Freshman World Geography Chapter 12
Chapter 12 – The Peninsula of Peninsulas
Places and Termsa
11. What are fjords and where are they found? Fjords are steep, U-shaped valleys filled with seawater that were carved out by glaciers. You’ll primarily find them in Norway on the Scandinavian Peninsula.
12. Which of the above terms are examples of uplands? What is Meseta and where is it found? Where is Massif Central and where is it found?
Uplands: Both the Meseta and the Massif Central are examples of uplands (hills or very low mountains).
Meseta: The central plateau of Spain.
Massif Central: An upland region located in Southern France.
13. What is France’s highland area called? The Massif Central.
14. How does the North Atlantic Drift influence climate? It is a current of warm water from the tropics that flows near Europe’s west coast. It creates a Marine West Coast climate, making Western Europe much warmer and milder than other regions at the same latitude (like Canada).
Path: It originates in the Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean, passes through the Straits of Florida, moves up the East Coast of the United States, and then crosses the Atlantic Ocean toward Western Europe.
Continuation: In the North Atlantic, it becomes known as the North Atlantic Current (or North Atlantic Drift) as it carries warm water toward Northern Europe.
Climate Impact: It is responsible for keeping the climate of Western Europe much milder and warmer than other regions at the same latitude (e.g., Canada).
15. In what part of Europe would you find the mistral? You would find this cold, dry wind in Southern France, particularly in the winter and spring.
16. What is peat and how is it used? Peat is partially decayed plant matter found in bogs. Because Ireland lacks traditional fossil fuels like coal, they cut peat from the ground and burn it as fuel for heating and cooking.
17. Which of the above terms is a type of seaworks? Terpen (high earthen platforms used to provide safe ground during floods) and the dikes themselves are parts of seaworks.
18. How did the Zuider Zee become Ijsselmeer? The Dutch built a giant dike across the entrance of the Zuider Zee (which was an arm of the North Sea). Since no more saltwater could get in, it eventually became a freshwater lake called Ijsselmeer.
19. What are polders and where are they found? Polders are patches of land reclaimed from the sea by building dikes and pumping out the water. They are found in the Netherlands.
20. Which of the above terms are associated with human-environment interaction? Polder, seaworks, terpen, and Zuider Zee. These all represent ways humans have modified the physical landscape to suit their needs.
Main Ideas
1. How do the mountain ranges of Europe impact the lives of the people who live near them? Mountains act as barriers, isolating different ethnic groups and cultures. They also affect climate (creating rain shadows) and provide resources like minerals and timber, as well as tourism and recreational opportunities (skiing, snowboarding, sledding, etc.).
2. Why are the rivers of Europe an important aspect of its geography? They serve as "water highways" for the movement of goods and people. They connect inland industrial areas to the sea, aiding international trade.
3. Where are the most important oil fields of Europe located and which countries pump them? They are located beneath the North Sea. The United Kingdom and Norway are the primary countries pumping oil from these fields.
4. What is the difference between Nordic Countries and Scandinavian countries?
Scandinavia: Strictly refers to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Nordic Countries: A broader term that includes Scandinavia plus Finland and Iceland.
5. How do the prevailing westerlies affect the climate of Europe? These winds blow from west to east, carrying warmth and moisture from the North Atlantic Drift. Western Europe (the UK, France, Germany) is most affected, resulting in frequent rain and moderate temperatures.
6. In which climate area of Europe would you find citrus fruits growing? The Mediterranean climate zone. The warm, sunny summers and mild winters provide the perfect environment for fruits like oranges and lemons.
7. What types of vegetation are found on the Scandinavian Peninsula? In the south, you find coniferous (evergreen) forests. In the far north, where it is much colder, you find tundra vegetation like mosses and lichens.
8. Why did the Dutch build seaworks? To protect their low-lying land from flooding by the North Sea and to reclaim land for their growing population.
9. In what ways have the people of the Netherlands changed the physical geography of their land? They have literally "created" land where there was once ocean by building dikes and draining polders, and they converted a saltwater arm of the sea into a freshwater lake.
10. What kinds of pollutants are found in the Venice canals? Industrial waste, sewage, and saltwater that eats away at the foundations of the historic buildings.
11. Why were forests chopped down in Europe? Mainly for fuel (making charcoal), building materials for ships and houses, and to clear land for agriculture.
Critical Thinking
1. A. Which human-environment interactions try to make the best use of landforms in Venice? Building the city on wooden pilings driven into the mud of 120 islands allowed people to create a major trading port in a protected lagoon. B. Which interactions focus on problems with resources? Deforestation for building materials and the current struggle to filter pollution out of the water system.
2. In what ways has the physical geography of the Balkan Peninsula affected the people? The rugged mountains made transportation difficult, leading to isolated ethnic groups and a history of conflict.
Countries: Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, and the nations of the former Yugoslavia (Serbia, Croatia, etc.).
Relative Location: Europe is surrounded by the Atlantic to the west, the Arctic to the north, and the Mediterranean to the south. It is essentially a "peninsula of peninsulas."
3. Evaluate which areas of Europe would be the most agriculturally productive. The Northern European Plain is the most productive due to its flat terrain and fertile soil (Chernozem).
Themes: Region (The Plain), Human-Environment Interaction (Farming), and Location.
4. What factors must the people of Venice consider when dealing with water pollution? They must balance the cost of expensive floodgates (like the MOSE project) against the need to protect tourism and historical architecture, while also managing modern sewage and industrial runoff.
5. How are the Scandinavian and Italian Peninsulas alike and different?
Alike: Both are surrounded by water on three sides and have mountainous interiors.
Different: * Climate: Scandinavia is Subarctic/Tundra (cold); Italy is Mediterranean (warm).
Resources: Scandinavia has timber and iron ore; Italy has marble, grapes, and olives.
Landforms: Scandinavia is known for fjords; Italy is known for its central Apennine mountains.