From
the birth of the mystical land
of the midnight sun, to the
everlasting healing waters of
the Dead Sea, Europe and the
Middle East span many countries
and ages.
The
unique natural histories contained
in their midst also charter
the torturous and celebrated
relationships that have marked
Man's interactions with nature.
Europe
is the second smallest of the world's
continents, composed of the westward-projecting
peninsulas of Eurasia and occupying
nearly one-fifteenth of the world's
total land area. It is bordered on
the north by the Arctic Ocean, on
the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and
on the south (west to east) by the
Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea,
the Kuma and Manych rivers, and the
Caspian Sea. The continent's eastern
boundary (north to south) runs along
the eastern Ural Mountains and the
Emba River. Europe's islands and archipelagoes
include Novaya Zemlya, Iceland, the
British Isles, Corsica, Sardinia,
Sicily, Crete, Malta, and Cyprus.
[1]
The
Middle East
is the lands around the southern and
eastern shores of the Mediterranean
Sea, extending from Morocco to the
Arabian Peninsula and Iran and sometimes
beyond. The central part of this general
area was formerly called the Near
East, a name given to it by some of
the first modern Western geographers
and historians, who tended to divide
the Orient into three regions. Near
East applied to the region nearest
Europe, extending from the Mediterranean
Sea to the Persian Gulf; Middle East,
from the Gulf to Southeast Asia; and
Far East, those regions facing the
Pacific Ocean. [2]
New
descriptions are added regularly.
Last addition 1/21/2010
Iceland-island
country located in the North
Atlantic Ocean. The capital,
Reykjavík (“Bay
of Smokes”), is the
site of the island's first
farmstead and is a thriving
city, handsome in aspect
and cosmopolitan in outlook.
[3]
Norway-country
of northern Europe that
occupies the western half
of the Scandinavian peninsula.
Nearly half of the inhabitants
of the country live in the
far south, in the region
around Oslo, the capital.
[4]
Europe is, by convention,
one of the world's seven continents.
Comprising the westernmost peninsula
of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided
from Asia to its east by the water
divide of the Ural Mountains, the
Ural River, the Caspian Sea, and by
the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast.
Sweden-country
located on the Scandinavian
Peninsula in northern Europe.
The country's ancient name
was Svithiod. Stockholm
has been the permanent capital
since 1523. [5]
Finland-country
located in northern Europe.
Finland is one of the world's
most northern and geographically
remote countries and is
subject to a severe climate.
Nearly two-thirds of Finland
is blanketed by thick woodlands.
[6]
Mount Sonfjallet, Harjedalen,
Sweden
The Lapp Gate, Lappland,
Sweden Abisko
National Park, Lappland,
Sweden
Mount Akka, lappland, Sweden
Njupeskar Waterfall, Dalarna,
Sweden
Stockholm Archipelago, Stockholm,
Sweden
Tannforsen, Jamtland, Sweden
Borga Mountain, Vasterbotten,
Sweden
Gotland, Gotland, Sweden
Europe is washed upon
to the north by the Arctic Ocean and
other bodies of water, to the west
by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south
by the Mediterranean Sea, and to the
southeast by the Black Sea and the
waterways connecting it to the Mediterranean.
Yet the borders for Europe—a
concept dating back to classical antiquity—are
somewhat arbitrary, as the term continent
can refer to a cultural and political
distinction or a physiographic one.
Scotland-most
northerly of the four parts
of the United Kingdom, occupying
about one-third of the island
of Great Britain. The name
Scotland derives from the
Latin Scotia, land of the
Scots, a Celtic people from
Ireland who settled on the
west coast of Great Britain
about the 5th century AD.
