Topic: Foreign (in relation to the CIS countries) Europe. "Business card" of the region. Geographical picture of foreign Europe. Foreign Europe. Composition, political map

General characteristics of the region. Territory, borders, position: main features. Political map and international relations. State system.

Natural conditions and resources: large internal differences. Natural prerequisites for the development of industry, agriculture and forestry, transport, tourism and recreation.

Population: demographic situation and problems of reproduction. Foreign Europe as main region labor migrations. Main features of national and religious composition; exacerbation of interethnic contradictions in a number of countries. Features of settlement, geography of cities, levels and rates of urbanization; suburbanization. The largest urban agglomerations in foreign Europe. Western European type of city. Traditions of culture.

Economy: place in the world, differences between countries. Main industries and their geography. The largest areas and centers of mining and manufacturing industries. Main types of agriculture: northern, central and southern European and their geographical features. Countries and fishing areas. Regional transport system of foreign Europe, its characteristic features. Main transport routes and junctions. Seaports and port-industrial complexes. International economic relations.

Non-production sectors. The main features of the geography of science. Main financial centers. The main areas of mountain and seaside tourism. Cities as objects of tourism.

Security environment and environmental problems. Environmental policy, environmental protection measures.

Geographical pattern of settlement and economy. “Central axis” of development as the main element of the territorial structure of the region. Highly developed areas: the example of London and Paris. Old industrial areas of heavy industry: the example of the Ruhr. Backward agricultural areas: the example of the South of Italy. Areas of new development: the example of the North Sea. The influence of international economic integration on the territorial structure of the region's economy.

Subregions and countries. Subregions of foreign Europe: Eastern Europe, Middle (Central) Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe. Image of the territory.

European countries of the G7.

Federal Republic of Germany(Germany) is the most economically powerful country in foreign Europe. The main features of its economic and geographical position, political system, nature, population and economy. Geographical pattern of settlement, largest cities. Territorial structure of the economy. Regional policy.

Europe... This geographical name primarily recalls the ancient Greek myth about the daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor, ruler of Sidon, Europe. According to myth, Europa was kidnapped by the almighty Zeus, who took the form white bull. On the back of this bull, she swam across the Mediterranean Sea from Phenicia to about. Crete (remember famous painting Valentin Serova "The Rape of Europe").

However, toponymists usually produce Name“Europe” is from the Assyrian “ereb” - “darkness”, “sunset”, “west” (as opposed to Asia, whose name is associated with the word “asu” - “sunrise”). At first, the name “Europe” applied only to the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, but gradually spread to the entire territory of this part of the world.

Europe... This geographical name also recalls the enormous contribution to world civilization that began in the era Ancient Greece And Ancient Rome, was continued in the era of the Renaissance and the Great Geographical Discoveries, and then in the era of industrial revolutions and social revolutions - and so on to the present day. The largest German geographer of the 19th century. Karl Ritter wrote that historically Europe was destined to develop much better and more beneficially than Asia and Africa, which were richer in nature. So the smallest part of the world became the most powerful, ahead of others both in material and in spiritually. “It dominates them,” writes Karl Ritter, “puts a European imprint on them, just as it once itself, at least partially, was subject to the dominion of the East. Europe is the center of an enlightened and educated world. Beneficial rays emanate from her to all ends globe».

Perhaps there is something to be disputed in this panegyric to Europe. Both in relation to spiritual superiority, and in relation only to the “beneficent rays”. Let's not forget about the endless bloody wars, which were conducted in Europe: the Centennial, the Thirty, the Seven and hundreds of others. The First began in Europe World War. The Second World War broke out here, affecting 9/10 of its population. But nevertheless, the “old stones of Europe” are truly the greatest asset not only of European, but of the entire world civilization. It is generally accepted that European civilization- one of its main foundations.

Europe occupies square about 10 million km 2. Including 5 million km 2 currently located in foreign (relative to the CIS) Europe, which is less than 4% of the total inhabited land area. The territory of foreign Europe stretches from north to south (from Spitsbergen to Crete) for approximately 5 thousand km, from west to east (from the Atlantic coast of Portugal to the Black Sea coast of Romania) for approximately 3100 km.

Population of foreign Europe in 1900–2007 increased from almost 300 million to 527 million people. But its share in the world population during this time decreased from almost 18 to 8%, which is explained by a noticeable decrease in the rate of population reproduction. For many centuries and even millennia, foreign Europe was second only to foreign Asia in terms of population; now both Africa and Latin America.

