Lecture on Europe (Info. included in Final)

World Geography 1303

Lecture Notes on Europe

I. Introduction

"Europe" is defined as the group of countries in Eurasia lying west of Russia and Turkey. Europe has, oftentimes, been regarded as a continent, separated from Asia by the Ural Mountains, Caspian Sea, Caucasus Mountains, Black Sea, and the Turkish Straits. But, for practical reasons, Europe, Russia, and Turkey is part of the super continent of Asia.

The idea that Europe is a separate continent is a geographical fallacy that was inherited from the ancient Greeks. On any world map, it is clear that Europe is only a peninsula on the western end of Asia, or, if you will, Eurasia.

II. Surface Features

A. A more or less connected series of high mountain ranges run east and west across Europe. They are: 1) the Carpathians, 2) the Alps, 3) Caucasus, and 4) Pyrenees, 5) the Apennines, 6) Dinaric Alps, and Balkan Mountains.

B. North of the Alps and east of the Carpathian Mountains, the surface features of Europe are made up of an array of hilly uplands and low mountains.

C. The plains of Europe are also arranged in a distinctive pattern. From the vast Russian plains of Eurasia, lowland extends westward to southern France.

D. Extensive and important rivers flow into the European Plain and exit into the Baltic and North Seas. These rivers are: 1) the Danube, 2) the Rhine, 3) the Elbe, 4) Vistula, and 5) Oder.

E. Other important rivers in Europe include: 1) the Rhone, 2) the Po, 3) the Seine, 4) the Guadalquivir, and the Ebro in Spain.

III. Climate and Vegetation

A. The climate is controlled by the continental exposure to the North Atlantic Drift that brings warm waters that bathe European shores, even around the northernmost tip of Norway.

B. Absence of high mountain ranges paralleling the coast, as in North and South America permits the marine west coast climate to penetrate far inland.

C. Cities closer to the seacoast have milder winters than those farther away from the coastline. The farther eastward from the ocean, the colder it gets. Cold fronts bring cyclonic storms, with snow, but the snow do not blanket the ground for long periods of time in the northwestern area of Europe. (Include WESTERLIES)

D. In the summer, hot summers are only found in the Mediterranean area and in the Wallachian Plain of Romania. For example, the average summer temperatures in:

A. London --- 63.9 degree F. in summer

B. Bucharest --- 73-degree F. in summer

C. Rome --- 78.3 degree the summer

E. Except for the Mediterranean countries, the continent has plenty of rainfall, and vegetation varies according to climatic changes. However, the original vegetation of Europe is truly unknown because the settlement of Europe has been very long.

F. Northern Europe --- coniferous and tundra

Central Europe ---- coniferous and deciduous

Southern Europe --- chaparral and other thorny plants

IV. Human Settlement

A. Human settlement in Europe can be traced for approximately 500,000 years. This is about one-quarter of the time that Man has been on Earth.

B. Paleolithic Man supported himself by hunting, fishing, and collecting seeds and fruits of wild plants.

C. As the great glaciers advanced southward, he also moved southward --- even to what is now known as the Sahara; but as the ice melted and the climate became more comfortable, the hunters spread northward again.

D. As farming and pasturing techniques diffused from Asia between 6,000 and 3,000 B.C., Neolithic Man became the first farmer in Europe.

E. Two significant culture hearths developed in Europe. The first consists of the Greek Culture Hearth (1000 B.C.). From the Greek came such concepts as:

1. The scientific method, democracy, classical architecture and literature, and medicine.

2. Such procedures of commerce such as banking, insurance, and systems of credit.

3. Ideas of frigid, temperate, and torrid.

F. The next great civilization was the Roman Empire (circa 500 B.C. to 450 A.D.) The contributions of the Romans were:

1. The spread of cities across the Alps.

2. The construction of roads to connect cities. ("All roads lead to Rome.")

3. They gave Europe a unity in language and culture, including Roman law.

G. After the Fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, cities became isolated; diversity increased between provinces, and invasion of Germanic tribes invaded France, Italy, and Spain. This resulted in political chaos and instability throughout Europe.

