Overall rating natural conditions and resources of Europe

The natural conditions of European countries are generally favorable for human life and production activities. There are no gigantic mountain ranges that separate countries, too dry or cold areas that limit the distribution of the population.

Relief

By the nature of the relief and Europe is divided into mountainous and flat. by the most great plains are Central European and Eastern European. They are densely populated and developed.

The south of Europe is occupied by young mountain formations with seismic activity. Here rose such mountain systems like the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, the Carpathians, the Balkans. But they do not represent significant obstacles and difficulties for mastering. In the north are the old Scandinavian mountains destroyed by time. They are peers Ural mountains. In the center of Europe there are also old mountain structures (Tatras, Harz, etc.), united in the Central European mountain belt. Also, old forges are located in the north of the British Isles (Northern Scotland).

Remark 1

In general, the relief is favorable for human life and economic activity. But if environmental protection measures are ignored, erosion processes can develop.

Climate

Europe is located in the subarctic, temperate and subtropical climatic zones. Most of the region is in a temperate climate. Favorable prevails here. temperature regime and humidification mode. In the north ( arctic islands and northern Scandinavia) there is a shortage of heat. Therefore, agriculture develops in closed ground. On the coast mediterranean sea On the contrary, there is enough heat, but there is a lack of moisture. Therefore, heat-loving and drought-resistant plants are cultivated here.

Minerals

The minerals of Europe are very diverse. They served as the basis for the economic power of European states. But over the past century, the deposits have been severely depleted. Many countries import raw materials from other regions.

Oil and gas fields are confined to the outskirts of the platform, shelf zones. In addition to Russia, the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands and Romania are actively producing oil and gas.

The Carboniferous Belt stretched across Europe from Great Britain to Ukraine. Basins that are unique in terms of coal quality are:

• Donbass (Ukraine, Russia),
• Upper Silesian (Poland),
• Ruhr (Germany),
• Ostravo-Karvinsky (Czech Republic).

Germany ranks first in the world in brown coal production. In addition, its deposits are available in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria.

The ore resources of Europe are confined to the foundations of ancient platforms. After Russia, Ukraine and Sweden can boast of rich deposits of iron ore. The iron ore basins of France, Great Britain and Poland are severely depleted. Ukraine ranks first in the world in the extraction of manganese ores.

The south of Europe is rich in ores of non-ferrous metals. Copper and nickel ores, bauxites, and mercury ores are mined here. The Lublin copper ore basin (Poland) is considered the most powerful in Europe.

On the territory of Sweden and France there are deposits of uranium ores. Germany, Belarus, Ukraine are rich in potash salts, Poland is rich in sulfur, and the Czech Republic is rich in graphite.

Land and forest resources

Europe is rich in land resources. The best in terms of soil fertility - chernozems are located on the territory of Ukraine, Hungary and in the south of Russia. Most Central Europe covered with brown forest soils. Brown soils are formed on the Mediterranean coast. In the north of the region there are soddy-podzolic soils in need of intensive reclamation.

The region's forest resources have been rather severely depleted over centuries of use. Forest areas remain the territories of Finland, Sweden, Austria, Belarus, northern part of Poland.

Recreational resources

Natural and recreational resources form the basis for the development of the resort business. Resorts can be:

• beach (Cote d'Azur, Golden Sands, Malta),
• skiing (Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria, Norway),
• hydropathic (Karlovy Vary, Baden-Baden).

The video tutorial is dedicated to the topic " Natural resources Foreign Europe". From the lesson you will learn about the natural resource potential of Foreign Europe, get acquainted with the main resources that are rich in various parts of Europe. The teacher will tell you about the leading European countries in terms of providing various types of resources.

Topic: Regional characteristic peace. Foreign Europe

Lesson:Natural resources of foreign Europe

Europe's resource endowment is primarily determined by three factors. Firstly, European region- one of the most densely populated regions of the planet. Consequently, the natural resources of the region are used very actively. Secondly, the countries of Europe took the path of industrial development earlier than others. As a result, the impact on nature on an industrial scale began here several centuries ago. And finally, Europe is a relatively small region of the planet. The conclusion suggests itself: the natural resources of Europe are severely depleted. The exception is the Scandinavian Peninsula, whose resources were largely preserved almost intact until the end of the 20th century. Indeed, because active industrial development Scandinavia began only in the second half of the twentieth century. At the same time, the population of the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula is small and distributed over a large area. All these signs of the Scandinavian sub-region are opposite to the properties characteristic of Europe as a whole.

