approx. 10% of the territory)
Georgia (from 0% to approx. 5% of the territory)
Kazakhstan (up to 14% of the territory)
Russia (from 22% to 23% of the territory)
Turkey (3% of the territory)

Unrecognized or partially recognized

Republic of Kosovo.
Transnistrian Moldavian Republic

States and territories supporting close political and cultural ties with Europe

Armenia (member of the Council of Europe)
Greenland (part of Denmark)
Cyprus (member of the European Union)
South Ossetia (partially recognized state)
Abkhazia (partially recognized state)
Azerbaijan [(member of the Council of Europe)
Georgia (member of the Council of Europe)

European dependent territories

Aland Islands
Guernsey
Gibraltar
Jersey
Isle Of Man
Faroe islands
Spitsbergen
Jan Mayen.

Partly recognized religious order

Order of Malta

Division of Europe

Europe is usually divided into northern and southern, western and eastern, as well as central. The division is pretty conditionally, especially since not only purely geographical, but also political factors come into effect. Some countries, depending on the point of view, may be attributed to various groups of states.

In Soviet times, the division of Europe to the East and the West was often political color - to Eastern Europe, the GDRs, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Yugoslavia and the USSR - Socialist countries, or, as they were also called, "Country Democracy Countries " All other states belonged to Western Europe. At the same time, Spain, Portugal, South of France, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Greece and Turkey were also called southern Europe, and Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland - North.

Currently, after the collapse of the USSR, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, in Central Europe include Austria, Switzerland and previously included in Eastern Europe Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Romania, Hungary, sometimes the countries of the Baltic States (the latter more often include in Northern Europe) . To Eastern Europe - physico-geographically Russia (in Europe only part), Ukraine, Belarus, Azerbaijan (in Europe only part), Georgia (in Europe, only part), Kazakhstan (in Europe only part), Moldova, including unrecognized Transnistria. Western Europe is the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and other countries, including physico-geographically central European Germany. Some sources saved the old division.

Political situation

In the period after World War II, until 1989-1991, Europe was the central arena of the Cold War between Western (Capitalist) and Eastern (Socialist) blocks. Most countries of Western Europe at this time in the military-political plan united in NATO. Social and legal integration provided the Council of Europe, the Economic - European Economic Community. In the east of the continent, the military integration structure was the organization of the Warsaw Agreement, the Economic Council - the Council of Economic Mutual Assistance; In both of the dominant role, the USSR played.

After the collapse of the socialist modes, the situation changed significantly. Most countries of the former "socialist camp" reoriented to Western structures. Currently, more than half of European countries are part of the European Union and NATO, almost everyone else declare the desire to join these organizations. On the one hand, it created prerequisites for the conversion of the EU in a political player with a truly global scale. On the other hand, the heterogeneity of the composition of the Union adversely affects its ability to generate general positions for one or another issues.

The leaders of political processes in Europe are Germany, France, United Kingdom and Italy. Small countries of Western Europe (Benilyux Countries, Scandinavian States, Ireland) are played a prominent role in the integration processes. A special place is occupied by former socialist countries, calculated to correct their economic situation at the expense of participation in the European Union. The focus of instability remains the Balkan Peninsula, where so far conflict situations arising during the collapse of Yugoslavia have not yet been settled. It is unclear the political and economic future of the former Soviet republics, including in the Caucasus. An ambiguous attitude in Europe towards the desire of mostly Muslim Turkey for greater participation in European affairs.

Main international associations in Europe

European countries are members of various international organizations, most of whom are the organization of an economic and political nature. The main international associations in Europe are listed below.

The Council of Europe is the only pan-European organization whose members are almost all countries in Europe. Currently, members of the Council of Europe are 47 states. The objectives of the Council of Europe are programs to smooth contradictions between legislative bases of European countries in such areas as human rights, citizenship, international private law, environmental protection and cultural heritage, protection of the rights of national minorities, etc.

