GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE

Europe is a peninsula of the Eurasian supercontinent that the Arctic Ocean surrounds on the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the west, and the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian seas on the south.

The four prominent landforms are the Alpine region, Central Uplands, Northern Lowlands, and Western Highlands.

Europe is a rather non-extreme continent in terms of nature and landscapes. A glance at Northern Europe on a globe immediately reveals that its mild climate is due to the modest latitudes.

However, the continent is home to several volcanoes in Iceland and Italy, as well as glaciers in the Swiss Alps, in Iceland, and of course in Greenland. 

In addition, the Norwegian fjords that cut deep into the steep mountainsides are among the longest and deepest in the world. 

Before, 90% of Europe had been covered by forest; however, the vast majority of natural forest growth has long since gone to cater to the ever-growing population and provide territory to land-cultivation. The pervasive agriculture has therefore had its impact on European wildlife, and species such as polar bears, wolves, and brown bears have gone from being richly represented on the continent to being almost extinct.