For the world economy importance have the following resources located within :

7. Bauxites

In Europe, the reserves of ore raw materials are quite large. Iron ore is mined in Sweden (Kiruna), France (Lorraine) and the Balkan Peninsula. Non-ferrous metal ores are represented by copper-nickel and chromium ores from Finland, Sweden, bauxites from Greece and Hungary. In France are large deposits uranium, and in Norway - titanium. There are polymetals, tin, mercury ores in Europe (Spain, the Balkan, Scandinavian Peninsulas), Poland is rich in copper.

Rice. 2. Map of mineral resources of Foreign Europe ()

Soils Europe is quite fertile. However, the small area of ​​the countries and significant populations explain the low population. In addition, almost all available areas have already been used for agriculture. The territory of the Netherlands, for example, is plowed up by more than 80%. Water resources. natural waters- one of the most important and scarce natural resources in Europe. population and various industries farms use huge volumes of water, and water consumption continues to increase. Water quality deterioration due to uncontrolled or poorly controlled economic use, is the main problem in modern water use in Europe.

The modern economy of European countries annually takes about 360 km3 from water sources for the needs of industry, agriculture and for the water supply of settlements. clean waters. The demand for water and water consumption is steadily increasing as the population grows and the economy develops. According to calculations, only at the beginning of the XX century. industrial water consumption in Europe increased by 18 times, significantly outpacing the production of the gross national product in terms of growth rates. The situation with water resources in Europe is generally favorable, with the exception of southern regions Italy, Greece and Spain.

Hydropower resources the Alps, the Scandinavian mountains, the Carpathians are rich. Agro-climatic resources . The countries of Europe have a fairly high agro-climatic potential, as they are located in the temperate and subtropical geographical zones, have favorable thermal resources and moisture supply. But increased density population characteristic of Europe in all historical eras, contributed to the long and intensive use natural resources. The low fertility of some types of soils prompted Europeans to pay attention to the development of various ways to improve soils and raise their natural fertility. It was in Europe that the practice of artificial improvement was born. chemical composition soil cover with the help of organic and mineral fertilizers, variants of crop rotation systems and other agrotechnical measures were developed.

Rice. 3. Agro-climatic map of foreign Europe

forest resources. Forests cover 30% of its territory in foreign Europe. For every European, on average, there are 0.3 hectares of forest (in the world this norm is 1 ha). long history economic development European lands was accompanied by intensive deforestation. There are almost no forests not affected by economic activity in Europe, with the exception of the territories of the Alps and the Carpathians. Europe is the only part of the world where forest area has been increasing in recent decades. And this is happening despite high population density and a severe shortage of productive land. The need, long recognized by Europeans, to protect their very limited land resources and fertile soils from erosional destruction and to regulate flood runoff, resulted in the overestimation of the environmental protection functions of forest plantations. Therefore, the soil and water protection role of the forest, its recreational value have immeasurably grown in importance, in addition, environmental policy in Europe has contributed to less deforestation. largest reserves forest resources in foreign Europe have Finland, Sweden, Norway.

Do not forget that the territory of Foreign Europe is rich in unique recreational resources. The recreational resources of France, Spain, Italy and other European countries are of world importance.

Homework

Topic 6, Item 1

1. What are the features of the placement of mineral resources in foreign Europe?

2. Give examples of foreign European countries and their characteristic resources.

Bibliography

Main

1. Geography. A basic level of. Grades 10-11: textbook for educational institutions / A.P. Kuznetsov, E.V. Kim. - 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Bustard, 2012. - 367 p.

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3. Atlas with a set of contour maps for grade 10 Economic and social geography of the world. - Omsk: Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Omsk Cartographic Factory", 2012 - 76 p.

Additional

1. Economic and social geography of Russia: Textbook for universities / Ed. prof. A.T. Khrushchev. - M.: Bustard, 2001. - 672 p.: ill., cart.: tsv. incl.

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, reference books and statistical collections

1. Geography: a guide for high school students and university applicants. - 2nd ed., corrected. and dorab. - M.: AST-PRESS SCHOOL, 2008. - 656 p.

Literature for preparing for the GIA and the Unified State Examination

1. Thematic control by geography. Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 / E.M. Ambartsumova. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2009. - 80 p.

2. The most complete edition of typical options for real USE assignments: 2010: Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Astrel, 2010. - 221 p.

3. The optimal bank of tasks for preparing students. Single State exam 2012. Geography. Tutorial./ Comp. EM. Ambartsumova, S.E. Dyukov. - M.: Intellect-Centre, 2012. - 256 p.

4. The most complete edition of typical options for real tasks of the USE: 2010: Geography / Comp. Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: AST: Astrel, 2010.- 223 p.

