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                In this essay, I will present 3 or more reasons, citing textual evidence that answers the essential question, “How do both the Physical Geography and the Human Geography contribute to the areas of Europe and Russia?” and close with how it relates to today.

     

    First, Europe and Russia have various climates influenced by their diverse natural features. Page 206 of Geography Alive! Regions and People, states, “Three factors shape Europe’s climates. The first is latitude. Areas south of the Alps have more temperate climates than areas to the north.” As the latitudes of both Europe and Russia stretch more toward the northern hemisphere away from the warm equator, their temperatures will decrease. Although Russia is thought to have only cold temperatures, as an individual travels farther south or west, the climate will be humid continental. Humid continental is a type of weather with rainy, warm summers, and mildly cold, snowy winters. This is due to most of the sun’s rays hitting the equator. Another aspect of both regions’ weather is their relative locations. For instance, if an ocean is the close location of an area, that region is most likely to have a marine climate. A maritime climate might include regular precipitation, cool summers, and mild winters. For example, utilizing the climate zone maps at the end of the geography book, it can be acknowledged that European cities, such as Dublin, have a marine west coast climate. The reason why Dublin has a marine west coast climate is that it is near the Irish Sea. On the other hand, when moving away from the seas and going further inland, there is a continental climate. The continental climate is essentially a location with hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters. In contrast, Russia borders the Arctic Ocean, which is mainly frozen; this causes Russia not to have a marine climate. The third aspect that might also interfere with the climate is, features such as mountain ranges that block ocean breezes. This will limit a region’s precipitation and cause it to be warmer. Russia and Europe have a variety of climates, each with its distinct attributes.

     

    Second, while Eurasia holds a large portion of the global population, its current population is declining. To confirm this, data in Geography Alive! Regions and People states, “But in parts of Europe and Russia, populations have stopped growing. Some are even shrinking,” on page 210. The primary cause of this is decreasing birth rates. The birth rate is a measurement of how many births there are for every 1,000 people. Europe and Russia consisted of 742 million people in 2017, many of whom follow Christianity. Others follow Islam, Hinduism, no religion, etc. The reason why birth rates in Eurasia are decreasing might be because of the citizens’ religious beliefs, their culture, or the simple fact that they do not want to have children. In most cases, the more people a nation has, the better. This is because the country will have more laborers doing any work, from cab drivers to governors of states. Not only will governments receive more tax money, but with more manpower, businesses can be conducted, boosting the economy and wealth. That might not be happening though when acknowledging the population data of Europe and Russia on page 210, displayed in a graph. From 1950 to 2010, the population initially increased. It is then estimated that the growth will discontinue and start declining from 2010–2050. Using a European population density map, in the European country of the Netherlands, its capital Amsterdam is heavily populated with over 250 people per square mile. Amsterdam is a very wealthy country. While there are other factors contributing to Amsterdam’s wealth, its abundance of labor is an essential aspect. A good population is necessary for any region’s prosperity, and Eurasia’s is currently decreasing.

     

    Third, Eurasia utilizes its plethora of resources to manufacture, farm, mine, etc. to be a wealthy region. “Global trade has made Europe and Russia one of the world’s richest regions,” as stated on page 211 of Geography Alive! Regions and People. Both Europe and Russia are essential industrial zones. An industrial area is a location with factories that aid in conducting businesses. Utilizing a political map of Russia, it can be recognized that Moscow produces hydroelectric power, a type of renewable energy. In addition to hydroelectricity, people drill into the land for natural gases, petroleum, and oil. All of which are fossil fuels valued all over the world because they are cheaper energy sources. There are also mines in Russia for valuable coal, gold, copper, lead, and diamonds. Europe, on the other hand, uses its land for factories. Many cars that people drive all over the world could have been manufactured in Germany, a European country. For example, an individual can have a BMW and drive it in America, but since it was made by a German company, Germany profits from that. Germany also produces steel and other electronics. Another country in Europe is Switzerland, where some chocolate people consume and Rolex watches people wear come from. On top of that, Europe is also used for commercial farming. Commercial farming is primarily growing crops specifically for sale. Europe’s land is also used for other economic activities, such as forestry in Scandinavia or fishing in Iceland. In conclusion, various types of commodities are produced in Eurasia for domestic and international use, which boosts Eurasia’s economic and financial activity.


    In closing, there are three paths to how physical and human geography affect the region of Eurasia. The various physical features have an influence on what kind of climate each separate zone of Europe and Russia has. A human geography factor in Russia and Europe is their population, which is currently high but may soon decline for distinct reasons. Finally, the abundance of resources helps Europe and Russia thrive economically, making them wealthy regions. This relates to today when observing the impact Eurasia makes on the rest of the world. Economically speaking, many products from European countries and Russia are used all over the world for convenience. A primary example of this is the oil of Russia, and without it, the world would struggle more to stay warm during the winter or fuel their vehicles. Other commodities are also admired, such as Swiss chocolate, German BMWs, or Spanish grapes. Of course, those grapes from Spain couldn’t have grown without its distinct Mediterranean climate. In addition, those products that are manufactured or grown couldn’t have been made without the laborers of Eurasia. For that reason, the population of Eurasia must also be thanked. I must acknowledge the influences Europe and Russia have on me, my region, and the rest of the world to properly appreciate them. Those are the three physical and human characteristics that impact Europe and Russia.