[7]
England-predominant
constituent unit of the
United Kingdom, occupying
more than half the island
of Great Britain.Laced by
great rivers and small streams,
England is a fertile land,
and the generosity of its
soil has supported a thriving
agricultural economy for
millennia. [8]
North
Gaulton Castle, Orkney Islands,
Scotland The
Old Man of Hoy, Orkney Islands,
Scotland
Duncansby Stacks, Highland,
Scotland
Loch Langavat, Outer Hebrides,
Scotland
St. Kilda Archipelago, Outer
Hebrides, Scotland
Fingal's Cave, Inner Hebrides,
Scotland
Old Man of Storr, Isle of
Skye, Scotland
Cuillin Hills, Isle of Skye,
Scotland
Falls of Glomach, Highland,
Scotland
Suilven, Highland, Scotland
Beinn Askival, Isle of Rum,
Scotland
Great Glen and Loch Ness,
Highland, Scotland
Glencoe, Highland, Scotland
Loch Lomond, Argyll and
Bute, Scotland
Arthur's Seat, Midlothian,
Scotland
Traprain Law & North
Berwick Law, East lothian,
Scotland
St. Abb's Head, Scottish
Borders, Scotland
Bass Rock, East lothian,
Scotland
Siccar Point-Hutton's Unconformity,
East Lothian, Scotland
The Grey Mare's Tail, Dumfries
and Galloway, Scotland
Farne Islands, Northumberland,
England
The Pinnacles, Northumberland,
England
Wast Water, Cumbria, England
Bowder Stone, Cumbria,
England
High Force Waterfall,
County Durham, England
Gaping Gill, Yorkshire,
England
Jingle Pot, Yorkshire,
England
Brimham Rocks, Yorkshire,
England
Bridgestones, Yorkshire,
England
The Roaches,Derbyshire
/ Staffordshire, England
The Wrekin, Shropshire,
England
Severn Bore, Gloucestershire,
England
Cheddar Gorge, Somerset,
England
Wookey Hole Caves, Somerset,
England
Seven Sisters, East Sussex,
England
Lulworth Cove, Dorset,
England
Durdle Dor, Dorset, England
Chesil Beach, Dorset,
England
Jurassic Coast, Dorsett
/ Devon, England
Old Harry Rocks, Dorset,
England
The Needles, Hampshire,
England
Dartmoor National Park,
Devon, England
Europe is the world's
second-smallest continent by surface
area, covering about 10,180,000 square
kilometres (3,930,000 sq mi) or 2%
of the Earth's surface and about 6.8%
of its land area. Of Europe's approximately
50 states, Russia is the largest by
both area and population, while the
Vatican City is the smallest.
Wales-constituent
unit of the United Kingdom
that forms a westward
extension of the island
of Great Britain. The
capital and main commercial
and financial centre is
Cardiff. [9]
Ireland-country
of western Europe occupying
five-sixths of the westernmost
island of the British
Isles.
[10]
Northern Ireland-part
of the United Kingdom,
lying in the northeastern
quadrant of the island
of Ireland, on the western
continental periphery
often characterized as
Atlantic Europe. [11]
Snowdon
& Snowdonia, Gwynedd,
Wales
Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire,
Wales
Worm's head, Gower Penninsula,
Glamorgan, Wales
Henrhyd Falls, Powys,
Wales
Pen-Y-Fan and The Brecon
Beacons, Powys, Wales
Giant's Causeway, County
Atrim, Northern Ireland
Glenariff, County Atrim,
Northern Ireland
Strangford Lough, County
Down, Northern Ireland
The Callows of the River
Shannon, County Offaly,
Ireland
Benbulbin, County Sligo,
Ireland
The Skelligs, County Kerry,
Ireland
Cliffs of Moher, County
Clare, Ireland
The Burren, County Clare,
Ireland
Europe, in particular
Ancient Greece, is often considered
to be the birthplace of Western culture.
It played a predominant role in global
affairs from the 16th century onwards,
especially after the beginning of
colonialism. Between the 17th and
20th centuries, European nations controlled
at various times the Americas, most
of Africa, Oceania, and large portions
of Asia.
France-country
of northwestern Europe.
Historically and culturally
among the most important
nations in the Western world,
France has also played a
highly significant role
in international affairs,
with former colonies in
every corner of the globe.
[12]
Germany-country
of north-central Europe,
traversing the continent's
main physical divisions,
from the outer ranges of
the Alps northward across
the varied landscape of
the Central German Uplands
and then across the North
German Plain.
