Southern Europe
|
The definition of continental subregions in use by the United Nations. |
|
Current division of Europe into five (or more) regions: one definition of Southern Europe is marked in green |
Southern Europe is a
region of the
European
continent. Although there are more than one definition, Southern Europe typically refers to the European territories with coastline on the
Mediterranean Sea.
|
The southern half of Europe is shown in shades of red. |
Geographically, Southern Europe would be the south half of the landmass of Europe. This definition is relative, with no clear limits.The Alps mountains constitute a physical barrier between Italy and central Europe, but this natural limit disappears in France where southern and Northern Europe seem to meet together without a clear border. The same way in the Eastern part of Europe the limit is not clear.
|
The Southern European countries in the UN classification in sub-regions |
For its official works and publications, the United Nations Organization groups countries under a classification of regions. This classification is somewhat arbitrary, and it depends more on the states' borders than on the areas, which can lead to abnormalities such as Corsica being less Southern European than Italian Tyrol.
|
This map shows the areas of Europe with mediterranean climates. |
The climatic definition of southern Europe would be similar to the areas of
mediterranean climate. The mediterranean climate is often thought to be a typical characteristic of southern Europe. This area is also the origin of most of southern Europe's food traditions, (olive oil, wine and wheat culture especially).The
mediterranean area presents similar landscapes (dry hills, little plains, pine forests, olive trees) and a similar, traditional habitat.This area is about the two thirds south of Portugal, the Southern half of Spain + the eastern Coast, the South-east costs of France + Corsica, Most of Italy, except the Po plain and Alps region, the coasts of Ex-Yougoslavia, Coasts of Albania, Most of Greece, Cyprus and Malta.
Countries of
latin Europe are often associated with the concept of southern Europe, especially South-West Europe (see
Latin Arch).
Greece and
Balkans is often associated with them in the concept of southern Europe, especially South-East Europe.
Although there is no precise definition, the following territories are commonly reckoned in Southern Europe:
*
Iberian Peninsula**
Portugal***
Azores***
Madeira**
Spain***
Baleric Islands***
Canary Islands**
Andorra**
Gibraltar (
United Kingdom)
* Southern
France**
Corsica*
Monaco*
Italian peninsula**
Italy***
Sicily***
Sardinia**
Vatican City**
San Marino*
Balkan Peninsula**
Albania**
Bosnia and Herzegovina**
Bulgaria**
Croatia**
Greece***
Ionian Islands***
Aegean Islands***
Crete**
Macedonia**
Montenegro**
Serbia**
Slovenia** the European part of
Turkey (
Rumelia (Trakya))
*
Mediterranean States:
**
Cyprus**
Malta The UN includes these states in
Western Asia.
