mandriEuroopa

Mandri-Euroopa (Estonian for mainland Europe) refers to the continental part of Europe—the landmass that lies on the European continent as distinct from its islands and overseas territories. In everyday usage, it designates the European mainland: the Iberian, Italian, Balkan and other peninsulas, the Scandinavian and Central European landmasses, and their interior regions, extending roughly from the Atlantic coast in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east, and from the Arctic northward to the Mediterranean and Black Sea. It excludes insular regions such as Great Britain and Ireland, as well as most island territories and distant overseas possessions associated with European states. Some definitions also omit or include the European portion of transcontinental countries like Turkey depending on the criterion used.

Geographically, the eastern boundary between Europe and Asia in the concept of mandri-Euroopa is commonly placed at the Ural Mountains, with some approaches extending to the Ural River or the Caucasus as the boundary. The concept is not an official political term but is used in geography, climate science, and regional planning to distinguish the continental landmass from islands and overseas areas.

In cultural and political discussions, mandri-Euroopa often aligns with mainland Europe for purposes such as economic analysis, transportation networks, and regional cooperation, though political borders and affiliations (such as EU membership) do not always coincide with geographic definitions.