Europe

Smallest of the grand divisions of the eastern continent. Its line of separation from Asia is artificial, consisting of the Ural Mts. and River and the Caucasus Mts. It stretches from latitude 35 to 71° N. Its form is very irregular, with numerous great peninsulas and deep bays and arms of The s. part is mountainous, the principal ranges being the Alps, Balkans, A pennines, and Pyrenees. The n. part is in the main a great plain, rising into mountains only on the Scand in avian peninsula. The area is 3,670,100 sq. m., and the mean elevation but 939 ft., this being the lowest of the grand divisions. Except in the extreme n. part, where the cold is severe, its climates are pleasant and healthful, being 512 rainfall is, except in a few limited localities, ample for agriculture and not exce ive. The principal rivers are the Rhine, Danube, Don, Dnieper and Volga. E. is occupied almost entirely by enlightened peoples. The principal countries are Great Britain and Ireland, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Ru ia, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Pop. ab. 360,000,000, or 95 to the sq. m.