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7. Tests in geography: Grade 10: to the textbook by V.P. Maksakovskiy “Economic and social geography of the world. Grade 10 "/ E.V. Baranchikov. - 2nd ed., stereotype. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2009. - 94 p.

8. Study guide for geography. Tests and practical tasks in geography / I.A. Rodionov. - M.: Moscow Lyceum, 1996. - 48 p.

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10. Unified state exam 2009. Geography. Universal materials for the preparation of students / FIPI - M .: Intellect-Center, 2009 - 240 p.

11. Geography. Answers on questions. Oral exam, theory and practice / V.P. Bondarev. - M.: Publishing house "Exam", 2003. - 160 p.

12. USE 2010. Geography: thematic training tasks / O.V. Chicherina, Yu.A. Solovyov. - M.: Eksmo, 2009. - 144 p.

13. USE 2012. Geography: Standard exam options: 31 options / ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: national education, 2011. - 288 p.

14. USE 2011. Geography: Standard examination options: 31 options / ed. V.V. Barabanova. - M.: National Education, 2010. - 280 p.

Materials on the Internet

1. Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements ().

2. federal portal Russian Education ().

5. Site of natural and social sciences ().

Europe is the second (after Australia) smallest part of the world by area. However, its strategic location in relation to Asia and Africa, as well as navigable rivers and fertile soils, have made Europe the dominant economic, social and cultural power over a long period of history.

Water resources

Water is an essential component of life on our planet. Ecosystems, societies and economies need enough water to thrive. However, the need for water resources exceeds its availability in many parts of the world, and some regions of Europe are no exception. In addition, a large number water bodies are in poor ecological condition.

Oceans and seas

Europe is washed by two oceans: in the north - by the Arctic Ocean and in the west - by the Atlantic Ocean; as well as the following seas: North, Baltic, Mediterranean, Black, Azov, Barents, Norwegian, White, Kara and Caspian.

Rivers

A large number of rivers flow through Europe. Some of them form the boundaries between various countries, while others serve as a valuable source of water for agriculture and fish farming. Most rivers in Europe are rich in dissolved minerals and valuable organic compounds. Many of them also have interesting physical properties and create waterfalls and canyons. European rivers are, in fact, extremely important part continent. The longest rivers in Europe are: the Volga (3,692 km), the Danube (2,860 km), the Urals (2,428 km), the Dnieper (2,290 km), the Don (1,950 km).

lakes

lakes - water bodies with a standing fresh water, although they can also be brackish, i.e. slightly salty. They are characterized physical features, such as area, depth, volume, length, etc.

On the territory of Europe there are more than 500,000 natural lakes larger than 0.01 km² (1 ha). Between 80% and 90% of them are small, with an area of ​​0.01 to 0.1 km², while about 16,000 are larger than 1 km². Three quarters of the lakes are located in Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Karelian-Kola part of Russia.

24 lakes in Europe have an area of ​​​​more than 400 km². The largest freshwater lake in Europe - Ladoga lake- covers an area of ​​17,670 km² and is located in the northwestern part of Russia, next to the second largest Lake Onega, with an area of ​​9,700 km². Both lakes are significantly larger than other European lakes and reservoirs. However, they are only 18th and 22nd in the world in terms of area. The third largest is Kuibyshev reservoir, with an area of ​​6,450 km², located on the Volga River. Another 19 natural lakes, more than 400 km² in size, are located in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, the northwestern part of Russia, as well as in Central Europe.

Demand and provision of water resources

Although fresh water, generally found in abundance in Europe, water scarcity and drought continue to affect some water basins in certain times of the year. Mediterranean region and most of densely populated river basins different parts Europe are hotspots where there is a shortage of water.

AT winter period, about 30 million people in Europe live in conditions of water scarcity, while this figure in the summer is 70 million people. This corresponds to 4% and 9% of the total population of this part of the world.

About 20% off total number The people of the Mediterranean region live in conditions of constant water scarcity. More than half (53%) of the inhabitants of the Mediterranean countries during the summer are forced to experience water shortages.

46% of rivers and 35% of groundwater provide more than 80% of the total water demand in Europe.

Agriculture requires 36% of water from total consumption. In summer, this figure increases to about 60%. Agriculture in the Mediterranean region accounts for almost 75% of the total agricultural water consumption in Europe.

Public water supply accounts for 32% of total water use. This puts pressure on renewable water resources especially in areas with high population density. The small resort islands of Europe are in severe conditions of water shortage caused by the influx of tourists, which is 10-15 times the number of local residents.

forest resources

In Europe, about 33% of the total land area (215 million ha) is covered by forests, with a positive trend towards increasing forest areas. Other forest lands cover an additional area of ​​36 million hectares. About 113 million hectares are covered with coniferous forests, 90 million hectares with deciduous forests and 48 million hectares with mixed forests.

