Four Physiographic Regions of Europe and the Events That Shaped Russian History

GE350 World Geography
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GE350 World Geography
Part A
Europe, the second-smallest continent, is divided into four primary physiographic regions, namely; Western Uplands, Central Uplands, North European Plain and Alpine Mountains (Marston et al., 2002). These regions run from north to south of the continent and differ in climate, attitude, and other geographic factors (K12 Libretexts, 2022). The Western Uplands (the Northern Highlands) covers the western edge, consisting of rugged mountains known as highlands. It extends throughout Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, and Norway), Scotland, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, and portions of the Iberian Peninsula of Spain and Portugal (National Geographic Society, 2022). This region is sparsely populated and less attractive to large-scale farmers. Agriculture is usually limited to livestock grazing and farming in the meadows and valleys. The western uplands are also defined by hard, ancient rock shaped by glaciation. The glaciers that receded from this region left several distinct physical features, such as lakes, marshlands, and fjords (National Geographic Society, 2022). The region has a moderate type C climate. It is because the Gulf Stream, which produces a temperate climate for a northern latitude location, is the most important current for Western Uplands.
The Central Uplands border the main Alps to the north. This region extends east-west across Central Europe and includes southern Germany, Western France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and parts of northern Switzerland and Austria (Marston et al., 2002). The region is sparsely populated except in the Elbe, Rhine, and Danube river valleys. It has a low altitude and is heavily wooded (National Geographic Society, 2022). The foothills to the Alps are significant sources of raw materials like coal and forest products, essential for industrial activities (K12 Libretexts, 2022). Economic activities common in this region include dairy farming and livestock keeping. The area is rich in deciduous-coniferous forest and vegetation that support these economic activities (K12 Libretexts, 2022). Its vegetation includes elm, oaks, and maple trees intermingled with fir and pine trees (K12 Libretexts, 2022). The central Uplands has four distinct seasons with moderate amounts of precipitation annually.
The North European Plain covers the southern United Kingdom and extend to Russia. It includes parts of Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Belarus, Denmark, and the Baltic States (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) (National Geographic Society, 2022). Although densely populated, the region is home to numerous navigable rivers, including Vistula, Rhine, Oder, and Weser (National Geographic Society, 2022). Farming is one of the primary human activities practiced in the region due to the availability of flat land with relatively fertile soil. This area is also surrounded by prairies and tall grasses and is mostly used as farmlands (K12 Libretexts, 2022). Its climate supports various seasonal crops. The favorable climate and excellent farmland in Europe’s Northern lowlands facilitate major agricultural operations, providing a large European population.
The Alpine region includes mountain ranges in the Balkan and Italian Peninsulas, Southern France and Northern Spain. The region covers the mountains of the Alps, Apennines, Pyrenees, Balkans, Dinaric Alps, and Carpathians. It also includes active volcanoes like Mount Vesuvius and Mount Etna in Italy (National Geographic Society, 2022). The area is defined by rugged plateaus, high elevations, and steeply sloping land. It experiences a more temperate type C climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters due to its proximity to the Mediterranean coastlines (K12 Libretexts, 2022). This climate enables the occupants to cultivate food crops l...