1. Western Europe Western Central Region

2. Western Central Nations United Kingdom France Belgium The Netherlands Luxembourg Germany Austria Liechtenstein Switzerland Monaco

3. Landforms Alpine Mountain System Northwestern Highlands North European Plains Central Uplands

4. Alps

5. Land Use Northwestern Highlands – old mountains, not fertile North European Plains – very fertile, much farming Central Uplands – plateaus and mountains, rocky soil

6. Major Rivers Danube Rhone Loire Seine Rhine Elbe

7. Danube Europe’s 2nd longest river Passes through 9 countries, 1770 miles Only European river flowing W to E

8. Rhine Sourced by glacier melt in Swiss Alps Flows NW to the North Sea Very important for commerce

9. Climate 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

10. Natural Resources 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

11. Natural Disasters Flooding!!! Rivers and lowlands Cyclones (Great Britain)

12. United Kingdom 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

13. United Kingdom Religion Connection between church and state 72% Christian 15% no religion 4% Muslim

16. France 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

17. FrancE Religion Secular by Constitution 51% Catholic 31% claim no religion 9% Muslim 3% Protestant

20. Belgium 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

21. Belgium Religion Predominately Catholic – 47% 3.5% Muslim 43% believe in God 27% atheistic

23. The Netherlands(Holland) 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,

24. The Netherlands 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

27. Luxembourg 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

28. Luxembourg Religion Secular state Government cannot collect data on religious beliefs or practices Estimates hold: 44% theistic 22% atheistic Mostly Catholic

30. Germany 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

31. Germany 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

34. Austria 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

35. Austria Religion 74% Catholic 5% Protestant All Christians required to pay church tax (about 1% of income)

38. Liechtenstein 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

39. Liechtenstein Religion 88% Christian 79% Catholic 8% Protestant 5% Muslim

41. Switzerland 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

42. Switzerland Religion No official state religion Mainly Christian 42% Catholic 36% Protestant 4% Muslim

45. Monaco 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

46. Monaco 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