For physical map of foreign Europe characterized by many features, of which two are especially worth noting.

Firstly, this “mosaic” structure of its territory, which alternates lowland, hilly and mountainous areas; in total, the ratio between plains and mountains is approximately 1: 1. Physico-geographers of Moscow State University identify 9 physical-geographical countries in foreign Europe, dividing them into 19 regions and 51 districts. But at the same time - unlike, say, Asia or America - it is not “fenced off” by high mountain ranges. Among the mountains of Europe, medium-altitude ones predominate, which do not pose insurmountable barriers to economic and other ties. Transport routes have long been built through their numerous passes.

Secondly, this seaside location most countries in overseas Europe, many of which are located on islands and peninsulas, close to busy sea routes from Europe to Asia, Africa, Australia and America. Navigation and maritime trade have long played a major role in their development. The rugged coastline was especially favorable for this. Back in 1914, Osip Mandelstam wrote in his poem “Europe”:

Its living shores are cut up,

And the peninsulas are aerial sculptures,

The contours of the bays are a little feminine,

Vizcaya, Genoa lazy arc.

Really, coastline Europe, including islands, is 143 thousand km. In foreign Europe there are almost no places that are more than 600 km away from the sea, but the average distance is 300 km. But in most of the UK there is no settlements, located further than 60–80 km from the coast.

Let us add to this that the natural landscapes of foreign Europe throughout last millennia experienced the greatest anthropogenic changes. Back in the Bronze Age, shifting agriculture, hunting and gathering appeared here, and the domestication of livestock began. IN ancient times nomadic cattle breeding was added to them on the Danube plains, and in Southern Europe the clearing of forests for arable land increased. In the Middle Ages, extensive agriculture and animal husbandry played a major role, and cultivable lands expanded. And today it is a region of intensive agriculture and livestock raising, with a wide spread of agricultural landscapes. Of all parts of the world, it is Europe that is the most “cultivated”: only 2.8% of its territory is free from traces of human activity.

Political map of foreign Europe It is also distinguished by its peculiar “mosaic” appearance. In the mid-1980s. there were 32 sovereign states here (including the microstates of Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City and Liechtenstein). In the early 1990s. in connection with the separation of the Baltic countries from the USSR, the collapse of the SFRY and Czechoslovakia, the number of such countries increased noticeably. The most important change on the political map of the region was also the unification of Germany in 1990.

Most countries in foreign Europe are relatively small in size. Not to mention the microstates, Luxembourg and Malta, nine of them have an area of ​​up to 50 thousand km2: Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Albania and Estonia (for comparison, recall that the Moscow region occupies 47 thousand km2). km 2). Eleven countries have a territory from 50 thousand to 100 thousand km 2: Iceland, Ireland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal. Ten countries have a territory from 100 thousand to 500 thousand km 2: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece. And only the areas of two countries - France and Spain - exceed 500 thousand km 2.

To understand the “scale” of foreign European countries, it is also very important to become familiar with their linear dimensions. Norway is the longest (1,750 km), followed by Sweden (1,600), Finland (1,160), France (1,000), Great Britain (965), and Germany (876 km). In countries such as Bulgaria or Hungary, the largest linear distances do not exceed 500 km, and in the Netherlands - 300 km. Therefore, the “depth” of the territory in most of them is not very great. For example, in Bulgaria and Hungary there are no places that are more than 115–120 km from the borders of these countries. Such border conditions can be considered as an important favorable prerequisite for the development of integration processes.

Finally, one cannot help but say that foreign Europe has been and remains one of the largest centers of the world economy. Its total GDP is more than $15 trillion, or approximately 22% of the world's. The region ranks first (40%) in global trade. He also holds leadership in the field of gold and foreign exchange reserves and foreign investments. Most countries in foreign Europe have entered the post-industrial stage of development. They are characterized by a tall and very high level quality of life of the population.

Especially radical transformation occurred in foreign Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In its western part they were associated primarily with education single European economic area based on 15 European Union (EU) countries. In its eastern part they found expression in the change social order and the transition from a centralized state economy to a market economy. Folds and single political space foreign Europe, which is facilitated by the fact that in the second half of the 1990s. in most of its countries, the “right”, conservative parties were replaced by the “left” parties of social democrats and socialists. The formation of a single political (geopolitical) space also occurs as a result of the activities of international organizations. Two of them are especially important.

