Western Europe covers an area of 1422.8 thousand km2, which is 16.6% of the entire territory of Europe. The region includes eleven countries. Three of them (Germany, France, Great Britain) are among the seven most developed countries in the world.
The other six (Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland) are small highly developed countries, while Monaco and Liechtenstein remain in the rank of "dwarf" states.
In general, the region is characterized by a high level of economic development, significant incomes of the population and, accordingly, a high standard of living in the world.
An important feature of the geographical location (position) of Western Europe is the wide access of developed states to the World Ocean, which for many centuries was used to lay sea routes, conquer overseas territories and create such powerful colonial powers in the past as Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium.
The further development of relations between the metropolises and territories dependent on them was very difficult, in most cases aggressive, but on the whole it contributed to the international division of labor, the formation of the world economic system, and the "driving force" of economic reforms.
Other countries - Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg - although they do not have direct access to the sea, but, using inland waterways, a dense network of modern roads and railways, they overcome spatial isolation and create all the prerequisites for the openness of their economy. The eastern and southeastern territories of the region, in particular Germany, Austria, Switzerland, bordering Central-Eastern and Southern Europe, the borders with which in most cases pass along rivers, mountain ranges, are not an obstacle to the construction of railways and roads.
The influence of the ocean is especially felt on economic activity western coastal areas, and southern England. Many seaports have become well-known urban centers - London, Liverpool, Rotterdam, Hamburg, etc. The internal transport system and certain sectors of the economy, in particular shipbuilding, oil refining and other industries specializing in the processing of imported raw materials, gravitate towards such centers. At the same time, one should not discard the central importance of capital cities and regional centers, which have emerged as significant political, economic and cultural centers, remote from the sea, but located at the advantageous European crossroads of Paris, Bonn, Berlin, Vienna, Luxembourg, etc.
Economic - geographical assessment natural conditions and resources. Western Europe looks like a fairly compact territory, with the exception of the British Isles, which are shifted far to the west, crashing into the oceanic space of the Atlantic. This specific position affects the climatic conditions of the region. If the climate of the British Isles is typically maritime, where annual precipitation may exceed 1500 mm, and the annual amplitudes of temperature fluctuations are insignificant (almost frost-free winters, relatively cool summers), then for the continental part of the region its change is associated with the transformation of sea air masses when they move to depth of the mainland. For example, in the extreme west of the Netherlands, the annual precipitation is 700-800 mm. with a maximum of precipitation in winter, mainly in the form of rain, with average temperatures of the cold month from +1 to -1 ° C. Moving to the east, the annual amount of precipitation decreases and on the eastern borders of Germany, the average January temperature is everywhere negative (-2 ... -Z ° C), and the average July temperature is +20 ° C with an annual rainfall of about 500 mm., The maximum of which occurs in the second half of spring and early summer, which contributes to the development of agriculture, especially row crops. A similar pattern of climate change characterizes the middle and partially southern part of the region. True, here importance has not only a geographical location, but also the nature of the relief. If the northern part of Western Europe is occupied by the Central European Plain, where the climate changes eastward, gradually acquiring a continental character, then the southern part is occupied by plateaus and the Alps, the climate of which, depending on the height of the mountain ranges, the presence of closed basins and sides of the slope can be very different. An example of a mild and warm climate with a continental tinge can be the Upper Rhine Plain, which is considered very favorable for the development of agriculture. An example of the unique climate of mountainous areas can be the southern slopes of Switzerland, Austria, used for the development of climatic resorts and agricultural development of mountain slopes.
In general, the territory of Western Europe is located in the temperate zone. Almost all of its mainland, except for the Alpine regions and a narrow strip of the Mediterranean coast of France, as well as the north of Great Britain, has an annual sum of active temperatures from 2200 ° to 4000 °, which makes it possible to grow the main agricultural crops with an average and long growing season - wheat, rye, oats, sugar beet, sunflower, corn, etc. For the Scottish Highlands, Ireland and the highlands of the continental part, the sum of active temperatures is half as much - from 1000 ° to 2200 °, crops with a short growing season are grown here. Only a narrow strip of the Mediterranean coast of France belongs to subtropical climate with the sum of active temperatures from 4000° to 6000°. Therefore, such heat-loving crops as citrus, olive, grapes, etc. are grown here.
In Western Europe, winters are predominantly mild with average January temperatures, rarely dropping below zero (with the exception of the mountainous regions and the eastern borders of Germany). Summer is not hot, and the average July temperature ranges from +16 to +24 ° C.
Western Europe is characterized by high humidity, especially its western part. Agricultural lands of Great Britain, coastal lands of France, the Netherlands and Germany requiring drainage, especially on clay soils, poorly pass atmospheric moisture. The mountain ranges of the region, the entire Alps, holding back the Atlantic air masses, condensed a significant amount of moisture - from 1500 to 3000 mm. precipitation per year. The Alps have a clearly defined altitudinal zonality (zonation) - from a warm temperate climate to a moderate cold climate with a strict alpine climate in the upper part of the mountains. For economic purposes, mountains are actively used up to a height of 1500-2000 m.
The soils of Western Europe are not very fertile, but thanks to the introduction of a high level of agricultural technology, their quality has increased markedly. This enables the developed countries of Western Europe to obtain very high yields of major crops.
Most of the territory of Western Europe has long been mastered by man, cultivated, only in the north of Great Britain and in the Alps have preserved corners of the wild. That's where the forests are. Only one fifth of the region's territory is covered with forests. The mountainous areas of continental Europe (30%) are distinguished by the highest forest cover, the British Isles are the least (in Ireland - less than 3%).
The countries of Western Europe have a dense river system. Almost all rivers are full-flowing, most of them in the lower and middle reaches are navigable. The transport value of rivers is enhanced by the presence of laid channels. By resources annual runoff per capita, the region ranks high in the world. Ireland is in the first place among the countries of the region - 13.7 thousand m3, Austria is in the second place - 7.70, Switzerland is in the third place - 7.28. Among the major countries water resources annual flow per capita is: for France - 4.57 Great Britain - 2.73 thousand m3, and for Germany - even less.
A significant concentration of water resources is located in the Alps - on high mountain glaciers. They occupy 3,200 km2 of area, with reserves of 3,500 km3 of water.