The use of forest resources is an important industry in Europe. The timber industry generates more than $600 billion in revenue annually. The forestry and wood processing industry employs about 3.7 million people and accounts for 9% of Europe's gross domestic product (GDP).

The most important branches of the forest industry in Europe are: woodworking, pulp and paper, building materials and furniture products. This part of the world is known for exporting high quality goods such as paper, furniture and wood panels.

In Europe, non-timber forest resources are also in demand, which include the collection of mushrooms and truffles, honey, fruits and berries, as well as the cultivation and collection of medicinal plants. Europe accounts for 80% of the total production of fellema (cork fabric) worldwide.

Map percentage forests to the area of ​​European countries

The largest area of ​​forest resources is occupied in Finland (73%) and Sweden (68%). The forest cover of Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, Greece, Spain and the European part of the Russian Federation exceeds 49%.

The smallest amount of forests is found on: the Isle of Man (6%), the island of Jersey (5%), the island of Guernsey (3%) and the island nation of Malta (1%). Gibraltar, Monaco, San Marino and Svalbard and Jan Mayen have less than 1% forest cover.

Land resources

The earth is the basis for most biological resources and human activities. Agriculture, forestry, industry, transport, housing and other forms of land use are an important economic resource. The earth is also an integral part of ecosystems and necessary condition for the existence of living organisms.

Land can be divided into two related concepts:

• vegetation cover, which refers to the biophysical land cover (eg, crops, grasses, broadleaf forests, and other biological resources);

• land use indicates the socio-economic use of land (eg agriculture, forestry, recreation, etc.).

Forests and other woodlands occupy 37.1% of the total area of ​​Europe, arable land makes up almost a quarter of the land resources (24.8%), grasslands - 20.7%, and shrubs - 6.6%, while water areas and wetlands lands occupy 4.8%.

Agricultural land use is the most common land use in European countries and accounts for 43.5% of the total land area. The areas used for forestry occupy 32.4% of the territory, while 5.7% of the land is intended for housing and recreational purposes. Industry and transport account for 3.4%, and the remaining land is used for hunting and fishing, or is under protection or has no apparent use.

Europe has a wide variety of vegetation and land uses that reflect historical changes. In recent years, some of the most important changes in land use included: a decline in agricultural land use and a gradual increase in forest areas (due to the need to meet global environmental obligations due to climate change). The construction of roads, highways, railways, intensive agriculture and urbanization have led to land fragmentation. This process negatively affects the flora and fauna of Europe.

Mineral resources

Europe has significant reserves of metal resources. Russia is the main supplier of oil, which gives it a strategic advantage in international negotiations. Outside of Russia, there is relatively little oil in Europe (with the exception of fields off the coast of Scotland and Norway). Peat and potash are also important to the European economy. Zinc and copper are the main elements used in almost all European countries. Iceland is a leader in alternative sources energy. Since the Baltic countries are poor in mineral resources, they depend on other states, for example, on Sweden.

Map of the mineral resources of Europe

Mineral resources of the Nordic countries

The mineral resources of Northern Europe mainly include metals such as bauxite (aluminum is extracted from it), copper and iron ore. Some northern European countries(such as Denmark), have oil reserves and natural gas. Scandinavia is relatively rich in oil and natural gas.

Mineral resources of the countries of Southern Europe

Italy has significant reserves of coal, mercury and zinc. Croatia has limited quantity oil and bauxite. Bosnia and Herzegovina has reserves of bauxite, coal and iron ore. Greece has some iron ore, bauxite, oil, lead and zinc.

Mineral resources of countries Western Europe

Spain and France share reserves of coal, zinc, as well as copper and lead. France also has bauxite and uranium. Germany has large reserves of coal, as well as nickel and lignite (or brown coal, similar to peat). The UK has some offshore deposits of oil and natural gas, as well as significant reserves of coal, and small reserves of gold. Iceland is a leader in hydropower and manufacturing geothermal energy. Portugal has some gold, zinc, copper and uranium. Ireland has significant reserves of natural gas and peat.

