Flora de Europa

Aunque buena parte del continente, en particular el oeste, estaba en su origen

cubierta de bosques, la flora ha sido transformada por la expansión humana
y el desmonte. Sólo los bosques de las zonas montañosas más
septentrionales y de zonas del norte y centro de la Rusia europea han
permanecido relativamente a salvo de la actividad humana. Por otra parte,
Europa está cubierta en su mayoría de bosques plantados (repoblación
forestal) o que han vuelto a ocupar tierras desmontadas. La zona de
vegetación más grande de Europa, que corta la mitad del continente desde
el Atlántico a los Urales, es un cinturón de árboles de hoja caduca y coníferas:
robles, arces y olmos mezclados con pinos y abetos.

Las regiones árticas de Europa septentrional y las vertientes superiores de

sus montañas más altas se caracterizan por la vegetación de tundra,
constituida fundamentalmente por líquenes, arbustos y flores salvajes. Las
temperaturas del interior de Europa septentrional, más suaves pero aún frías,
crean un ambiente favorable al desarrollo de bosques de coníferas como la
picea y el pino, aunque también hay abedules y álamos. La mayor parte de
la gran llanura europea está cubierta de praderas, zonas de hierbas
relativamente altas; Ucrania se caracteriza por la estepa, una región llana y
seca con hierbas cortas. Las tierras que bordean el Mediterráneo destacan
por los frutos de algunos de sus árboles y arbustos, en especial aceitunas,
cítricos, higos y uvas.

Fauna de Europa

En otras épocas, Europa fue el hogar de una gran variedad de animales, como
el ciervo, el alce, el bisonte, el jabalí, el lobo y el oso. Sin embargo, los
humanos han ocupado o desarrollado tal cantidad de territorio europeo que
numerosas especies animales se han extinguido o reducido su número. El
ciervo, el alce, el lobo y el oso se pueden encontrar en estado salvaje y en
cantidades significativas sólo al norte, en Escandinavia y Rusia, y en la
península de los Balcanes. En otras zonas habitan sobre todo en reservas
protegidas. Los saamis (lapones) del extremo norte crían renos (caribúes
domesticados). El rebeco y el íbex (íbice) viven en las cumbres más altas de
los Pirineos y los Alpes. En Europa todavía hay muchos animales pequeños
como la comadreja, el hurón, la liebre, el conejo, el erizo, el lemming, el zorro
y la ardilla, y gran número de pájaros autóctonos, como el águila, el halcón,
el pinzón, el ruiseñor, el búho, la paloma, el gorrión y el tordo. Se cree que
las cigüeñas traen buena suerte a las casas donde anidan, en especial en los
Países Bajos, y los cisnes adornan los ríos y lagos europeos. Los salmones de
Escocia, Irlanda y el Rin son muy apreciados por los europeos y en las aguas
costeras marinas hay gran variedad de peces, incluidos especímenes de
importancia comercial como el bacalao, la caballa, el arenque y el atún. En
los mares Negro y Caspio hay esturiones, de los que se extrae el caviar.©
"Europa" Emmanuel Buchot
Flora of Europe

Although much of the continent, particularly the west, was originally covered with forests, the
flora has been transformed by human expansion and clearing. Only the forests of the more
northern mountainous areas and areas of northern and central European Russia have
remained relatively safe from human activity. On the other hand, Europe is covered for the
most part by planted forests (reforestation) or re-occupied land dismantled. The largest
vegetation zone in Europe, which cuts across the continent from the Atlantic to the Urals, is a
belt of deciduous trees and conifers: oaks, maples and elms mixed with pines and firs.

The Arctic regions of northern Europe and the upper slopes of its highest mountains are
characterized by tundra vegetation, consisting mainly of lichens, shrubs and wild flowers.
Temperatures in the interior of northern Europe, which are milder but still cold, create an
environment conducive to the development of coniferous forests such as spruce and pine,
although there are also birches and poplars. Most of the great European plain is covered with
prairies, areas of relatively tall herbs; Ukraine is characterized by the steppe, a flat and dry
region with short grasses. The lands bordering the Mediterranean stand out for the fruits of
some of its trees and shrubs, especially olives, citrus, figs and grapes.

Fauna of Europe

In ancient times, Europe was home to a wide variety of animals, such as deer, elk, bison, wild
boar, wolf and bear. However, humans have occupied or developed such a large amount of
European territory that numerous animal species have become extinct or reduced in number.
Deer, elk, wolf and bear can be found in the wild and in significant quantities only to the north,
in Scandinavia and Russia, and in the Balkan peninsula. In other areas they live mainly in
protected reserves. The Saamis (Lapps) of the northern end breed reindeer (domesticated
caribou). The chamois and ibex live on the highest peaks of the Pyrenees and the Alps. In
Europe there are still many small animals such as the weasel, the ferret, the hare, the rabbit,
the hedgehog, the lemming, the fox and the squirrel, and a large number of native birds, such
as eagles, hawks, Nightingale, the owl, the dove, the sparrow and the thrush. Storks are
believed to bring good luck to the homes they nest in, especially in the Netherlands, and swans
adorn European rivers and lakes. Salmon from Scotland, Ireland and the Rhine are highly
prized by Europeans and there are a large variety of fish in marine coastal waters, including
commercially important specimens such as cod, mackerel, herring and tuna. In the Black and
Caspian seas there are sturgeons, from which caviar is extracted. © "Europe" Emmanuel
Buchot.
Europe is not a continent

Geologically it can be said that Europe is not a continent. There is no physical division between
Europe and Asia, which together make up a large continental mass called Eurasia. Despite the
geological non-differentiation, there is a strong geographical and sociocultural barrier, so the
division between Europe and Asia also makes sense even if it is a continent.

The largest and smallest country in the world

Only Russia occupies 37% of the European territory, being also the largest country in the
world. Vatican City, for its part, is the smallest country in Europe and the world. It has just 0.44
square kilometers, something like two athletic tracks put together.

# 5 Disney is the most visited place in Europe

Sure you knew that there is a Disney World in Paris, but did you know that it is the most visited
place in Europe? Well, I do not know what you think about it, but surely there are more
interesting tourist attractions in Europe.

# 4 There are jungles in Europe

It may seem impossible, but in Europe there are also jungles, or at least so some specialists
understand. Perucica, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is one of the last jungle-like territories in
Europe, although some argue that it is a forest. We will leave the differences for the
specialists, the interesting thing is to know that these territories still exist in the most dense
continent of the planet.

# 3 The village with the longest name in Europe

Well in Europe, specifically in Wales, in the United Kingdom, we find the village with the
longest name in the world: Lanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. No,
do not try to read it.

# 2 The oldest country in Europe

Bulgaria is the oldest country in Europe: the Bulgarians established their own kingdom in 681
and have not changed their name since then.

The Sagrada Familia of Barcelona is using for its construction more time than any other
building.

This work began in the year 1882 and has not yet been completed. It can be said that it is
taking more time than the pyramids.

6. Only 1% of all objects in the British Museum are currently exhibited.

Iceland is the only country where there is no mosquito.