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North European countries. Northern European countries. Geographical position. Where are the Nordic countries located?

If you do not take into account dependent regions and not fully recognized states, then Europe for 2017 covers 44 powers. Each of them has a capital in which not only its administration is located, but also the highest authority, that is, the government of the state.

In contact with

States of Europe

The territory of Europe stretches from east to west for more than 3 thousand kilometers, and from south to north (from the island of Crete to the island of Svalbard) for 5 thousand kilometers. The European powers are, for the most part, comparatively small. With such small sizes of territories and good transport accessibility, these states either closely border on each other or are separated by very small distances.

The European continent is divided territorially into parts:

  • western;
  • eastern;
  • northern;
  • southern.

All powers located on the European continent belong to one of these territories.

  • There are 11 countries in the western region.
  • In the east - 10 (including Russia).
  • In the north - 8.
  • In the south - 15.

Let's list all the countries of Europe and their capitals. We will divide the list of countries and capitals of Europe into four parts according to the territorial and geographical position of the powers on the world map.

Western

List of states belonging to Western Europe, with a list of main cities:

The states of Western Europe are washed mainly by the currents of the Atlantic Ocean and only in the north of the Scandinavian Peninsula border on the waters of the Arctic Ocean. In general, these are highly developed and prosperous powers. But they are distinguished by an unfavorable demographic situation. This is a low birth rate and a low level of natural growth of inhabitants. In Germany, there is even a decline in population. All this led to the fact that developed Western Europe began to play the role of a subregion in the global system of population migration, it turned into the main center of labor immigration.

Eastern

List of states located in the eastern zone of the European continent and their capitals:

The states of Eastern Europe have a lower level economic development than its western neighbors. However, they better preserved cultural and ethnic identity. Eastern Europe is more of a cultural and historical region than a geographical one. The Russian expanses can also be attributed to the eastern territory of Europe. And the geographical center of Eastern Europe is located approximately within Ukraine.

Northern

The list of states that make up northern Europe, including capitals, looks like this:

The territories of the states of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jutland, the Baltic States, the islands of Svalbard and Iceland are included in the northern part of Europe. The population of these regions is only 4% of the entire European composition. Sweden is the largest country in the G8 and Iceland is the smallest. The population density in these lands is less in Europe - 22 people / m 2, and in Iceland - only 3 people / m 2. This is due to the harsh conditions of the climatic zone. And here economic indicators development, it is northern Europe that is singled out as the leader of the entire world economy.

South

And finally, the most numerous list of territories located in the southern part, and the capitals of European states:

Balkan and Iberian Peninsula occupied by these South European powers. Industry is developed here, especially ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. countries are rich mineral resources. In agriculture, the main efforts focused on the cultivation of food products, such as:

  • grape;
  • olives;
  • Garnet;
  • dates.

It is known that Spain is the world's leading country in the collection of olives. It is here that 45% of all olive oil in the world is produced. Spain is famous for famous artists- Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro.

European Union

The idea of ​​creating a single community of European powers appeared in the middle of the twentieth century, or rather after the Second World War. The official unification of the countries of the European Union (EU) took place only in 1992, when this union was sealed by the legal consent of the parties. Over time, the number of members of the European Union has expanded, and now it includes 28 allies. And states that want to join these prosperous countries will have to prove their compliance with the European foundations and principles of the EU, such as:

  • protection of the rights of citizens;
  • democracy;
  • freedom of trade in a developed economy.

Members of the EU

The European Union for 2017 includes the following states:

There are now applicant countries to join this foreign community. These include:

  1. Albania.
  2. Serbia.
  3. Macedonia.
  4. Montenegro.
  5. Turkey.

On the map of the European Union, you can clearly see its geography, the countries of Europe and their capitals.

Regulations and prerogatives of EU partners

The EU has a customs policy under which its members can trade with each other without duties and without restrictions. And in relation to other powers, the adopted customs tariff applies. Having general laws, the EU countries have created a single market and introduced a single monetary currency - the euro. Many EU member states are part of the so-called Schengen zone, which allows their citizens to move freely through the territory of all allies.

The European Union has common governing bodies for member countries, which include:

  • European Court.
  • European Parliament.
  • European Commission.
  • The audit community that controls the EU budget.

Despite unity, the European states that have joined the community have full independence and state sovereignty. Each country has its own national language and has its own governing bodies. But for all participants there are certain criteria, and they must meet them. For example, the coordination of all important political decisions with the European Parliament.

