North European Plain facts for kids
The North European Plain is a huge, flat area in Europe. It stretches across many countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Poland.
This plain is located between the Central European Highlands to the south and the coasts of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to the north. The Jutland Peninsula (Denmark) separates these two seas. The North European Plain is connected to the East European Plain, and together they form most of the Great European Plain.
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What is the North European Plain?
This large plain is mostly flat land. Its height above sea level ranges from 0 to about 200 meters (0 to 650 feet). Even though much of it is used for farming, you can also find bogs (wetlands), heath (open land with small shrubs), and lakes here.
Along the North Sea coast, there is a very large area called the Wadden Sea. This is a unique place where the water goes out very far at low tide, showing huge mudflats. On the Baltic Sea coast, you can find several freshwater lagoons. These include the Szczecin Lagoon, the Vistula Lagoon, and the Curonian Lagoon.
Where is the North European Plain Located?
The North European Plain covers a wide area. It includes Flanders (which is in northern Belgium and northern France), the Netherlands, Northern Germany, Denmark, and most of central-western Poland. It also reaches parts of the Czech Republic and the southwestern part of Sweden.
Some parts of eastern England are also considered part of this plain. This is because they are also very low-lying. During the Pleistocene (the last ice age), England was connected to the European continent by land. The plain also extends under the Baltic Sea.
Major Rivers of the Plain
Many important rivers flow through the North European Plain. From west to east, these include:
The areas around these rivers often have thin soil. This can make it a bit difficult for farming to do well right next to the rivers.
Parts of the North European Plain
The North European Plain can be divided into several smaller regions.
The Low Countries
Historically, the western part of the plain was known as the Low Countries. This name was especially used during the Middle Ages and the Early modern period. Today, this area includes Belgium and the Netherlands.
The North German Plain
The North German Plain is a major part of the plain located in Germany. It lies north of the Central Uplands of Germany, which are higher, hilly areas.
The Polish Plain
In modern-day Poland, the plain is called the "Polish Plain" (Niż Polski or Nizina Polska). It stretches from the Baltic Sea in the north all the way to the Sudetes mountains and the Carpathian Mountains in the south.
The English Flatlands
The plain also extends into England. This part mainly includes the flat areas of East Anglia, the Fens, and Lincolnshire. The landscape here is very similar to parts of the Netherlands, with its low-lying, flat terrain.
See also
- Geography of Germany
- Geography of Poland