Firstly, this Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which occupies a central place in the European security system. Created in 1975, it proceeds from the fact that the basis of interstate relations in Europe should be: respect for the sovereign equality of states, their territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, non-use of force or threat of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for human rights . In 1999, the OSCE adopted the Charter for European Security, which became a kind of “code of conduct” for European states and organizations. The OSCE structure includes many permanent bodies (meetings, councils, committees, bureaus, missions, etc.). In 2008, this organization included 56 states (with the USA, Canada, Japan, CIS countries and some others).

Secondly, this Council of Europe (CoE), created in 1949 as an advisory political organization, promoting integration processes in the field of human rights, fundamental freedoms and parliamentary democracy. The main bodies of the Council of Europe are the Committee of Ministers (at the level of foreign ministers), the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) - an advisory body with advisory functions and the Congress of Local and regional bodies European authorities. The Secretariat of the Council of Europe is located in Strasbourg (France).

IN Lately increasingly they also write about a single European idea, about problems European education, which should contribute to spiritual rapprochement European peoples. It also includes the formation European consciousness, aimed at ensuring that the inhabitants of the region recognize themselves not only as Germans, French or English, but above all as Europeans, who are connected by the commonality of Western European civilization with its many unique features. This means that younger generations of Europeans must be brought up in accordance with the principle of “double loyalty” - both to their country and to a united Europe.

Along with this, at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. in foreign Europe, changes also occurred that affected the international political landscape and disrupted the existing system collective security. First of all, this relates to the Alliance’s desire to extend its influence to the post-socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Thus, in 1999, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary joined NATO. In 2004, three Baltic countries, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Slovenia, were admitted to NATO. This meant bringing the bloc's borders directly to the Russian border and was perceived negatively, at least psychologically, in Russia, which does not pose a threat to NATO. This also applies to NATO's claims to a major role in the process of making important political decisions, bypassing the largest international organizations for maintaining peace and security.

Russia - how European country– accepts Active participation in all European affairs. It is a member of the OSCE and was admitted to the Council of Europe in 1996, becoming its 39th member. In 1997, the fundamental Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security was concluded between Russia and NATO. It notes that Russia and NATO do not view each other as adversaries, and their common goal is to overcome the remnants of previous confrontation and rivalry and strengthen mutual trust and cooperation. The Russia-NATO Permanent Council was also created. In 1999, relations between them were noticeably darkened due to NATO's military action in Yugoslavia. Then they began to gradually improve and were especially strengthened after the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001 and the creation of a broad anti-terrorist coalition, which included Russia. In 2002, new relations between Russia and NATO were officially established in the form of the so-called “G20” (19 NATO countries and Russia). However, in mid-2008, in connection with the decision to deploy elements of the American missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland, and even more so after Georgia’s military action in South Ossetia, relations between Russia and NATO sharply deteriorated.

IN modern world

Europe... This geographical name primarily recalls the ancient Greek myth about the daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor, ruler of Sidon, Europe. According to the myth, Europa was kidnapped by the almighty Zeus, who took the form of a white bull. On the back of this bull, she swam across the Mediterranean Sea from Phenicia to about. Crete (remember the famous painting by Valentin Serov “The Rape of Europa”).

However, toponymists usually produceName “Europe” is from the Assyrian “ereb” - “darkness”, “sunset”, “west” (as opposed to Asia, the name of which is associated with the word “asu” - “sunrise”). At first, the name “Europe” applied only to the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, but gradually spread to the entire territory of this part of the world.

Europe... This geographical name also recalls the enormous contribution to world civilization, which began in the era of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, was continued in the era of the Renaissance and the Great Geographical Discoveries, and then in the era of industrial revolutions and social revolutions - and so on to the present day. The largest German geographer of the 19th century. Karl Ritter wrote that historically Europe was destined to develop much better and more beneficially than Asia and Africa, which were richer in nature. Thus, the smallest part of the world became the most powerful, ahead of others both materially and spiritually. “It dominates them,” writes Karl Ritter, “puts a European imprint on them, just as it once itself, at least partially, was subject to the dominion of the East. Europe is the center of an enlightened and educated world. Beneficial rays emanate from her to all ends of the globe.”