Mineral resources of Eastern European countries

Ukraine and Russia are rich in natural gas and oil. The Baltic countries are poorer in terms of mineral resources, although Latvia has begun to exploit the hydropower potential. Poland is endowed with coal, natural gas, iron ore and copper, and also has limited stocks silver. Serbia has some oil and natural gas, copper and zinc, and limited reserves of gold and silver. Bulgaria is rich in alumina and copper. Kosovo is probably the most blessed country of all Eastern European countries, as it has huge reserves of gold, silver, natural gas, bauxite, nickel and zinc. Finally, Russia has an abundance of natural resources: it has a large percentage of the world's oil and natural gas reserves, as well as vast reserves of almost all of the most important minerals.

biological resources

The biological resources of Europe include all living organisms inhabiting the territory of this part of the world, including: animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms that are used by people for personal needs, as well as wild representatives of flora and fauna that have a direct or indirect influence to the ecosystem.

animal husbandry

Spain, Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy are the largest livestock producing countries in Europe. In 2016, the largest number pigs were recorded in Spain and Germany (28.4 and 27.7 million heads respectively), in France 19.4 million heads of cattle were raised, and in the UK 23.1 million heads of sheep. Also in Europe, goats and birds (chickens, ducks, geese, etc.) are raised. Animal husbandry provides Europeans with food, including milk, meat, eggs, etc. Some animals are used for work and driving.

Fish farming

Fish farming is an important livestock industry. Europe represents approximately 5% of the world's fisheries and aquaculture. Fishing for wild fish occurs mainly in the eastern part of Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Major fish species include: Atlantic herring, sprat, blue whiting and Atlantic mackerel. The leading fishing countries are: Spain, Denmark, Great Britain and France. These countries account for about half of all fish catches in Europe.

crop production

In Europe, crops are grown, including wheat, spelled, barley, corn, rye, etc. This part of the world is the leading producer of sugar beet in the world (about 50% of the world's reserves). Oilseeds are grown here: soybean, sunflower and rapeseed.

The main vegetables grown in Europe are: tomato, onion, carrot. The most important fruits are: apples, oranges and peaches. About 65% of the world's viticulture and winemaking is concentrated in Europe, while the leading producing countries, which account for 79.3% of the total production, are: Italy, France and Spain.

Europe is also the world's largest producer of olive oil, accounting for nearly 3/4 of the world's production. The Mediterranean region produces 95% of the world's olive trees. The main countries producing this oil are: Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal.

Flora

Probably 80 to 90% of Europe was covered with forest. It stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Arctic Ocean. Although more than half of the forests have disappeared due to deforestation, more than 1/4 of the territory is still covered by forests. Per recent times, deforestation has slowed down and many trees have been planted.

Most important species trees in Central and Western Europe are beech and oak. In the north, the taiga is a mixed spruce-pine-birch forest; further north, within Russia and extreme northern Scandinavia, the taiga gives way to the tundra. In the Mediterranean, many olive trees have been planted which have adapted very well to the characteristic arid climate; Mediterranean cypresses are also widespread in Southern Europe.

Fauna

The last ice age and the presence of humans influenced the distribution of European fauna. In many parts of Europe, most large animals and predators of the best species have been exterminated. Today, large animals such as wolves and bears are endangered. The reason for this was deforestation, poaching and fragmentation of the natural habitat.

Live in Europe the following types animals: European forest cat, fox (especially red fox), jackals and various types of martens, hedgehogs. Here you can find snakes (such as vipers and snakes), amphibians and various birds (such as owls, hawks and other birds of prey).

The disappearance of pygmy hippos and pygmy elephants has been linked to the earliest human arrival on the islands of the Mediterranean.

Marine organisms are also an important part of European flora and fauna. Marine life mainly includes phytoplankton. Important marine animals that live in European seas are: molluscs, echinoderms, various crustaceans, squids, octopuses, fish, dolphins, and whales.

The biodiversity of Europe is protected by the "Bern Convention for the Protection of Wild Fauna and Flora and Natural Habitats".

The European territory, which is located outside the countries of the former CIS, is usually called "foreign Europe". It consists of four dozen countries, bound friend with a friend a whole bunch of historical and political relationships. The territory of foreign Europe is about 5.4 million square kilometers, and the population is more than 500 million people. This area, of course, is one of the centers of world civilization and occupies important place in world politics. Today we will talk about such a topic as the general characteristics of foreign Europe. Grade 11 school curriculum suggests consideration of this topic. Let's remember what we were taught at school and learn something new for ourselves!

States

The territory we are considering today extends 5,000 km from north to south and 3,000 km from west to east. Among them there are large and medium, but for the most part they are still small. For example, there is a joke that when you enter Belgium, you need to have time to put on the brakes, otherwise you can call in another state. A fast train passes through this country in just 140 minutes. There are many such states in Europe. That is why in many of them there is no such thing as a sleeping car.