European Union

European Union, the abbreviated name of the EU - a supranational association of 27 countries of Europe. Within the framework of the Union, many programs are supervised. Within the EU, there is a single market that includes the Customs Union, the Currency Union (a single European currency - the euro, operates on the territory of 17 of the 27 EU members), a general policy in the field of agriculture and fisheries. The European Union also takes measures to coordinate the actions of member countries in the field of politics. There are also trends towards coordinating action in the field of defense and shared foreign policy. The Union gradually evolves from the economic organization to the supranational. Currently, the joint GDP of the European Union is the largest in the world and is 15,849 trillion US dollars.

Also within Europe there are the following associations:

Eurozone
Schengen Area
Customs Union
European Economic Area
European Free Trade Association

Commonwealth of independent states

The Commonwealth of Independent States is an organization consisting of the 11 former republics of the Soviet Union (except the countries of the Baltic and Georgia). The CIS does not have supranational powers and is a greater degree of a symbolic organization operating in the coordination of interaction between the Commonwealth participating countries. The main objectives of the CIS are the implementation of cooperation in political, economic, environmental, humanitarian, cultural and other fields; Peaceful dispute resolution; interstate cooperation and integration; Protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens of member countries. The main topics of discussion are plans to create a single market like the EU, as well as the struggle against cross-border crime.

NATO

The organization of the North Atlantic Treaty is the military union, whose members are mainly in Europe, as well as the United States and Canada. NATO was created as an organization for cohesion of Western European countries under the command of the United States against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and its allies. The basis of the organization is a collective defense agreement in the event of an attack on any of the Member States.

OSCE

The Organization for Safety and Cooperation in Europe is the largest regional security organization, which includes 56 European countries, Central Asia and North America.

The organization is aimed at preventing the occurrence of conflicts in the region, the settlement of crisis situations, the elimination of conflict consequences.

Northern Council (founded in 1952) and the Northern Council of Ministers (founded in 1971) - an organization for coordinating cooperation between parliaments and governments of Northern Europe. Members: Denmark, Finland (since 1956), Iceland, Norway, Sweden. The governing bodies are in Copenhagen.

Ceast.

Central European Free Trade Association - international Organization The successor of the Visegrad Agreement between the countries not members of the EU signed on December 21, 1992. At the moment, members of this organization are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of Kosovo. Before joining the EU, members of the organization were: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Benelux

Benilux is the political, economic and customs union of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, created on February 3, 1958. It has its own parliament and the court, which includes representatives of the three states.

GUAM.

The organization was established in 1997 by four countries: Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova (GUAM) headquarters is located in the capital of Ukraine - Kiev. From April 1999 to 2006, Uzbekistan was also included in the organization and it was called GUUAM.

EurAsEC.

Eurasian Economic Community - the International Economic Organization of a number of post-Soviet states, engaged in the formation of common external customs borders, developing a unified foreign economic policy, tariffs, prices and other components of the common market.

CSTO

The organization of the collective security treaty - the organization includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan.

As part of the CSTO undergo joint military exercises. The purpose of the organization is a joint reflection of aggression when attacking any State party to the contract.

The Arctic Council is an international organization established in 1989 at the initiative of Finland to protect the unique nature of the northern polar zone. The Arctic Council includes eight priarctic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, Sweden, USA. Observer countries: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Spain.

Baltic Assembly

The Baltic Assembly is an advisory body for cooperation between the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, founded in 1991. The Assembly coordinates actions, advises the parliaments of three countries and declares agreed positions in the form of resolutions, decisions and recommendations.

The Council of the Baltic Sea states was established on March 5-6, 1992 in Copenhagen at the conference of foreign ministers of the Baltic Sea countries. It entered it Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, as well as the Commission of European Communities.

Regional Cooperation Forum. It was established in 1993 by the Boarent / Eurarctic Region Council (Sber). It includes the rights of permanent members of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Finland and Sweden, as well as the Commission of European Communities (CES). Nine states - United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, Netherlands, Poland, France, USA, Japan - have the status of observers.

Union State of Russia and Belarus

Confederate Soyuz Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus with a phased-organized single political, economic, military, customs, currency, legal, humanitarian, cultural space.

Customs Union EurAsome

The Customs Union of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation is an interstate agreement on the establishment of a single customs space, signed by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Later to the Union joined Kyrgyzstan.