The countries well endowed with water resources include Great Britain and France.
The mountain rivers of the Western region have powerful hydropower resources: France - 80 billion kWh / year, Austria - 44 and Switzerland - 39 kWh / year. They account for almost one-fourth of Europe's total hydropower reserves.
Geologically, the territory of the region, like the whole of Europe, has been studied quite well. Among the minerals, coal, iron ore, and oil are of great economic importance.
Hard coal occurs in almost all countries of the region, and the largest reserves are the Ruhr (Rhine-Westphalian) basin, deposits of Northern France, Great Britain and Belgium. Brown coal, which is a good raw material for the chemical industry, is located on the outskirts of the Alpine fold system (eastern Germany).
The metallurgical resources of the western region of Europe are incomplete. Of the main ores of ferrous metals (iron, manganese, chromium), only iron ore stands out in large reserves. Its main deposits are located in the UK, northwestern France and Luxembourg. True, these rudiments have a relatively low metal content: in France and Luxembourg - from 30 to 40%, in England and Germany - from 20 to 35%.
Significant reserves of aluminum raw materials (bauxites) are in France, antimony and molybdenum - in Austria.
Western Europe is rich in important types of chemical raw materials - potash and table salt. Their main deposits are in Germany.
Among the energy resources, in addition to coal and water resources, the region has reserves of oil, natural gas and uranium.
The oil-rich shelf of the North Sea - especially that part of it belongs to the UK. Following oil in the 1970s, large deposits of natural gas were discovered, but mainly on the shelf of Norway, which significantly changed the energy economy not only in this country, but also in neighboring countries of the Northern macroregion.
Industrial reserves of uranium lie on the territory of France.
And yet, despite some improvement in the fuel and energy balance due to internal reserves, the main source of renewal of energy carriers remains the countries - exporters from other regions of the world.
Population. The population of the region in mid-2000 was almost 246 million people, which is 37% total strength throughout Europe, being 7.7 times more than in Northern Europe, and 47.2% more than in Central-Eastern and 73.2% more than in Southern Europe. More than four-fifths of the region's population is accounted for by three countries - Germany, France, Great Britain.
Western Europe belongs to the most densely populated regions of the world. The average population density here exceeds 173 people per 1 km2, which is 5 times more than in the North, 3.5 times more than in the East, 1.7 times in Southern Europe. In terms of average population density, the Netherlands, Belgium are among the top five countries in the world. The top ten also includes Germany and the UK. The central and northwestern parts of the region stand out with the highest density in the region: the Netherlands - 382 ind./km2, Belgium - 330, England - 238, Germany - 230 ind./km2. Only the outskirts of Western Europe, in particular the Scottish Highlands, Western Ireland and the Alps, are less populated.
Western Europe has long been considered one of the most urbanized areas the globe. More than three-quarters of the population lives in cities, in particular, almost 97% in Belgium, about nine-tenths in the UK, and more than 85% in Germany. In this part of Europe there are many millionaire cities. Almost twice as many large cities (from 500 thousand to 1 million inhabitants), many medium and small cities. The network of cities in the region is the densest in the world. Significant development in Western Europe has reached urban agglomerations, especially in Great Britain, Germany, France. A significant number of the population is concentrated in agglomerations. More than 10 million people live in the London and Paris agglomerations alone, and 6 million live in the Ruhr.
Group forms of settlement are developing - urban agglomerations. largest city is Greater Paris, where one-fifth of the population and more than one-fifth of France's jobs are concentrated. The Ruhr agglomeration extends over a distance of more than 100 km. with an average width of 20 km. More than 10 million people live here.
In terms of population growth, Western Europe lags far behind other regions, ranking last in the world. For example, in 1983-1993, growth rates were less than one percent per year, and in the next five years they became negative, while for developing countries this figure exceeds 2 and even 3.0%. The share of the region in the world population is small - 4.3%.
The main reason for the decline in population growth is the decline in the birth rate. The table shows that highly urbanized Germany (9.0%), as well as Belgium (11.0%) are characterized by low birth rates. According to the low for these and other industrialized countries is the birth rate of children per woman "(total fertility rate), it ranged from 1.3 to 1.7 children in 1995-2000, while the death rate of newborns is negligible. Per 1000 births in 5 children died in Western Europe in 2000. In some developing countries, this figure is even 140 or more children (Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, Liberia).
The mortality rate in the region is low. It has stabilized at 8-10 deaths per year per 1,000 population. The overall coefficient of natural increase (growth per 1,000 people) has stabilized at an average of 1.0-3.5. The largest increase among the countries of Western Europe (2000) is in the Netherlands - 1.0, and the lowest is Germany, Luxembourg, France - 4.
In the age structure of the population, the share of old age groups is increasing. Average life expectancy in the region is 72.4 years for men, the highest in Europe, and 74.9 years for women, second only to northern European women.
Labor resources make up more than 3/5 of the total population of the region, they are not fully used. Looking for good earnings, the local population often refuses cheap jobs, and they are occupied by immigrant workers, who in the mid-90s in Western Europe numbered almost 7 million people. Most of them settled in Germany, Britain and France - more than four-fifths of all immigrants working and living in the region. They move here both from European countries (Spain, Italy, the former Yugoslavia, Greece, Portugal), and from the countries of Africa, East and Southeast Asia.
Almost the entire population of the region belongs to the large Caucasoid race (white), which is conditionally divided into the northern Caucasoid, or Baltic, and the southern Caucasoid, or Indo-Mediterranean. The northern Caucasian race occupies the territory of most countries of Western Europe. Its characteristic features are relatively high growth, light color of hair and eyes, dense zarist on the face and body, elongated shape of the skull.
Most of the peoples of the region speak Indo-European languages belonging to the Germanic group: Germans, Germans - Swiss, Austrians, Luxembourgers, Alsatians and Lotharinsians, Dutch, Frisians, Flemings, English, Scots, Scotch-Irish.
The second largest Indo-European language group in Western Europe is Romance, which was formed on the basis of the Latin language. This group includes the French, Franco-Swiss, Walloons, Corsicans, Italians, Italo-Swiss, Romansh.
The least common in the region is the Celtic group of languages. It includes the peoples who inhabit the British Isles: Irish, Welsh, Gels and Bretons (France).
