European Geography - Some Basics Quiz

Answer: Norway

In 2003 the member countries of the European Union were: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. They were joined on 1 May 2004 by: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007. On 1 July 2013 Croatia became the 28th member.

In 1972 and again in 1995 the Norwegians voted in a referendum against joining the EU. The UK voted in 2016 to withdraw from the Union.

Answer: Luxembourg

If one excludes the very smallest countries in Europe, such as Liechtenstein and Monaco, Luxembourg has the highest standard of living (in terms of GDP divided by population, adjusted for purchasing power). The figures for 2013 in International US$* were as follows: Luxembourg 90,333; Sweden 43,407; Germany 43,475 and Denmark 43,080. (Information taken from estimates issued by the IMF). Norway, with a per capita figure International US$64,363 is also immensely prosperous.

(The corresponding figures for the U.K., the U.S. and Australia are 36,208 - 53,001 and 45,138 respectively).
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*The International US$ is not the same as the current US$ but is recalculated from time to time to 'iron out' fluctuations in exchange rates. It is used only for international comparisons and isn't a traded currency.

Answer: UK

The following members of the European Union were the original Eurozone countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland (Repulbic), Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The Euro was created as a currency on 1.1.1999, and banknotes and coins came into circulation on 1.1.2002. (Between these two dates the exchange rates between the "national" currencies and the Euro were locked - that is, they were completely fixed with no room for any fluctuation. Thus the "national" currencies were in effect the Euro, denominated differently in the various countries in the Euro zone). Slovenia adopted the Euro on 1.1.2007; Cyprus and Malta adopted the Euro on 1.1.2008, and Slovakia on 1.1.2009. Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City also use the Euro.

Answer: France

With an area of 212,943 square miles (547,030 sq.km.) France is easily the biggest country in Western Europe. It is also the third largest country in Europe as a whole, after European Russia and Ukraine. However, France is somewhat smaller in area than Texas.

Answer: Cape Tarifa

Cape Tarifa is just north of the 36th parallel, which runs south even of Sicily. Gibraltar is some miles NE of Cape Tarifa. Cape Matapan, the most southerly point of the Greek mainland is somewhat further north and Reggio di Calabria, the city in the 'toe' of Italy, is even further north. Obviously, some of the Greek islands and a few of the southern Sicilian islands such as Lampedusa are further south.

Note that the Greeks refer to Cape Matapan as Cape Tainaron (Greek Ταίναρον).

Answer: Israel

In view of this and the vagueness of Europe's eastern boundary the division between Europe and Asia is arguably not very satisfactory - geographically, politically, linguistically or culturally.

Answer: Serbia

The following countries became members of the European Union in 2004: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia. Bulgaria and Romania joined on 1 January 2007 and Croatia on 1 July 2013.

Answer: Spain

Germany covers an area of 137,803 square miles (357,050 sq.km.) and Spain 194,896 square miles (505,992 sq.km). So Germany is smaller than California. The figure for Spain includes the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands - *mainland* Spain covers an area of 189,652 square miles (493,507 sq.km).

Germany lost a considerable amount of territory after World War I and even more after World War II.

Answer: The Caspian Sea

The Volga forms a delta as it approaches the Caspian Sea. The main city in the Volga delta area is Astrakhan. The Volga is an important river for trade.

Answer: Brussels

Brussels is also home to the headquarters of NATO. Strasbourg is the seat of the European Parliament. Frankfurt is home to the European Central Bank (ECB). Luxembourg is home to the European Investment Bank the European Court of Justice (ECJ). (This last is concerned with EU law and should NOT be confused with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which is not an EU Institution).