Page 13 - Key to Social Studies 5

• Large rivers such as the Danube, Rhine, Elbe, the

Rhône, and, the longest on the continent, the

Volga provide important channels for

transportation and trade.

• Europe has relatively low elevations, except for

the Alpine Mountains, which contain the

mountain ranges of the Carpathians, the Balkans, Swiss Alps, Switzerland

the Alps, and the Pyrenees. The Alpine Mountains

extend from the west to the east and are a

popular skiing destination.

• Northern Europe is cooler and wetter than the

south. Scandinavia and northern Russia both

reach the Arctic Circle, or the parallel of latitude

that is approximately 66.5 degrees north of the
Eifel area, Germany
Equator. These countries have large stretches of

permanently frozen soil called tundra. These

fragile areas contain many unique plants and

animals.

• Southern Europe is drier, with a subtropical

climate. Some of the streets in countries near the

Mediterranean are even lined with palm trees.
Krka River Park Falls, Croatia

Volga River, Rybinsk, Russia Jotunheimen National Park, Norway
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