Perhaps there is something to be disputed in this panegyric to Europe. Both in relation to spiritual superiority, and in relation only to the “beneficent rays”. Let's not forget about the endless bloody wars that were fought in Europe: the Hundred Years, the Thirty Years, the Seven Years and hundreds of others. The First World War began in Europe. The Second World War broke out here and engulfed 9 / 10 its population. But nevertheless, the “old stones of Europe” are truly the greatest asset not only of European, but of the entire world civilization. It is generally accepted that European civilization is one of its main foundations.

Europe occupies square about 10 million km 2 . Including 5 million km 2 currently falls on foreign (in relation to the CIS) Europe, which is less than 4% of the total inhabited land area. The territory of foreign Europe stretches from north to south (from Spitsbergen to Crete) for approximately 5 thousand km, from west to east (from the Atlantic coast of Portugal to the Black Sea coast of Romania) for approximately 3100 km.

Population of foreign Europe in 1900–2007 increased from almost 300 million to 527 million people. But its share in the world population during this time decreased from almost 18 to 8%, which is explained by a noticeable decrease in the rate of population reproduction. For many centuries and even millennia, foreign Europe was second only to foreign Asia in terms of population; now both Africa and Latin America are ahead of it in this indicator.

For physical map of foreign Europe characterized by many features, of which two are especially worth noting.

Firstly, this “mosaic” structure of its territory, which alternates lowland, hilly and mountainous areas; in total, the ratio between plains and mountains is approximately 1: 1. Physico-geographers of Moscow State University identify 9 physical-geographical countries in foreign Europe, dividing them into 19 regions and 51 districts. But at the same time - unlike, say, Asia or America - it is not “fenced off” by high mountain ranges. Among the mountains of Europe, medium-altitude ones predominate, which do not pose insurmountable barriers to economic and other ties. Transport routes have long been built through their numerous passes.

Secondly, this seaside location most countries in overseas Europe, many of which are located on islands and peninsulas, close to busy sea routes from Europe to Asia, Africa, Australia and America. Navigation and maritime trade have long played a major role in their development. The rugged coastline was especially favorable for this. Back in 1914, Osip Mandelstam wrote in his poem “Europe”:

Its living shores are cut up,

And the peninsulas are aerial sculptures,

The contours of the bays are a little feminine,

Vizcaya, Genoa lazy arc.

Indeed, the coastline of Europe, including islands, is 143 thousand km. In foreign Europe there are almost no places that are more than 600 km away from the sea, but the average distance is 300 km. And in most of the UK there are no settlements further than 60–80 km from the coast.

Let us add to this that the natural landscapes of foreign Europe have experienced the greatest anthropogenic changes over the past millennia. Back in the Bronze Age, shifting agriculture, hunting and gathering appeared here, and the domestication of livestock began. In ancient times, nomadic cattle breeding was added to them on the Danube plains, and in Southern Europe the clearing of forests for arable land increased. In the Middle Ages, extensive agriculture and animal husbandry played a major role, and cultivable lands expanded. And today it is a region of intensive agriculture and livestock raising, with a wide spread of agricultural landscapes. Of all parts of the world, it is Europe that is the most “cultivated”: only 2.8% of its territory is free from traces of human activity.

Political map of foreign Europe It is also distinguished by its peculiar “mosaic” appearance. In the mid-1980s. there were 32 sovereign states here (including the microstates of Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City and Liechtenstein). In the early 1990s. in connection with the separation of the Baltic countries from the USSR, the collapse of the SFRY and Czechoslovakia, the number of such countries increased noticeably. The most important change on the political map of the region was also the unification of Germany in 1990.

Most countries in foreign Europe are relatively small in size. Not to mention the microstates, Luxembourg and Malta, nine of them have an area of ​​up to 50 thousand km 2 : Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Albania and Estonia (for comparison, recall that the Moscow region occupies 47 thousand km 2 ). Eleven countries have a territory of 50 thousand to 100 thousand km 2 : Iceland, Ireland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal. Ten countries have a territory from 100 thousand to 500 thousand km 2 : Norway, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece. And only the areas of two countries - France and Spain - exceed 500 thousand km 2 .

To understand the “scale” of foreign European countries, it is also very important to become familiar with their linear dimensions. Norway is the longest (1,750 km), followed by Sweden (1,600), Finland (1,160), France (1,000), Great Britain (965), and Germany (876 km). In countries such as Bulgaria or Hungary, the largest linear distances do not exceed 500 km, and in the Netherlands - 300 km. Therefore, the “depth” of the territory in most of them is not very great. For example, in Bulgaria and Hungary there are no places that are more than 115–120 km from the borders of these countries. Such border conditions can be considered as an important favorable prerequisite for the development of integration processes.