[13]
The Royal
Forests of paris, Ile-De-France
/ Picardie, France
Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel,
Normandie, France
Pavis Peak, Rhone-Alpes,
France
Doubs Gorge, France /
Switzerland
The Baume-Les-Messieurs
Reculee- Franche-Comte,
France
Bourget Lake, Rhone-Alpes,
France
Mount Blanc, France /
Italy / Switzerland
Annecy lake, Rhone-Alpes,
France
Meije Glacier & Gorge,
Rhone-Alpes, France
Ecrins National Park,
Rhone-Alpes, France
Aiguille De Dibona, Rhone-Alpes,
France
Chesery Lake, Rhone-Alpes,
France
Les Drus, Rhone-Alpes,
France
La Vanoise National Park,
Rhone-Alpes, France
Aiguille Du Midi, Rhone-Alpes,
France
Bossons Glacier, Rhone-Alpes,
France
Aiguille Verte, Rhone-Alpes,
France
Auvergne's Puy Mountains,
Auvergne, France
Le Puy-De-Dome, Auvergne,
France
Vaucluse Fountain, Provence-Alpes-Cote
D'Azur, France
The Ardeche Gorges, Rhone-Alpes
/ Provence-Alpes-Cote-D'Azur,
France
Verdon Gorge, Provence-Alpes-Cote-D'Azur,
France
The Camargue, Provence-Alpes-Cote-D'Azur,
France
Mercantour National Park,
Provence-Alpes-Cote-D'Azur,
France
Mount Ventoux, Provence-Alpes-Cote-D'Azur,
France
River Rhone, Switerland
/ France
The Gavarnie Cirque, Midi-Pyrennes,
France
Pilat Dune, Aquitaine,
France
Tarn Gorge, Midi-Pyrenees
/ Languedoc-Roussillon,
France
Cevennes Gorge, Languedoc-Rousillon,
France
Herisson Waterfalls, Franche-Comte,
France
Monte Padru National Park,
Corsica, France
Restonica Gorges, Corsica,
France
The Valley of the Rhine,
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Elbe Gorge, Germany /
Czech Republic
Berchtesgaden, The Watzmann
Mountains, & Lake
Konigsee, Oberbayern,
Germany
The Elbsandsteingebirge,
Germany / Czech Republic
The Black Forest, Baden-Wurttemberg,
Germany
Austria-largely
mountainous country of south-central
Europe. Austria extends
roughly 340 miles (550 km)
from east to west. [14]
Pasterze-Grossglockner
Glacier, Tirol, Austria
Karwendel Mountains, Tirol,
Austria
Krimml Falls, Salzburg
/ Tirol, Austria
Eisriesenwelt, Salzburg,
Austria
Seegrotte, Niederosterreich,
Austria
Seisenberg Gorge, Salzburg,
Austria
Liechtenstein Gorge, Salzburg,
Austria
Lamprecht's Cave, Salzburg,
Austria
Romania-country
lying in the eastern half
of the Balkan Peninsula.
It is the largest country
of the peninsula.[15]
The Ceahlau massif, Neamt,
Romania
Cheile Turzii, Cluj, Romania
Bicaz Gorge, Neamt, Romania
Danube Delta, Tulcea,
Romania
Belgium-country
of northwestern Europe.
It is one of the smallest
and most densely populated
European countries, and
it has been, since its independence
in 1830. [16]
Han-Sur-Lesse Caves,
Namur, Belgium
Switzerland-federated
country of central Europe.
Switzerland's administrative
capital is Bern, while Lausanne
serves as its judicial centre.[17]
Both World Wars were
ignited in Central Europe, greatly
contributing to a decline in European
dominance in world affairs by the
mid-20th century as the United States
and Soviet Union took prominence.
During the Cold War Europe was divided
along the Iron Curtain between NATO
in the West and the Warsaw Pact in
the East. European integration led
to the formation of the Council of
Europe and the European Union in Western
Europe, both of which have been expanding
eastward since the fall of the Soviet
Union in 1991.
Italy-in
Roman antiquity, the Italian
Peninsula from the Apennines
in the north to the “boot”
in the south. In 42 BC Cisalpine
Gaul, north of the Apennines,
was added; and in the late
3rd century AD Italy came
to include the islands of
Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia,
as well as Raetia and part
of Pannonia to the north.