H. In 71l A.D., a new kind of invasion began when the Muslims or Moors crossed Africa into the Iberian Peninsula.

I. In the meantime, Charlemagne forged the Holy Roman Empire until 843 A.D. when he died and his three sons divided Europe into three parts.

J. Between 800 A.D. and 1100 A.D., Europe was dominated by feudal institutions. The new kings ruled their kingdoms as personal property while their vassals did the same with their peasant farmers; and the unification that Rome brought to Europe was now at a minimum.

K. By the 1300's trade had once more revived because of a growing population that needed more food; and the idea of mercantilism flourished. Mercantilism is the accumulation of a large quantity of gold and silver as possible.

L. There are two ways of obtaining elements:

1. by taking it from people who had it (American Indians and Spaniards), and

2. profitably producing and selling goods such as the textiles.

M. This last element resulted in the development of the Industrial Revolution, which started in England by accident. England was right for the industrial revolution because it had a plentiful supply of iron, coal, and limestone within a very close area.

N. In the European Continent, industrial activity started in the Ruhr that is in Germany, and in Silesia that is in Poland.

O. Let us now turn attention to the British Isles.

a. Eire (Irish Republic) has 27,000 square miles and a population of over 3,600,000 and a density of 130 persons per square mile.

Ireland now has fewer people than it did in the 1840's.

a. 1841 - 8,500,000

b. 1941 - 4,200,000

c. 1960 - 4,300,000

d. 1980 - 3,500,000

e. 1990 - 3,600,000

In the 18th and 19th century, it population increased very rapidly on the precarious basis of one newly introduced subsistence crop, namely, the potato. In the 1840's the crop failed for several years in a row, and the "potato famine" which resulted claimed the lives of nearly a million Irish people in 5 years, while another 1 2 million fled the island and migrated to the United States in the decade following 1846.

Traditionally, Ireland was known as the land of the 3 P's:

potatoes,

peat,

poverty.

In fact, potatoes are still grown extensively throughout Ireland.

Agriculturally, 90 % of Ireland is known for its farms and 10% for its peat bogs. Farmers own the land and their farms are small and the people hardly make a living. Farms in eastern Ireland are less than 30 acres while in western Ireland; they are only 8 acres in size.

Farmers grow hay, potatoes, and beets and raise a few cattle and poultry for export, including linen. Ireland also exports Guinness Stout, a rich, dark beer that is highly sought by connoisseurs of fine beers. Ireland is also famous for the Waterford crystal that is produced in the City of Waterford and for the Irish sweaters which have very unique designs which, in turn, would identify the village where it was made.

Economic Resources: Ireland lacks coal for heavy industries, but it has a great deal of peat for electric generators. Light industries such as textile mills, a VW auto assembly plant, and shipyards are located in Dublin.

Cork, with 150,000 inhabitants, is the second largest city of Ireland; and it has an oil refinery, steel mill, and a Ford assembly plant.

Finally, Limerick, which sits on the Shannon River, is the third largest city. Back in the 1940's and 1950's, the Shannon Airport was the gateway to Europe because airplanes refueled there prior to proceeding to London and Europe. But, this is no longer necessary because of faster airplanes. The City now depends on an industrial park where Sony Corp built a huge assembly plant.

Since Ireland joined the European Union, it has rapidly expanded its economy. In terms of growth, it has done better than any of the larger European economies since it joined the Union. Most of its increased growth has focused on its agricultural products (at European Union=s subsidized prices) that have found new markets within the European Union.

Moreover, United States companies have been moving in record numbers in Ireland in order to be within the European Union market. Along with a share of the European market share, these companies benefit from the fact that they also get an educated English-speaking, workforce.