The main stages of economic development of the countries of Western Europe. The economies of Western Europe have gone through a long and peculiar path of development.
The decisive influence on the changes in the economic status of many European states had the Great geographical discoveries XV-XVII centuries., Which gave rise to colonial conquest and the division of overseas lands between European states.
At the beginning of the XVIII century. The Netherlands and England especially strengthened their economies. Trade with the countries of the world brought them huge profits, and agrarian revolutions accelerated the intensification of agriculture.
At the end of the XVIII century. especially the importance of England increased. Profitable geographical position, huge incomes from colonial trade, reforms in agriculture contributed to the transformation of agriculture into large-scale commodity production, and most importantly, the industrial revolution made full use of the economic and geographical combination of coal and iron ore, which became an important prerequisite for the creation of the basic sector of the economy - heavy industry.
The French Revolution of 1789 became a prerequisite for the further development of the economy of both France and other countries located to the east of England. But the war of 1812 rejected the French from economic development and led to the consolidation of England as a powerful power in the 19th century. By the middle of the same century, a new powerful state was actually created - the British Empire.
In the 50-60s of the XIX century. the transition from handicraft to machine production actively contributed to the formation of centralized nation-states. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 German unification was completed. In addition to Prussia, it included Bavaria, Saxony, Thuringia, Wurtenberg, Baden and several dozens of small independent lands.
AT early XIX Art. the territories of Belgium and Holland were finally formed.
At the turn of the century (late 19th - early 20th) there were significant changes in the structure of the economy of European countries. This was facilitated by the appearance of electric current, the engine internal combustion etc. During this period, the contours of the main industrial regions of the west of Germany, the south of Great Britain, the north of France, and also the Benelux countries are formed.
Prior to the First World War, Western Europe concentrated up to 60% of the world's international trade and more than half of the exported capital.
But despite significant financial and economic shifts, the dominant role of Europe, which lasted for three centuries, was lost. The world center of industrial and financial power in the late XIX-early XX centuries. moved to the USA. World War I, interwar period and World War II world war did not bring any special changes in the economy of Western European and other states of the continent. On the contrary, the last war created a completely new political - economic situation. The new republic of Ireland was formed on the territory of the region. Great Britain, France, Belgium actually lost their overseas colonies. Colonial empires collapsed. Post-war Germany was divided into two states: the FRG and the GDR. In Europe, the virus of the "cold war" was growing between supporters Soviet Union and countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which initially included 12 states. Of these, five were Western European countries: England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg.
A completely new situation obliged the countries of Western Europe to form economic unions. In the process of creating a single European economic space in the EEC countries, a large-scale restructuring of production technologies took place. Simultaneously implemented one system taxation and social protection population. On the basis of most countries of the region in 1992 (in Maastricht - the Netherlands) an agreement on the European Union (EU) was signed. According to this agreement, it is envisaged to create an economic and political association of European countries with common governing bodies, a single financial system and monetary unit where individual states are not in the least humiliated in their statehood, national dignity or economic expediency.
Geography of Europe
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From a strict geographical point of view, Europe is not really an independent continent, but is part of the Eurasia continent, which also includes Asia. However, Europe is still often regarded as an independent continent.
The European continent, which has access to a large number of water bodies, is separated from Asia by the Ural Mountains in Russia, as well as the Caspian and Black Seas. The continent is separated from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea.
Mountains and plains of Europe
Alps
Located in south-central Europe, these mountains stretch over 1,100 kilometers from the coast of southern France (near Monaco), through Switzerland, northern Italy and Austria, then through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and ending in Albania off the Adriatic coast.
Known for their spectacular landscapes, glaciers, lakes and valleys, as well as the most the best conditions on the planet for skiing, the Alps are the source of many rivers and tributaries, including the Danube, Po, Rhine, and Rhone.
The highest point is Mont Blanc (4807 m).
Apennines
The Apennines, where almost all the rivers of Italy originate, including the Arno, Tiber, and Volturno, are 1,350 km long, they are the core of Italy, and stretch along the entire length of the Apennine (Italian) peninsula, and end on the island of Sicily.
The highest point is Corno Grande (2914 m).
Balkan mountains
These mountains start on the territory of Serbia, and extend through the whole of Bulgaria. Some spurs of this mountain system pass through the territory of Albania, Greece, and Macedonia.
The most famous mountain in this mountain system is Olympus, the highest and most impressive mountain in Greece, its height is 2918 m.
Great Hungarian Plain (Alfeld)
Located in the southeastern part of Europe, and surrounded by mountains, this plain contains several small forests, and several large meadows. Its average altitude is only 100 meters and conditions are often dry, so great importance for the plain it has snow influxes from the Alpine and Carpathian mountains in winter.
Carpathians
This mountain range, located in Eastern Europe, is the source of several rivers: the Dniester, the Tisza, and the Vistula. They form a natural border between Slovakia and southern Poland, and extend far south into Ukraine and Romania.
The highest point is Gerlachovský Štit, in northern Slovakia, at 2,655 m.
Meseta
The Meseta (also called the Iberian Meseta, or the Castilian Highlands) covers almost half of the entire territory of Spain. This high plateau is located at a distance of 700 m above sea level in the north, and 600 m above sea level in the south.
The plateau is surrounded by several mountain ranges, including the Cantabrian Mountains, the Sierra de Gata, and the Sierra de Guadarrama in the north, and the Sierra Morena and Sierra Nevada in the south. These mountains separate the Meseta from the Costa Verde, the Ebro Valley, the Mediterranean, and Andalusia.
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees stretching from the Bay of Biscay (in the west) to the Gulf of Lion (in the east).
To the south of the mountains is Spain, to the north is France, and Andorra is located inside the mountain range itself.
NASA images
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These mountains form a natural border between France and Spain, and stretch for more than 400 km, from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea. The highest point is Aneto Peak (3404 m).
scandinavian mountains
This jagged mountain system stretches along the eastern border of Norway and the western part of Sweden. The highest point is Kebnekaise (2123 m).
Central European Plain
The fertile lands of the Central European Plain extend north and northeast of the Alps, all the way to the Baltic Sea, and into Denmark, southern Finland, Norway, and Sweden. To the east, the plain extends to the territory of Russia and beyond, with a total length of over 4,000 km.
