The most western country. The northernmost countries in the world

Western countries are the most developed region of our planet. We associate this world with the rich and beautiful states, prosperous capitalism.

History of Western Europe

There are different opinions regarding the theory of the origin of European civilization. According to one theory, it was founded by the ancient Greeks. However, within the framework of another concept, its emergence is attributed to the 15th-16th centuries, the times of the so-called “great geographical discoveries", the origins of capitalism and reformation.

Western European civilization has gone through many stages of development and experienced a change in moral principles and aspirations. Today she is one of the most developed regions of our planet.

"Classics of the genre"

The “classic” list of Western countries includes 4 groups of states: large, medium, small and dwarf. Almost 300 million people live in this territory. 20 million of them are immigrants who came to work.

Most of these states are now part of the European Union. It ranks first in small-scale economic and industrial production. A high level of economic development makes Western countries financially secure.

In addition, Western Europe is famous richest culture. Many talented writers, artists and musicians, whose names are known throughout the world, were born here.

What makes the Western countries different?

Western Europe is distinguished by the following factors:

1. Language. Almost all residents of Western Europe use Romance and Germanic language groups. The most common among them is English. It is native to 400 million people. At the same time, a group of non-Germanic languages ​​(Czech, Slovak, Hungarian) at one time underwent strong Germanization.

2. Latin alphabet. All indigenous people of the Western countries of the world and their former colonies They use the Latin alphabet, which arose in the 7th century BC. e.

3. The most common are Catholicism and Protestantism. A large percentage of atheists. In the 10th century, Catholicism finally emerged as a separate branch of Orthodoxy. In the 16th century, when Catholics began to abuse their own religion, Protestantism was formed as a protest.

In geographical terms, the countries of Western Europe include:

• France;
• Germany;
• Luxembourg;
• Great Britain;
• Belgium;
• Netherlands;
• Liechtenstein;
• Monaco;
• Ireland;
• Switzerland;
• Austria.

That is, Western countries also include states located in Central and Northern Europe. This list can also include Norway, Denmark, Greece, Finland, Portugal, Iceland, Cyprus, Malta. These countries are part of the European Union.

In addition, Western countries are often called the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea and AYR, as stated above. Why is such an abundance of countries called Western Europe?

Western civilization is...

Western civilization is a combination of cultural, political and economic factors. It is characterized by constant development, human movement forward. It is distinguished by democracy, market-oriented production, and private property relations.

The West is characterized by prosperous states, rich culture, and constantly developing infrastructure. People here know first-hand what freedom, decent wages, and a high standard of living mean.

Economy of leading Western countries

The most advanced civilization in the world in the field of economics. Western Europe, which includes 25 countries, occupies a special place in the world economy. It all started with the signing of the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community in 1957. This agreement marked an active economic development these countries.

All modern countries Western Europe has the same type of economic system. Their total share in total GDP (this indicator indicates the average market value of the country's final goods and services) is 24%. And in the world population - 7%.

The main economic power falls on the share of four Western countries, a list of which we will consider below. They focus 70% gross product. These are large states in area, with big amount residents.

Germany is the leader in the top four. The share of GDP per capita is $47,774. The German economy is the largest in Europe. It is the largest exporter of machinery, transport and household equipment, and chemicals.

The UK is mainly engaged in the service sector (3/4 of the population) - banking and business services, insurance, etc. The share of industry is constantly decreasing. IN currently it is represented by two industries - mining and manufacturing. Agriculture accounts for only 1% of GDP.

France (the name of the Western Country means "land of the Franks") is next in the top four. The service sector, oil and gas industry, and transport also dominate here.

Italy is also included in the four, but today the country is increasingly plunging into crisis, and whether it will be able to maintain its position is unknown. Experts call it the weakest link in the Eurozone, due to its demographic and economic weight. If Italy defaults, it could bring down the entire global economic system.

Who else?

The remaining countries belong to the group of small-industrial ones. Their share of GDP is:

1. 20% - Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands.

2. 8% - Austria, Greece, Finland, Denmark, Norway.

3. 2% - Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Cyprus, Republic of Malta.