Finally, one cannot help but say that foreign Europe has been and remains one of the largestcenters of the world economy. Its total GDP is more than $15 trillion, or approximately 22% of the world's. The region ranks first (40%) in world trade. He also holds leadership in the field of gold and foreign exchange reserves and foreign investments. Most countries in foreign Europe have entered the post-industrial stage of development. They are characterized by a high and very high level of quality of life of the population.

Especially radical transformation occurred in foreign Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In its western part they were associated primarily with educationsingle European economic area based on 15 European Union (EU) countries. In its eastern part, they found expression in a change in the social system and the transition from a centralized state economy to a market economy. Folds andsingle political space foreign Europe, which is facilitated by the fact that in the second half of the 1990s. in most of its countries, the “right”, conservative parties were replaced by the “left” parties of social democrats and socialists. The formation of a single political (geopolitical) space also occurs as a result of the activities of international organizations. Two of them are especially important.

Firstly, this Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which occupies a central place in the European security system. Created in 1975, it proceeds from the fact that the basis of interstate relations in Europe should be: respect for the sovereign equality of states, their territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, non-use of force or threat of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for human rights . In 1999, the OSCE adopted the Charter for European Security, which became a kind of “code of conduct” for European states and organizations. The OSCE structure includes many permanent bodies (meetings, councils, committees, bureaus, missions, etc.). In 2008, this organization included 56 states (with the USA, Canada, Japan, CIS countries and some others).

Secondly, this Council of Europe (CoE), created in 1949 as a political advisory organization promoting integration processes in the field of human rights, fundamental freedoms and parliamentary democracy. The main bodies of the Council of Europe are the Committee of Ministers (at the level of foreign ministers), the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) - an advisory body with advisory functions, and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe. The Secretariat of the Council of Europe is located in Strasbourg (France).

Recently, more and more often they also write abouta single European idea, about problems European education, which should contribute to the spiritual rapprochement of European peoples. It also includes the formationEuropean consciousness, aimed at ensuring that the inhabitants of the region recognize themselves not only as Germans, French or English, but above all as Europeans, who are connected by the commonality of Western European civilization with its many unique features. This means that younger generations of Europeans must be brought up in accordance with the principle of “double loyalty” - both to their country and to a united Europe.

Along with this, at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. In foreign Europe, changes also occurred that affected the international political landscape and disrupted the existing system of collective security. First of all, this relates to the Alliance’s desire to extend its influence to the post-socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Thus, in 1999, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary joined NATO. In 2004, three Baltic countries, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Slovenia, were admitted to NATO. This meant bringing the bloc's borders directly to the Russian border and was perceived negatively, at least psychologically, in Russia, which does not pose a threat to NATO. This also applies to NATO's claims to a major role in the process of making important political decisions, bypassing the largest international organizations for maintaining peace and security.

Russia, as a European country, takes an active part in all European affairs. It is a member of the OSCE and was admitted to the Council of Europe in 1996, becoming its 39th member. In 1997, the fundamental Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security was concluded between Russia and NATO. It notes that Russia and NATO do not view each other as adversaries, and their common goal is to overcome the remnants of previous confrontation and rivalry and strengthen mutual trust and cooperation. The Russia-NATO Permanent Council was also created. In 1999, relations between them were noticeably darkened due to NATO's military action in Yugoslavia. Then they began to gradually improve and were especially strengthened after the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001 and the creation of a broad anti-terrorist coalition, which included Russia. In 2002, new relations between Russia and NATO were officially established in the form of the so-called “G20” (19 NATO countries and Russia). However, in mid-2008, in connection with the decision to deploy elements of the American missile defense system in the Czech Republic and Poland, and even more so after Georgia’s military action in South Ossetia, relations between Russia and NATO sharply deteriorated.

The European territory that lies outside the former CIS countries is usually called “foreign Europe”. It consists of four dozen countries connected to each other by a whole bunch of historical and political relations. The territory of foreign Europe is about 5.4 million square kilometers, and the population is more than 500 million people. This area is undoubtedly one of the centers of world civilization and occupies an important place in world politics. Today we will talk to you about such a topic as general characteristics foreign Europe. Grade 11 school curriculum involves consideration of this topic. Let's remember what we were taught at school and learn something new for ourselves!

