Introduction
As known in all contexts, Europe is a relatively small continent which is located in between the Asian and African continents. However, despite the proximity of the two continents, Europe is able to establish its own culture and becomes distinct with a pronounced uniqueness. One possible contributor for such outcome is its geography and the locations of the countries that composed the continent. Though Europe is relatively small, several countries are bounded and these boundaries are important for analyzing the geography of the continent. Looking at the physical and political maps of Europe, this paper aims to analyze the geography of the continent.
Body
In terms of boundary, there are two borders which can be considered to be the main division of Europe from other continents. The first is the dominant bodies of water surrounding the continent. It can be seen that the Mediterranean Sea separates Europe from Africa, Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic Ocean bounded the continent from the west, and also the Black Sea in the West (Central Intelligence Agency, n.d). It only means that even if Europe appeared to be a good source of water resources especially in the coastal areas and boundaries due to the abundance of water there. It also appears to be strategic location as bodies of water are considered to be a natural line of defense against incoming invasions or attacks. Also, the bodies of water can be a reason why Europe has created its own culture different from the Africans, aside from being a technologically advanced and wealthy continent. It also appears that the continent is quite far from Pacific Ocean, which is the source of most typhoons and storms in the world. Thus, it only means that typhoons and hurricanes seldom hit Europe, which can be considered as an advantage for the countries in terms of economy and resources.
Considering the national borders of most European countries, they are mostly landlocked (CIA, n.d). Fortunately, even though this kind of geography is less strategic than the continental borders of Europe, the countries can easily engage into economic trades and smoother relations among countries. Also, this is advantageous for people who travel for varying purposes, as they can easily traverse the neighboring countries with relative ease than in ship or aircraft transportation. However, this geographical scenario can also be quite confusing, as different countries impose different rules and regulations and some people might find it difficult to adjust from time to time.
In terms of the latitudinal location, countries in Europe are located approximately between 30 to 80 degrees latitude (CIA, n.d), which means that they are experiencing four different seasons. These seasons determine the time for certain activities and events which are of high importance for the growth, leisure and productivity of European countries. Furthermore, the economy is affected as well by the season as the types of crops to be planted are dependent on them. Moreover, other job opportunities might also depend on the season. For example, snow clearing can only be done on winter, while tourism mostly blooms on spring and summer. As for the longitudinal location, Europe is approximately close to the zero-degree longitude; specifically, this longitude can be located at Greenwich, England (CIA, n.d). This only tells that most of the countries are ahead of time, and some global events are being done in the continent earlier than most of the world. Such events include annual celebration of holidays such Christmas and New Year, and people there are the first to enjoy these festivities.
Conclusion
Europe is a distinct continent with its own unique features. Its geography influences several important sectors, activities and events of the countries within the continental borders. As such, it is important for the people to know this information, as they are helpful at some point, especially when they are unfamiliar with the places there.
References
Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Physical Map of Europe [Map]. In The World Factbook. Retrieved June 3, 2016, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/graphics/ref_maps/physical/pdf/europe.pdf
Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Political Map of Europe [Map]. In The World Factbook. Retrieved June 3, 2016, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/graphics/ref_maps/political/pdf/europe.pdf
