European Countries
By: Katy R.
What It Europe?
Europe is one of the world's seven continents.Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting the Black and Aegean Seas.Europe is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Black Sea and connected waterways to the southeast. Yet the borders of Europe—a concept dating back to classical antiquity—are somewhat arbitrary, as the primarily physiographic term "continent" can incorporate culural and political elements. It has approximately 50 countries in Europe and is a very well known continent, besides the United States
Ireland
Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Leader and Title: Presodent Michael D Higgins
Limited Government
European Union Member? Yes
Current Government event or Concern: Irish debt Woes Revive Concern about Europe- cuts and taxes issues
Historical Political Event: Mary Robinson becomes first woman president of Ireland
Historical Monument: Hill of Tara- royal seat of the High Kings of Ireland for thousands of years
John Philip Holland- father of the modern submarine- came up with the idea of the submarine
Population: 6.4 million
% arable land: 16.4
Agriculture: barley, potatoes, wheat; beef, dairy products
Human Environment Interaction: Hillside Farming
GDP: $ 195.4 billion
GDP per capita: $ 42,600
Currency: Euros
Exchange rate to US dollars: 0.78
Famous Brands: Bailey's Irish Cream, Guinness, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Hrap Lager, Waterford Crystal
Languages: Irish and English
Religion: Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Christian
Famous Landmarks: St. Patrick's Cathedral, Blarney Stone, Cliffs of Moher, Four Courts, The Oscar Wilde Statue, Belfast Castle, Grafton Street
Cultural Foods: Sausage- potato hot pot, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Soda Bread, Irish Coffee, Green Beer, Steak and Guinness, Guinness Cake, Lamb Stew
Music: folk music (Irish Traditional Music)
United Kingdom
Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy
Leader and Title: Prime Minister David Cameron MP
Limited Government
European Union Member? Yes
Population: 63,395,574
% arable land: 24.88
Agriculture: cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish
Human Environment Interaction: waterways
GDP: $ 2.313 trillion
GDP per capita: $ 36,600
Currency: British Pounds
Exchange rate to US dollars: 0.6307
Language: British
Religion: Christian, Muslim, Hindu
Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailng southwest winds over the North Atlantic current, more than 1/2 the days overcast
Topography: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
Italy
Government Type: Republic
Leader and Title: President Giorgio Napolitano
Limited Government
European Union Member? Yes
Current Government Event or Concern: Italian Government signals that it has no interest in nationalizing Monte Dei Paschi di Siena, country's oldest bank
Historical Political Event: Italy enters World War II on German side Italian forces occupy British Sumalirad in East Africa
Historical Monument: Leaning Tower of Pisa
Person who Changed History and How: Benito Missolini, prime minister, central figure in the creation of fascism and influence and close ally to Hitler
Population: 61,482,297
% arable land: 22.57
Agriculture: fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes,sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives, beef, dairy products; fish
Human Environment Interaction: waterways
GDP: $1.813 trillion
GDP per capita: $ 29,800
Currency: Euros
Exchnage rate to US dollars: 0.7752
Famous Brands: Gucci, Prada, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Nutella
Languages: Italian, German, French, Siovene
Religion: Christian, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics
Famous Landmarks: Roman Colosseum, Florence Cathedral, St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Marco, Ponte Vecchio, Castel Sant'Angelo
Climate: Prediminantly Mediterranean, Alpine in far north; hot, dry in the south
Topography: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands