To answer the questions about the geographic themes listed below, choose a region from the list supplied in the assigned module in Blackboard. If you choose a region that is not on the list provided by the teacher, each item below will be noted as "Not Evident in Submission" if your choice is not authentically indicative of an appropriate region for the module.
To complete this worksheet, refer to your module materials and the Themes of Geography resource for more information about your region and each theme. Each response should describe the region you have selected in detail and be a minimum of four complete sentences in your own words. (Paraphrase the information; do not quote or copy and paste from the text).
Region Name: Western Europe
Location and Connectivity:
What are the absolute and relative locations of the region or subregion you have selected? What is the connectivity of this region to others?
Western Europe is a region on the western fringe of the Europe. To its very west there are countries such as Ireland and United Kingdom, while to the core of the region there are countries such as France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Netherlands, and Belgium (Blij, Muller, & Nijman, 2015).
The absolute location of the biggest city in Western Europe, Paris (France) is 48.8566° N, 2.3522° E ("France Latitude, Longitude, Absolute and Relative Locations - World Atlas", n.d.). The absolute location of Berlin, the capital of Western Europe’s most powerful economy, Germany is 52.5200° N, 13.4050° E.
In terms of relative location, Western Europe is located to the north of the Mediterranean region, to the West of the Eastern European region, and to the south of the Norwegian Sea (Blij et al., 2015).
Western Europe is greatly interconnected with the rest of the World. All the major cities in the region such as London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Brussels have some of the busiest airports in the world. The port city of Rotterdam in Netherlands serves much of the hinterlands (Blij et al., 2015). Other major seaports also exist. France lacks many deep natural harbors despite its long coastline. There are many roads that connect the cities to one another.
Physical Characteristics: How would you describe the climate, physiography, landscape, and natural hazards of the region or subregion you have selected? Ensure you address at least three of the physical characteristics listed above for the purposes of this worksheet.
The climate of Western Europe is greatly varied. Areas such as parts of Germany, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands and most of Britain experience marine west coast climate with mild summers and consistent rainfalls ("Europe: Resources", n.d.). Most areas on the South of France and the west of Italy experience Mediterranean climate which is warm and dry ("Europe: Resources", n.d.). The western and north western parts of the region experience a generally humid climate because of the close proximity to the North Atlantic Current (Blij et al., 2015).
With regards to landscape, there are rivers, tall mountains, valleys, lakes and many other landforms across western Europe. Some of the major rivers include, Thames River in the UK, Seine River in France, the Rhine River in Germany, and the Danube which crosses many countries in Western Europe. The Alps mountain range is one of the most renowned for its Ski resorts. The range crosses many territories including France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland ("Regions of Western Europe | World Regional Geography: People, Places and Globalization", n.d.). The Ruhr valley in Germany is one of the region’s most famous industrial centers (Blij et al., 2015).
In terms of natural disasters, Western Europe is relatively safe. However, earthquakes are frequently reported in the Messina region of Italy, with devastating and fatal consequences (Duffy, Quigley, & Sandiford, 2016). Volcanic eruptions also occur every now and then in Italian mountains such as Etna.
Human Characteristics: What are the language families/groups, religions, races, and cultures of the region or subregion you have selected? What is the population density and economic development of the region or subregion?
Christianity is the predominant religion practiced in Western Europe. The headquarters of the catholic church is located in the Vatican city in Italy to the south of the region ("Regions of Western Europe | World Regional Geography: People, Places and Globalization", n.d.).
The region is mainly inhabited by Caucasians. There are significant minorities from poor Arab countries in North Africa, and the Middle East especially in France, and Germany. Indians also form a significant minority in Britain. The main Indo-European languages spoken in the region are English, French, German, Spanish, and Dutch ("Regions of Western Europe | World Regional Geography: People, Places and Globalization", n.d.).
The population density of Western Europe is high at 188 people per km2 ("Europe: Resources", n.d.). Many people live closely together especially in urban areas such as Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, London, and Vienna. Paris has the highest metropolitan population in the region. There are also over 120 cities and towns with over 100,000 people in population (Blij et al., 2015). The population density of Amsterdam is 498 per km2 while that or Paris is 118 per km2.
Western European countries such as Germany, France, United Kingdom, and Italy have some of the world’s biggest economies. Germany has the most powerful economy while France has the most diversified one with interests in agriculture, nuclear energy, vehicle manufacturing, and tech (Blij et al., 2015).
Human/Environmental Interactions:
How do the physical and human characteristics interact to produce notable observations of the landscape in the region or subregion you have selected?
