Southern Europe: Difference between revisions
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===[[Southern France]]=== |
===[[Southern France]]=== |
Revision as of 17:57, 14 March 2008
Southern Europe or sometimes Mediterranean Europe is a region of the European continent.
The term can have four definitions:
- geographical
- political
- climatic
- linguistic
Geographical definition
Geographically, Southern Europe would be the south half of the landmass of Europe. This definition is relative, with no clear limits. The Alps and Massif Central mountains constitute a physical barrier between Italy and France and the rest of Europe. Countries geographically considered part of Southern Europe include:
- Andorra
- Gibraltar
- Portugal (including: Madeira and Azores.)
- Spain (including: Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.)
- Italy (including: Sardinia, and Sicily.)
- San Marino
- Vatican City
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Greece (including: Aegean Islands, Crete and Ionian Islands.)
- Montenegro
- Macedonia
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Turkey
- Kosovo
Political definition
For its official works and publications, the United Nations Organization groups countries under a classification of regions. Southern Europe, as defined by the United Nations (the sub-regions according to the UN), comprises the following countries and territories:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Gibraltar
- Greece (including: Aegean Islands, Crete and Ionian Islands.)
- Italy (including: Sardinia, and Sicily.)
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Portugal (including: Madeira and Azores.)
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Spain (including: Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.)
- Vatican City
Climatical definition
Southern Europe's climate is that of the Mediterranean climate, which has become a typically known characteristic of the area.
The Mediterranean area presents similar landscapes throughout, including:
- dry hills
- small plains
- pine forests
- olive trees
The area which is considered climatically Southern Europe is:
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (coasts)
- Croatia (coasts)
- Cyprus
- France (southeast coast, and the island of Corsica)
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Italy (except the Po River plain and Alps region)
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Portugal (northeast and southern two-thirds)
- Spain (southern half and eastern coast)
Linguistic definition
Countries lingustically included in Latin Europe are often associated with Southern Europe, especially Southwest Europe (see Latin Arch).
Countries included in the linguistic definition of Southern Europe include:
- Andorra
- Belgium (In Wallonia, where French is spoken.)
- Italy
- France
- Gibraltar
- Malta
- Moldova (Bordering Romania, and speaking Romanian language.)
- Monaco
- Portugal (Including: Madeira and Azores.)
- Romania
- San Marino
- Spain (Including: Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.)
- Switzerland (Regions where French, Italian and Romansh is spoken.)
- Vatican City
Notes