It should be noted that since its founding, only one power has left the European community. It was Danish autonomy - Greenland. In 1985, she was outraged by the low quotas introduced by the European Union for fishing. You can also recall the sensational events in 2016 referendum in the UK, when the population voted to leave the country from the European Union. This suggests that even in such an influential and seemingly stable community, serious problems are brewing.

Section Two

REGIONS AND COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD

Topic 10. EUROPE

4. NORTHERN EUROPE

Northern Europe includes the Scandinavian countries, Finland, the Baltic countries. The Scandinavian countries are Sweden and Norway. Considering the general historical and cultural features of the development of the Nordic countries, Denmark and Iceland are also included.

The Baltic states are Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia. Often in popular science literature you can also meet the concept of "Phenoscandia", which has a more physical and geographical origin. They are convenient to use in economic geographical characteristics group of Nordic countries, which includes Finland, Sweden, Norway.

Northern Europe occupies the territory of 1433 thousand km 2, which is 16.8% of the area of ​​Europe - the third place among the economic and geographical macro-regions of Europe, after Eastern and Southern Europe. The largest countries in terms of area are Sweden (449.9 thousand km 2), Finland (338.1 km 2) and Norway (323.9 thousand km 2), which occupy more than three-quarters of the territory of the macroregion. Small countries include Denmark (43.1 thousand km 2), as well as the Baltic countries: Estonia - 45.2, Latvia - 64.6 and Lithuania - 65.3 thousand km 2. Iceland is the smallest among the countries of the first group in terms of area and almost twice the area of ​​any single small country.

Nordic countries, 1999

The country

Area, thousand km 2

Population million people

Population density (person / km 2)

Denmark

43,09

122,9

Estonia

45,22

30,9

Iceland

103,00

Latvia

64,60

37,1

Lithuania

65,20

56,7

Norway

323,87

13,6

Finland

338,14

15,4

Sweden

449,96

19,7

Total

1433,08

31,6

22,0

The territory of Northern Europe consists of two sub-regions: Fenoskandії and Baltic. The first sub-region included such states as Finland, a group of Scandinavian countries - Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, along with the islands of the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. In particular, Denmark includes the Faroe Islands and the island of Greenland, which enjoys internal autonomy, while Norway owns the Svalbard archipelago. Most of the northern countries are brought together by the similarity of languages ​​and cultures, are characterized by historical features of development and natural and geographical integrity.

The second sub-region (the Baltic countries) includes Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, which, due to their geographical position, have always been northern. However, in reality, they could be attributed to the Northern macroregion only in the new geopolitical situation that developed in the early 90s of the XX century, that is, after the collapse of the USSR.

The economic and geographical position of Northern Europe is characterized by the following features: firstly, an advantageous position regarding the intersection of important air and sea routes from Europe to North America, as well as the convenience of the countries of the region entering the international waters of the oceans; secondly, the proximity of the location to the level of highly developed countries Western Europe(Germany, Holland, Belgium, Great Britain, France); thirdly, the neighborhood on the southern borders with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in particular Poland, in which market relations are successfully developing; fourthly, land proximity to Russian Federation, economic contacts with which will contribute to the formation of promising markets for products; fifthly, the presence of territories outside the Arctic Circle (35% of the area of ​​Norway, 38% of Sweden, 47% of Finland). Other geographical features include the presence of the warm Gulf Stream, which has a direct impact on the climate and economic activity of all countries in the macroregion; a significant length of the coastline that runs along the Baltic, North, Norwegian and Barents Seas, as well as a predominantly platform structure earth's surface, the most expressive territory of which is the Baltic Shield. Its crystalline rocks contain minerals of predominantly igneous origin.

Natural conditions and resources. The Scandinavian mountains stand out clearly in the relief of Northern Europe. They were formed as a result of the uplift of Caledonian structures, which in subsequent geological epochs, as a result of weathering and the latest tectonic movements, turned into a relatively leveled surface, which in Norway is called felds.

The Scandinavian mountains are characterized by significant modern icing, which covers an area of ​​​​almost 5 thousand km 2. The snow limit in the southern part of the mountains is at an altitude of 1200 m, and in the north it can drop to 400 m.

To the east, the mountains gradually decrease, turning into the Norland crystalline plateau with a height of 400-600 m.