Economy Western states develops unevenly, in spurts. Europe has experienced 3 crises. Today, the countries of Western Europe are characterized by a crisis of old industries - ferrous metallurgy, coal and textile industries.

There is great scientific and technical potential. States invest huge amounts of money in the development of science (up to 2% of GDP). Less than the USA (about 16%), but more than Japan.

Today, Europe is a leader in the construction of nuclear power plants, the production of medicines, and in some types of mechanical engineering and communications technology.

The share of agriculture reaches 8%. At the same time, the number of people involved in it is last years sharply decreased, but the number of manufactured products increased. Leading European countries producing agricultural products are Germany, France and Great Britain.

Ireland is a single concept, although there is an independent Republic of Ireland (Eire) and Northern Ireland, which is part of Great Britain. The Irish Republic is a parliamentary democracy headed by a president. Northern Ireland has had its own assembly with legislative power since 1998. The official language of the Irish Republic is Gaelic, followed by English. Northern Ireland- official English only. Despite the lack of unity, the Irish of both territories consider themselves to be one nation.

Island of Saints

The first population came to Ireland around 10-8 thousand years BC. Of course, these were tribes from Great Britain. In the 4th century BC. a new wave of population came, either from Great Britain or from the Continent, from which many monuments, decorative pottery from the Megalithic period remained, which are now and then found in villages throughout Ireland. The first Celts landed in Ireland during the Iron Age, that is, around the 5th century BC, and gradually populated the entire country. What remains from them to this day is the Gaelic language and the division of the island into four provinces, Munster in the southwest, Connacht in the west, Ulster in the north and Leinster in the east, which represent nothing more than the division of the large Celtic tribes. Since that era, Ireland has retained traces of major politico-religious centers such as Tara.

At that time, active trade with Britain, already Romanized, began to develop. Armed Roman tribes never came to Ireland. St. Patrick, Ireland's most beloved saint and celebrated by Irish people around the world, was a former slave who became a missionary and brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. Such is the legend, which, of course, has some truth. At this time, many monasteries were formed in Ireland, which became centers of knowledge, science and the arts. Then a golden age began for Ireland, the culture of this country illuminated other European countries. Irish monks such as St. Brendan or St. Columbus founded abbeys on the continent (in Lani, Luxeuil in France, for example).

At that time, Ireland was divided into numerous warring tribes and remained politically fragmented. The Vikings took advantage of this and landed on the island at the end of the 8th century. It was they who once founded the cities of Dublin, Cork, and Limerick. In the early 9th century, King Brian Borah united Ireland and won a historic victory over the Vikings in April 1014. He is the most revered king in the country. In 1166, the Viking king from Leicester, calling on the English king Henry II to help him, again conquered the country. However, the British quickly seized control of the territory, and Henry II himself landed on the island in 1171. Ireland, divided into estates, was annexed to the possessions of the English crown. English settlers settled on the island and founded the cities of Drodhela, Dundalk, and Sligo. Resistance from the indigenous population was sporadic until 1258, when the Irish kings recognized one of the kings, Brian O'Neill, as High King of Ireland. The Irish revolt ended in victory for the English. In 1315, another rebellion also ended in victory for the newcomer settlers. Despite colonization, Gaelic culture and traditions are still alive in Ireland.In 1541, Ireland was granted the status of a kingdom by King Henry III in order to strengthen the power of the English crown on the island.

Going to church is like going to a pub

In terms of religion, the native Irish remained attached to Catholicism, while the English tried to impose Protestant reform on Ireland. Thus, the religious confrontation that became Britain's bloody problem dates back to the 16th century. During the English bourgeois revolution, after a republic was established in England, Oliver Cromwell landed on the island to establish his influence here too. The Catholics were driven back to the west of the Shannon, and all the lands of the north fell into the hands of the Protestants. In Ireland, laws were passed against Catholics - a ban on the education of children, the carrying of weapons, ownership, inheritance, agricultural work, trade, liberal professions, and the lack of voting rights. Only a century later, in 1778-1792, most of these laws were repealed. There remained a law prohibiting Catholics from sitting in parliament.