[18]
Slovenia-country
in southern Europe. It is
a small, topographically
diverse country that abuts
the northwestern Balkan
Peninsula. The Slovenes
are a Slavic people related
linguistically to peoples
to the south, but the real
matrix of Slovenia's culture
is its Eastern Alpine location.
[19]
Gran Paradiso
National Park, Valle D'Aosta,
Italy
The Blue Grotto, Campania,
Italy
Ritten Earth Pillars, Trentino-South
Tyrol, Italy
Dolomites, Trnetino-South
Tyrol / Veneto / Friuli-Venezia-Guliula,
Italy
Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy
Alcantara Gorge, Sicily,
Italy
Stromboli, Aeolian Islands,
Italy
Croatia-country
located in the northwestern
part of the Balkan Peninsula.
It is a small yet highly
diverse, crescent-shaped
country. [20]
Krka River & Falls,
Krka National Park, Sibenik
and Knin, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes, Licko-Senjska,
Croatia
The Middle East (or,
formerly more common, the Near East)
is a region that spans southwestern
Asia, southeastern Europe and northeastern
Africa. It has no clear boundaries,
often used as a synonym to Near East,
in opposition to Far East. The term
"Middle East" was popularized
around 1900 in the United Kingdom
Spain-country
located in extreme southwestern
Europe. It occupies about
85 percent of the Iberian
Peninsula, which it shares
with its smaller neighbour
Portugal. Its heartland
is the Meseta, a broad central
plateau half a mile above
sea level.
[21]
Portugal-country
lying along the Atlantic
coast of the Iberian Peninsula
in southwestern Europe.
Its cold, rocky northern
coast and mountainous interior
are sparsely settled, scenic,
and wild, while the country's
south, the Algarve, is warm
and fertile. [22]
Ebro River,
Cantabria, Spain
Altamira, Cantabria, Spain
Montserrat, Cataluna,
Spain
Ordesa Canyon, Aragon,
Spain
Bardenas Reales, Navarra,
Spain
Sierra De Gredos, Castilla
Y Leon, Spain
Sierra De Atapuerca, Castilla
Y Leon, Spain
Garrotxa, Cataluna, Spain
Salto Del Nervion, Pais
Vasco, Spain
Aiguestortes I Estany
De Sant Maurici, Cataluna,
Spain
Lake Gallocanta, Aragon,
Spain
Mallos De Riglos, Aragon,
Spain
Villafafila, Castilla
Y leon, Spain
Duero Gorge, Spain / Portugal
La Pedriza, Castilla Y
Leon, Spain
Ciudad Encantada, Castilla-La
Mancha, Spain
Monfrague, Extremadura,
Spain
Penyal D ' Ifac, Comunidad
Valenciana, Spain
Fuente De Piedra, Andalucia,
Spain
Ruidera Lagoons, Spain
/ Portugal
Sierra Nevada, Andalucia,
Spain
Coto Donana, Andalucia,
Spain
Tabernas Desert, Andalucia,
Spain
Las Medulas, Castilla
Y Leon, Spain
Torcal De Antequera, Andalucia,
Spain
Grazalema, Andalucia,
Spain
Los Alcornocales, Andalucia,
Spain
Cap De Formentor, Mallorca,
Spain
Serra De Tramuntana, Mallorca,
Spain
Cabrera Archipelago, Mallorca,
Spain
Tejo Estuary, Santarem
/ Lisbon, Portugal
Costa Sudoeste, Setubal
/ Beja / Faro, Portugal
Ilhas Berlengas, Leira,
Portugal
Albania-country
located in the western part
of the Balkan Peninsula
on the Strait of Otranto,
the southern entrance to
the Adriatic Sea. It has
a maximum length from north
to south of about 210 miles
(340 kilometres) and a maximum
width of about 95 miles.
[23]
Butrint National Park,
Vlore, Albania
Serbia-country
in the west-central Balkans.