As the general characteristics of the countries of foreign Europe show, they, from the point of view, have two main features. The first of them - adjacent position countries. With a small (comparatively, of course) size of the territory and its small "depth", the states have a well-established system of transport links. The second feature is the coastal position of the main number of European countries. Many of them are close to the busiest waterways. The life of such states as England, the Netherlands, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal, Norway, Italy and Greece has been closely connected with the sea since ancient times.

During the 20th century, the political map of Europe underwent significant changes three times: after the First and Second World Wars, and also at the end of the 90s. Today in foreign Europe one can meet republics, monarchies, as well as unitary and federal states.

Nature and resources

It was created under the influence of natural prerequisites, namely the composition of minerals. It differs in the northern (platform) and southern (folded) parts of the region. The northern part is rich in ore and fuel minerals. The main coal basins are the Ruhr (Germany) and Upper Silesian (Poland). Among oil and gas basins It is worth highlighting the North Sea. And among the iron ore - the basin of Kiruna (Sweden) and Lorraine (France).

The southern part of the region is rich in ore deposits of igneous and sedimentary origin. As for stocks fuel resources, then here they are not as great as in the north of Europe.

A general description of foreign Europe in terms of energy shows that its resources here are very voluminous, but they fall mainly on mountainous areas, namely: Alpine, Scandinavian and Dinaric. In a large number of countries, resources are already nearly exhausted. The nature of the region allows for active agriculture. The only problem is the lack of land. Small coastal states are fighting it, expanding towards the seas. For example, a third of the territory of the Netherlands was "recaptured" from the sea with the help of dams and dams. locals in this connection they say: "God created the Earth, and the Netherlands - the Netherlands." This is unlikely to be written in the section of the book "Geography" (Grade 11). The general characteristics of foreign Europe, however, cannot ignore this fact.

The region is located in the temperate and subtropical (in the south) zones. In the Mediterranean region, stable agriculture is impossible without artificial irrigation. Italy and Spain mostly suffer from this. The best conditions for forestry can boast Finland and Sweden. No wonder there is a saying: "Finland without a forest is like a bear without wool." are also widely represented here.

Now it's time to consider the next point of the conversation on the topic "General characteristics of foreign Europe."

Population of foreign Europe

The national composition is quite homogeneous. Most peoples belong to Indo-European family. The dominant religion in the region is Christianity. However, the southern part is also inclined towards Catholicism, while the northern part is towards Protestantism. Foreign Europe is considered one of the most densely populated regions of the Earth. The population density here is more than 100 people per 1 square kilometer. Location is determined mainly by the geography of peoples. In terms of urbanization, Europe also occupies a high position. On average, about 78% of the population lives in cities. There are countries where this figure reaches 90%.

For recent years Europe's population began to grow too slowly. Population decline is observed in 15 states. In addition, its composition is changing - the number of older people is growing. This affected the share of the region in the global mechanism of external migrations. Gradually, foreign Europe turns into a hotbed of labor emigration. There are about 20 million workers from abroad here. 7 million of them live in Germany.

Grade 11 of the school curriculum analyzes such issues superficially, but we will touch on them in more detail. As an integral region, foreign Europe has a world championship in terms of the scale of exports of goods, the size of industrial production and the development of tourism. First of all, the economic power of the region rests on such countries as: France, Great Britain, Italy and Germany. Per last decade The leader of this four was Germany, whose economy is developing very dynamically. "Workshop of the world" - Great Britain, began to lose ground. Among other states heaviest weight have: the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain and Sweden. They, unlike the "main four", focus on individual industries.

Industry

Leading foreign Europe - mechanical engineering. It accounts for one third of the region's production and two thirds of exports. It's no secret that Europe is famous for its cars. First of all, mechanical engineering tends to big cities including capitals. In this case, as a rule, each sub-sector is oriented in a certain region of the state.

In second place is the chemical industry. Germany is particularly successful in this direction. The chemical industry of the region before the Second World War focused mainly on coal (stone and brown), salts (cooking and potash) and pyrites. Then there was a reorientation of the industry to hydrocarbon raw materials. Major centers petrochemicals are located in the estuaries of the Seine, Thames, Elbe, Rhine and Rhone. Here, this industry is intertwined with oil production.

Natural gas and oil produced in the fields of the North Sea are sent to different countries via huge system main pipelines. Gas from Algeria is transported in methane tankers. Big role also plays Russian gas, which is bought by 20 European countries.

The next largest industry is metallurgy. It was formed here even before the beginning of the scientific and technological revolution. Ferrous metallurgy is most widely developed in Germany, England, Spain, France, the Czech Republic and Poland. A large share is also occupied by aluminum and non-ferrous metallurgy. Aluminum is smelted not only in countries with vast bauxite reserves, but also in countries with developed electricity production.