In the second half of the 19th century, a wave of nationalism arose in Ireland. It was only on the eve of the First World War that England granted Ireland the autonomy status within the United Kingdom that Irish liberals had been asking for for thirty years. Despite this concession, nationalist protests continue. The radical nationalist party Sinn Fein won the 1918 elections in all of Ireland except Ulster. Two years of relentless fighting followed, and it was not until 1921 that the Anglo-Irish Treaty gave the 26 counties of the south dominion status. In 1949, the Republic of Ireland was proclaimed, leaving the Commonwealth. Gaelic was declared the official language. Since 1973, the Irish Republic has been a member of the European Community.

Residents of the Irish Republic are considered among the most devout Catholics. However, they were also affected by de-Christianization, like most of Europe. The Irish are going to mass less and less, and mixed marriages between Catholics and Protestants are becoming more common. Interestingly, 22% of Irish people think it is important to go to church, but 35% think it is just as important to go to the pub at least once a week. Actually, here you can plunge into the life of a real Irishman - you can listen to music, play billiards, read a newspaper, talk about politics, watch a rugby match...

The birthplace of real whiskey?

As for the language, the Irish speak Gaelic, but not all and not very well. However, tourists will notice that the inscriptions in Ireland are found in two languages. However, everyone speaks English and they won't speak to you in Gali. You will not hear the parliament, the prime minister, the government, or the police called in English in Ireland. This is a kind of self-determination. But since over the course of many centuries the elite, and then the common strata of the population, gradually got used to and accepted English language, today Ireland cannot refuse it. In 1922, when Ireland won independence, almost no one spoke Gaelic, but it was declared official language, its teaching became compulsory in schools. The learning process was difficult because the alphabet was not similar to English. It was only in 1960 that the Latin alphabet was adopted. There are different dialects of Gaelic in different parts of Ireland. Irish ministers speak English, including the Minister of Culture, who nevertheless promotes development national language through the establishment of many programs and projects.

The Scots produce "whisky" and the Irish produce "whiskey". For an ordinary person there is no difference. In fact, Scotch whiskey differs from Irish whiskey in the distillation number. Connoisseurs and connoisseurs say that Irish whiskey is softer, more subtle and pleasant. There is also no doubt for them that the birthplace of whiskey is Ireland. Every Irishman will tell you that. According to legend, the invention of whiskey dates back to the time of the Druids, who used to prepare a magical drink, the so-called “water of life,” which eased the heartache of the Irish hero Cushlainn. Other legends say that in the 5th century, St. Patrick brought from the Holy Land a certain device with which it was possible to obtain a drink of extreme purity by heating certain liquids. Thus the method of distillation was born. Saint Patrick allegedly gave the distillation apparatus to the monks who prepared barley beer from pure water and barley. They began to use the device and received whiskey. Over the centuries, small stills became very popular in Ireland, with each farm having its own still. It was only in the 18th century that Irish whiskey received official recognition, when John Jameson created the first distillation in the country in Dublin. Today, lovers of this drink, in particular the most famous whiskey James Jameson, make a pilgrimage to two places in Ireland - Bowstreet in Dublin, where the Jameson distillery turned whiskey museum is located, and Midleton in County Cork, where visitors can see one of the oldest distilleries, which became the world's only whiskey "conservatory".

You can travel around Ireland all year round, but it’s better to come here in spring or autumn to avoid the influx of tourists. The air temperature fluctuates between 14°C and 16°C, which, however, will not prevent you from fully enjoying the magnificent landscapes, ancient estates and abbeys. In addition, many cultural events take place at this time. For example, from June to the end of September, Monkstown, County Dublin, hosts traditional Irish music nights every evening. From October 27 to 30, the great masters of Irish and world jazz gather in Cork, holding official concerts in the halls and improvised ones on the streets of the city.

Megaliths and landscapes

In July, the Galway Arts Festival lasts two weeks, with film screenings, theater performances, music and dance concerts, and literary evenings. From May to the end of July, a garden festival opens in Wicklow, one of the most beautiful corners of Ireland - entire rose gardens, magnificent fountains, surrounded by fantastic flower beds. For nature lovers, Mount Usher Gardens offers a real Eden with a thousand species of plants planted along the banks of a small river with suspension bridges. The National Garden Center in Kilquad presents 20 types of gardens from the simplest to the most sophisticated.