In the Scandinavian mountains, altitudinal zoning is manifested. The upper border of the forest (taiga) in the south passes at an altitude of 800-900 m above sea level, falling in the north to 400 and even 300 m. Above the forest border there is a transitional belt 200-300 m wide, which is higher (700-900 m .) turns into a zone of mountain tundra.

In the southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the crystalline rocks of the Baltic Shield gradually disappear under the strata of marine sediments, forming the Middle Swedish hilly lowland, which, with the rise of the crystalline base, develops into the low Spoland plateau.

The Baltic crystalline shield is lowering to the east. On the territory of Finland, it rises somewhat, forming a hilly plain (Lake Plateau), which is north of 64 ° N. sh. gradually rises and in the extreme north-west, where the spurs of the Scandinavian mountains enter, reaches the highest heights (Mount Khamti, 1328 m.).

The formation of the relief of Finland was influenced by Quaternary glacial deposits, which blocked the ancient crystalline rocks. They form moraine ridges, boulders of various sizes and shapes, which alternate with large quantity lakes, swampy depressions.

According to climatic conditions northern lands- the most severe part of Europe. Most of its territory is exposed to the oceanic masses of temperate latitudes. The climate of remote territories (islands) is arctic, subarctic, maritime. On the Svalbard archipelago (Norway) there is practically no summer, and the average July temperatures correspond to ... + 3 ° ... -5 °. Iceland, the furthest away from mainland Europe, has slightly better temperatures. Thanks to one of the branches of the North Atlantic Current, which passes at southern shores islands, here in July the temperatures are...+7°...+12°, and in January - from... -3° ...+2°. It is much colder in the center and in the north of the island. There is a lot of precipitation in Iceland. On average, their number exceeds 1000 mm per year. Most of them fall in autumn.

There are practically no forests in Iceland, but tundra vegetation prevails, in particular moss and aspen thickets. Meadow vegetation grows near warm geysers. In general, the natural conditions of Iceland are not suitable for development Agriculture, in particular agriculture. Only 1% of its territory, mainly onions, is used for agricultural purposes.

All other countries of Fenoscandia and the Baltics are characterized by the best climatic conditions, especially the western outskirts and the southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, which are under the direct influence of the Atlantic air masses, stand out. To the east, the warm oceanic air is gradually transformed. Therefore, the climate here is much harsher. For example, the average January temperatures in the northern part of the west coast vary from...-4° to 0°, and in the south 0...+2°. In the interior of Fenoscandia, winters are very long and can last up to seven months, accompanied by a polar night and low temperatures. The average January temperatures here are...-16°. During the penetration of arctic air masses, the temperature can drop to ... - 50 °.

For Fenoscandia it is characteristically cool, and in the north it is also short summer. In the northern regions, the average July temperature does not exceed +10-...+12 0 , and in the south (Stockholm, Helsinki) - ...+16-...+ 17 0 . Frosts can pester until June and appear in August. Despite such cool summers, most mid-latitude crops are ripening. This is achieved due to the continuation of the vegetation of plants during the long polar summer. Therefore, the southern regions of the Fenoscandian countries are suitable for the development of agriculture.

Precipitation is distributed very unevenly. Most of them fall in the form of rain on the western coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula - in the territory facing the moisture saturation of the Atlantic air masses. The central and eastern regions of Fenoscandia receive much less moisture - about 1000 mm, and the northeastern - only 500 mm. The amount of precipitation is also unevenly distributed over the seasons. southern part the west coast is most humid in winter months in the form of rain. The maximum precipitation in the eastern regions occurs at the beginning of summer. In winter, precipitation in the form of snow prevails. In the mountainous regions and in the northwest, snow lies for up to seven months, and in the high mountains it remains forever, thus feeding the modern glaciation.

Denmark in terms of natural conditions is somewhat different from its northern neighbors. Being located in the middle part of the Central European Plain, it is more reminiscent of the Atlantic countries of Western Europe, where a mild, humid climate prevails. The maximum precipitation in the form of rain occurs in winter. There is almost no frost here. The average January temperature is about 0°. Only occasionally, when the arctic air breaks through, can there be low temperatures and snowfall. The average July temperature is about + 16°.

