Europe: Facts at a Glance
Europe is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. To the east and southeast, Europe is generally considered as separated from Asia by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways of the Turkish Straits. The term "Europe" comes from Greek mythology. The continent was actually named after Europa, a Phoenician princess that Zeus abducted after he assumed the form of an impressive white bull.
Instant Fact
Largest Agglomeration |
Moscow, Russia |
Major Island |
Gr. Britain (UK) [Greenland] belongs to Denmark situated in North America] Country with the Most Islands Greece, 1400 of which 227 are inhabited. |
Major Rivers |
Volga, Danube ,Rhine, Thames, Ural and Don |
Major Lakes |
Caspian Sea, and Ladozhskoye Ozero, Ladoga lake, north-western Russia, near Saint Petersburg, the largest lake in Europe. It is 201 km long (Western Europe: Lac Leman or Lac de Geneva) |
Country with Most Number of Lakes |
Finland, 55,000 that are 200 or more metres wide |
Largest Desert |
Pustynia Bledowska in Upper Silesia (Poland) |
Major Mountain Ranges |
Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians. Balkans, Apennines, Sierra, Nevada, Urals, Caucasus. |
Most Volcanic Country |
Iceland |
Smallest state |
Vatican City |
Largest Urban Areas |
Moscow (Russia), Istanbul (Turkey), London (United Kingdom), Paris (France), Milan (Italy), Madrid (Spain), St Petersburg (Russia), Frankfurt (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Berlin (Germany), Naples (Italy), Hamburg (Germany), Rome (Italy), Athens (Greece) |
Largest Cities |
Istanbul, Moscow, Russia, London, United Kingdom, St Petersburg (Russia),Atens, Berlin (Germany), Madrid (Spain),Kiev(Ukraine),Rome(Italy),Paris(France), Hamburg(Germany) |
Greatest Ports |
London, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le |
Largest Ironwork and Glass Structure |
The Grand Palais in Paris. Steel framework: 8.500tonnes, compared with 8.000 tonnes for the Eiffel Tower. Glass |
First Railway in Continental Europe |
Belgium Railway line (Brussels Mechelen) in 1835. |
First Electric Railway |
Werner von Siemens 600 yard |
First Metro |
The London Underground. Service began on 10 January 1863. |
Oldest metro-funicular |
Construction of the Tunnel, a short funicular between Pera and Galata in Istanbul, began on"30 July 1871. The funicular opened to service on 5 December 1874. |
Largest Subway System |
The Moscow subway serves 3.2 bn. riders a year. |
Longest Metro Line |
Serpukhovsko- Timiryazevskaya |
Longest Railway Line |
Trans-Siberian Express, from |
Biggest Diamond Exporter |
Antwerp (Belgium) |
Major Wine and Champagne Producer |
France |
Origin of Scotch Whisky |
Ireland |
Highest Point |
Russian Caucasus - Mt Elbrus |
Lowest Point |
Caspian Sea 28 m (Western Europe: Lemmefjord, Denmark and Alexander Polder, |