States

The territory we are considering today extends 5,000 km from north to south and 3,000 km from west to east. Among them there are large and medium-sized ones, but for the most part they are still small. For example, there is a joke that when entering Belgium, you need to hit the brakes, otherwise you can drive into another country. A fast train travels through this country in just 140 minutes. There are a majority of such states in Europe. That is why in many of them there is no such thing as a sleeping car.

As the general characteristics of the countries of foreign Europe show, they, from the point of view, have two main features. The first of them is the neighboring position of the countries. Despite the small (relatively, of course) size of the territory and its shallow “depth”, the states have a well-established system of transport connections. The second feature is the coastal location of the majority of European countries. Many of them are located near the busiest waterways. The life of such countries as England, the Netherlands, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal, Norway, Italy and Greece has been closely connected with the sea since ancient times.

Throughout the twentieth century political map Europe has undergone significant changes three times: after the First and Second World Wars, and also in the late 90s. Today in foreign Europe you can find republics, monarchies, as well as unitary and federal states.

Nature and resources

It was created under the influence of natural conditions, namely the composition of minerals. It is different in the northern (platform) and southern (folded) parts of the region. Northern part rich in ore and fuel resources. The main coal basins are the Ruhr (Germany) and the Upper Silesian (Poland). Among the oil and gas basins, it is worth highlighting the Severomorsk. And among the iron ore basins are the Kiruna basin (Sweden) and the Lorraine basin (France).

The southern part of the region is rich in ore deposits of igneous and sedimentary origin. As for fuel reserves, they are not as large here as in northern Europe.

A general description of foreign Europe in terms of energy shows that its resources here are very voluminous, but they are located mainly in mountainous regions, namely the Alpine, Scandinavian and Dinaric regions. IN large quantities countries' resources have already practically dried up. The nature of the region allows for active agriculture. The only problem is the lack of land. Small coastal states are fighting it, expanding towards the seas. For example, a third of the territory of the Netherlands was “reclaimed” from the sea with the help of dams and dikes. Locals in this regard they say: “God created the Earth, and the Netherlands - the Netherlands.” This is unlikely to be written in the “Geography” section of the book (grade 11). The general characteristics of foreign Europe, however, cannot ignore this fact.

The region is located in the temperate and subtropical (in the south) zones. In the Mediterranean region, stable agriculture is impossible without artificial irrigation. This mainly affects Italy and Spain. Best conditions For forestry, Finland and Sweden can boast. No wonder there is a saying: “Finland without a forest is like a bear without hair.” are also quite widely represented here.

Now it’s time to consider the next point of the conversation on the topic “General characteristics of foreign Europe.”

Population of foreign Europe

The national composition is quite homogeneous. Most peoples belong to the Indo-European family. The dominant religion in the region is Christianity. However, the southern part is also inclined towards Catholicism, and the northern part towards Protestantism. Foreign Europe is considered one of the most densely populated regions of the Earth. The population density here is more than 100 people per 1 square kilometer. The placement is determined mainly by the geography of peoples. Europe also ranks high in terms of urbanization levels. On average, about 78% of the population lives in cities. There are countries in which this figure reaches 90%.

For recent years Europe's population began to grow too slowly. 15 countries are experiencing population decline. In addition, its composition is changing - the number of older people is growing. This affected the region’s share in the global mechanism of external migration. Foreign Europe is gradually turning into a hotbed of labor emigration. There are about 20 million workers from abroad. 7 million of them live in Germany.

The 11th grade of the school curriculum deals with such issues superficially, but we will touch on them in more detail. As an integral region, foreign Europe has world leadership in terms of the scale of exports of goods, size industrial production and tourism development. First of all, the economic power of the region rests on countries such as France, Great Britain, Italy and Germany. Behind last decade The leader of this four is Germany, whose economy is developing very dynamically. The “Workshop of the World” - Great Britain - has begun to lose ground. Among the remaining states, the largest weight is given to: the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain and Sweden. They, unlike the “main four,” focus on individual industries.

Industry

Leading foreign Europe - mechanical engineering. It accounts for a third of the region's production and two-thirds of exports. It's no secret that Europe is famous for its cars. First of all, mechanical engineering gravitates towards big cities, including capitals. In this case, as a rule, each sub-sector is oriented in a certain region of the state.

