Southern Europe
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The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean 'all countries in the south of Europe'. However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical geographical, phytogeographic or climatic approach. Most southern European countries border the Mediterranean Sea.
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[edit] Geographical definition
Geographically, southern Europe is the southern 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[clarification needed]. Countries geographically considered part of Southern Europe include:
[edit] Iberian Peninsula
- Andorra
- Gibraltar
- Portugal (including: Madeira and Azores[citation needed])
- Spain (including: Balearic Islands)
[edit] Southern France
[edit] Italian peninsula
- Italy (including Sardinia[citation needed] and Sicily)
- San Marino
- Vatican City
- South Switzerland i.e. Tessin, part of Grisons and of Valais
[edit] Balkan Peninsula
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Greece (including: Aegean Islands, Crete, and Ionian Islands)
- Montenegro
- Republic of Macedonia
- Serbia (below Sava and Danube)
- Kosovo (disputed region)
- Turkey (3% of the country lies in Europe, the rest in Asia)
[edit] Other
- Cyprus (Geographically part of Asia but considered European for historic and cultural reasons)
- Malta
- Romania
- Slovenia
[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 (Can be Included in Western Europe Politically as it is a territory of the United Kingdom)
- Greece
- Italy (including: Sardinia and Sicily)
- Republic of Macedonia
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Portugal (including: Madeira and Azores)
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain (including: Balearic Islands)
- 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 Medium 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)
- Serbia (south)[1]
- Spain (southern half and eastern coast)
[edit] Phytogeographical definition
Southern Europe's flora is that of the Mediterranean and Submediterranean, which is typical for this area. The Mediterranean and Submediterranean climate regions in Europe comprise the following countries and territories:[2]
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Greece
- France (the southern and southeastern part, and the island of Corsica)
- Hungary (the southwestern part till the Balaton lake)
- Italy
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Portugal (the southern half)
- Romania (only the southern part along the Danube river)
- Serbia
- Kosovo (disputed region)
- Slovenia
- Spain (except for the northwestern part)
- Switzerland (only Ticino)
- Ukraine (only the southern part of Crimea)
[edit] Linguistic Southern Europe
Countries of Southern Europe by main national language(s):
[edit] Romance languages
- Andorra: Catalan
- France: French
- Italy: Italian
- Moldova: Romanian
- Monaco: French
- Portugal: Portuguese
- Romania: Romanian
- San Marino: Italian
- Spain: Spanish
- Switzerland: French, Italian and Romansh
- Vatican City: Italian
[edit] South Slavic languages
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnian (also in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo*)
- Bulgaria: Bulgarian
- Croatia: Croatian
- Republic of Macedonia: Macedonian
- Montenegro: Montenegrin
- Serbia: Serbian (also in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo*)
- Slovenia: Slovene
[edit] Greek language
[edit] Germanic languages
[edit] Albanian language
[edit] Semitic languages
[edit] Turkic languages
- Turkey: Turkish
[edit] Notes
- ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rb.html
- ^ Wolfgang Frey and Rainer Lösch; Lehrbuch der Geobotanik. Pflanze und Vegetation in Raum und Zeit. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, München 2004
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