SS6G7 Locate selected features of Europe.
a. Locate on a world and regional political- physical map: the Danube River, Rhine River, English Channel, Mediterranean Sea, European Plain, the Alps, Pyrenees, Ural Mountains, and Iberian Peninsula.
b. Locate on a world and regional political-physical map the countries of France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, and United Kingdom. ​

SS6G8 Explain environmental issues in Europe.
a. Explain the causes and effects of acid rain in Germany
b. Explain the causes and effects of air pollution in the United Kingdom
c. Explain the causes and effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

Ukraine Nuclear Disaster 

‘Voices From Chernobyl’: Survivors’ Stories

National Geographic

Nuclear Disaster in Ukraine (reading)

Acid Rain in Germany

Acid Rain in Germany (reading)

European Forests Fight for Survival

Acid Rain in Germany Blog

Effects of Acid Rain

Air Pollution in the United Kingdom

Air Pollution in UK (reading)

Air Pollution- National Geographic

UK air pollution ‘linked to 40,000 early deaths a year!

SS6G9 Explain the impact of location, climate, natural resources, and population distribution on Europe.
a.Compare how the location, climate, and natural resources of Germany, the United Kingdom and Russia impact trade and affect where people live.

United Kingdom
The United Kingdom boasts Europe’s 3rd largest population and economy, but ranks 11th in terms of total land area. London, the capital of the U.K., is the nation’s largest population center.

Population: 65.64 Million people
​Land Area: 93,628 Sq mi          
Population Density: approximately 690 people per sq mi 

​Population Distribution: All of the UK is densely populated. There are some areas of southern and central UK where the Density is especially high.

Location
The United Kingdom is located off the coast of Western Europe, directly across the English Channel from France. 

Location Pull Factors:

• ​United Kingdom  is centrally located between many possible trade partners.
• As an Island, the UK has coastlineon all sides of the country. It has access to the North Sea to the East, the Atlantic Ocean to the West, and the English Channel to the South.
  • UK’s coastlines have a high impact on population and trade
• There are many ports surrounding the United Kingdom which are used to trade.
  • UK’s many ports have a high impact on population and trade
• These factors together, give the UK access extensive trade routes (and access to trade partners) used to trade around the world
  • UK’s easy access to trade partners has a high impact on trade and population

Location Push Factors

• There are no large mountain ranges that would negatively impact population or trade

Climate 
​The climate of the U.K., which is heavily influenced by ocean currents, is relatively mild. The climate type is called temperate maritime. The nation receives frequent rainfall throughout the year, which, along with its abundant arable land, makes much of the U.K. suitable for farming and livestock grazing. 

​Climate Pull Factors:

• United Kingdom has a mild climatewhich doesn’t get much lower than 32° F in the winter or much higher than 90° F in the summer
  • ​The UK’s mild climate has a relatively high impact on population and trade
• United Kingdom gets enoughprecipitation for farming at about 33.7 inches annually
  • The UK’s precipitation has ahigh impact on population and trade

Climate Push Factors

• The United Kingdom does not have any extreme climate factors that would negatively impact population or trade

                            Germany

Germany, located in Central Europe, is the continent’s 7th largest country in terms of total land area, its 2nd largest in terms of population, and its #1 largest economy.  Germany’s largest population center is Berlin, its capital, located in eastern Germany.

Population: 82.67 million Land Area: 137, 983 sq mi Population Density: Approximately 600 people per sq mi ​Population Distribution: Germany’s population is relatively dense throughout the country, but is especially high near the Western Border and along Southern Germany.​

Location  Germany is bordered to the north by Denmark, to the west by the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, to the south by Switzerland and Austria, and to the east by the Czech Republic and Poland.  Most of Germany’s population centers are found in its urban areas, many of which are located in western Germany near the Rhine River; the Rhine plays a major role in transporting goods and people across the country.Location Pull Factors Germany has coastlines in the North Germany’s coastlines have amedium impact on population and trade The Rhine River runs all the way down the western side of Germany The Rhine River has a very high impact on population and trade The Danube River runs across Southern Germany (and flows all the way through Europe and into theBlack Sea The Danube River has a high impact on population and trade Germany has several ports along the northern coastline and three that almost connect Rhine and Danube Rivers. These ports are used to ship items to trade partners in Europe and the world. Germany’s ports, especially itsriver ports, have a very high impact on population and trade Germany is located near many of itstrade partners. The Rhine and Danube Rivers give the countrytrade routes to other trade partners. Germany’s easy access totrade partners has a high impact on population and trade. Location Push Factor The Alps Mountains are located in Southern Germany The Alps have a low impacton population and trade because they are also located near the Danube and Rhine Rivers. The location of therivers negate the trade difficulties that the Alps may have caused

Climate The climate of western Germany is warmer in the summer months with mild winters, while eastern Germany tends to have much colder winters and longer, hotter summers. Northwestern and coastal Germany have a maritime influenced climate which is characterized by warm summers and mild cloudy winters. Farther inland, the climate is continental marked by greater seasonal variations in temperature, with warmer summers and colder winters. In Southern Germany, near the Alps, there is a Mountain Climate which is characterized by lower temperatures and snow. Climate Pull Factors: ​Western Germany has  very mildwinters and warm summers ​The extremely mild climate in Western Germany has a high impact on population and trade ​Eastern Germany is still relatively mild, even though the winters can be colder and the summers can be hotter than in Western Germany.  ​The relatively mild climate has a medium impact on population and trade Germany gets enough precipitationto support farming and grazing. Germany gets between 19-30 inches per year.  ​The adequate precipitationhas a high impact on population and trade Climate Push Factors: Even though some parts of Germany can have cold winters and hot summers they are not enough to be considered extreme climate.