These lands are generally flat, with a small number of hills, this also includes the Central Russian Upland. Agriculture is widespread in the plains, and a large number of agricultural communities are represented around.
central massif
This mountain range in southwestern France is the source of Allier, Creuse, and the Loire. Its approximate size is 85,001 sq. km, the highest point is the Puy de Sancy (1,885 m).
Rivers of Europe
Hundreds of rivers and their tributaries flow on the territory of the European continent. Below will be listed the longest of them (over 900 km long), as well as the most famous and remarkable.
Volga
The Volga is the largest river in the European part of Russia. It flows through central Russia and is considered the national river of Russia. Its length is 3,692 km.
Dnieper
Originating in the southwestern part of Russia, the river flows south through Belarus, then southeast through Ukraine, and flows into the Black Sea. The total length is 2,285 km.
Originating in the southwestern part of Russia, south of Moscow, the river flows southeast to the Volga River, then turns sharply to the west, and flows into the Sea of \u200b\u200bAzov. The total length is 1,969 km.
Danube
Originating in the Black Forest region of Germany, this river flows through Central Europe, in countries such as Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The river forms the border between Romania and Bulgaria, then, through the territory of Romania, flows into the Black Sea.
The river is 2,850 km long and is one of the most important trade waterways on the continent.
Loire
Recognized as France's longest river, the navigable Loire River begins at the foot of the Massif Central, then flows north and west along central France to empty into the Bay of Biscay. Length - 1,020 km.
Audra
Originating in the mountains in the east of the Czech Republic, the river flows west and north through south-central Poland, eventually emptying into the Baltic Sea. Length - 912 km.
The longest river in Italy starts in the Alpine peaks, flows from west to east along northern Italy, and ends in the Adriatic Sea. Its length is 652 km.
Rhine
Formed in the mountains of southeastern Switzerland, this legendary river flows west, forming the northeastern border of Switzerland with Germany, then the river heads due north into western Germany, where it forms the border of this country with France, and then cuts through the Netherlands, and ends in the North Sea.
Numerous tributaries of the river flow in all directions, the total length of the river is 1,319 km.
Rhone
Originating high in the Swiss Alps, this fast-moving river flows through Lake Geneva, then heads south through southeastern France to empty into the Mediterranean Sea.
Small tributaries of the river flow in all directions, the total length is 485 km.
Tacho
The Tagus River rises in the central highlands of Spain, then flows southwest through Portugal, then south to Lisbon, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its length is 1,007 km.
Shannon
Originating in the northwest of Ireland, the river flows through several lakes, then turns west, and eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Length - 370 km.
Elbe
Originating in the Czech Republic, the Elbe River flows north through Germany and empties into the North Sea near the city of Cuxhaven. Its length is 1,165 km.
General information . The area of Europe is about 10 million km 2, incl. the islands account for about 730 thousand km 2 (the largest are Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land, Svalbard, Iceland, Ireland, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete), the peninsulas - about 1/4 of the territory of Europe (Scandinavian, Pyrenean, Apennine , Balkan, Kola, etc.). The population is about 700 million people (1980). The extreme continental points of Europe: in the north - Cape Nordkin, 71 ° 08 "north latitude; in the south - Cape Marroki, 36 ° 00 "N; in the west - Cape Roca, 9 ° 31" W; in the east - the eastern foot of the Polar Ural near Baidaratskaya Bay, 67 ° 20 "Europe's longitude is washed by the seas and: in the north and northwest - the Kara, Barents, White and Norwegian; in the west - the Baltic and Northern; in the south - the Mediterranean, Marble, Black and Azov, in the east and the southeast, the border with is most often drawn along the eastern foot of the Urals, along the Emba River to the Caspian seas , the rivers Kuma and Manych to the mouth of the Don.
In Europe, it is customary (from a physical and geographical point of view) to single out Eastern Europe (mostly European territory) and Western Europe (mainly foreign Europe), which, in turn, is divided into Northern, Central, and Southern Europe. Over 1/2 of the territory of Europe is occupied by the USSR (Eastern Europe), the rest - Andorra, the Vatican, Great Britain, Gibraltar, Denmark, Zap. Berlin, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, San Marino, part of Switzerland, .
Modern political map foreign Europe was formed as a result of fundamental socio-political changes caused by the victory of the Great October Socialist Revolution in Russia, the defeat of the fascist powers in World War II of 1939-45, and the victory of people's democratic and socialist revolutions in a number of countries of foreign Europe. As a result, two groups of countries with fundamentally different socio-economic systems were formed in Europe: the socialist (the so-called Eastern European countries), which, along with the USSR, includes Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Albania , and capitalist (Western European), which includes other countries.
Nature. The relief of Europe is dominated by low plains and uplands; Mountains occupy 17% of the territory of Europe. The most even relief is in Eastern Europe, where a vast Eastern European (Russian)a plain, the southeastern part of which (the Caspian lowland) is below sea level. In Western Europe, where plains and mountains occupy approximately the same area, the main plains areCentral European, Middle Danube, Lower Danube, Parisian basin, Padana. For Northern , Western and Central Europe and the peninsulas of Northern and Southern Europe are characterized by low and middle mountains. Among them, a large number of ancient massifs stand out; Armorican, Central French, Czech, etc. The most significant mountains are the Alps (height up to 4807 m, Mont Blanc), Carpathians, Pyrenees, Scandinavian, Apennines, mountains of the Balkan Peninsula. The Urals stretches along the eastern border of Europe. Often referred to as Europe. The active ones are mainly in the Mediterranean and Iceland, where vigorous activity is associated with manifestations of modern volcanism.
The climate is predominantly temperate, oceanic in the west, with mild winter and cool summers, in the east - continental, with snowy frosty winters and hot or warm summers. The northern regions and the Arctic islands have a harsh subarctic and arctic climate. Southern Europe has a Mediterranean climate with mild, humid winter and hot summer. The average temperature in January is from -24 ° С in the Arctic islands to +12 ° С in the south, in June, respectively, in the west up to 29 ° С. Precipitation per year falls from 1500-2000 mm (more in some places) in the mountains, up to 200 mm or less on the Caspian lowland; the aridity of the climate generally increases from the northwest to the southeast. In most of Europe, precipitation is predominantly in the warm half of the year, in the Mediterranean - mainly in winter. The area of glaciation is over 116 thousand km 2 , the main centers of glaciation are the islands of the Arctic, Iceland, the Scandinavian mountains, and the Alps.
