Southern Europe facts for kids
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Southern Europe is a special part of the European continent. It's known for its warm weather and beautiful coastlines along the Mediterranean Sea. Most people think of countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece as being in Southern Europe. The southern part of France is also often included.
Contents
What Makes Southern Europe Unique?
Southern Europe is a fascinating area, but there isn't just one way to define it. Different people and groups look at it in different ways, like by its geography, climate, or even its culture.
Southern Europe by Geography
Geographically, Southern Europe is the southern part of Europe. It doesn't have exact borders, but some natural features help define it. For example, the Alps mountains act like a big wall, separating Italy from other parts of Europe to the north.
Southern Europe by Climate
When we talk about climate, Southern Europe often means places with a Mediterranean climate. This type of weather is famous for its hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It's a very common and well-known feature of this region.
Southern Europe by Culture and Language
Many countries in Southern Europe have a strong connection to Latin culture and languages, especially in the southwest. This means their languages, like Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, come from Latin. Countries like Greece and those in the Balkans are also often seen as part of Southern Europe, especially in the southeast. They have their own rich histories and cultures that are unique to the region.
How the United Nations Defines Southern Europe
The United Nations (UN) has its own way of grouping countries for its official reports. For the UN, Southern Europe includes specific countries entirely. For example, the island of Corsica is part of France, so the UN doesn't count it as Southern European. But areas like Italian Tyrol are part of Italy, so they are included.
Countries and Territories of Southern Europe
Even though there's no single perfect definition, here are the places usually considered part of Southern Europe:
- Iberian Peninsula
- Southern France
- Monaco
- Italian peninsula
- Balkan Peninsula
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Greece
- Ionian Islands
- Aegean Islands
- Crete
- Montenegro
- Republic of Macedonia
- Romania (southern part)
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- The European part of Turkey (Rumelia (Trakya))
- Mediterranean Countries:
Images for kids
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The geographical and ethno-cultural borders of Southern Europe are the Pyrenees, the Alps, and the Balkan Mountains to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.
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European climate. Note the high diversity of Köppen-Geiger climates in the southern regions.
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Roman Empire. In yellow the south-west of Europe, and in violet the south-east.
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Eastern Roman Empire mainly focused on southern Europe.
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Ottomans controlled most of the Mediterranean Sea for centuries.
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Map representing the geography of Europe, with the mountain ranges separating Southern Europe.
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Satellite image of the Iberian Peninsula.
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Satellite image of the Italian Peninsula.
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Satellite image of the Balkan Peninsula.
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Beech forest in the Aurunci Mountains, Italy
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Stone pines in Doñana National Park, Spain
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Aleppo pine forest, Croatia
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Temperate pine forests of Monte Cimone, Italy
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Dry olive groove, Crete
See also
In Spanish: Europa meridional para niños