The countries of the Baltic subregion are dominated by a maritime climate with a transitional to temperate continental climate. Summers are cool (average July temperature is ...+16...+17°), winters are mild and relatively warm. Average January temperatures vary from 0° ...-5°. The climate of Lithuania is the most continental. The amount of precipitation per year varies between 700-800 mm. Most of them fall in the second half of summer, when the harvest and fodder are completed. Under the conditions of a flat surface and relatively weak evaporation, waterlogging of the lands occurs. In general, the climate and flat terrain of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are conducive to human economic activity. The Nordic countries are not equally endowed with mineral resources. Most of them are in the eastern part of Fenoscandia, the foundation of which is composed of crystalline rocks of igneous origin, a striking manifestation of which is the Baltic Shield. Deposits of iron, titanium-magnesium and copper-sulfide ores are concentrated here. This is confirmed by the deposits of ferruginous ores in Northern Sweden - Kirunavare, Lussavare, Gellivare. The rocks of these deposits occur from the surface to a depth of 2000 m. The iron content is very high. It is 62-65%. Apatite is a valuable associated component of these iron ore deposits.

Titanomagnetite ores occupy vast territories in Finland, Sweden, Norway, although such deposits are not distinguished by significant reserves of raw materials.

Deposits of copper pyrite ores are widespread in Fenoscandia. The largest of them are located in Finland - Outokunpu (southeast of the country). On the western coast of Finland there is also a large copper deposit - Vikhanti. In addition to copper (1.7-3.7%), ores of igneous origin also contain iron - 2.7%, zinc - 0.8, nickel - 0.1, cobalt - 0.2, sulfur - 2.7%, as well as gold - 0.8 g/t, silver 9-12 g/t. Among other areas rich in copper ore, Central Sweden stands out.

In the north of Finland, one of the world's largest chrome ore deposits, Oliyarvi, is being developed. Until recently, it was believed that the Northern lands are poor in fuel and energy resources. Only in the early 1960s, when bottom sediments North Sea oil and natural gas were discovered, experts started talking about significant deposits. It was found that the volumes of oil and gas in the basin of this water area significantly exceed all known reserves of this raw material in Europe.

By international agreements, the North Sea basin was divided among the states located along its shores. Among the Nordic countries, the Norwegian sector of the sea turned out to be the most promising for oil. It accounted for more than one-fifth of the oil reserves. Denmark has also become one of the oil-producing countries using the oil and gas-bearing region of the North Sea.

Among other types of fuel in the Nordic countries, Estonian oil shale is of industrial importance, coal Svalbard, Finnish peat.

The northern territories are well endowed water resources. Their greatest concentration is the Scandinavian mountains, in particular West Side. For total river flow resources, Norway (376 km 3) and Sweden (194 km 3) are ahead, occupying the first two places in Europe. Per inhabitant, sparsely populated Iceland stands out for full and underground water flows, respectively 255 and 93 thousand m 3. Next come Norway, Sweden, Finland.

Hydropower resources are of great importance for the Nordic countries. Norway and Sweden are best provided with hydropower resources, where significant precipitation and mountainous terrain provide the formation of a strong and uniform flow of water, and this creates good prerequisites for the construction of hydroelectric power plants. The energy potential of Norway is the largest year, it is 152 billion kW / h / year.

Land resources, especially in the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula, are insignificant. In Sweden and Finland they make up to 10% of agricultural land. In Norway - only 3%. Share of unproductive and inconvenientfor land development in Norway - 70% of the total area, in Sweden - 42%, and even in southern Finland- almost one third of the country's territory.

The situation is quite different in Denmark and in the Baltic countries. Arable land in the first occupies 60% of the total territory. In Estonia - 40%, in Latvia - 60% and in Lithuania - 70%. Soils in the northern macro-region of Europe, especially in the countries of Fenoscandia, are podzolic, waterlogged and unproductive. Requires significant reclamation.

Some lands, especially the tundra landscapes of Norway and Iceland, where moss-lichen vegetation predominates, are used for extensive reindeer grazing.

One of the greatest wealth of the Nordic countries is forest resources, that is, "green gold". In terms of forest area and gross timber reserves, Sweden and Finland stand out, occupying the first and second places in Europe, respectively. Forest cover in these countries is high. In Finland it is almost 66%, in Sweden it is more than 59% (1995). Among other countries of the Northern macroregion, Latvia stands out with high forest cover (46.8%). According to some estimates, these countries occupy almost a third of European forest areas and gross timber reserves (excluding Eastern Europe). Dense coniferous forests occupy the highlands and plains of Central and Northern Sweden, the entire territory of Finland and the lower slopes of the mountain ranges of southeastern Norway and the wetlands of the Baltic countries.