In terms of the GNP, the Ireland is quickly approaching that of Northern Ireland because the GDP between the North and the South is relatively equal. Consequently, the peace process Northern Ireland has been able to move forward.

b. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (also Great Britain) has 94 million square miles and 59 million individual and a density of 600 persons to the square mile.

1. England

2. Scotland United Kingdom

3. Wales

4. Northern Ireland

The central island consists of three countries and several smaller islands that surround the larger central island. These islands include the Shetland Islands (which are famous for the Shetland ponies) and the Orkney Islands. The Channel Islands, Jersey and Guernsey, are well known for two breeds of dairy cattle that carry the islands= names. No part of the central island is more than 100 miles away from the seacoast.

The terrain is rough within the central island such as the:

a.) Pennines Mountains

b.) Cambrian Mountains

c.) Scottish Highlands

These areas serve as dairying, sheep raising, and livestock raising; and, inclusively, are uninhabited.

Practically, all of the lowlands in Great Britain lie in England; and they occupy approximately one-half of the Island. Because of continued occupation of this island through --- at least--- a thousand years, forest cover only 6 percent of the lowlands.

Wheat and sugar beets, which are grown for cattle feed, are grown in the lowlands. Moreover, the lowlands are where the majority of the population of Great Britain lives.

Scotland and Its Highlands: Much of the Scottish area is devoted to the Highlands. These were formed from a glaciated crystalline plateau that slopes to the southeast, with a few summits that reach 3,500 feet. The highest summit is Ben Nevis, with a height of 4,406 feet.

Deep valleys break up the continuity of the plateau and divide it into so many ridges and hills that the highlands take on the aspect of mountains. The valleys have a structural NE to SW orientation are called glens while the elongated lakes that often occupy their bottoms are called locks.

Although the Highlands cover 6/10's of Scotland, they support little of their population because the lakes, peat, and barren rocks that are found in the Highlands are the principal components of the landscape, a landscape that has few resources.

Agriculturally, the Scottish Highlands are the poorest agricultural region of Great Britain so that many farmers have turned their eyes to the sea. This is why Aberdeen is known for its large fishing industry. But, more importantly, those farmers who do seek their fortunes in agriculture do so because they can grow barley. The barley, in turn, is sold to whiskey distillers that produce very fine whiskey. In fact, the whiskey that is manufactured in Scotland has such a distinctive flavor and aroma that it has a high demand worldwide. No one really knows why the whiskey that comes from Scotland has such a refined taste. It maybe due to the minerals in the water or to the oak lumbers from which the aging barrels are made from. Nonetheless, the whiskey and the different blends that are produced in Scotland are unmatched anywhere in the world. For this reason, Scotland has a registered trademark on this product; and only whiskey produced in Scotland can carry the title AScotch.@

Aberdeen is the largest city on the eastern edge of the highlands. The city is known for the cattle that originated there: AThe Aberdeen Black Angus.@

Dundee is known for its linen, burlap bagging (jute products), and Keiller's orange marmalade.

Perth is known as a textile town as well as linens, cotton and woolen clothes.

Edinburgh is the financial and cultural capital of Scotland; and its port is Leith. The University of Edinburgh is world acclaimed. Because of this university the city has acquired the nickname as AThe Athens of the North.@

The industrial center of Scotland is Glasgow. Presently, it produces approximately 20 percent of the steel output of Great Britain.

The three essential ingredients: iron ore, coal, and limestone are all found in the vicinity of Glasgow. However, in recent years the tremendous consumption of these ores have depleted the mines so that nowadays iron ore comes from Sweden. Shipbuilding occurs here --- the Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mary Ships were built here.

England: Northern England consists of the Pennines Mountain chains that are an anticlinal mountain system. A pastoral economy is the characteristic feature of this area. Eighty percent of the plains of England are devoted to agriculture. The plains may be divided into the eastern 2, which are devoted to food crops and the western 2 into dairying. Truck farming (garden agriculture) is found around the larger cities.

The agricultural areas of England are still owned by the landed gentry who often lease their farmland to tenant farmers.