In second place is the chemical industry. Germany has been particularly successful in this direction. Before World War II, the chemical industry of the region focused mainly on coal (hard and brown), salts (table and potash) and pyrites. Then there was a reorientation of industry towards hydrocarbon raw materials. The largest petrochemical centers are located in the estuaries of the Seine, Thames, Elbe, Rhine and Rhone. Here this industry is intertwined with oil production.

Natural gas and oil produced from the North Sea fields are sent to different countries through a huge system of trunk pipelines. Gas from Algeria is transported in methane tankers. Russian gas, which is purchased by 20 European countries, also plays a major role.

The next largest industry is metallurgy. It was formed here even before the start of the scientific and technological revolution. Ferrous metallurgy is most widely developed in Germany, England, Spain, France, the Czech Republic and Poland. Aluminum and non-ferrous metallurgy also occupy a large share. Aluminum is smelted not only in countries with extensive bauxite reserves, but also in countries with developed electricity production.

The timber industry is concentrated mainly in Finland and Sweden, and the light industry in southern Europe. Italy is the second largest shoe manufacturing country in the world, after China. And Portugal is considered the main “seamstress” of the region. In most countries, they still exist today. national traditions on production musical instruments, furniture, glass products.

Agriculture

The general characteristics of the economy of foreign Europe were touched upon above, now let’s talk in more detail. Most countries in the region are fully self-sufficient in agricultural products and actively sell them abroad. After World War II, the region went from being a small peasant farm to specialized high-commodity. The main industries - crop production and livestock production - are spread throughout Europe and are closely intertwined with each other. Natural and historical conditions gave rise to the formation of such types of agriculture: Northern European, Central European and Southern European.

Northern European farming is common in Finland, Scandinavia and the UK. It is characterized by intensive dairy farming, which is supported by crop production of gray grain and fodder crops. In the Central European type, the main role is played by meat and dairy farming, as well as poultry farming.

The Southern European type is characterized by a predominance of plant growing. Crops are mainly aimed at grain crops, but the international specialization of the southern part of Europe is the production of grapes, olives, citrus fruits, tobacco, nuts and essential oils. The main "garden" of Europe - the coast Mediterranean Sea. Typically, each state has its own specialization in agriculture. For example, Holland is famous for growing flowers, France and Switzerland for producing cheese, and so on.

Tourism

A general description of foreign Europe cannot do without tourism. Europe was, is and will be the main region of international tourism. Here it is manifested in all directions. The most popular are France, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and other large countries. And in small states such as Andorra, Monaco and others, tourism is a currency-generating industry. The main types of tourism in foreign Europe are mountain and sea.

Transport connection

Today we give a general description of foreign Europe, and without a transport system it is impossible. Europe is inferior in terms of transportation distance to America and Russia, but in terms of transport network availability it is the leader throughout the world. The traffic density is very high. Main role Road transport plays a role in the transportation of passengers and goods. The railway network in most countries is being actively reduced.

The land transport network has a complex configuration. It is formed by highways in meridial and latitudinal directions, most of which are of international importance. River routes are also oriented towards these directions. Special role the river Rhine plays. More than two hundred million tons of cargo are transported along it annually. In places where land and waterways intersect, transport hubs arose, which over time turned into real port-industrial complexes. For example, it ships about 350 million tons annually.

Western Europe is an example of how huge natural barriers are no longer an obstacle to the transport system. Railroads, roads, and pipelines cross the Alps in all necessary directions. The shores of the Baltic, Mediterranean and North Seas are connected by ferry crossings.

General characteristics of foreign Europe: science and money

In Europe today there are many technopolises that make it one of the world centers of science. The largest of them are located in the vicinity of Munich and Cambridge. And in the southern part of France, the “High Technology Road” was formed.

Europe has the lion's share of the world's largest banks. Switzerland has become the benchmark for banking. About 50% of securities from all over the world are stored in the safes of its banks.

Environment protection

A general description of foreign Europe shows that the issue of protecting nature is resonant in its territories. Due to high population density and active industrial development, Europe has long been faced with a number of environmental problems. Some of them are related to coal mining and processing. Others - with an abundance of petrochemical and metallurgical plants in major cities. Still others - with an increasing number of cars on the streets. Fourth - with the development of tourism, which leads to the degradation of nature. And so on.