The plains of Europe are dominated by rivers with a calm flow, among them are the Volga (the largest in Europe), the Dnieper, Don, Pechora, Northern Dvina, Danube, Vistula, Odra, Elbe, Rhine, Seine, Loire, Rhone, Tahoe, Po. All these rivers are navigable, some are connected by canals, many are used for hydroelectric purposes. In Fennoscandia, short rapids rivers with poorly developed valleys with lake-like extensions predominate; in the mountainous regions, the rivers have a large fall, there are waterfalls. Large lakes in Europe - Ladoga, Onega, Venern, Chudskoe, Balaton, Geneva.
vegetable and animal world Europe belongs to the Holarctic kingdom. On islands Arctic Oceanarctic deserts are developed, on the mainland from north to south tundra, forest-tundra, forests (taiga, mixed and broad-leaved), forest-steppes, steppes are replaced; in southern Europe - subtropical Mediterranean forests and shrubs, in the southeast - semi-deserts. In the highest mountain systems (the Alps, the Carpathians, and some others) there is an altitudinal zonality with a successive change from bottom to top of mountain forests, meadows, and landscapes of the nival belt. A large area is dominated by cultural landscapes. Numerous nature reserves National parks and other protected areas.
Geological structure and metallogeny. The ancient core of the European continent - occupying its northern and eastern parts, with a foundation of the Archean-Early Proterozoic age (see map).
From the northwest, the tectonic covers of the Scandinavian Caledonides, composed of riftogenic formations of the upper Riphean-Vendian, eu- and miogeosynclinal strata of the Cambrian-Silurian, are pushed onto the East European platform; at the base of the most internal covers are known - relics of the crust of the Proto-Atlantic Ocean or its marginal sea. These covers have experienced marked metamorphism; they are unconformably overlain by Devonian clastic deposits (molasse) filling individual grabens. To the north, the Scandinavian Caledonides continue in the direction of Western Svalbard, and to the southeast, the British Isles. The British Caledonides are significantly different in structure from the Scandinavian ones; two main zones are distinguished in them: the northwestern (northern highlands of Scotland), metamorphic, and the southeastern (southern highlands of Scotland, northern England and Wales), non-metamorphic. The first, thrust in the northwest, in the direction of the Precambrian platform massif in the northwest of Scotland and the Hebrides, is composed of Riphean-Vendian and Cambrian-Lower Ordovician strata, which experienced the main deformations, metamorphism and granitization in the early Ordovician (Grampian phase); the second one is characterized by a gradual weakening of dislocations to the southeast, in the direction of the platform massif of the Midland of England, is composed of Cambrian-Silurian rocks, is underlain by ophiolites in the north, and was deformed in the late Silurian - early Devonian. In the south of Ireland and England, the outer zone of the Central European Hercynides is pushed over the Caledonides, and to the east, over the Midland massif; on the continent, the northern front of the Hercynides stretches through northeastern France, Belgium, Germany, the GDR to Poland (Odra line), hiding further under the Alpine thrusts of the Carpathians, and is accompanied in a number of areas by forward troughs (Franco-Belgian and Ruhr, as well as the Upper Silesian coal basin ).
Hercynides occupy a significant area within Central Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. Their outer zone is composed of thick shale Devonian and Flysch Lower Carboniferous and deformed in the Middle Carboniferous. The outer zone is separated by a narrow uplift of the metamorphic base from the inner one, the section of which is formed by sandy-shale deposits of the Ordovician-Silurian, as well as shale or carbonate sequences of the Devonian - Lower Carboniferous. The age of deformations is the beginning and middle of the Carboniferous. In the Central zone, stretching through the south of Brittany and the Vendée to the Central French massif, the Vosges, the Black Forest to the Bohemian (Bohemian) massif, rocks of the metamorphic complex of the Late Precambrian come to the surface, including in some places the lower Paleozoic and enclosing the Middle and Late Paleozoic age. This zone experienced the first deformations in the Devonian and the final deformations before the Middle Carboniferous. Its analogue, and initially, probably, the western continuation is the Central Iberian zone of northwestern - southeastern strike. To the southeast of it, analogues of the outer and inner zones of the Central European Hercynides are developed, to the northwest, as well as to the south of the Central zone of Central Europe, a similar sequence of zones is observed, but already with a southern (on the Iberian Peninsula - northeast) direction of displacement along thrust. Within the Hercynides, a large number of intermountain troughs and depressions of medium and small size are known, filled with continental coal-bearing deposits of the Middle and red-colored strata of the Upper Carboniferous and Permian with the participation of volcanics.
Between the southwestern edge of the East European ancient platform and the northern front of the Hercynides, partially overlapping them, there is a vast and deep Central European Basin (mega-syneclise), continuing in the northwest into the North Sea, where the rocks composing it unconformably overlie the Caledonides. Within the continent, the depression apparently has a basement of different ages - Caledonian, Baikal, and in some places, possibly even more ancient. In its modern contours, the Central European depression formed in the Permian and experienced intense subsidence in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Due to the development of the Middle Permian saline strata, the so-called. zechstein, numerous salt domes appeared in the depression. The depression is oil and gas bearing, especially within the North Sea. Smaller depressions, commonly referred to as basins, which arose in the Late Paleozoic, were superimposed on the interior parts of the Hercynian fold system. The most significant of them are the Paris and Aquitaine basins containing deposits and.
