Europe

Europe is a major continent located entirely within the Northern Hemisphere. Most of its landmass also sits in the Eastern Hemisphere.

It is defined by several large bodies of water. The Arctic Ocean borders the north. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west. The Mediterranean Sea sits to the south. To the east, Europe meets the continent of Asia. Together, these two landmasses form Eurasia.

This connection also links Europe to Africa, forming the larger Afro-Eurasia landmass.

Defining the exact borders of Europe is a complex task. Geographers often use a watershed to separate Europe from Asia. This boundary includes the Ural Mountains and the Ural River. It also includes the Caspian Sea and the Greater Caucasus. Other markers include the Black Sea and the Turkish straits.

Because these borders are not always clear, some countries are considered transcontinental. Russia and Kazakhstan sit in both Europe and Asia. Turkey is also divided by water. Even Spain has small territories in Africa, such as Ceuta and Melilla. Some islands are grouped with Europe based on politics rather than distance. For example, Cyprus is part of the European Union despite being near Asia.

The climate of Europe is heavily influenced by ocean currents. The Gulf Stream is a warm Atlantic current. It helps produce a temperate climate across much of the continent. This warmth makes winters and summers less extreme for many people. However, areas located further from the sea experience different conditions. These regions have a continental climate. In these places, seasonal differences are much more noticeable and sharp.

Europe's history is marked by massive cultural and political shifts. The continent's roots are often traced to ancient Greece and ancient Rome. Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, the Middle Ages began. This era saw the consolidation of Christian culture across the land. Later, the Italian Renaissance spread through Western Europe. This movement emphasized humanism in art and science. This shift helped lead the continent into the modern era.

From the 16th to the 20th centuries, European powers explored and colonized much of the world. They established control over the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and much of Asia.

Major revolutions and industrial changes reshaped the continent's structure. The Age of Enlightenment and the French Revolution changed politics and economics. In the late 18th century, the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain. This caused radical social and economic changes throughout Western Europe. The 20th century brought intense conflict through two world wars. These wars were largely fought on European soil. Following these conflicts, the Cold War divided the continent. An Iron Curtain separated the West from the East. This divide featured NATO in the West and the Warsaw Pact in the East. The division finally ended with the Revolutions of 1989 and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Today, Europe is characterized by high levels of political integration. The European Union (EU) is a supranational political entity. It acts as a system of treaties between many nations.

The EU has expanded significantly eastward since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Many member states use a common currency called the euro. They also participate in a single market and a customs union. Additionally, the Schengen Area allows many countries to remove internal border controls. Every five years, the EU holds massive democratic elections. These are the second-largest elections on Earth, following those in India.

Europe is a continent of significant size and population. It covers approximately 10,186,000 square kilometers. This represents about 2% of the Earth's total surface. In terms of land area, it covers 6.8% of the world. Europe is the second-smallest continent in the seven-continent model. As of 2021, it had a total population of about 745 million people. This accounts for roughly 10% of the global population.

Russia is the largest and most populous country in Europe. It spans 39% of the continent and holds 15% of its people.