Facts About Europe

—Including the continent and nearby islands, about 3,820,000 square miles (9,894,000 km 2 ). It is the second smallest continent and forms 1/14 of the world's land surface.

—About 3,300 miles (5,300 km).

—About 2,400 miles (3,900 km).

—704,000,000 (1990 estimate).

—Caucasus Mountains (Elbrus, in Russia, 18,510 feet [5,642 m]); Alps (Mont Blanc, in France, 15,771 feet [4,807 m]).

—The surface of the Caspian Sea, 92 feet (28 m) below sea level.

—Volga, in Russia, 2,290 miles (3,685 km); Danube, in central and south-eastern Europe, 1,750 miles (2,816 km); Dnieper, in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, 1,420 miles (2,285 km).

—Ladoga, 7,000 square miles (18,000 km 2 ); Onega, 3,800 square miles (9,800 km 2 ). Both are in Russia.

In central and eastern Europe, where the ocean's influence is less, the climate is largely continental. The region heats quickly in summer and cools quickly in winter. Summers vary from warm to hot. Winters are cold. Compared with the marine climate, the continental has less rainfall (coming largely in summer), more snow, and fewer cloudy days. A similar climate is found in the American Middle West.

Southern Europe has a mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are rainy and mild even though light snows and freezing temperatures may occur. Southern California has a similar climate.

Subpolar and tundra climates, with extremely long, cold winters, are found in the far north. The climate of northern Alaska is similar. A semiarid climate is found in small regions of central Spain and near the Caspian Sea. These dry regions receive only enough rain to grow small plants. There are no true deserts in Europe.