All countries located in the region pursue an active environmental policy. As a result, more and more decisive measures are being taken: promotion of bicycles and electric vehicles, active restoration of vegetation, etc.

Conclusion

Today the topic of our conversation was the general characteristics of foreign Europe. 11th grade is a time when a huge burden falls on the shoulders of schoolchildren, so they lose sight of many fundamental things. We reminded ourselves of everything that might have been forgotten, and learned something new on the topic "General Characteristics of Foreign Europe." Presentation (grade 11) with the help of this article will be an easy task for any student.

The video lesson is dedicated to the topic “Foreign Europe. Composition, political map." This topic is the first not only in the section of lessons dedicated to Foreign Europe, but also the first in regional geography of the 10th grade. You will get to know old Europe, which continues to play a leading role in the modern economy thanks to its financial, geopolitical influences and peculiarities of its economic and geographical location. The teacher will tell you in detail about the composition, borders, history, and countries of Foreign Europe.

Topic: Regional characteristics of the world. Foreign Europe

Lesson:Foreign Europe. Composition, political map

Europe is a part of the world with an area of ​​about 10 million km² (of which Foreign Europe, in relation to the CIS countries, accounts for 5.1 million km²) and a population of 740 million people (about 10-11% of the Earth's population). The average height is about 300 m, the maximum is 4808 m, Mont Blanc.

Rice. 1. Mont Blanc

Features of the geographical location:

1. The length from north to south (from Spitsbergen to Crete) is 5 thousand km, and from west to east - more than 3 thousand km.

2. The relief “mosaic” of its territory: lowlands and elevated areas. Among the mountains of Europe, most are of medium height. The borders run primarily along natural boundaries that do not create obstacles to transport connections.

3. High degree of ruggedness of the coastline.

4. The coastal position of most countries. The average distance from the sea is 300 km. In the western part of the region there is no place more than 480 km away from the sea, in the eastern part – 600 km.

5. The “depth” of the territory of most countries is small. So in Bulgaria and Hungary there are no places that are more than 115-120 km away from the borders of these countries.

6. Neighborhood location favorable for integration processes.

7. Advantageous position in terms of contacts with the rest of the worlds, because is located at the junction with Asia and Africa, extended far into the ocean - the “large peninsula of Eurasia.”

8. Variety natural resources, but non-comprehensive placement by country, many deposits in to a large extent worked out.

Europe is usually divided into Northern and Southern, Western and Eastern, this is quite arbitrary, especially since not only purely geographical, but also political factors come into play here.

A single economic, political and financial space is emerging in Foreign Europe.

The vast majority of countries are members of the UN. Switzerland joined the UN in September 2002, NATO members are 14 countries, EU members are 15 countries. Most countries belong to the group of industrialized countries. Four countries: Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy are part of the G7 Western countries. Post-socialist countries or countries with economies in transition occupy a special place on the economic map of the region.

Council of Europe- an international organization promoting cooperation between all European countries in the field of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, rule of law and cultural interaction. Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe is Europe's oldest international organization. Most known authorities Council of Europe are the European Court of Human Rights, acting in accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and the Commission of the European Pharmacopoeia.

Rice. 2. Emblem of the Council of Europe

After the collapse of the socialist regimes, the situation changed noticeably. Most countries of the former “socialist camp” have reoriented themselves towards Western structures. Currently, more than half of the European countries are members of the European Union and NATO, almost all the rest declare their desire to join these organizations.

The following events had the greatest impact on the formation of the political map of Europe: the First World War, the Second World War, the collapse of the USSR and the entire world socialist system. Until the mid-80s there were 32 sovereign states, including microstates. Since the beginning of the 90s - about 40 states.

Currently, there are more than 40 states in Europe. Most states by form of government are republics, 12 are monarchies. According to the administrative-territorial structure, all countries (except Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland) are unitary. Largest countries by area: France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Finland. Largest countries by population: Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy. Four countries of Overseas Europe are members of the G7: France, Germany, Italy, and Great Britain. Germany is considered the main economy of Europe.

Rice. 3. Political map of Europe

Homework

Topic 6, P.1

1. What are the features of the geographical and economic-geographical position of the countries of Foreign Europe?

2. What regions (subregions) are distinguished in Foreign Europe?

Bibliography

Main

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Materials on the Internet

1. Federal Institute of Pedagogical Measurements ().

2. Federal portal Russian Education ().

6. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ().