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. All coastal countries in the United Nations-designated southern Europe border the Mediterranean Sea, except Portugal which has only Atlantic coastline. Contents[hide] * 1 Geographical definition * 1.1 Iberian Peninsula * 1.2 Italian Peninsula * 1.3 Balkans * 1.4 Other * 2 United Nations geoscheme * 3 Climatical definition * 4 Phytogeographical definition * 5 Linguistic Southern Europe * 5.1 Romance languages * 5.2 Greek language * 5.3 Albanian language * 5.4 South Slavic languages * 5.5 Germanic languages * 5.6 Semitic languages * 5.7 Turkic languages * 6 Notes |
[edit] Geographical definition

Southern Europe by UN.
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.[clarification needed]
Countries geographically considered part of southern Europe include:
[edit] Iberian Peninsula * Andorra * Portugal (including: Madeira and Azores) * Spain (including: Balearic Islands) * Gibraltar (British overseas territory)
[edit] Italian Peninsula * Italy (including: Sardinia and Sicily) * San Marino * Vatican City
[edit] Balkans * Albania * Bosnia and Herzegovina * Bulgaria * Croatia (below Sava and Kupa) * Greece (including: Aegean Islands, Crete, and Ionian Islands) * Montenegro * Serbia (below Sava and Danube) * Macedonia
[edit] Other