Let's name a few completely unique places in Ireland, which is definitely worth visiting is Croagh Patrick, ten kilometers from Westport. This sacred mountain Ireland. According to legend, St. Patrick spent 40 days and 40 nights in prayer on its gray stones without water or food. He supposedly died there, but his soul still hovers in those parts. Barefoot travelers from different parts of the country pay tribute to him on the last Sunday in July. According to legend, in Glendapough, 50 km south of Dublin, called the Valley of the Lakes, St. Kevin founded one of the first Christian churches in Ireland in 570. The cathedral with a tower and a large 3.5-meter cross testifies to the piety in which many generations of this town were brought up. Despite the influence of time, the Viking conquests, destruction did not affect this unique monument. The city itself retains the atmosphere of epic times, especially in the fall, when the yellowed trees are reflected in the two surrounding lakes.

160 km southwest of Dublin is the Rock of Cashel, which offers breathtaking views - villages, hills, green fields. In the 5th century, Irish kings chose this place for their coronation. In the 13th century, a cathedral was built here, of which only ruins and a round tower 30 m high remained. This corner is shrouded in legends. The most famous one says that in 450, here, St. Patrick unsuccessfully stuck a cross right into the leg of the young Irish king. He thought it was a rite of passage and silently endured the pain. Other interesting place- Inishmore Island. Once you land on it, you will discover wild landscapes and ancient Christian settlements. In the western part of the island you will find a small chapel from the 9th-12th centuries, preserved in its original condition. If you walk around the island at night, you will be surprised by the statues Immaculate Virgin on the rocks, illuminated by the shine of many candles.

Excursions around the cities of Ireland are interesting, but we advise you to get away from noise and civilization and take unconventional, but very exciting walks - on foot, along the rivers on a boat or on horseback. Then you will feel like you are in an archaeological and historical Museum open air. North of Dublin in Knowth you can see the Mesolithic tombs (3200 BC) - burial mounds, the entrance to which, thanks to archaeological excavations, has been open to visitors for two years.

8 km from Limerick in Low Gur you will find archaeological sites, dolmens, stone circles shrouded in fog, there are also small houses around the lake, a quiet but mysterious atmosphere. Also 8 km from Dublin, Wicklow way, the landscapes are very wild and untouched - winding rivers that arose during the Ice Age, granite mountains. To the north of Ulster you can take a walk in Giant's Causeway, i.e. along the Giant's Road. Basalt columns in the shape of polygons (there are 37,000 of them, each about 10 meters high), which once emerged from the sea, make the landscape look like the moon . The columns are so close to each other that they seem to be glued together and they stand so straight and precisely that you would think that they were built by a person. The coastal cliffs look like an amphitheater. The best way to view the columns is from afar, from the ruins of Dunluce Castle abandoned by its owners back in the 17th century. The Giant's Causeway leads to the port of Spaniacoh, this bay overlooking the ocean seems extreme point land. This place is famous for the fact that long before the Titanic, in 1588, the Spanish ship Girona, with 1,300 people on board, sank here. These were wealthy lords traveling with their families. Their treasures still rest on seabed, only a portion has been discovered and exhibited in Belfast and Ulster museums. Most of them were forever swallowed up by the abyss.

Lovers fishing There are also wonderful places waiting for you in Ireland. The best way is to charter a boat and sail along the River Shannon, the longest and widest in the whole of Great Britain (length 350 km). This is how you will discover central Ireland. You can catch more than one eel at Lough Neagh. Since ancient times, Shannon has connected the north, south, east and west of the island. The coastal landscape is varied - lakes, forests, ancient castles, temples and monasteries. You will sail through the entire history of the island - Birr Castle with its gardens filled with magnolias, apple and cherry trees, Clonfert with its cathedral founded in the 6th century by St Brendan, a true masterpiece of Romanesque art, the ruins of the church at Kilconnel, Forts Falkland and Elisa, the castle in Athlone, which changed hands countless times between the English and Irish, is the cathedral in Clonmacnoise, one of the largest ancient monastic settlements in Ireland, founded in the 6th century. In the quiet backwaters along the banks of the River Shannon live rare species birds.