Northern Europe has a variety of recreational resources: medium-altitude mountains, glaciers, fjords of Norway, skerries of Finland, picturesque lakes, waterfalls, full-flowing rivers, active volcanoes and geysers of Iceland, architectural ensembles of many cities and other historical and cultural monuments. Their high attractiveness contributes to the development tourism and other forms of recreation.

population.Northern Europe differs from other macro-regions both in terms of population and basic demographic indicators.

The northern lands are among the least populated territories. More than 31.6 million people live here, which is 4.8% of the total population of Europe (1999). The population density is low (22.0 persons per 1 km2). The smallest number of inhabitants per unit area is in Iceland (2.9 people per 1 km 2) and Norway (13.6 people per 1 km 2). Finland and Sweden are also poorly populated (with the exception of the southern coastal regions of Sweden, Norway, and Finland). Among the countries of Northern Europe, Denmark is the most densely populated (123 people per 1 km 2). The Baltic countries are characterized by an average population density - from 31 to 57 people per 1 km 2).The population growth rate in Northern Europe is very low. If in the 70s of the XX century. Since the population grew by 0.4% per year, mainly due to natural increase, in the early 90s its growth was reduced to zero. Second half of the last decade of the 20th century. characterized by negative population growth (-0.3%). The Baltic countries have a decisive influence on this situation. In fact, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania entered the stage of depopulation. As a result, the population in the Northern macro-region of Europe is projected to show little growth in the coming decades. For example, in 2025, only 32.6 million inhabitants will live here.

The countries of Fenoscandia, except Sweden, are characterized by positive but low natural population growth, with the exception of Iceland, where the natural increase has remained at the rate of 9 people per 1,000 inhabitants. So tense demographic situation primarily due to the low birth rate. The downward trend in fertility in European countries manifested itself in the 60s and in the early 90s of the last century in Europe was only 13 people per 1000 inhabitants, which is two times lower than the world average. In the second half of the 1990s, this trend continued, and the gap even grew somewhat. If we equate the birth rate of the Nordic countries with the average European indicator, which is 10‰, then for the Nordic countries in most cases it is greater than or equal to the European average, with the exception of Estonia and Latvia, where the birth rate is 9%.

The reasons for this decline in the birth rate of the population for different countries various. If for Phenoscandia the main reason turned out to be natural demographic processes (increase in life expectancy, gradual aging of the population), then for the Baltic countries, the difficulties of transition to a market economy affected a slight decrease in living standards, and this could not but affect the level of childbearing. On average, in the Nordic countries, there are 1.7 children per woman, in Lithuania - 1.4, in Estonia - 1.2, and in Latvia - only 1.1 children. Accordingly, the infant mortality rate here is the highest: in Latvia - 15%, Estonia - 10% and in Lithuania - 9%, while in the macroregion this figure is 6%, and on average in Europe - 8 deaths per thousand births (1999). The mortality rate of the entire population in the Nordic countries is also quite differentiated. For the Baltic countries, it was 14%, being three points higher than the average European indicator, for the sub-region of Fenoskandiya - less than 1‰, amounting to 10 people per thousand inhabitants. In the world at that time, mortality was 9%, i.e. 2‰ below the European average and 2.5‰ below the average macroregional. The reasons for this phenomenon should be sought not in the standard of living or in the existing social protection that has developed in the countries of Northern Europe, but in the growth of population losses associated with occupational diseases, industrial injuries, various kinds of accidents, as well as with the aging of the population. The average life expectancy in the Nordic countries is high - for men it is almost 74 years, and for women more than 79 years. Sweden, Norway, Iceland stand out with the highest life expectancy - 77-76 years for men and 82-81 years for women. In Latvia, life expectancy for men and women is the lowest - 64 and 79 years respectively.

The level of urbanization in the macroregion is quite high - more than 76%. Among individual countries, the total urban population in Iceland - 92%, Denmark - 85 and Sweden - 84%. The largest city of the macro-region is the capital of Denmark - Copenhagen (1.5 million people). The group of large cities also includes Stockholm, Oslo, Gothenburg, Malmjo, Riga, Vilnius, where at least one third of the population of Northern Europe is concentrated.

