5 Strange Geographical Facts About Europe You Missed

Europe’s geography is weirder than you think.

Europe is the western peninsula of the supercontinent known as Eurasia, divided from Asia by a series of rivers and watersheds. Some of the rivers are the Black Sea, The Caspian Sea, the Ural River, and many others.

Europe is also the second smallest continent globally, just after Australia, which is the smallest. However, this miniature continent is still full of fascinating geographical features.

Below are some of the most strange geographical facts about Europe to cater to your curiosity:

1. Europe, Home To Six Microstates

Europe has five microstates that reside in different parts of its continent. These small sovereign states are home to less than 180 thousand people and a land area of less than 1000 square kilometers.

The largest among these tiny countries is Andorra, with a population of slightly more than 75 thousand and an area of almost 470 square kilometers.

The smallest is Vatican City, with a population of just over 800 individuals and 0.27 square kilometers or 0.16 square miles.

Other countries included in these tiny nations are Liechtenstein, San Marino, and Monaco. Some believe Malta is part of these micro states, but that is only because of its land area, just over 300 square kilometers.

The surprising thing about these microstates is that they have still managed to retain their sovereignty and culture despite being confined by larger neighbours.

Interestingly, Italy surrounds the whole of San Marino, Andorra is sandwiched between France and Spain, while Liechtenstein is wedged between Austria and Switzerland.

2. Monaco Is Much Smaller Than New York’s Central Park

Monaco is a sovereign state located on the French Riviera, also known as the Billionaires Playground.

This microstate is well known worldwide for its wealth, casinos, and exuberant events such as the Monaco Grand Prix and Monaco Yacht Show.

However, this country is not as big as one may think. Monaco has a land area of just 1.25 square kilometers.

To get an image of how small that is, we have compared it to Central Park in New York, which is almost 840 acres or 2.1 square kilometers in size, making Monaco about 60% of the scope of this well-known park.

3. Liechtenstein A Double Deadlocked Country

A landlocked nation is a nation that is surrounded by land, without any access to the seas or an ocean, and to reach the shoreline, the people of this country must cross at least one national border.

However, the double-landlocked countries are landlocked themselves, but the nations surrounding them are also landlocked. To reach the coastline, the people of these two landlocked countries must cross two national borders.

Liechtenstein is a tiny European Country with a population of slightly more than 38,000 and an area of just 62 square miles. It is also one of the two countries classified as double landlocked.

Liechtenstein is a landlocked country, and two other landlocked countries also surround it. The countries which surround Liechtenstein are Switzerland and Austria.

The other double landlocked country in Asia is Uzbekistan, surrounded by five different countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. All of these countries are landlocked too.

4. Two Countries Entirely Surrounded By One Country

Italy, a country situated in the south-central part of Europe, a peninsula that extends deep into the Mediterranean Sea, is known for its art, architecture, and food.

Italy has a population of 60 million, and it is the 10th largest country in Europe in terms of land, yet it has made room for two entirely sovereign and independent nations within its borders.

San Marino is one of the two countries that Italy surrounds. San Marino, a country founded in 301 CE, has an estimated population of 33,900 and a land area of just 38.6 square kilometres.

This tiny country is a sovereign state and the oldest constitutional republic. It is also one of the world’s most densely populated per square mile country.

The other country, situated entirely in Italy, is home to the pope Vatican City. Italy surrounds it, and one of its cities is Rome. Vatican City was established in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty. It is run and held by the holy see.

This sovereign state has an area of just 0.27 square kilometres, and it is the world’s smallest country.

5. Istanbul Spans From Asia To Europe

Istanbul, this Turkish city, is perhaps the most well-known one on the list of cities located on more than one continent or cities that are transcontinental. Istanbul is also known as the Gateway to Europe.

Istanbul is one of the highest populated cities among the transcontinental cities. The city is divided into two by the Bosphorus waterway, a narrow but significant body of water that separates Europe from Asia.

Final Words

Europe is a small yet very significant continent. Throughout history, Europe has played a role in the advancement of humanity. It has done much, whether as complicated as an automobile or something as simple as a stethoscope.

There are still many things related to the geography of Europe that are odd and yet to unfold.

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