South America is the fourth largest continent on Earth. Its length from north to south is more than 7,000 km, from west to east - about 5,000, and the total area reaches 17.8 km². Most of the continent is in the Southern Hemisphere. The total number of inhabitants is more than 385 million people: according to this indicator, South America ranks fourth among the continents. But if we put aside the dry facts, one thing can be said: this the whole world, unknown, bright, alluring and frightening at the same time. Each country on this continent deserves the closest study, the most curious tourists and the most enthusiastic reviews.

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How to get there

Cost of air travel to countries South America differs significantly on regular days and during sales periods. If regular ticket on average it can cost 1700-2000 USD, then sale and promotional ones can be bought with a discount of up to 50%. The most profitable option for Russians is to purchase a ticket to Venezuela (the cheapest can be purchased for 500-810 USD on days of maximum discounts). Or fly to relatively popular countries Caribbean, such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic, from where you can travel to the mainland by domestic airlines.

If you have time and money, you can arrange an unforgettable ocean trip: a boat trip to Buenos Aires will cost 1500-2000 EUR. Such a voyage will take much more time than a flight, because most often it is not just a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, but a full-fledged cruise calling at ports in Europe and Central America.

Transport in South America

Air travel within the continent is quite expensive, but widespread cruise travel by sea (the cost depends on the class of the liner). Railways used primarily for cargo transportation - very few passenger trains, but bus service is very common. Traveling by bus, of course, is less comfortable, but very economical (prices vary depending on the country and destinations - tourist or domestic). Moreover, there is very cheap rent cars.

Weather

Different parts of South America have different climates. In the north there is the equatorial zone with the highest temperatures in January, in the south there is the frosty polar zone. This is where you can meet New Year in a bikini under the scorching sun, and then go to a more familiar climate zone for ski resort in the Andean highlands. In the south of the continent, plump king penguins are walking around with might and main - Antarctica is close!

Hotels

If you find yourself in South America for the first time and are used to international class services, choose large networks hotels (preferably international). Their rooms cost from 50-90 USD per night. Students and exotic lovers often stay in small hotels or private apartments - the cost can start from 15-20 USD per day. Appearance and accommodation amenities will depend on the country, proximity to popular resorts and personal luck. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Iguazu Falls

South American countries

Venezuela- a state in the north of South America, washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is the city of Caracas. Here there are conditions for a beach holiday - luxurious beaches of the Caribbean coast, a fashionable secluded holiday on Margarita Island, and for active: national park Avila near Caracas, Amazonian jungle, the highest waterfall on the planet - Angel, the longest in the world cable car 12.6 km long and the country's highest mountain peak - Pico Bolivar (4981 m).

Guyana- a state on the northeastern coast of South America. The capital is Georgetown. Almost 90% of the country is covered by humid jungle. It is precisely because of the unfavorable conditions for tourism in the traditional sense that Guyana is visited primarily by ecotourists. They are fond of the waterfalls of the Guiana Highlands, the Pacaraima mountains, National parks Kaieteur and Iwokrama, where visitors learn the wisdom of rafting, and also go hiking and horseback riding through the Rupununi savannahs.

Guiana(or French Guiana) is the largest overseas region of France, located in northeastern South America. A French visa is required to enter Guiana. Administrative center- city of Cayenne. 96% of the country's territory is occupied by tropical forests - this region is one of the most forested and environmentally friendly in the world. Tourist centers and villages local residents concentrated in the coastal strip, the central areas are practically deserted.

Colombia- a state in the north-west of South America, named after the great traveler. The capital is Bogota. Allowed for Russians visa-free entry to the territory of Colombia for up to 90 days. The country is famous for its historical heritage, many museums and the amazing fusion of European culture brought by the Spanish conquistadors in the 15th century and the Indian culture still carefully preserved in some areas of the country. Colombia has stunning nature: national parks, the peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the Amazon River, palm valleys and coffee plantations.