Most countries of the macro-region are one-national: Sweden is home to 91% of Swedes, Finland - 90% of Finns, Norway - almost 97% of Norwegians, Denmark - more than 96% of Danes and Iceland - almost 99% of Icelanders. The Baltic countries should be considered an exception. Imperial policy in national question former USSR has borne fruit. In Estonia, for example, Estonians are left with slightly more than half of the total population that lives there. Some better situation in Latvia, where Latvians account for almost 58%. Only in Lithuania, the autochthonous population significantly predominates - more than 80%. Russians predominate among national minorities (25% live in Estonia, 30% in Latvia, and 9% in Lithuania), Ukrainians, Poles, and Belarusians also live.

Most of the peoples of Northern Europe belong to the Indo-European language family, where the most common languages ​​are Germanic and Baltic language groups. The Scandinavian branch of the Germanic group of languages ​​includes Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Icelandic. On the Swedish part of the population of Finland, which lives in the south and west of the country, speaks.

The vast majority of Finnish citizens speak Finnish(including the small nomadic people of the Sami (Laplanders), which belongs to the Uralic language family of the peoples of the world.

Mostly the Sami live in Norway (30 thousand) and only 5 thousand - on the Finnish plateau. In summer, grazing herds of reindeer, they descend to coastal areas covered with tundra vegetation. The Sami - a people with dark hair and a low physique - were the first settlers of the remote regions of Fenoskandії. They moved here about 10 thousand years ago from Central Asia.


These include: Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Finland, Sweden. The total area of ​​the region is 1.3 million square meters. km, the population is about 23 million people. The main direction of agriculture is animal husbandry. The share of livestock products in o … World sheep breeding

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VI. NORTHERN EUROPE - complete- … Rulers of the World

Europe- (Europe) Europe is a densely populated, highly urbanized part of the world named after a mythological goddess, forming together with Asia the continent of Eurasia and having an area of ​​​​about 10.5 million km² (about 2% of the total Earth area) and ... Encyclopedia of the investor

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Books

  • , Chernysheva O.V., Komarov A.A. (Ed.). The collection chronologically covers the period from early medieval to the present day. Of particular interest are the materials on the new and recent history: political events in Sweden - elections in ...
  • Northern Europe. Problems of history. Issue 8, . The collection chronologically covers the period from the early Middle Ages to the present day. Of particular interest are materials on modern and recent history: political events in Sweden - elections in ...

The plains of Fennoscandia, the islands of Iceland and Spitsbergen make up the northern part of Europe. The population living in these parts is 4% of the inhabitants of the whole and is 20% of the whole of Europe.

8 small states located on these lands make up the countries of Northern Europe. eights - Sweden, and the smallest - Iceland. By state system only three countries are constitutional monarchies - Sweden, Norway and Denmark, the rest are republics.

Northern Europe. Participating countries:

  • Estonia;
  • Denmark;
  • Latvia;
  • Finland;
  • Lithuania;
  • Sweden.

Northern European countries - NATO members - Iceland and Norway.

Northern European countries. Population

Throughout Europe, 52% of men live, and 48% of women. In these parts, the population density is considered the lowest in Europe and in the densely populated southern regions it is no more than 22 people per 1 m2 (in Iceland - 3 people / m2). This is facilitated by the harsh northern climate zone. Denmark is more evenly populated. The urban part of the northern European population is mainly concentrated in the metropolitan areas. The rate of natural growth of this area is considered low and is approximately 4%. Most of the inhabitants profess Christianity - Catholicism or Protestantism.

Nordic countries Europe. Natural resources

Northern European countries have large reserves of natural resources. Iron, copper, molybdenum ores are mined on the territory of the Scandinavian Peninsula, natural gas and oil are mined in the Norwegian and North Seas, and coal is mined on the Svalbard archipelago. Scandinavian countries have rich water resources. Nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power plants play an important role here. Iceland uses thermal water as a source of electricity.

Northern European countries. Agricultural complex

The agro-industrial complex of the northern European countries consists of fishing, agriculture and animal husbandry. Meat predominates - dairy direction (in Iceland - sheep breeding). Among the crops grown cereals - rye, potatoes, wheat, sugar beets, barley.

Economy

Many indicators of economic development prove that the Nordic countries are in the lead in the entire world economy. Unemployment and inflation rates, public finances and growth dynamics differ significantly from other European areas. No wonder the North European model of economic growth is recognized as the most attractive in the world community. Many indicators were influenced by the effectiveness of the use of national resources and foreign policy. The economy of this model is built on high-quality exported products. This applies to the production of metal products and goods of the pulp and paper industry, the timber processing industry, the machine-building industry, as well as ore deposits. The main trading partners of the Nordic countries in foreign trade are the Western European countries and the United States. Three quarters of Iceland's export structure is

Despite its relatively small size compared to other parts of the world, Europe is one of the most densely populated and developed regions in the world. It is on its territory that the economy, politics and trade are concentrated, which are very important for other states. As you know, Europe is divided into four large regions according to the FGP principle. Each of them will be discussed in this article.