Geographical Center

The location of the center depends on the determination of the boundaries of Europe and is mainly determined by the selected calculation technique, as well as those, whether the remote islands are included in the list of extreme points of Europe or not. Thus, several places pretend to the title of the Geographical Center of Europe.

Option of calculating Belarusian scientists Alexey Solomonov and Valeria Anoshko: 55 degrees 30 minutes of northern latitude, 28 degrees 48 minutes of Eastern longitude.

Ukraine, Lithuania, Slovakia, Germany and Poland also claim to be the title of the Geographical Center of Europe.

The Guinness Book recognizes Purnushkiy village 26 km north of Vilnius as an "official" geographical center of Europe.

The name "Europe" is also the island, located in the strait between the Africa coast and Madagascar, named after the British ship "Europe", which on the Christmas Eve for the first time correctly determined the coordinates of the island.
Both world wars began in Europe.
The name "Europe" is also wearing one of the satellites of Jupiter, named after the character of antique mythology.

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General characteristics of Europe

Currently, Europe is a major historical and geographical region in the west of the mainland of Eurasia. It consists of $ 45 $ states with a total area of \u200b\u200bmore than $ 10 $ million $ km ^ $ 2 with a population of more than $ 700 million people.

European countries have a favorable physico- and economic and geographical position. Most of them have access to the world Ocean. In Europe, an extensive transport network was built.

The political map of Europe was formed for a long time and continues to be formed now.

Regional division of European countries

The division of Europe on individual regions began after World War II. Initially, Europe was divided into two parts - Western and Eastern. Eastern Europe included states that took the course to build socialism. These were Poland, GDR, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria and the Soviet Union. The remaining European countries formed Western Europe. For a long time, such division was accompanied by confrontation, arms race and military confrontation.

But at the end of the $ twentieth $ century there was a collapse of the global socialist system, a change in the political maps of Europe, changes in political and economic conditions. In economic geography, an approach to regional division of Europe has also changed. New subregions were allocated, taking into account the historical and economic characteristics of the territories.

Main subregions

Given the modern political and economic situation, the history of the formation and development of territories, conventionally, we divided into such regions:

Eastern Europe,
Northern Europe,
Central Europe,
Western Europe,
Southern Europe
Southeast europe.

Note 1.

It should be noted that this division is conditionally and does not always coincide with the poles of view of some scientists. Therefore, in various sources there may be some discrepancies.

Eastern Europe

Historically, it remained from the list of previous countries that relate to this region, only East Slavic states - Russia, Belarus and Ukraine remained. Moreover, the Transcarpathian region of Ukraine relates to central Europe by some scientists.

These countries have a long-term joint history, a lot of general traits of the economy and mutual economic interests. All three states have about the same level of development, similar properties of the population (type of reproduction, agent, urbanization).

Specialization of the economy of Eastern Europe also has a number of common features. The leading industries are mechanical engineering, energy, chemical industry. But the level of intensification of the economy remains not high enough. A significant proportion in the GDP of mining industries. Freeding predominates in agriculture. The intensity of agricultural production leaves much to be desired. And in the structure of foreign trade prevails exports of raw materials and import of high-tech equipment. After the collapse of the USSR and the destruction of a single economic complex, the economy of these countries has undergone crisis phenomena and decline in production.

Central Europe

This subregion is attributed today to Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia. With the exception of Austria, all of them are post-socialist countries that are experiencing a transition period from the administrative command system to the market.

Especially high economic indicators have the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria. They have highly developed modern sectors of the economy, international tourism.

Southeast europe

This category of countries includes Romania, Bulgaria, the countries of the former Yugoslavia. IN economicly economical This is the most backward region. But it has a significant potential of natural and labor resources. Favorable climatic and recreational conditions.

Southern Europe

Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece - representatives of this region. They (with the exception of Italy) stood on the path of capitalist development a little later than the rest of European countries. This explains their some economic backwardness. They specialize in international tourism, food and light industry, the cultivation of citrus and oilseeds. Mediterranean is the "garden of Europe".

Northern Europe

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are united to Northern Europe. With the exception of the post-Soviet republics, these countries have high economic indicators. They have developed mechanical engineering, powerful energy and modern chemical industry. Agriculture has a high level of intensity.