Industry, however, is the most important aspect of Great Britain.

Industry is found near or on coal beds:

1. Crewe is the city were the famous world headquarters for Rolls-Royce Corporation is located.

2. Sheffield is the producer of surgical steel. The world headquarters for the Wilkinson Sword Blade Limited is located here.

3. Manchester is known for it cotton mill industry while Liverpool is known for its cotton warehouses and Nottingham for its textiles.

4. Liverpool is known as the home of the Beatles and known for its cotton warehouses that store the cloth for Manchester.

5. Birmingham is known for its iron industry. It is known for its production of hardware products.

6. Coventry is known for the manufacture of aircraft and auto engines. The city massed produce engines during World War II so that Germans constantly attacked it.

7. Newcastle is known for it steel mills, which get their iron from the Cleveland Hills, and shipbuilding.

8. Cheddar is known for its cheese.

9. Oxford and Cambridge are known for their famous universities.

10. Southampton is a port city for ocean liners.

11. Nottingham- Home of Robin Hood, mountain bikes, and hosiery

12. England has various excellent ports. The City of London is the largest and greatest industrial center in Great Britain. It handles one-third of all the British trade. The city is the center of Ford Motor Company, the English General Electric Company, Fashion Center and a Chemical Center as well as the financial center of the country, especially Lloyd's of London.

Northern Ireland is more prosperous than Ireland because it has more industry. The largest cities are Belfast and Londonderry. Belfast is known for its aircraft industry, shipyards, and linen. This is also the city where the Titanic was built. Londonderry is known for its shipbuilding yards and its dairy industry.

c. The Low Countries

Area 1997 Est. Population

1. Belgium 11,700 sq. mi. 10,200,000

2. Netherlands: 14,400 sq. mi. 15,600,000

3. Luxemburg 1,000 sq. mi. 400,000

27,100 sq. mi. 26,200,000

1. Both Belgium and The Netherlands are known as the Lowland Countries. They also form buffer states between Germany and France.

2. The Netherlands is a flat country and 1/3 of the country is below sea level so that it is a country that is completely dominated by the sea. The areas surrounding the Zuider Sea have been reclaimed from the sea. That is, polder lands are those, which have been surrounded by dikes and artificially drained.

3. The process of turning former swamps, lakes, and shallow seas into agricultural land has been going on for more than seven centuries. The polders, in turn, produce high yields of wheat, rye, oats, carrots, peas, flax, sugar beets, fodder for cattle, fruits, vegetables, and fresh flowers (with 22,000 acres devoted to flowers) such as tulips. A total of 5.8 million acres are cultivated while 3.3 million are in grasslands. Dairying is also practiced in the polders, and the milk is used to feed swine.

4. Because the country is small, it has become very urbanized. This country has two capitals. Amsterdam is the oldest capital city in Holland. It is the second largest city in the Netherlands, with a population of 1.9 million inhabitants. It is a site that produces Dutch chocolate (which comes from Java) in large amounts and that has an active aircraft industry.

5. The other capital is The Hague. This city is a miniature Washington D.C., with its government offices, Queen's residence, the Parliament, International Court of Justice, and Home of the Dutch Shell Oil Company.

6. Rotterdam is the largest seaport of Europe and, in fact, the whole world. It handles all traffic of the Rhine, but it was completely destroyed during World War II. It continued to stagger after 1945 because the Allies decided to eliminate the industrial might of Germany during the first three years after the war, but it regained it former glory during the early 1950s. Although it is principally an international port, it is also known for its chemical-mechanical manufacturing and flour and cotton mills.

7. Cities of importance:

a. Gouda is a city known for its cheese that has the same name as the city. This is where farmers first discovered the bacteria that produce its characteristics.

b. Leyden is a university city. In fact, it has one of the oldest universities in Europe.

c. Utrecht is known for its velvets and laces.

