Central Europe
France Belgium Switzerland
99% can read 98% can read 96% can read
80 years – average life 79 years – average life 80 years – average life
Language – French Language – Dutch, French, Language – German, French,
2nd largest (Texas) German Italian
Plains Low and flat Small
Mountains - Alps Crowded Few travel routes through Alps
Warm temperature Expensive to live here Gatekeepers – north/south
Farming – rich soil Vehicles, chemicals, clothing Neutrality -700 years stable
grapes – wine Antwerp – center of world Red Cross – HQ in Geneva
250-400 different cheeses diamond industry Mtns – isolate people
Cars and trucks Brussels-HQ of EU Hydroelectricity
Chemicals, clothing, foods 3 Regions Electronic equipment, chemicals
Tourists – beaches, skiing, castles -Flanders – Flemings/Dutch Clocks and watches
Eiffel Tower -Wallonia-French/Walloons Chocolate and cheeses
chateau -Brussels-Dutch/French/bilingual Swiss army knives
Invented fries Banking and financial services
Mont Blanc – highest summit
Germany Netherlands Austria
99% can read 99% can read 98% can read
79 years – average life 79 years – average life 79 years – average life
Language – German Language – Dutch Language – German
Plains Low and flat Landlocked
Rocky highlands Crowded Alps
Mountains – Alps Expensive to live Little good farmland
Largest population in Europe 25% below sea level Tourism – skiing
Tourism – Berlin, Polders – drained areas by Timber and iron ore
Composers – Bach/Beethoven windmills Hydroelectric power
Farming-$$ Tulips – 2 million a year Chemicals, metals, vehicles
Steel, cars, electrical equipment Houses – narrow but tall – good Banking and insurance
BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, use of space Roman Catholic
Opel, Smart, Mini Cooper, Composers – Mozart
Porsche, Volkswagon