Europe extends
from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Mediterranean Sea in the south
and from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east.
The continent of Europe occupies the western fifth of the world's largest
land mass. Asia occupies the rest of this land.
The 47 countries of Europe include the world's largest country, Russia,
as well as the world's smallest, Vatican City. Russia lies partly in Europe
and partly in Asia. By world standards, most European countries are average
or small in size. The five smallest countries—Andorra, Liechtenstein,
Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City—are smaller than many of Europe's
cities. |