Location, Climate, and Natural Resources of United Kingdom

Name______Per______SS6G10 the student will explain the impact of location, climate, natural resources, and population distribution on Europe

Location, Climate, and Natural Resources of United Kingdom Location- the United Kingdom is a country of islands off the coast of mainland Europe. It is made up of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The UK is a very important hub for trade with other countries. At one time, the UK dominated in world trade. There are 10 ports along the coastline. Heathrow Airport is the busiest in the world. Because of its location, the UK has become an international banking and insurance center. The UK has more foreign bank branches than any other country in the world. The U.S. and the UK are number one trading partners.

Climate- the UK has mild climate with rainfall throughout the year. The southeastern areas are the driest sections due to the protection from the wind of the mountains. The highlands of Scotland are the wettest area. The mild climate keeps ports free of ice and open for trade all year. The Gulf Stream (from the Gulf of Mexico) crosses the Atlantic Ocean and warms the waters along the coasts of Ireland, England, and Wales. The Gulf Stream makes the winters in the UK much milder. The climate and land is very good for farming. Most of the land is used for grazing and agriculture because of the mild climate. Most people live in the urban areas for job availability.

Natural resources- coal, petroleum, natural gas, and iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, sand, and slate. These resources are being used up which is causing a decrease in manufacturing jobs. Fishing is very profitable along the shores of the UK. Crabs, shellfish, cod, herring, and mackerel are abundant in the UK. Over half the land in the UK is used for farming. The UK produces about 60% of its own food.

Location, Climate, and Natural Resources of Russia Location- Russia spans two continents (the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia). It is so wide, a train trip from western to eastern Russia would take a week. Russia shares a border with 15 other countries including China, North Korea, Finland, Norway, Poland, and Ukraine. At its closest point Russia and the U.S. are only about three miles apart. European Russia is almost landlocked. Murmansk (near Norway) and St. Petersburg (the Baltic Sea) are the exceptions. St. Petersburg is a major trade center.

Climate- European Russia has two seasons: Winter and Summer. July is the hottest month and January is the coldest month. The average temperature of all Russia is below freezing. Many areas of Russia have permafrost (soil that is permanently frozen). Asian Russia is more extreme. Siberia can have temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero during the winter and over 90 degrees during the summer. Climate, distance from the sea, and rugged terrain keep many of Russia’s resources from being used.

Natural resources- Lumber, gold, aluminum ore, coal, iron. Russia also has an abundance of oil and gas in Siberia but are hard to reach due to harsh climates. Location, Climate, and Natural Resources of Italy and Germany Italy Germany Location -long boot shaped peninsula -in north-central Europe on the surrounded on 3 sides by the European plain Mediterranean Sea -Poland to the east, France to the -The Alps form the Northern west, Baltic sea to the North and boundary Austria and Switzerland to the -Apennine Mountains run from south the Alps to the sea -Southern region mountainous; -2 islands, Sicily and Sardinia, central region hilly and are part of the country mountainous; northern region flat -26% arable land plains -mostly coastal lowlands and river valleys Climate -Temperate climate with -in the west, winters are mild, regional differences summers are cool, with rainfall -Coastal areas have mild year round winters and warm, dry -in the east, winters are very cold, summers summers are very hot with long -Mountains have cold, wet, dry periods and snowy winters and humid subtropical summers Natural Resources Coal, mercury, zinc, potash, Iron ore, coal, potash, timber, marble, barite, asbestos, lignite, uranium, copper, natural pumice, fluorospar, feldspar, gas, salt, nickel, arable land pyrite (sulfur), natural gas, and crude oil reserves, fish, arable lands

Guided reading discussion- (75 words each) How has the location, climate, and natural resources of the United Kingdom and Russia affected where people live and how they trade?

How has the location, climate, and natural resources of Germany and Italy affected where people live and how they trade?