There are large mechanized farms all over western Europe growing food for the region’s massive urban populations (Blij et al., 2015). Large water basins such as the Paris basin and the Aquitaine basin in France has been turned into large farms. The case is the same for Cambridgeshire in the U.K. and the Rhine river valley in Germany ("Distribution of farming", n.d.).
Dams have also been built throughout the region to provide hydropower for homes, and industries. The Grand Dixence dam, the Grand Maison, Rappbode dam, and the Kielder Reservoir in Switzerland, France, Germany and the UK respectively are some of the major alterations man has made to the environment. The cold environment in western Europe results in most of these people wearing warm clothing such as heavy jackets.
Movement:
With how much ease and ability do ideas, goods, and people flow in and out of the region or subregion you have selected? What drives this movement?
Western Europe is greatly interconnected with the rest of the World. People and ideas can easily move in and out of the region (Blij et al., 2015). All the major cities in the region such as London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Brussels have some of the busiest airports in the world. The port city of Rotterdam in Netherlands serves much of the hinterlands and is one of the biggest sea ports in the world. Other major seaports also exist. France lacks many deep natural harbors despite its long coastline. There are many roads that connect the cities to one another. The movement in and out of the region is driven mostly by trade and tourism.
References
Blij, H. J., Muller, P. O., & Nijman, J. (2015). The World Today: Concepts and Regions in Geography, 7th Edition. John Wiley & Sons.
Distribution of farming. Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2017, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/rural_environments/farming_rural_areas_rev2.shtml
Duffy, B., Quigley, M., & Sandiford, M. (2016). Explainer: Italy's history of earthquake destruction. ABC News. Retrieved 23 May 2017, from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-25/italys-deadly-earthquake-is-the-latest-in-a-long-history/7784832
Europe: Resources. National Geographic Society. Retrieved 23 May 2017, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/europe-resources/
France Latitude, Longitude, Absolute and Relative Locations - World Atlas. Worldatlas.com. Retrieved 23 May 2017, from http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/france/frlatlog.htm
Regions of Western Europe | World Regional Geography: People, Places and Globalization. Open.lib.umn.edu. Retrieved 23 May 2017, from http://open.lib.umn.edu/worldgeography/chapter/2-3-regions-of-western-europe/
Worksheet Rubric
Instructor Feedback: This activity uses an integrated rubric in Blackboard. Students can view instructor feedback in the Grade Center. For more information, review these instructions.
Critical Elements
Attempted With Minimal or No Functional Issues (100%)
Attempted With Key Functional Issues (75%)
Not Evident In Submission (0%)
Value
Location
Identifies absolute and relative locations or the region or subregion selected and describes the connectivity of this region to others with minimal or no gaps in details or logic
Identifies absolute and relative locations or the region or subregion selected, but does not describe connectivity of this region to others, or there are key gaps in details or logic
Does not identify absolute and relative locations of the region or subregion selected and does not describe the connectivity of this region to others
19
Physical Characteristics
Identifies and describes at least three aspects of the climate, physiography, landscape, or natural hazards that comprise the physical characteristics of the region or subregion selected with minimal or no gaps in details or logic
Identifies and describes most aspects that comprise the physical characteristics of the region or subregion selected, but description contains key gaps in details or logic
Does not identify and describe aspects that comprise the physical characteristics of the region or subregion selected
19
Human Characteristics
Identifies and describes human characteristics of the region or subregion selected with minimal or no gaps in details or logic
Identifies and describes human characteristics of the region or subregion selected, but description contains key gaps in details or logic
Does not identify human characteristics of the region or subregion selected
19
Human/
Environmental Characteristics
Describes how physical and human characteristics interact to produce notable observations of the landscape in the region or subregion selected with minimal or no gaps in details or logic
Describes how physical and human characteristics interact to produce notable observations of the landscape in the region or subregion selected, but description contains key gaps in details or logic
Does not describe how physical and human characteristics interact to produce notable observations of the landscape in the region or subregion selected
19
Movement
Describes the flow of ideas, goods, and people in and out of the region or subregion selected, and explains what drives movement, with minimal or no gaps in details or logic
Describes the flow of ideas, goods, and people in and out of the region or subregion selected, but does not explain what drives movement, or description contains key gaps in detail or logic
Does not describe the flow of ideas, goods, and people in and out of the region or subregion selected, and does not explain what drives movement
19
Articulation of Response
Submission has no major errors related to grammar, spelling, or syntax
Submission has major errors related to grammar, spelling, or syntax that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas
Submission has critical errors related to grammar, spelling, or syntax that prevent understanding of ideas
5
Total
100%