In the south of Europe, the Hercynides are overlapped by the Alps, which include the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Carpathians, the Balkans, as well as the Andalusian Mountains (Cordillera Baetica), the Apennines and the Dinaric Mountains. The Alpine geosyncline arose on the Hercynian basement, which was fragmented and overlain by the carbonate Triassic, in the process of stretching and spreading of the continental crust, which led at the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Jurassic to the formation of a new basin with an oceanic-type crust, now acting as part of the ophiolite sheets. The formation of the latter began at the end of the Jurassic, with the first impulses of compression, and continued in subsequent epochs of deformations, up to the Miocene, and in some places even later. As a result, the alpine structures acquired a very complex charade structure, with thrusting in the Alps, Carpathians and Balkans, as well as in the Cordillera Baetica to the north, in the Apennines and Dinarides - Hellenids - towards the Adriatic Sea, in the Pyrenees - to the north and south. In front of the folded-cover structures, forward troughs formed - Cis-Pyrenean, Cis-Alpine, Cis-Carpathian, and others, and in their rear - rear and intermountain troughs, of which the largest is Pannonian, common to the Carpathians and Dinarids. All of them are filled with thick clastic (molasse) sequences of Oligocene-Neogene age. The Oligocene-Miocene also includes the formation of most of the depressions that now make up the Mediterranean Sea - the Algiers-Provence, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Aegean, which swallowed up individual parts of the Alpine structures. At the same time, the West European rift system emerged, including the Rhine and Rhone grabens. At the same time, an outbreak of volcanic activity occurred, affecting not only the Alpine belt (the periphery of the Tyrrhenian depression, the Pannonian and Aegean depressions), but also the epi-Hercynian platform (the Central French and Bohemian massifs, the Rhine and Rhone grabens, etc.).
The Caledonian metallogeny of Europe was most clearly manifested in the Scandinavian geosynclinal-fold belt in Norway and Great Britain. On the early stage geosynclinal regime here, in connection with basaltoid volcanism, numerous pyrite-polymetallic deposits of Norway and Sweden arose. At a later stage, in connection with granitoid magmatism, hydrothermal polymetallic and gold ore deposits were formed, known, for example, in Great Britain.
The Hercynian metallogeny is most typical of the Central European Hercynides. An early stage is distinguished with basaltoid magmatism, accompanied by minor igneous deposits titanomagnetites and large pyrite-polymetallic deposits of the Rio Tinto type in Spain. Numerous hydrothermal deposits of non-ferrous metal ores arose in connection with granitoid magmatism at a late stage. The metallogeny of the activated areas of the platform is clearly manifested in the form of belts of alkaline rocks with rare-metal and apatite mineralization of the Kola Peninsula of the USSR and Norway. The Hercynian stage of geological history includes the largest Lower Rhine-Westphalian and Donetsk coal basins.
Alpine metallogeny manifested itself within the Caucasian-Balkan-Mediterranean belt. The early stage of the Alpine stage is characterized by copper-pyrite deposits of the Caucasus, the Carpathians, and partly the Alps, for the late, orogenic stage, skarn and hydrothermal deposits of ores of tungsten and molybdenum, gold, lead and copper-porphyry deposits. Among the sedimentary geosynclinal formations of the Alpid there are large deposits of the Mediterranean bauxite-bearing province, there are sedimentary deposits of iron and manganese.
Along the front of the geosynclinal-folded belts of the Caledonides, Hercynides and Alpides of Europe, there are forward troughs of the corresponding age, containing deposits of oil, gas, salts, and sulfur. (Precarpathian trough).
Minerals of foreign Europe. On the territory of foreign Europe there are large deposits of oil and gas, and,, and some others (see map, see table).
Among other continents, foreign Europe ranks 1st in the world in terms of reserves, 2nd in coal reserves, gas fields of the Po Valley in Italy, Gela and Ragusa fields on the island of Sicily (Italy). A sharp turn in prospecting and exploratory work in foreign Europe occurred in 1959 after the discovery of one of the world's largest gas fields—Groningen (Slochteren) in the Netherlands. Active geological prospecting and exploration began in the North Sea, which led to the discovery of a number of large and largest offshore oil and gas fields in the UK, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark. In total, 21 are known within foreign Europe. with total area about 2800 thousand km.
Most of the basins are associated with areas of development of platforms of different ages (Precambrian East European, Baikal-Caledonian Middle European and Hercynian West European). The total area of platform-type basins is 1400 thousand km2. The remaining basins are connected with the area of development of alpine mountain-folded structures and the zones of their articulation with platforms. The vast majority of oil and gas reserves are concentrated in Europe's largest Central European oil and gas basin (water area of the North Sea), as well as in the Cis-Carpathian-Balkan oil and gas basin, the Aquitaine oil and gas basin, the Adriatic-Ionian oil and gas basin, and partly in the Baltic oil and gas region. The main productive horizons are confined to the Phanerozoic deposits.
Among the countries of foreign Europe, Albania, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, the GDR, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia have proven oil and gas reserves. The most significant reserves are in the UK and Norway. At the beginning of 1983, 752 oil and 804 gas fields were discovered in foreign Europe. Of these, the Groningen gas field is gigantic, 47 fields (26 oil and 21 gas) are classified as large and largest (oil reserves from 50 to 500 million tons, gas - from 50 to 500 billion m 3), the rest of the fields are medium and small ones. The largest deposits in the socialist countries are: oil fields—Moreni-Gura-Ocnita (Romania), Aldieu (Hungary); gas - Salzwedel-Pekkensen (GDR), Przemysl-Jaksmanice (Poland). The main explored hydrocarbon reserves (over 80%) are concentrated at a depth of 1 to 3 km, 3-5 km contains 17% of the reserves.
The total reserves of all types of coals of foreign Europe are estimated at 873 billion tons, reliable - at 243 billion tons, of which about 642 billion tons are hard coals and 230 billion tons are brown coals (1983). Germany, Great Britain, Yugoslavia, Poland, East Germany (lignite), Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria (lignite), Romania, France have the largest reserves among European countries. Significantly smaller reserves are concentrated in the Netherlands, Greece (mainly lignite), Spain, Belgium, Austria (lignite). Most of the coal deposits are associated with coal deposits and are confined mainly to the Namurian and Westphalian stages of the Carboniferous (Belgium, Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Germany, France). The largest coal basins are the Lower Rhine-Westphalian (Ruhr), Saar, Aachen, Krefeld (Germany), South Wales, Yorkshire, South and North Scotland (Great Britain), Lorraine, Nord-Pas-de-Calais (France), Upper Silesian, Lublin (Poland), Ostrava-Karvinsky (Czechoslovakia), Dobrudzhansky and others (NRB), Svalbard (Norway). The deposits of the Asturian coal basin (Spain) are confined to deposits of the Upper Carboniferous age. As an exception, there are minor coal deposits in the Permian and Jurassic formations (France, Great Britain). The thickness of individual coal seams is from 1 to 3 m; the total thickness reaches 84 m (Germany). The quality of coals is mostly good, they are distinguished by high calorific value; these are bituminous coals, anthracites, coking coals (Great Britain, Germany). In the Lorraine coal basin (France), the coals are mostly fat, long-flame. The coals of the Asturian basin are predominantly gaseous (the content of volatile components is up to 45%), coals of similar composition are mined at the deposits of Belgium and the Netherlands. Large basins and deposits of brown coals and lignites of the Eocene-Pliocene age are known: Magdeburg, Middle German, Lower Lauzitsky (GDR), North Czech and Sokolovsky (Czechoslovakia), East Maritsky (NRB), Muntenia, Komaneshti (SRR), Krekansky and Kolubarsky ( SFRY), Lower Rhine (FRG), Ptolemais, Megalopolis (Greece), Köflach-Voitsberg basins (Austria). The quality of the coals is different.
