Europe

Western extremity of the vast Eurasian continent that, by convention, is separated from Asia by the Ural Mountains; it covers a relatively small area.

Aegean Sea

Area of the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and Greece; it contains numerous islands, the largest of which is Crete.

Barents Sea

Area of the Arctic Ocean lying north of the Scandinavian Peninsula and Russia; it is partially ice-covered.

Lake Ladoga

Europe’s largest lake (6,800 mi2) is located in Russia; it empties into the Baltic Sea.

Iberian Peninsula

Peninsula comprising Spain and Portugal; it extends from the Pyrenees to the Strait of Gibraltar.

Pyrenees

Mountain range whose northern slope is in France and whose southern slope is in Spain; Pico de Aneto (11,169 feet) is its highest peak.

Alps

Largest mountain mass in Europe, extending 750 mi; Mont Blanc (15,771 feet) is its highest peak.

Danube River

Second longest river in Europe (1,770 mi); it flows into the Black Sea through a vast delta with three branches.

Carpathian Mountains

Mountain range in central Europe, lower than the Alps; its highest point is at an elevation of 8,711 feet.

Irish Sea

Section of the Atlantic that separates Great Britain from Ireland.

English Channel

Relatively shallow sea between France and England; its extreme tides cause strong currents, making navigation difficult.

Atlantic Ocean

The world’s second largest ocean; it covers 20% of the Earth’s surface.

Vistula River

Poland’s principal river (680 mi) has its source in the Carpathians and joins the Baltic Sea at the Gulf of Gdansk; it is ice-covered two to three months per year.

North Sea

Relatively shallow sea (220,000 mi2) in the North Atlantic and bordered by the coasts of Europe; some major European ports are located along its estuaries.

Mediterranean Sea

One of the world’s largest inland seas, bordered by Europe, Africa and Asia; it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Strait of Gibraltar

Channel (9 mi wide) between Spain and Morocco; it connects the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and is an important shipping route.

Ural Mountains

Mountain range extending 1,500 mi from the Caspian Sea to the Arctic; it is traditionally considered the boundary between Europe and Asia.

Volga River

The longest river in Europe (2,300 mi) is ice-covered three to four months per year; its spring flood is substantial.

Dnieper River

River in Russia (1,350 mi) whose flow is slow but abundant; it is a major communications artery.

Adriatic Sea

Gulf of the Mediterranean, 520 mi long and 110 mi wide, located between Italy and the Balkan Peninsula.

Balkan Peninsula

Mountainous, easternmost peninsula of Europe whose crumbling coastline features peninsulas and scattered islands.

Black Sea

Inland sea (162,000 mi2) between Eastern Europe and Asia; it opens into the Mediterranean through two straits, the Dardanelles and the Bosporus.

Baltic Sea

Generally shallow inland sea that is low in salt content and devoid of major tides; it freezes along its coasts.

Scandinavian Peninsula

Vast Nordic peninsula that includes Norway, Sweden and part of Finland.

Gulf of Bothnia

Relatively shallow Gulf between Sweden and Finland; it is often icebound.

Iceland

Volcanic island subject to regular earthquakes; it has over 3,100 mi of coastline.

Norwegian Sea

Open sea west of Norway and east of Iceland.

Kola Peninsula

Mostly mountainous peninsula located in Russia, above the Arctic polar circle.