Paraguay called the heart of America, since this country is landlocked. Its population has retained its originality: the Indian dialect Guarani is here state language on par with Spanish. The capital is Asuncion. “Guiana” is translated from Guaranese as “great river” - this refers to the Rio Paraguay (the third largest and longest river on the continent), dividing the country into the arid Gran Chaco plain and the humid areas between the Rio Paraguay and Rio Alta Parana. The country has been favored by ecotourists and connoisseurs of beautifully preserved architectural monuments period of the Jesuit state.

Peru- state on west coast South America. The capital is Lima. Fans of antiquities know Peru as the site of the Inca settlement - the Inca state of Tawantinsuyu was the largest empire of pre-Columbian America and still remains a mystery to ethnographers and archaeologists. Here is the famous Machu Picchu, which has become one of the new wonders of the world, and landscapes with the mysterious Nazca Lines, the origin of which scientists still cannot explain. In total, Peru has more than 180 museums and many archaeological parks, lost in the valleys of the Andes.

For Russian tourists Visa-free entry into Peru is open for up to 90 days.

Suriname- a state in the northeast of South America. The capital is Paramaribo. People come here in search of ecotourism unusual places: tropical forests, Atabru, Kau, Uanotobo waterfalls, Galibi reserve, Sipaliwini area, which occupies most of the territory, Trio, Acurio and Wayana Indian reservations.

Uruguay- a state in the southeast of South America. The capital is Montevideo. If you want to relax on the beach, visit Uruguay between January and April. Connoisseurs of colonial architecture will certainly enjoy the sights of Cologna and Montevideo. Every year, a month and a half before Easter, two days before Lent, Catholics in Uruguay host a colorful carnival.

Visa-free entry into Uruguay is open for Russian tourists for up to 90 days.

Chile- a state in the southwest of South America, occupying a long strip from the coast Pacific Ocean to the highlands of the Andes. The capital is Santiago. Balneological tourism is widespread in Chile (33 sanatoriums with water and mud therapy), beach holiday(areas of Arica, Iquique, Valparaiso), as well as travel to the national parks of La Campana, Torres del Paine, Lake San Rafael, the towns of Altiplano and San Pedro and, of course, to the famous Easter Island. For lovers alpine skiing- 15 resorts with slopes from the most extreme to simple.

Ecuador is located in the north-west of the mainland and gets its name from the Spanish “equator”. The capital is Quito. Particularly noteworthy are the Galapagos Islands, famous not only for their fauna, but also for their fantastic beaches, Oriente National Park and a journey through the Amazon, the El Kayas region with 200 lakes and lagoons, the ancient cultural monument of Ingapirca and museums of the colonial and pre-colonial eras in Quito.

A visa-free regime has been introduced for Russian tourists to visit Ecuador for up to 90 days.

In addition, South America includes the disputed island territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, as well as the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), which are still disputed by Great Britain and Argentina. Tourists arrive to the islands as part of cruise tours. The most common activities are mountaineering, hiking and kayaking. The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) are places almost forgotten by tourists. Their climate is similar to that of Iceland: cold, strong winds, and not only seagulls, but also plump king penguins scurry along the coast.

Nature of South America

After the breakup of the Gondwana continent at the end of the Cretaceous period into Africa, Australia, Antarctica and South America, the latter remained an isolated continent. The Isthmus of Panama, which connects what is now North and South America, appeared about three million years ago, significantly influencing the flora and fauna of the continent.

Variety of landscapes and climatic zones amazes the tourist's imagination. The Andes, the world's longest mountain range, is also called the "ridge" of South America, stretching almost its entire length for 9 thousand km. The most high peaks- Aconcagua (6960 m) in Argentina and Ojos del Salado (6908 m) are covered with snow all year round. The movement of the earth's crust in this region, which continues to this day, causes earthquakes and eruptions of active volcanoes.

The famous Amazon flows here, the second largest river on the planet, always full of water thanks to its numerous tributaries. On its banks rise the endless Amazonian jungle, so dense that some parts of it remain unexplored to this day.

The Amazon jungle is called the “lungs of the planet.”

In contrast to the Amazon rainforest, the mainland has one of the driest places on the planet, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. Argentina and Uruguay have hot and dusty pampa steppes.