The deposits belong to various industrial-genetic types. There are numerous hydrothermal deposits of vein or vein-disseminated type in granites. Some of the deposits of France (Limousin, Morvan, Forez, Chardon, etc.), Spain (La Virgen, Monasterio, Albarrana, Esperanza, etc.), some deposits of the GDR, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia belong to them. The ores of such deposits contain U from 0.14% to a few percent. Some deposits occur in Upper Paleozoic crystalline rocks. Part of the reserves are concentrated in stratiform sedimentary and sedimentary-infiltration deposits occurring in Permian sandstones (Le Brugeot, Le Bois Noire, Lodev in France). Of great importance are deposits in metamorphic rocks enriched in carbonaceous material (for example, Ciudad Rodrigo in the province of Salamanca in Spain with a content of up to 0.15% U in ores). A special position is occupied by deposits in black shales (up to 0.10% U) - Ranstad et al. (Sweden). Insignificant deposits with a content of 0.1-0.5% U were also found in Italy (Prait), Portugal (Urzheirika and others), Germany (Mentsenschwandt), Switzerland (Emme-Iflis), Great Britain (Mainland).
Ferrous metal ores. The main reserves of iron ores are contained in -magnetite deposits confined to Precambrian crystalline rocks -
Foreign Europe has quite diverse resources of fuel, mineral and energy raw materials.
But it must be taken into account that almost all known mineral deposits in the European territory have long been known and are on the verge of depletion. Therefore, this region more than others in the world needs to import resources.
Features of the relief of Europe
The relief of foreign Europe is quite diverse. In the east, low-lying plains predominate, which stretch in a wide strip from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Uplands dominate in the south: Oshmyany, Minsk, Volyn, Crimean mountains.
The territory of the western part of Europe is strongly dissected. Here, as you move from north to south, mountain ranges alternate with stripes of plains and lowlands. In the north are the Scandinavian mountains. Further south: Scottish Highlands, elevated plains (Norland, Småland), lowlands (Central European, Greater Poland, North German, etc.). Then the mountain strip follows again: these are Sumava, the Vosges and others, which alternately alternate with the plains - Lesser Poland, Bohemian-Moravian.
In the south - the highest European mountain ranges - the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, the Alps, then again the plains. At the southernmost extremities of foreign Europe, another mountain belt extends, which is made up of such massifs as the Rhodopes, the Apennines, the Andalusian Mountains, the Dinars, and the Pindus.
This diversity determined the uneven occurrence of minerals. In the mountains and on the Scandinavian Peninsula, the reserves of iron, manganese, zinc, tin, copper, polymetallic ores, and bauxite are concentrated. Significant deposits of brown and hard coal, potash salts have been discovered in the lowlands. The coast of Europe, washed by the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, is an area of oil and gas deposits. Especially a lot of fuel resources lie in the north. The development of the shelf of the Arctic Ocean is still a priority.
Types of minerals
Despite the diversity of minerals in foreign Europe, the reserves of only some of them can be estimated as significant shares in the world reserve. In numbers, this can be expressed as follows:
. hard and brown coal— 20% of the world stock;
. zinc— 18%;
. lead— 14%%
. copper— 7%;
. oil, natural gas, iron ores, bauxites — 5-6%.
All other resources are presented in insignificant volumes.
By production hard coal Germany is in the lead (Ruhr, Saar, Aachen, Krefeld basins). It is followed by Poland (Upper Silesian basin) and Great Britain (Wales and Newcastle basins).
The richest deposits brown coal are also located on the territory of Germany (Halle-Leucipg and Lower Lausitz basins). There are rich deposits in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary.
Every year, for example, 106 billion tons of coal are mined in Germany, and 45 billion tons in Great Britain.
Potassium salts commercially mined in Germany and France.
uranium ores- in France (fields: Limousin, Forez, Morvan, Chardon) and Spain (Monasterio, La Virgen, Esperanza).
Iron ores- in France (Lorraine Basin) and Sweden (Kiruna).
Copper- in Bulgaria (Medet, Asaral, Elatsite), Poland (Grodzetskoye, Zlotoryyskoye, Presudetskoye deposits) and Finland (Vuonos, Outokumpu, Luikonlahti).
Oil- in Great Britain and Norway (water area of the North Sea), Denmark and the Netherlands. Currently, 21 oil and gas basins have been discovered, with a total area of more than 2.8 million sq. km. Separate oil fields - 752, gas - 854.
Gas in the UK, Norway, the Netherlands. The largest deposit is Gronigen. More than 3.0 trillion tons are mined here annually. cubic meters.
bauxites- in France (Mediterranean province, La Rouquet), Greece (Parnassus-Kiona, Amorgos), Croatia (Rudopolje, Niksic), Hungary (Halimba, Oroslan, Gant).
Natural resources of foreign Europe
Features of Europe's resource supply can be explained by three factors:
1. This is a relatively small area, therefore, the volume of natural resources is small.
2. Europe is one of the most densely populated regions in the world, so resources are used very actively.
3. Europeans were the first in the world to follow the path of industrial development, which led not only to a significant depletion of all types of resources, but also to environmental degradation.
Land and forest resources. The land area of foreign Europe is small - about 173 million hectares, of which 30% is allocated for arable land, 18% for pastures, 33% is occupied by forests. The highest land use ratio is in the Netherlands, Romania, Poland and Denmark - 80%, in France, Germany - 50, but in Italy and Portugal - 14-16%.
