Western Central Region
United Kingdom
France
Belgium
The Netherlands
Luxembourg
Germany
Austria
Liechtenstein
Switzerland
Monaco
Alpine Mountain
System
Northwestern
Highlands
North European
Plains
Central Uplands
Northwestern Highlands – old mountains, not
fertile
North European Plains – very fertile, much
farming
Central Uplands – plateaus and
mountains, rocky soil
Danube
Rhone
Loire
Seine
Rhine
Elbe
Europe’s 2nd longest river
Passes through 9 countries, 1770 miles
Only European river flowing W to E
Sourced by
glacier melt
in Swiss Alps
Flows NW to
the North Sea
Very
important for
commerce
Moderate – cool winters and mild summers
North Atlantic Current – warms coastal areas
and increases precipitation
Mountains – air rising along mountains causes
more precipitation in countries to the west
Biome – Mostly deciduous forests
Agriculture
Loess – sandy, fertile soil
Water
Rivers provide source for hydroelectric power
Water used for
irrigation, drinking, sanitation, transportation
Minerals
UK - natural gas, oil, coal
Germany – coal
France – iron ore
Flooding!!!
Rivers and lowlands
Cyclones (Great Britain)
Capital: London
Language: English
Climate: Temperate, rainy
Government: Unitary Parliamentary Democracy & Constitutional Monarchy
Economy: Free market, large economy, important to worldwide finance
Currency: Pound Sterling
Geology: Island nation, lowlands, low mountains, rolling hills
4 Countries in 1 – England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales
Religion
Connection between church and state
72% Christian
15% no religion
4% Muslim
Capital: Paris
Language: French
Climate: Mostly temperate, Mediterranean along
southeast, oceanic in west, continental in inland
regions, alpine in the Alps
Government: Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic
Economy: Mixed economy, wealthy
Currency: Euro, Franc
Geology: Large with wide variety of landscapes
#1 tourist destination in world
Religion
Secular by Constitution
51% Catholic
31% claim no religion
9% Muslim
3% Protestant
Capital: Brussels
Language: Dutch, French, German
Climate: Maritime temperate, rainy
Government: Federal parliamentary
democracy and Constitutional monarchy
Economy: Open, globalized economy, 15th
largest trading nation
Currency: Euro
Geology: Coastal plain, central
plateau, Ardennes uplands
Religion
Predominately Catholic – 47%
3.5% Muslim
43% believe in God
27% atheistic
Capital: Amsterdam
Language: Dutch
Climate: Moderate and marine
Government: Parliamentary democracy and
Constitutional monarchy
Economy: Strong economy, leading exporter
Currency: Euro
Geology: Low-lying – 25% below sea level,
50% less than 1 meter above sea level,
Religion
Extremely secular
39% religiously affiliated
29% Catholic
15% Protestant
5% Muslim
Unique Characteristics
Polders – low-lying areas enclosed by dikes, independent hydrological entity – reclaimed land, flood plains, or marshes
Dikes – natural or artificial slope or wall used to control water level
Windmills – Used to pump water out of lowlands
Capital: Luxembourg
Language: Luxembourgish, French, German
Climate: Oceanic with high precipitation
Government: Unitary Parliamentary
democracy and Constitutional monarchy
Economy: stable, high-income, low
inflation, low unemployment, highest per
capita GDP
Currency: Euro
Geology: Very small, diverse terrain
Religion
Secular state
Government cannot collect data on religious
beliefs or practices
Estimates hold:
44% theistic
22% atheistic
Mostly Catholic
Capital: Berlin
Language: German
Climate: Temperate Seasonal, warmed by
Gulf Stream
Government: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Economy: social market economy, largest
economy in Europe
Currency: Euro
Geology: Large, mountains in S, coast in
N, forested uplands, low-lands
Religion
45% believe in God
25% believe in Jesus Christ
60% Christian – split evenly between Protestant
and Catholic
35% have no religious affiliation
5% Muslim
Capital: Vienna
Language: German
Climate: Cool/temperate, alpine in Alps
Government: Federal Parliamentary Republic
Economy: social market
economy, wealthy, high standard of living
Currency: Euro
Geology: largely mountainous, mostly very
high altitude
Religion
74% Catholic
5% Protestant
All Christians required to pay church tax (about
1% of income)
Capital: Vaduz
Language: German
Climate: Alpine but mild due to wind
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Economy: free enterprise, highly
developed, more companies than citizens
Currency: Swiss Franc
Geology: Very small, completely in Alps
*Population about 35,000
Religion
88% Christian
79% Catholic
8% Protestant
5% Muslim
Capital: Bern
Language: German, French, Italian
Climate: Temperate but varies by location
Government: Federal Republic
Economy: one of the most capitalist
economies in the
world, stable, secure, wealthy
Currency: Swiss Franc
Geology: Mountains to South, many
lakes, open and hilly to North
Religion
No official state religion
Mainly Christian
42% Catholic
36% Protestant
4% Muslim
Capital: Monaco
Language: French
Climate: warm Mediterranean
Government: Constitutional
Monarchy, Principality
Economy: mainly tourism, high standard of
living, gambling (citizens may not), no
personal income tax
Currency: Euro
Geology: 2nd smallest country in world, About
.75 square miles, along coast
*Population: Approximately 30,500
Religion
Official – Roman Catholic
5 churches, 1 cathedral
Freedom to choose other
1 Anglican church
1 Jewish synagogue