The timber industry is concentrated mainly in Finland and Sweden, while the light industry is concentrated in southern Europe. Italy is the second largest footwear manufacturing country in the world after China. And Portugal is considered the main "seamstress" of the region. In most countries, national traditions for the production of musical instruments, furniture, and glassware are preserved to this day.

Agriculture

The general characteristics of the economy of foreign Europe were touched upon above, now let's talk in more detail. Most countries in the region are fully self-sufficient in agricultural products and actively sell them abroad. After the Second World War, the region moved from a small peasant economy to a specialized high-commodity one. The main industries - crop production and animal husbandry, spread throughout Europe and are closely intertwined with each other. natural and historical conditions caused the formation of such types of agriculture: North European, Central European and South European.

The North European economy is common in Finland, Scandinavia and Great Britain. It is characterized by intensive dairy farming, which is served by crop production of brown bread and fodder crops. In the Central European type, the main role is played by meat and dairy farming, as well as poultry farming.

The South European type is characterized by the predominance of crop production. Crops are directed mainly to grain crops, however, the production of grapes, olives, citrus fruits, tobacco, nuts and ethereal plants is considered an international specialty in the southern part of Europe. The main "garden" of Europe is the Mediterranean coast. Usually each state has its own specialization of agriculture. For example, Holland is famous for growing flowers, France and Switzerland for cheese production, and so on.

Tourism

The general characteristics of foreign Europe cannot do without tourism. Europe was, is and will be the main region of international tourism. Here it is manifested in all directions. The most popular are France, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and other large countries. And in small states such as Andorra, Monaco and others, tourism is a currency-forming industry. The main types of tourism in foreign Europe are mountain and sea.

Transport connection

Today we give a general description of foreign Europe, and without a transport system it is impossible. Europe is inferior in terms of transportation distance to America and Russia, but in terms of the provision of a transport network, it is the leader in the whole world. The density of traffic is very high. The main role in the transportation of passengers and goods is played by automobile transport. The railway network in most states is being actively reduced.

Land transport network It has complex configuration. It is formed by meridional and latitudinal highways, most of which are of international importance. River routes are also oriented to these directions. special role plays the river Rhine. More than two hundred million tons of cargo are transported through it annually. In places where land and waterways intersect, arise transport hubs which turned over time into real port industrial complexes. For example, it annually ships about 350 million tons.

Western Europe is an example of how huge natural barriers are no longer an obstacle to the transport system. Railway and road routes, as well as pipelines, cross the Alps in all necessary directions. The shores of the Baltic, Mediterranean and North Seas are connected by ferries.

General characteristics of foreign Europe: science and money

In Europe today there are many technopolises that make it one of the world's centers of science. The largest of them are located in the vicinity of Munich and Cambridge. And in the southern part of France, the “High Technology Road” was formed.

Europe hosts the lion's share of the world's largest banks. Switzerland has become the benchmark for banking. About 50% of securities from all over the world are stored in the safes of its banks.

Environmental Protection

The general characteristics of foreign Europe shows that the issue of nature protection is resonant in its territories. because of high density population and active industrial development Europe has long been faced with a number of environmental issues. Some of them are associated with the extraction and processing of coal. Others - with an abundance of petrochemical and metallurgical plants in large cities. Still others - with an increasing number of cars on the streets. Fourth - with the development of tourism, which leads to the degradation of nature. Well, and so on.

All countries located in the region are actively environmental policy. As a result, more and more drastic measures are being taken: the promotion of bicycles and electric vehicles, the active restoration of vegetation, and so on.

Conclusion

Today, the topic of our conversation was a general description of foreign Europe. Grade 11 is a time when a huge burden falls on the shoulders of schoolchildren, so they lose sight of many fundamental things. We reminded ourselves of everything that could have been forgotten, and learned something new on the topic "General characteristics of foreign Europe." Presentation (Grade 11) with the help of this article will be an easy task for any student.

natural conditions. Lowlands are widely represented in Western Europe, rolling plains and youth high mountains of alpine folding, which form the main watershed of the mainland.

There are small mountains in terms of area and height: the Central French Massif, the Vosges, the Black Forest, the Rhine Slate Mountains, the North Scottish Highlands, etc. The Alps are the highest mountains in Europe, their length is 1200 km, width - up to 260 km. The folded structure of the Alps was created mainly by movements of the Alpine age. The most high peak- Mont Blanc (4807 m). The high - axial - zone of mountains is formed by ancient crystalline (gneisses, shales) rocks. The Alps are dominated by the Hirskolodovik relief and modern glaciation (up to 1200 glaciers with a total area of ​​more than 4000 km2). Glaciers and eternal snows drop to 2500-3200 m. The mountains are cut by valleys, inhabited and developed by man, railways and highways are laid through the passes.