8. Belgium is a genuine cross between the Romantic and German cultures. It is a country that is divided by two distant cultural groups: The Flemish who speaks Dutch and the French-speaking Walloons. In spite of it cultural division, there is no real split in its national unity.

9. Physical Features: The Plateau of Ardennes is less than 2,000 feet high in elevation; it has a flood plain where the Meuse-Sambre Rivers combine to form a structural valley that follows the contact of the plateau with the coastal plain. Here, we find carboniferous beds of coal. One of the most important cities in this area is the City of Liege that is known for its fine cutlery items, copper, brass and lead industries. Guns are also produce in this city.

10. West of the plateau, the coastal plain is flat and monotonous with a level topography and gentle slopes. Wheat, oats, and fodder crops are grown here.

11. The City of Brussels is the capital of this country. It has a population of 2 2 million and is a beautiful city with elegant theaters and government buildings. The city is also known for its textiles, printing, and food processing. This city is the home of NATO (North American Treaty Organization), GATT (Global Agreement on Trade and Tariffs) and the European Union.

12. The City of Antwerp is the second largest city (with over a 1 million inhabitants), and it is the leading port for the country as well as the leading diamond center of Europe. It is the capital of commerce and is also known for its shipyards that repair and construct ships.

d. France and Germany

France and Germany are the two leading Western European powers of Europe, but both have strong contrasting features. For example, France, with 212,600 square miles, is the largest country in Europe, outside of Russia and the Ukraine. On the other hand, Germany has an areal extend of 137,650 square miles, with a total population of 82 million while France has a population of 58.6 million.

Another contrast is the harbor area. Although France has a window on the Mediterranean (Marseilles) and Calais at the North Sea, the two ports have poor harbors in comparison to the ones found in Germany that seems to be a landlocked country. Few of the French rivers are navigable by large ships. Marseilles is built several miles away from the mouth of the river. The industrialize areas of the Alsace- Lorraine naturally lead to, Belgium via the Meuse River while Le Havre and Rouen are outlets for trade that come out of Paris. Rouen, France's second largest port (after Marseilles) is as far as ocean freighter go.

Germany, on the other hand, has good harbors such as Hamburg, 60 miles inland from the Elbe's mouth, which is a major break-in-bulk port where cargoes from ocean-going vessels are transferred to barges. It hinterland extends to Berlin and the Czech Republic. Bremen, on the Weser River, became an important port after World War II because it became an American port.

In addition to the excellent ports, Germany has many canals that crisscross the country. One of the most important is the Mittelland Canal (east-west) that connects one end of the country to the other between the Ruhr River Valley and the Oder-Neisse River Valleys. Another canal is the Dortmund-Ems Canal that provides the Ruhr River with a German outlet to the North Sea.

Another strong contrast lies in the degree of urbanization, which each country exhibits. France is not as urbanized as Germany but does have extensive agricultural areas. Only Paris stands out with a population over 10 million inhabitants, it is followed by the city of Marseilles and Lyons.

If Paris lies in an area that does not have large metallurgic resources, why, then, is this city so big? Paris owes its size and importance to the geographical location of the city:

a. Agricultural region - wheat, beets, vegetables, and oats, wines, and dairy products,

b. Close to the sea - by way of the Seine,

c. "All roads lead to Paris", including railroads and highways,

d. After the W.W.II, many industries moved into the city, especially autos, metals, and chemical companies, including Euro-Disney.

Large cities such as Dortmund and Dusseldorf are lacking because of absence of good coking coal such as it is found in the Ruhr River Valley. However, France does have a numerous cities that specialize in certain economic activities. For example, the main industrialized cities are:

1.Toulon - receives bauxite ore from the Alps.

