ABSTRACT
Europe is the world’s second smallest continent, bounded to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to its east by Russia, and to the southeast by Turkey. In the north, this landmass is set apart by the Arctic Ocean, in the south by the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and, in the southeast, by the Caspian Sea. Amidst its landmass, peninsulas and islands, it is home to more than 40 countries. Between two major mountain systems, a rolling, fertile plain stretches from the Pyrenees to the Urals. Herein are located some of the world’s greatest urban centers, such as London, Paris, Berlin, and Moscow. Although set in a northern location, thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream, Europe generally enjoys a mild climate, except for occasional winter and ice storms.1