Plain territories are located mainly in coastal areas. The largest lowlands are North German, Pivnichnopolska and others. Almost 40% of the area of ​​the Netherlands is below sea level, these are the so-called "polders" - low-lying lands, which are characterized by high fertility.

The climate is temperate, partly subtropical Mediterranean (France, Monaco). The presence of active western transport of humid Atlantic air masses makes the climate mild and favorable for life and economic activity (including agriculture). The average temperatures of the coldest month are -1o.. +3oC, warm +18o.. +20oC. The annual amount of precipitation generally decreases from west to east. In the Atlantic regions and on the windward slopes of the mountains, it is 1000-2000 mm, on the other - 500-600 mm. Maximum amount precipitation occurs during the summer months.

The distribution of river flow in the region is uneven: it decreases from west to east and from north to south. Major rivers- Danube, Rhine, Loire, Seine, Elbe, Meuse, Rhone, Thames, etc. In the west, the rivers are mainly fed by rain, they do not freeze, or have a short unstable freeze-up. On the eastern territories rain food also predominates, and on the rivers of the high mountain regions of the Alps, glacial food joins before rain and snow. Large floods are typical here in summer, and runoff is very small or absent in winter. Some countries are constantly engaged in hydrotechnical construction and "fight against the sea." Thus, in the Netherlands, 2,400 km of dams and 5,440 km of canals have been built.

A significant part of the lakes is located in tectonic depressions (hollows, grabens), characterized by a very rugged coastline, significant depth, elongated shape. There are many such lakes in Switzerland: Geneva, Zurich, Constance, Nevshatelsk, Tunsk, Lago Maggiore, etc. In the Alps and mountains of the British Isles there are small lakes in karts. Ireland is particularly rich in peatlands.

Natural resources. The nadra of Western Europe in the past had a high potential of mineral raw materials, but due to long-term industrial use, they have been significantly depleted.

The region accounts for more than ¼ of hard coal reserves in Europe. The largest coal basins and regions are: in Germany - the Ruhr and Saar, in France - the Lille basin and the Massif Central, in the UK - the north of England and Scotland, in Belgium - the Liege region. Brown coal has Germany (Germany) - the Cologne basin and Saxony.

The situation with find and gas reserves improved after the discovery in the early 60s. huge deposits of natural gas in the Netherlands (1929 billion m3 - 1st place in Europe in production), and subsequently - oil and gas in the British sector of the North Sea shelf (explored oil reserves are 0.6 billion tons, gas - 610 m3 ).

Ireland has significant peat reserves. The UK is the only one of the top four industrial countries in Europe, is fully provided with its own energy resources.

Relatively large deposits of iron ore in France (Lorraine), Luxembourg, polymetals - in Germany and Ireland, tin - in the UK (Cornwall Peninsula), bauxite - in France (Mediterranean coast), uranium - in France (Central Massif, where the largest European stocks).

Among non-metallic raw materials, rock salt reserves are noticeable (Germany and France), very large stocks magnesite and graphite (Austria).

Hydropower resources are very significant. The Alpine regions (Switzerland, Austria, France) and the mountainous regions of Scotland, the Pyrenees regions in the south of France are especially rich in them. France, Austria and Switzerland account for more than 2/5 of the countries' water resources.

The region is poor in forests, which cover only 22% of its territory. Significant areas of forests are in Austria (forest cover is 47%), Germany (31%), Switzerland (31%), France (28%). Most countries are dominated by artificial forests, many cultivated plantings of trees that perform environmental, sanitary and recreational functions.

Agro-climatic and land resources are favorable for agriculture. Almost all suitable lands have been plowed up: from 10% in Switzerland to 30% in France, Germany and Great Britain. The most common are soils of medium and low fertility in natural state. But everywhere they are greatly improved thanks to high level agricultural technology. The climate is favorable for growing many crops.

Natural recreational resources are very rich and diverse: from the Alps, the high mountains of Europe, to the lowest in Europe, the Netherlands, from the subtropical Mediterranean of France to cool and humid Ireland. The region has a large recreational and tourist area. Attractive areas are the Côte d'Azur in France, the Alps, the Thuringian Forest, etc.

In the countries of the region, the number of reserves, reserves, national parks(91), protected by law. They cover large areas. For example, in France, the entire coastal Atlantic strip 2500 km long has been proclaimed a protected area, in Great Britain - almost 5% of its territory, etc.

The diversity of natural conditions and resources in different parts of the region led to the formation various kinds economic activity, and, accordingly, their certain specialization.