There are vast lakes in South America, and high waterfalls, and rocky islands. From the north the continent is washed by warm waters Caribbean Sea, while its southernmost point - the island of Tierra del Fuego - is subject to frequent storms of the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Europa is named after the heroine of ancient Greek mythology, Europa, a Phoenician princess who was kidnapped by Zeus and taken to the island of Crete. The origin of this name itself, as the French linguist P. Chantrain concludes, is unknown. The most popular etymological hypotheses in modern literature were proposed in antiquity (along with many others), but are controversial: One etymology interprets it from the Greek roots evri- and ops- as “wide-eyed”. According to the lexicographer Hesychius, the name Europia means "land of sunset, or dark", which was defined by later linguists as "sunset".

The name Europe for a part of the world is absent in ancient Greek literature (in the Homeric hymn to Apollo of Pythia, Europe is only named Northern Greece) and was first recorded in the “Description of the Earth” by Hecataeus of Miletus (late 6th century BC), the first book of which is dedicated to Europe.

The ancient Greeks initially considered Europe a separate continent, separated from Asia by the Aegean and Black Seas, and from Africa - Mediterranean Sea. Convinced that Europe was only a small part of the huge continent, which is now called Eurasia, ancient authors began to draw the eastern border of Europe along the Don River (such ideas are already found in Polybius and Strabo). This tradition prevailed for almost two millennia. In particular, according to Mercator, the border of Europe runs along the Don, and from its source - strictly north to the White Sea.
In the 15th century, when Muslims were driven out of almost all of Spain and the Byzantines from Asia (by the Turks), Europe briefly became almost synonymous with Christendom, but today most Christians live outside its territory. In the 19th century, almost all of the world's industry was located in Europe; today, most of the products are produced outside its borders. In 1720, V. N. Tatishchev proposed drawing the eastern border of Europe along the ridge Ural mountains, and further along the Yaik River (modern Ural) up to the mouth flowing into the Caspian Sea. Gradually, the new border became generally accepted, first in Russia, and then beyond its borders. Currently, the border of Europe is drawn: in the north - along the Arctic Ocean; in the west - along the Atlantic Ocean; in the south - along the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara, Black Seas; in the east - along the eastern foot of the Ural Mountains, the Mugodzharam Mountains, along the Yaik River (modern Ural) to the Caspian Sea, from there along the Kuma and Manych rivers to the mouth of the Don (or along Caucasus ridge to the Black Sea). Europe also includes nearby islands and archipelagos.

Countries of Europe

Eastern Europe:
Belarus, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia

Northern Europe:
, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia,

Western Europe- a region that includes mainly the states of the Germans and Celts. One of the most developed economic regions of the planet. The beginning of the formation of Western Europe is considered to be the collapse of the Roman Empire, its division into Eastern and Western.

List of Western European countries: Austria, Belgium, Andorra, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and France. The last noticeable changes to the map of Western Europe occurred around the 11th century; it is not for nothing that this part is considered the “old world”. The states of Western Europe are divided into four groups (large, medium, small and dwarf states).

About 296 million people live in Western Europe. And of these, approximately 20 million foreign workers, Western Europe is a kind of immigration hotspot of the world. The population of Western Europe belongs to the Indo-European language family, the Romance and Germanic groups.

The most big country in Western Europe - France, its area is 549.2 thousand km2, while it is also the richest and old country this part of Europe.

Western Europe is a region that ranks first in terms of the size of small-scale economic and industrial production, in the export of goods, in gold and currency reserves, in development international tourism. A distinctive feature of Western Europe is the high level of development of integration processes. The development of Western Europe as a region is determined by the contribution of all countries in the region, but mainly the most developed - France, Germany, and Great Britain.

A cultural treasure of Western Europe, it is a world treasure trove of extraordinarily beautiful and famous works of art. In the history of Western Culture, one can trace many cultural events that remain in the memory of the whole world, as well as thousands of names of famous artists, musicians, and sculptors are associated with the countries of Western Europe.

To the very the most beautiful cities Western Europe includes: Paris, Amsterdam, London. Every year they attract millions of curious tourists. Tourist income from Western countries fills a large niche in the country's budget.