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Southern Europe
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The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean 'all countries in the south of Europe'. However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical geographical, phytogeographic or climatic approach. Most southern European countries border the Mediterranean Sea.
raphically, southern Europe is the southern half of the landmass of Europe.
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Encyclopedia
The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean 'all countries in the south of Europe'. However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical geographical, phytogeographic or climatic approach. Most southern European countries border the Mediterranean Sea.
Geographical definition
Geographically, southern Europe is the southern half of the landmass of Europe. This definition is relative, with no clear limits.
The Alps and Massif Central mountains constitute a physical barrier between Italy and France and the rest of Europe.
Countries geographically considered part of Southern Europe include:
(including: Madeira and Azores)
(including: Balearic Islands)
(not including the North, Alpine and Atlantic parts but including: Corsica)
(not including the Alpine parts but including Sardinia and Sicily)
Balkan Peninsula
(including: Aegean Islands, Crete, and Ionian Islands)
(below Sava and Danube)
(disputed region)
(3% of the country lies in Europe, the rest in Asia)
(Geographically part of Asia but considered European for historic and cultural reasons)
Political definition
For its official works and publications, the United Nations Organization groups countries under a classification of regions. Southern Europe, as defined by the United Nations (), comprises the following countries and territories:
Climatical definition
Southern Europe's climate is that of the Mediterranean climate, which has become a typically known characteristic of the area.
The Medium area presents similar landscapes throughout, including:
- dry hills
- small plains
- pine forests
- olive trees
The area which is considered climatically Southern Europe is:* (coasts)
- (coasts)* (southeast coast, and the island of Corsica)*
- (except the Po River plain and Alps region)** (northeast and southern two-thirds)
- (south)
- (southern half and eastern coast)
- (southern and western coast)
Phytogeographical definition
Southern Europe's flora is that of the Mediterranean and Submediterranean, which is typical for this area. The Mediterranean and Submediterranean climate regions in Europe comprise the following countries and territories:
       (the southern and southeastern part, and the island of Corsica) (the southwestern part till the Balaton lake)
    (the southern half) (only the southern part along the Danube river)   (except for the northwestern part) (only Ticino) (coastal part) (only the southern part of Crimea)
Linguistic Southern Europe
Countries of Southern Europe by main national language(s):
- Catalan
- French
- Italian
- Romanian
- French
- Portuguese
- Romanian
- Italian
- Spanish
- French, Italian and Romansh
- Italian
- Bosnian (also in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo*)
- Bulgarian
- Croatian
- Macedonian
- Montenegrin
- Serbian (also in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo*)
- Slovene
- Greek
- Greek
- English
- German
- Albanian
- Albanian
- Maltese
- Turkish
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