United Kingdom Russia Italy Germany EQ Why do

United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, & Germany EQ: Why do people choose to live in certain places?

United Kingdom n Consists of 4 regions: n n England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland

Location UK’s location has helped the country become an international banking and insurance center -more foreign bank branches than any country in the world n Location helps with US trade -US is UK’s #1 trading partner! n

Location UK’s location makes it HUB for trade n Across the English Channel is France, west is Ireland, east is Scandinavian Peninsula n 10 major ports along the coast n

Climate The UK has a mild (temperate)climate, with plentiful rainfall year round. -No section go without rain for more than two weeks -Winter are mild and wet; summers are warmest in the south n The Gulf Stream crosses the Atlantic Ocean n

Natural Resources n n n Major export: manufactured goods coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, slate, arable land Major Industries: automobile production, steel manufacturing, shipbuilding

Natural Resources Fishing is a large and profitable industry in UK n Nearly 25% of country has arable land (suitable for faming) -Over half of the land is used for farms n

Population / Where People Live/Land Area n n About 60 million people live in the United Kingdom. Around 90% of the UK’s people live in cities. n n London has over 7 million people. Land Area – 243, 610 sq. miles

Russia

Location

Location n n Spans two continents – Europe and Asia Shares a border with 15 countries At its closest point, Us and Russia are only 3 miles apart across the Bering Straight! European Russia is mostly landlocked (surrounded by land on all sides) Exceptions – Murmansk and St. Petersburg

Climate n n Most of the western part of Russia has a humid continental climate. Summers are warm and rainy, while winters are cold and snowy. Only two seasons: winter and summer. Eastern Russia experiences cool, short summers and long, snowy winters. Asian Russia (Siberia) northern border is a tundra (nearly frozen, treeless plain). 73% of population lives in European Russia

Natural Resources n n n Major export: petroleum Bauxite, coal, copper, fishing, gold, iron ore, lead, natural gas, nickel, tin, & zinc Volga River – hydroelectric power Lots of forest with lumber have been cleared to build European cities With Russia’s harsh climate and rugged terrain, natural resources and difficult to get to

Population/ Where People Live/ Land Area n n n Russia is one of the most populous countries in the world, with 145. 5 million people. Most people live WEST of the Ural mountains, where the climate is mildest and the land is the most fertile. Land Area – 17, 098, 242 sq. miles

Germany

Location

Location n n North Central Europe – European Plain Southern region – mountainous Central region – hilly and mountainous Northern region – flat Rhine River – most important commerical waterway in Europe

Climate n n n Because of its mountainous landscape, Germany has a cool climate. West – winters are mild and summers are cool with rainfall year round East – winters are very cold and summers are very hot with long dry periods

Natural Resources n n n An area in western Germany called the Ruhr ranks as one of the world’s most important industrial centers because of its rich deposits of coal and iron ore. Germany imports about 1/3 of its food, although farmers grow grains, vegetables, and fruits. Germany’s Black Forest is a huge producer of timber, although recently acid rain has severely damaged tree growth.

Natural Resources n n n Iron ore, coal, potash, uranium, nickel, natural gas, and copper Timber is also a resource but most of it has been cut down 1/3 of land is arable

Population/Where People Live/Land Area n n Germany’s population is 82. 6 million people. Because of its rivers and fertile land, Germany’s northern plain has many cities and towns. n n n One of Europe’s most important waterways flows through southern Germany. 85% of people live in cities (Berlin is the largest and the capital) Land Area: 357, 022 sq. miles

Trade n n Rhine River is important for trade Many German cities lie on the Rhine

Italy

Location

Location n n Long, boot-shaped peninsula surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea Alps form northern border Apennine Mountains run from the Alps to the sea 2 small islands, Sardinia and Sicily, are part of Italy

Climate n n Most of Italy has a mild climate of sunny summers and rainy winters. In spring and summer, hot dry winds called siroccos blow across Italy from North Africa. Temperate (mild) climate with regional differences Coast – mild winters, warm summers Mountains – cold, wet, snowy winters and humid summers

Natural Resources n n n Major export: metal coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, 26% arable land Grapes and olives are important crops More than 800 ports for fishing boats

Population/Where People Live/Land Area n n n Italy has 57. 2 million people. About 70% of the population live in towns and cities. (More than 90% of Italians work in manufacturing and service industries. ) 7 out of 10 people live in urban areas (Rome, Naples, Milan, Turin) Almost half of the people live in the northern 1/3 of the country Land Area: 301, 340 sq. miles

Trade n n Apennine Mtns. Are like a backbone across Italy They affect where people live and how they transport goods and people Location on Mediterranean Sea affects trade with other countries Has a long history of shipping goods to Africa, Asia, and Europe