The continent of Europe is a relatively small part of the Eurasian land
mass, encompassing 3,827,308 square miles. It is bounded on the west
by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Mediterranean Sea and the Black
Sea, on the east by Asia, and on the north by the Arctic Ocean.
Europe's highest point is Mt. Elbrus in
Russia, at 18,510 feet above
sea level. Its lowest point is the Caspian Sea in Russia, at 90 feet
below sea level. The longest river in Europe is the Volga, which
runs through Russia for about 2,300 miles. Also in Russia is
Europe's largest lake, Lake Ladoga, which covers an area of 6,834
square miles.
Europe consists of over 40 countries, with an approximate total population
of 688,545,400 in 2002. Its two major English-speaking countries,
the United Kingdom and
Ireland, are island
nations. Germany and
France are the two most
populous nations of central Europe. Two of Europe's southernmost
countries, Greece and
Italy, are Mediterranean Sea
peninsulas. Four of the continent's northern countries —
Denmark,
Finland,
Norway, and
Sweden — comprise
a region known as Scandinavia. Detailed maps of European countries
can be found by following the links in this paragraph.
This website contains three maps of Europe — a political map, a
relief map, and a topographical map.
Map of Europe, showing Nations and their Capital Cities
Europe contains a remarkable variety of terrain and physical
features. From the highlands of Scandinavia and Scotland to the
Alps and Pyrenees of southern Europe, plenty of scenic vistas await the
visitor! The Northern European Plain is the industrial heartland
while the fertile Ukraine and the Central Russian Upland form the
breadbasket of Europe. The Caucasus and Ural Mountains form
Europe's eastern boundaries.
The largest city in Europe is Moscow, Russia; other leading cities and
travel destinations include London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, and
Copenhagen. United States travelers usually fly to Europe via
airlines such as
British Airways,
Air France,
Alitalia,
Lufthansa, and
SAS.
Three excellent sources of European news and analysis are BBC's
Europe News, CNN's European Edition, and the New York Times'
Europe page.
Europe History and Antique Europe Map
This Europe history page provides an overview of European history
and culture from ancient times to modern times.
This vintage map of Europe shows the continent of Europe
as it appeared in a 19th century atlas.