Characteristics of the Nordic countries

At a geography lesson, each student can receive a task on the topic “Northern Europe. Countries: list. It should be done by brief description the region as a whole and its member states.

One of the parts of the Old World is Northern Europe. The countries located in this region are under the influence of a harsh climate due to the proximity of the Arctic Ocean. Due to the severe natural conditions winter sports are actively developing in these states, as well as tourism associated with skiing and trips to the mountains. What is Northern Europe? Its member countries are Norway, Finland and Sweden. Let's dwell on them in more detail.

Finland is famous for its unique nature. So, this state is also called the "country of a thousand lakes", since on its territory there are indeed many reservoirs that were formed in antiquity in connection with certain tectonic processes and soil movements. More than five million people live in Finland, the female population predominates. Most of the inhabitants profess Lutheranism, 2% are adherents of the Christian religion.

Norway is also dominated by Lutherans. Its capital is Big City Oslo. The population of the country is approximately 4.3 million people. Norway is one of the few countries in Europe where the head of state is not the president, but the king.

Sweden is one of the largest European powers in terms of area. It occupies almost 450 million square kilometers of territory. This country is also a kingdom whose capital is Stockholm.

Natural resources of northern Europe

Another additional question on the topic “Northern Europe. Countries: list" can become a characteristic of natural resources and other resources located in a given territory. This region of the Old World is really famous for its riches.

So what kind of natural resources does Northern Europe have? The countries included in its composition are especially rich in non-ferrous metal ores, the reserves of which are leading in the region. Uranium deposits have also been discovered in Finland. But the main wealth of these states lies not in minerals, but in forests and fresh water. In this regard, countries export timber, and are also engaged in the development of peat bogs. This industry in the industry of the states is still rather poorly developed.

In Finland, as noted above, there are three huge systems of lakes, which in total occupy an area equal to almost 10 thousand square kilometers.

These natural resources are rich in Northern Europe. The countries located on its territory, due to the wealth of their mineral resources and climatic conditions, occupy an important place in trade and economy along with the largest world powers.

Western European states

The western part of the Old World is one of the main centers of capitalism. The northern countries of Western Europe gave the world talented sailors, poets and artists, writers and athletes. Thanks to them, many discoveries were made and established a large number of records.

Population this region is 370 million people. The states within it are united by close economic, political and religious views they develop in parallel with each other.

A feature of this region is a very high degree of urbanization of the population - more than 70%. The excessive concentration of urban residents in the space of megacities led to the fact that in the 70s of the last century the reverse process began - the settlement of villages.

Southern Europe

The countries of Northern and Southern Europe are of particular interest to tourists. Absolutely opposite in terms of climatic conditions, they attract travelers with stunning mountain, lake and sea landscapes. Among the largest states of Southern Europe, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece should be noted. This region also includes islands that are especially popular with tourists: Cyprus and Malta.

The population growth in these countries is very small, so the region occupies one of the leading places in the world in terms of the aging of the nation. The level of urbanization on average ranges from 45 to 90%, resulting in a very high population density.

Eastern Europe

The countries of Northern and Eastern Europe form the basis of the population of this part of the world. The latter is the leader not only in terms of the number of inhabitants, but also in terms of area, far surpassing other regions. Eastern Europe is inhabited mainly by Slavic peoples, therefore the Christian worldview prevails on its territory. It includes Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, Hungary and other states.

The climatic conditions of the region are arid due to the lack of large water bodies in many countries. Winters in Eastern European countries are not very cold. In general, the conditions are favorable for life and agriculture.

European currency

Various European countries have their own banknotes. At the same time, throughout its territory, as well as in most states of the world community, the euro is accepted. This currency made it possible to strengthen trade relations between the states of the Old World and to simplify payment for goods thanks to the universal monetary system.

However, many countries did not want to part with their national currencies. So, on the territory of Ukraine they pay in hryvnias, in the Czech Republic and Sweden - in crowns, in Great Britain - in pounds sterling. At the same time, in large shopping centers, prices are indicated both in national monetary terms and in euros.