euroopan

Euroopan is the Finnish name for the continent of Europe. In global usage, it denotes the western part of Eurasia and is traditionally bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Ural Mountains and Ural River to the east, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas to the south. The eastern boundary with Asia is conventional rather than fixed, and different schemes place varying extents on the continent.

Geography and regions: Europe spans about 10.2 million square kilometers and is home to roughly 746 million people. It comprises northern, western, southern, and eastern areas, with peninsulas such as the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan. Major mountain ranges include the Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathians; important river systems include the Danube and Rhine in central Europe, and the Volga in Russia. Climate ranges from Arctic to Mediterranean.

History and politics: Europe has a long history of civilizations and states that influenced science, law, and culture. In the modern era, many European states developed interstate cooperation and institutions, culminating in the European Union. As of 2025, the EU consists of 27 member states, with common policies on trade, competition, and regional development. Europe remains politically diverse, with multiple constitutional systems and languages.

Demographics and culture: The continent is ethnically and linguistically diverse, with languages from the Indo-European and Uralic families among many others. Christian traditions have historically been influential, but secularization and religious plurality are common. Economically, Europe has highly developed economies and extensive social and infrastructure networks, with strong cultural and scientific institutions, universities, and museums.