Central Europe

This is the most economically developed region. It includes Germany, France, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland. The first three of the listed countries belong to the highest-dependent countries of the world. It is all these countries that form the main economic axis of Europe, affect the economic and political life of the whole world.

Note 2.

Often, Northern Europe, Central Europe and the West of Southern Europe are considered as a single region - Western Europe. Germany can sometimes attribute to Central Europe.

But ongoing integration processes gradually bring together the economies of European countries, erase their national differences and form a unified economic complex.

Europe is one of the smallest continents on Earth. About 40 thousand years ago in Europe, modern people crowded Neanderthals, and since then has the European civilization have begun. According to ancient Greek mythology, Europe was called the daughter of the Phoenician Tsar Agenor and the telefs, which Zeus stole. Subsequently, Europe became his wife Zeus.

Geography of Europe

Europe is washed by the waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas. The eastern border of Europe passes along the Ural Mountains.

Continent Europe includes numerous islands, peninsula and archipelagoes. Continental Europe coastline takes 38,000 kilometers. The total area of \u200b\u200bEurope is 9.938 million square meters. km (this is 2% of land territory). Europe is part of the Eurasia Peninsula.

The climate for most of the territory of Europe is moderate, in southern Europe - Mediterranean and even partially subtropical with warm wet winter and hot summer. At the Svalbard archipelago, and he geographically also applies to Europe, the climate is subarctic and arctic.

The longest river in Europe is Volga (3645 km) flowing across Russia. The list of the biggest European rivers also includes: Danube (2960 km), Dnipro (2201 km), Don (1870 km), Kama (1805 km), Dniester (1352 km), Rhine (1233 km), Elba (1165 km) , Ural (2428 km), Vistula (1047 km), Tahoe (1038 km), Loire (1012 km), Oder (854 km) and Neman (937 km).

In Europe, there are several very large, and besides very beautiful, lakes. Among them are Ladoga, the moon and Onega Lakes in Russia, Lake Venerns in Sweden, Lake Balaton in Hungary and Geneva Lake in Switzerland and France.

Approximately 17% of Europe's territory occupy mountains - Pyrenees, Alps, Apennins, Carpathians, Balkans, Caucasus, Urals and Scandinavian mountains. The highest mountain of this continent - Elbrus (Russia), its height is 5,642 meters.

Population of Europe

At the moment, the population of Europe exceeds 842 million people. This is about 13% of the entire population of the Earth. Most Europeans live in Eastern Europe.

Almost all of the population of Europe belongs to the Europeanid race, which is divided into several smaller races:

atlanto Baltic Race (United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia, Iceland, North Germany, Netherlands, Estonia and Latvia);
middle Eastern Race (Central Districts of Western Europe, most of the territory of Eastern Europe, Ukraine and the European part of Russia);
balkano-Caucasian Race (Albania, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North of Greece, Bulgaria, South of Austria and North Italy);
indo Mediterranean Race (Spain, Italy, France, South Greece, Cyprus and Malta);
belomorsko-Baltic Race (Northern Territories of Russia, Lithuania and Partly Latvia).

Countries of Europe

At the moment, there are 56 countries in Europe (of which 6 countries are so-called. Unrecognized republics). The largest European country - Russia (its territory takes 17 098 242 sq. Km), and the smallest - Vatican (0.44 sq. Km). By the way, more than 291 million people now live in Russia.

Regions of Europe

Sometimes Europe is divided into 5 regions (Western, East, Northern, South and Central), which in turn shared on seven geographic subregions:

Scandinavia (Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark);
British Islands (United Kingdom and Ireland);
Western Europe (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Monaco);
Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Italy, Malta, San Marino and Vatican);
Central Europe (Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary);
Southeast Europe (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and the European part of Turkey);
Eastern Europe (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan).

Many cities of Europe were founded even to our era. Now, the most populous city of Europe is considered to be Istanbul, the former capital of Turkey, in which more than 12.2 million people live.

Other major cities in Europe - Moscow, London, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Kiev, Paris, Bucharest and Budapest. However, some European cities that play a noticeable political and cultural role in the world, there are no very many inhabitants. These cities include Athens, Oslo, Brussels, Copenhagen and Geneva.