2. Lille - iron & steel mills; cotton & wool mills.

3. Metz - iron & steel mills.

4. Nancy - iron & steel mills.

5. Dijon - mustard

6. Rouen - small vessels; port for Paris; oil refinery.

7. Lyon - silk industry; garments; chemicals; and textiles.

8. Le Havre - large vessels; principle port for Paris; oil refinery.

9. Roquefort - blue cheese.

10. St. Etienne - coal; iron & steel mills.

11. Mulhouse - potash and chemical industries.

12. Bordeaux - seaport; grapes; and red wines;

13. Cannes - Hollywood of France.

14. Clermont-Ferrand - World Headquarters for Michelin Tire Company.

15. Cognac - city where first refined brandy was made.

16. Limoges - chinaware.

17. Dunkirk - iron & steel plants.

18. Marseilles - oil imports; and iron & steel mills.

Germany has no Paris but despite the absence of a city, Germany is far more urbanized than France, 71 percent as compared to 56 percent. Most of the cities in Germany are located along the zone of contact between the two major physiographic regions, the plain of the north and the uplands of the south. Along the contact between the uplands and coastal plains, we find the chief coal-bearing bedrock.

After Britain, Germany is Europe's top coal producer today; it is Europe's first iron and steel producer bar none. In the Ruhr, all types of coal deposits can be found. Coal also comes from the coalmines of the Saar Basin that is located close to the French-Germany boundary. Although these deposits form a substantial base for chemical products, the Ruhr region also imports large quantities of coal from the U.S. Iron ore is found in the vicinity of Bonn (along the Sieg River) and from Hanover. Iron is transported from Hanover to the Ruhr via the Dortmund-Ems Canal. Iron ore is also transported from Sweden, West Africa, and Spain. Moreover, river barges also bring large quantities of iron ore from the Alsace-Lorraine area via the Moselle River. (Iron ore is also found in the Ore Mountains in eastern Germany.)

The main cities of the Ruhr are:

1. Dusseldorf - machinery and textiles,

2. Duisburg - iron and steel mills,

3. Essen - lies on the Ruhr River - Krupp International (massive steel producer),

4. Leverkusen - Home of Bayer Aspirin Company,

5. Cologne - financial and commercial capital,

Cities outside the Ruhr are:

6. Wolfs burg - Home of Volkswagen,

7. Stuttgart - publishing and textile center. It is the home of the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Automobile Companies,

8. Strasbourg - It is the head of navigation for the Rhine, and it's also a beer town.

9. Munich - Home of BMW Corporation, Oktoberfest, beer town, diesel engines,

Cities within the Saxony Area:

11. Leipzig - a leading printing and publishing city,

12. Dresden-located on the Elbe River, it's the financial and cultural capital of eastern Germany. It is world-renown for its porcelain china and Hummel figurines.

13. Berlin - largest single city of Germany, capital of reunited Germany, financial center, printing center, textiles, and fashion center.

Although France does not have the huge coalfields of the Ruhr area, it does have the largest iron ore deposit of Europe. This area is located within the Alsace-Lorraine region. Here, in the cities of Metz and Nancy, we find heavy industry, especially iron and steel; and it is here within the circumference of these cities where the iron deposit is located. The iron ore deposit also extends into southern Luxembourg and Belgium. The coal comes from the minefields of the Saar Basin, that is, fields that extend into France from the Saar Basin area.

Agricultural Differences

The agricultural output for France is tremendous because France has favorable climates and fertile soils, especially in the Paris Basin. Most of the farms are found here where wheat, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables, and oats are raised. In the southern portion of France, especially in the Central Massif, rye and buckwheat are grown instead of wheat. Potatoes are also grown in the poorer acidic soils while dairying activities are also important throughout the plateau. The famous blue cheese (otherwise known as Roquefort (a goat's milk cheese) was first produced here.

In the Mediterranean area of France, agricultural production focuses on cork, oaks, citrus fruits, olives, berries, and grapes. In fact, one-half of all the wines produced in France come form the Mediterranean area. However, wine production is not limited to the Mediterranean area but to the entire country. For example, the City of Cognac produces a refined brandy by the same name. The City of Bordeaux produces a famous red wine by the same name while the political districts of Burgundy and Champagne also give their names to a red and white wine, respectively.