There is approximately 0.3 ha of forest per 1 European, while the world average is 1.2 ha. Long-term use has led to the fact that there are practically no natural forests left, those that are available are planted forests. About 400 million cubic meters of timber are mined annually in Europe, mainly in the Scandinavian Peninsula. The rest of the territory is dominated by protected forests that are not subject to felling, which means that they are not resources.
Water resources. natural waters is a scarce resource in Europe. Most of the water is used industrial enterprises and agriculture. Long-term uncontrolled use of water resources has led to their depletion. To date, an extremely unfavorable ecological situation has developed - most European rivers and lakes are heavily polluted. In all countries of foreign Europe there is an acute shortage of fresh water.
Europe is located in the west of Eurasia and covers an area of about 10 million km2. It is located mainly in temperate latitudes. Only the extreme northern and southern parts enter the subarctic and subtropical belts.
Europe is surrounded by seas on three sides. Its western and southern shores are washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A great influence on the formation of nature here is the heat of the Pivnichno-Atlantic current, the branch of which penetrates into the Arctic Ocean
The seas of the Atlantic Ocean - the North, the Baltic - wash the western shores, and the Mediterranean, Black, Azov - deeply cut into the land from the south. The seas of the Arctic Ocean - Norwegian, Barents, Kara, White - washing Europe from the north. In the southeast, there is an endorheic Caspian Sea-Lake.
The history of the formation of the territory and relief. Europa's surface is a complex combination of mountain systems of various heights, as well as rolling and undulating flat plains. Such a variety of relief is largely due to its antiquity. The formation of the territory of European land began 2-3 billion years ago, when one of the oldest parts of the earth's crust, the East European Platform, was formed. In relief, the platform corresponds to the East European Plain. Farther away, the increase in land area within Europe occurred around the platform during the Paleozoic era, when the Scandinavian Mountains, the Urals, and mountain structures in western Europe formed.
The loose products of the destruction of the Paleozoic mountains filled the intermountain depressions throughout the entire Mesozoic era. Repeatedly, sea waters flooded the land, leaving behind thick layers of sedimentary deposits. They blocked the destroyed folded structures Paleozoic era, forming a cover of the so-called young platform in the west of Europe. Its foundation, in contrast to the Russian, is not of the Archean, but of the Paleozoic era.
In the Mesozoic era, as a result of the divergence of lithospheric plates, Europe finally separated from North America. The formation of the Atlantic basin began, the volcanic island of Iceland was formed.
AT Cenozoic era there is an additional build-up of land in southern Europe in the Mediterranean fold belt. At this hour, powerful young mountain systems are formed here - the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains), the Carpathians, the Crimean Mountains. In the troughs of the earth's crust, large lowlands arose, such as the Middle Danube and Lower Danube.
The relief of Europe acquired modern look in the last 20-30 million years. During this period, the latest tectonic movements, which significantly changed the surface of the land. The old and young mountain structures of Europe were raised and reached their present height. Simultaneously large plots the earth's crust sank and formed the basins of the seas and vast lowlands. Near the coast, large mainland British islands, Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya and others arose. The movement of the earth's crust was accompanied by volcanic activity, which has not ceased to this day near the Mediterranean and on the island of Iceland.
The earth's crust in the most ancient part of Europe, on the East European platform, slowly rises in some places, and sinks in others. As a result, in the relief of this part of Europe, separate uplands (Central Russian, Podolsk, Volyn, Volyn) and lowlands (Black Sea, Caspian) clearly manifested themselves.
The general cooling of the climate on Earth led to the formation of a huge ice sheet in Northern Europe about 300 thousand years ago. The glacier then advanced (during the period when the temperature decreased), then receded (when the temperature increased). During its maximum development, the glacier reached over 1.5 km in thickness and almost completely covered the British Isles and the plains adjacent to the North and Baltic Seas. In two languages, he descended along the East European Plain, reaching the latitude of Dnepropetrovsk.
In the process of movement, the glacier significantly changed the surface of the land. Like a giant bulldozer, it smoothed hard rocks and removed the top layers of loose rocks. Polished fragments of rocks were carried from the centers of glaciation far to the south. Where the glacier melted, glacial deposits accumulated. Boulders, clay and sand formed huge ramparts, hills, ridges, complicated the relief of the plains. Melt waters carried masses of sand, leveling the surface and forming flat sandy lowlands - woodlands.
The formation of the relief of Europe continues to this day. This is evidenced by the fact that earthquakes and volcanism occur in some areas, as well as slow vertical movements of the earth's crust, which is confirmed by the deepening of river valleys and ravines.
Thus, Europe has an ancient and at the same time young relief. About 2/3 of its surface falls on the plains, concentrated mainly in the east. Lowland areas alternate with hilly uplands. Mountain ranges rarely exceed 3000 m. The highest point in Europe - Cape Mont Blanc (4807 m) - is located in the French Alps
Minerals. The complex tectonic structure and the history of the geological development of Europe determined not only the diversity of its relief, but also the wealth of minerals.
Among combustible minerals, coal is of great importance. Its large reserves are located in the foothill and intermountain troughs of the Paleozoic age. These are the coal basins in Great Britain, the Ruhr in Germany, the Upper Silesian in Poland and the Donetsk in Ukraine. Deposits of brown coal belong to the troughs of a younger age.
Oil and gas fields were formed in the depressions of the foundation of the ancient platform and foothill troughs (Volga-Ural oil and gas region). In the 70s of the XX century. Commercial production of oil and gas began on the shelf of the North Sea.
The processes of volcanism and metamorphosis of rocks created the conditions for the formation of ore minerals. The platforms own deposits of ferrous ores of world importance: iron ores - the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (KMA), Krivoy Rog and Lorraine basins, manganese - the Nikopol basin.
Huge deposits of non-ferrous metal ores (aluminum, zinc, copper, lead, uranium, etc.) are known in the Urals, as well as deposits of polymetals, mercury, aluminum and uranium ores in folded structures of various ages in the north and south of Europe.
Rich Europe and non-metallic minerals. Practically unlimited reserves of potash and table salt form huge domes in the Urals and platform plates. Unique deposits of native sulfur are concentrated in the Ukrainian Carpathian region. Deposits of various stone building materials(granite, basalt, marble and many others) are found in many places in Europe.
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