Southern Europe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term can have four definitions:
- geographical
- political
- climatic
- linguistic
- cultural
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[edit] 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:
[edit] Iberian Peninsula
[edit] Southern France
[edit] Italian peninsula
- Italy (including: Sardinia, and Sicily.)
- Malta
- San Marino
- Vatican City
[edit] Balkan Peninsula
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Greece (including: Aegean Islands, Crete and Ionian Islands.)
- Montenegro
- Republic of Macedonia
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Turkey
[edit] 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.)
- Republic of Macedonia
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Portugal (including: Madeira and Azores.)
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Spain (including: Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.)
- Vatican City
[edit] 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)
- Turkey (Aegean and Mediterranean coasts)
[edit] 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
[edit] Notes
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