​Here is more information about Germany’s climate: ​www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/climate/Germany.htm ​Here is more information about Maritime and Continental Climates: ​ samquackenbush.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/9/5/14956724/continental_and_maritime_climates_oh.pdf Here is more information about Continental Climates: ​easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-continental-climate/ Here is more information about Mountain Climates: ​www.oddizzi.com/teachers/explore-the-world/physical-features/mountains/mountain-climate/

Natural Resources Germany has ample arable land and many lush forests supporting an abundant timber industry. The nation also has large deposits of coal and iron ore, which support two of its largest industries: the automotive and energy industries.Natural Resource Pull Factors: Two of Germany’s largest industries are the automotive industry and the energy industry. Germany has natural deposits ofIron Ore, Potash, Nickel, andcopper which are used to produceenergy and automobiles.​​ The fact that the Germany has the natural resources that are used in their biggest industries has a high impact on population and trade. ​Germany has a lot of arable land.Farming is another of Germany’slargest industries. ​The availability of arable land for farming has a relatively high impact on population  and trade Germany has many forests. The forests support Germany’s Timber Industry. ​The availability of timber has arelatively high impact on population and trade. Natural Resource Push Factors Germany does not have a problem with scarcity of resource

Russia
​Russia is located across two continents. The majority of its land area is found in northern Asia; however, nearly a quarter of the country is located west of the Ural Mountains in Europe. Even though much of Russia is on the continent of Asia, it is still considered to be a European country because a majority of its population are closer to Europeans ethnically, culturally, and linguistically. This western portion of Russia accounts for 77% of the nation’s total population, and Russia itself has Europe’s largest total land area and population. Its economy ranks 4th in Europe.  Russia’s capital, Moscow, boasts its largest population center. 

Population: 144.3 Million Land Area: 6.6 Million sq mi Population density: approximately 21 people per sq miPopulation Distribution: Russia’s population is highest near the Western Border. The Central and North Eastern areas of Russia have extremely low population densities. ​

Location The European side of Russia is bordered to the west by Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, and Ukraine, while on the Asian side, it is bordered by Kazakhstan, Georgia, Mongolia, China, and North Korea. Russia’s Northern Coastline touches the Arctic Ocean, while its Eastern Coast is on the Atlantic Ocean.Location Pull Factors Russia has a long NorthernCoastline along the Arctic Ocean Russia’s Northern Coast has avery low impact on population​ ​Russia’s Eastern Coastline is along the Pacific Ocean ​The Eastern Coastline has alow impact on population ​Russia borders or is near many of its biggest trade partners on its western side (i.e Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Kazakhstan) ​This proximity to trade partners has a high impacton population ​Russia has many rivers all over the country.  ​Most of Russia’s Rivers have alow impact on population Russia’s longest River, theVolga River, runs through Russia’s biggest cities and has a relatively high impact on population ​There are several ports on the Northern Coast of Russia, but they are closed half of the year due to ice.  ​Because they are largelyunusable, the ports have avery low impact on population Location Push Factors The Ural Mountains in central Russia run from North to South all the way through the country.  The Ural Mountains have ahigh impact on population

Climate  Russia’s western climate varies between cool summers and harsh winters. In fact much of northern Russia’s soil is permanently frozen throughout the year, a phenomenon known as permafrost. Most Russians live on the European side of Russia where the climate is comparatively more hospitable.Climate Pull Factors Even though the winters can be harsh, the Western (European) quarter of Russia has mild climate(compared to the extreme climatein the North and East) The milder climate in Western Russia has a high impact on population and trade Northern and Eastern Russia haveextreme cold climates that make it difficult to live, trade, and extract resources. The temperatures in this part of Russia can get as low as -90° F The extreme climate in North and Eastern Russia make trade difficult and have a high impact on population and trade Permafrost covers much of Northern Russia. This permafrostcauses the northern ports to be closed most of the year, as they areblocked by ice The permafrost makes trade very difficult and has a very high impact on population and trade.

Here is more information on Permafrost:  www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/permafrost/ Here is more information on Russia’s climate:  www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/climate/Russia.htm Here is more info on Russia & its climate:  kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/russia/#russia-st-basils.jpg

Natural Resources Russia has vast timber resources, and a bustling mining industry in the Ural Mountains where gold, iron ore, coal, and aluminum are present. Russia also has oil and natural gas in abundance in its northern regions, particularly on the Asian side of the country, although the cold climate in this area makes their extraction difficult. Russia’s largest industries are: logging, mining, Airplane building, defense (building weapons), Agriculture &(farming),Natural Resources Pull Factors There are mines for gold, Iron ore, coal, and aluminum in the Ural Mountains.  The  mines on have a low impact on population, because travel through the mountains is difficult, but ahigh impact on trade because these materials are used in Russia’s largest industries.  There are many forests throughout the country of Russia The forests have a medium impact on population There are many coal and oil deposits in northern and Eastern Russia but they are extremelydifficult to extract as they are beneath very thick layers ofpermafrost. Since they are very difficult to access the oil and coalresources have a very low impact on population and trade. Natural Resource Push Factors The inaccessible oil and petroleumin Northern and Eastern Russia are apush factor ​The fact that there are little to no resources that can be extracted in East and North Russia has a high impact on population and trade