France is also the Number 1 wine producer of Europe. Wine is a common part of everyone's life. However, in the past, alcoholism was a major problem. On Monday morning, no one went to work; and, consequently, industries had been known to shut down their activities on Blue Mondays. Therefore, the federal government encouraged small farmers to tear up their fields or vineyards and start another crop, but it is very difficult for the French to give up their wine tradition which is part of their way of life.

As you know, France is famous for it cuisine which, in turn, is famous for it rich gravies and butter sauces. And, as you may be aware, the French relish their food, and they are famous for their open-air markets and street cafes. However, in recent times, the modern lifestyle has affected people=s schedules and eating habits. As you know, mad cow disease may be changing menus and habits throughout Europe, but in France, beef is not the only thing that is disappearing from the table. The French now eat less daily bread and not even a quarter of them drink wine daily with meals any more, as their way of life becomes more hurried, more health-conscious as in the United States and everywhere else in the world. And, although the

French still eat the 70 percent butterfat cheese, they are becoming more health conscious while weight training has begun to change the way they look at eating meat. Making money in France used to be known as Aearning your beefsteak.@ But, this is no longer true.

Although France is blessed with its self-sufficiency, Germany produces only 70% of its total food needs. Northern Germany grows rye, potatoes, wheat, barley, and fodder for dairy cattle. Within the dairy industry, Germany is world famous for its milk, cheese, bacon, hams, and sausages.

Nordic Countries

The Scandinavian countries consist of the following political areas:

Denmark 16,600 square miles 5,300,000

Norway 125,000 square miles 4, 400,000 persons (1997)

Sweden 173,000 square miles 8, 900,000 persons (1997)

Finland 130,000 square miles 5, 100,000 persons (1997)

23, 700,000

These countries are clustered together because they have several interesting factors that unite them. Here are some of these factors:

1. All countries are peninsulas.

2. All countries are part of the Fenno-Scandinavian Shield.

3. All countries lie on or near the origin of continental glaciers.

4. Nearly all, except Denmark, are pretty high in latitude.

5. They all have similar climates.

6. Three of the four countries, except Norway, have plains.

7. Three of the four countries, except Denmark, produce large quantities of waterpower.

8. Most of the four countries which includes Norway, Sweden, and Denmark have common

ancestry. Finns have a different background and culture. (They are more closely

related to the Magyars of Hungary.

9. They all belong to the Lutheran Church.

10. They all have advanced social legislation.

11. They all have high standards of living.

12. They all have high health standards.

13. Poverty is a thing of the past.

14. They all have long established traditions of freedom and democracy.

15. Three of the four (except for Finland) are Kingdoms.

16. In the three northern most countries, the population is concentrated in the south while Denmark=s population is concentrated in the islands.

17. They all have low crime rates.

Norway

Norway lies along the western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The coastline of Norway extends for approximately 1,000 miles; and if you were to extend the rugged coastline into a single strand, it would extend for at least 17,000 miles. The coastline also contains many small islands that are called skerries. Norway=s size is approximately twice as large as Great Britain=s land area, but its spectacular landscape supports a relatively small population.

Norway=s ancient granite bedrock was eroded by glaciers and shaped into high mountains and deep valleys. The ruggedness of the countryside has allowed the large production of hydroelectric power, and the country leads all of Europe in output of electric energy. In fact, it produces more electric energy per capita than other country in Europe. The excess power is transported to Sweden that utilizes it for iron and steel production and other industrial activities.

Because this country is so rugged and poor in arable land, the people of Norway have turned traditionally to the sea for their livelihood. Norway usually ranks third or fourth in the world in its fishing fleet or 19% of the world=s fishing fleet is owned by Norway. The following cities are especially important to fishing:

1. Bergen is the chief fishing port of Norway,

2. Tromsö is a whaling port, and

3. Stavanger is also an important whaling port in Norway.