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