Europe Film
Vocabulary
Arctic Circle-The imaginary line of latitude located about 66 1/2o north. This line of latitude and it’s sister in the Southern Hemisphere, the Antarctic Circle at about 66 1/2o south, ring the areas that receive the least amount of solar radiation on our planet. The northernmost part of the Asian continent lies north of the Arctic Circle.
Caspian Sea-Actually a saltwater lake that is the world’s largest body of water completely surrounded by land. It is Europe’s lowest point. The surface of the Caspian Sea is actually below sea level.
Continents-Large bodies of land that account for the vast majority of the earth’s surface. The seven continents are-in descending order of size-Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Oceania.
Delta-The fan-shaped landform created when a river deposits alluvial soil at it’s mouth.
Eastern Boundary-The controversial dividing line between Europe and Asia. Geographers disagree on the eastern boundary of Europe. One group describes it as the conventional boundary formed by the Ural Mountains. Another group holds that there is no boundary and that Europe and Asia are actually one landmass; Eurasia.
Eurasia-Geographers’ name for a single continent made up of Europe and Asia.
Fjord-A long, narrow inlet of the sea that cuts into the coast. Fjords are prevalent in Norway and Iceland. Both countries are in the Northwest Highlands, the oldest region of Europe.
Glacier-A large mass of ice that travels slowly over land surface.
Gulf Stream-A powerful ocean current carrying warm water from the Gulf of Mexico through the North Atlantic Ocean. The warm Gulf Stream joins with the cold Labrador Current to form the North Atlantic Drift current, which bathes western Europe. Winds blowing off the warm water cause western Europe to have a climate that’s comparatively mild for its latitude. These warm winds do not reach eastern Europe, which is a good deal colder.
Karst-A distinctive limestone region featuring underground rivers and huge caverns with unusual formations such as stalactities, which grow down from the ceiling of a caves, and stalagmites, which grow up from the floor.
Meseta-An extensive plateau of the Iberian Peninsula about 600 meters above sea level. The grass-covered surfaces are used for grazing sheep.
Peninsula-A piece of land extending into the water from a larger land mass. Europe can be thought of as a large peninsula with several smaller peninsulas attached to it.
Prime Meridian-The imaginary line at 0o. Longitude running from pole to pole. This line, and the 180o Meridian on the opposite side of the world, make a complete circle that divides the globe into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Tide-The rise and fall of water along the shorelines of most oceans and seas.
Volcano-A crack in the earth’s surface through which molten rock, or lava, erupts. Most of Europe’s active volcanoes are in Italy. They include Mt. Etna, which has had more than 200 recorded eruptions, Stromboli, and Vesuvius. Iceland is another highly volcanic region.
Pre-Class Work:
Highlight the Prime Meridian and read the questions.
Objectives
After viewing this film you will be able to:
- Locate Europe on a globe or world map, name what hemispheres it is in, and using latitude and longitude indicate its boundaries.
- Identify the four major geographical regions of Europe and briefly describe them.
- Discuss Europe’s description as a “collection of seas and peninsulas at the edge of the vast Eurasian landmass”.
- Explain the variations in Europe’s climate and the impact of ocean currents on climate.
- Describe Europe’s natural vegetation and indigenous fauna.