For most of the 20th century,
it was a part of Yugoslavia.The
capital of Serbia is Belgrade
(Beograd), a cosmopolitan
city at the confluence of
the Danube and Sava rivers
[24]
Boka Kotorska Bay,
Crna Gora / Serbia &
Montenegro
Greece-the
southernmost of the countries
of the Balkan Peninsula.
Greece has an area of 50,949
square miles (131,957 square
kilometres), of which one-fifth
constitutes the Greek islands.
[25]
Lake Prespa, Albania
/ Macedonia / Greece
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia
/ Albania
Mount Athos, Macedonia
Central, Greece
Mount Olympus, Macedonia
Central, Greece
Lake Vistonis, Macedonia
East and Thrace, Greece
Mount Giona, Stera Hellas,
Greece
Lake Kerkini, Macedonia
Central, Greece
Meteora, Thessaly, Greece
Diros Caves, Peloponissos,
Greece
Lesvos Petrified Forest,
Lesvos Island, Greece
Samaria Gorge, Island
of Crete, Greece
Vikos Gorge, Epirus, Greece
Valley of the Butterflies,
Island of Rhodes, Greece
Turkey-country
that occupies a unique geographic
position, lying partly in
Asia and partly in Europe.
Turkey is among the larger
countries of the Middle
East, in terms of territory
and population, and its
land area is greater than
that of any European state.
[26]
Pamukkale Springs,
Denizli, Turkey
Valla Canyon, Kastamonu,
Turkey
Cappadocia, Nevehir, Turkey
Caves of the Taurus Mountains,
East Asia Minor, Turkey
Tortum, Erzurum, Turkey
Mount Ararat, Agri, Turkey
Saklikent Gorge, Ankara,
Turkey
Karapinar Crater Lakes,
Konya, Turkey
The history of the Middle
East dates back to ancient times,
and throughout its history the Middle
East has been a major centre of world
affairs. The Middle East is also the
historical origin of three of the
world’s major monotheistic religions—Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam. The Middle
East generally has an arid and hot
climate, with several major rivers
providing for irrigation to support
agriculture in limited areas. Many
countries located around the Persian
Gulf have large quantities of crude
oil.
Iran-a
mountainous, arid, ethnically
diverse country of southwestern
Asia. Much of Iran consists
of a central desert plateau,
which is ringed on all
sides by lofty mountain
ranges that afford access
to the interior through
high passes. [27]
Saudi
Arabia-arid,
sparsely populated kingdom
of the Middle East.Extending
across most of the northern
and central Arabian Peninsula,
Saudi Arabia is a young
country that is heir to
a rich history.
[28]
Zagros Mountains, Iran
Salt Glaciers, Iran
Desert Caves, Eastern
Province, Saudi Arabia
Najran, Najran, Saudi Arabia
Asir National Park, Asir,
Saudi Arabia
Lebanon-country
located on the eastern shore
of the Mediterranean Sea.
Lebanon is one of the world's
smaller sovereign states.
The capital is Beirut.
[29]
Oman-country
occupying the southeastern
coast of the Arabian Peninsula
at the confluence of the
Persian Gulf and Arabian
Sea. [30]
Musandam Fjords, Musandum,
Oman
Tawi Attair--The Well of
the Birds, Dhofar, Oman
Mughsayl Blowholes, Dhofar,
Oman
Israel-country
in the Middle East, located
at the eastern end of the
Mediterranean Sea. Israel
is a small country with
a relatively diverse topography,
consisting of a lengthy
coastal plain, highlands
in the north and central
regions, and the Negev desert
in the south.
[31]
Yemen-mostly
mountainous country situated
at the southwestern corner
of the Arabian Peninsula.
It is generally an arid
country, though there are
broad patches with sufficient
precipitation to make agriculture
successful. The people speak
various dialects of Arabic
and are mostly Muslims (see
Islam).
[32]
Red Canyon, Southern District,
Israel
Dead Sea, Israel / Jordan
Masada, Southern District,
Israel
Makhtesh Ramon Crater, Southern
District, Israel
Wadi Dhar, Sanaa, Yemen
Socotra Island & The
Dragon's Blood Tree, Adan,
Yemen
