It’s surprising how many people are unsure whether Europe is a country or a continent. Even notable figures like former President Barack Obama have referred to Europe as a country, perhaps intending to mention “countries like those in Europe” rather than implying Europe itself is a country. Let’s explore some fascinating and enjoyable facts about Europe…
1. The Largest/Smallest Country
In Europe, you’ll find both the smallest and largest countries in the world by area. Vatican City State (Stato della Città del Vaticano) holds the title of the smallest country, covering just 0.44 square kilometers. On the other end of the spectrum, Russia claims the title of the largest country globally, both in terms of land area at 16,377,742 square kilometers and population.
According to the CIA World Factbook, China holds the record for having the most neighboring countries with 15, followed closely by Russia with 14, and Brazil with 10.
Vatican City State is a UNESCO World Heritage site, uniquely recognized for encompassing an entire state within its borders.
2. The Merry Cemetery in Romania
Cemeteries are often somber places, yet they can also offer unexpected amusement and fascination. Sapanta, located in Northern Romania, has gained global renown for its Merry Cemetery, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Unlike traditional cemeteries, Sapanta stands out for its distinctive features: the tombstones are large oak wood crosses meticulously carved and hand-painted in vibrant hues like red, blue, green, and yellow. What truly sets Sapanta apart are the humorous epitaphs adorning these crosses, which whimsically depict the lives or circumstances of the deceased.
The visionary behind this unconventional concept was Ioan Stan Patras, a Romanian craftsman who began crafting these unique crosses in 1935. Rooted in the ancient culture of the Dacians, Romania’s ancestors, Sapanta embodies a perspective on death as a form of liberation and the soul as eternal. This positive outlook is reflected in the cemetery’s welcoming atmosphere, where death is embraced with a smile.
3. The Statue of Liberty was Constructed in France
Many may not realize that the iconic Statue of Liberty was designed by Frédéric Bartholdi, a renowned French sculptor. This colossal neoclassical sculpture was crafted in France and gifted to the United States as a symbol of friendship. The structural framework of the statue was ingeniously designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the brilliant engineer responsible for the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Standing at an impressive height of 305 feet and 6 inches, the Statue of Liberty is adorned with a crown featuring seven rays, symbolizing the seven continents.
Replicas of Lady Liberty can be found across the globe, with one of the most notable replicas situated in France.
4. Istanbul, the City of Two Continents
Magical Istanbul has connected Asia and Europe since ancient times through the mighty Bosphorus Strait. Undoubtedly, this stunning city ranks among the most beautiful places on Earth. Istanbul uniquely spans two continents as the only metropolis in the world to do so. It earned the title of Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2010, as part of a program initiated by the European Union.
Throughout its rich history, Istanbul has served as the capital of numerous empires. Napoleon Bonaparte once remarked, “If the world were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.”
For those seeking the experience of breakfast in Asia and lunch in Europe, Istanbul is the ideal destination!
5. Europe, the Meaning
In ancient Greek mythology, Europa was a stunning Phoenician princess, the daughter of Agenor, king of Tyre. She caught the eye of Zeus, who, using his power of metamorphosis, appeared before her as a magnificent white bull to win her trust.
Fascinated by the bull’s beauty, Europa climbed onto its back and was swiftly carried away to Crete. There, Zeus revealed his true divine form to Europa. Their union resulted in the birth of three children: Sarpedon, Minos, and Rhadamanthys.
Etymologically, the term “Europe” originates from ancient Greek, meaning broad or wide-gazing, reflecting its vast and expansive nature.
6. The Longest Names
Get ready for some of the longest officially recognized place names! In Wales, United Kingdom, there’s a village with 58 letters that holds the title for the longest one-word European place name: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. This name translates to “Saint Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave.” Locally, it’s often shortened to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll.
Here are a few more notable examples of unusually long names: Äteritsiputeritsipuolilautatsijänkä in Finland, Siemieniakowszczyzna in Poland, and Newtownmountkennedy in Ireland.
7. Age of Migrations
The “Age of Migrations” stands as one of the lesser-known chapters in European history, also referred to as the Migration Period. During this era, various tribes surged into Europe in successive waves.
The initial phase of migration concluded around 500 AD, as Germanic tribes such as the Franks, Goths, Saxons, Vandals, and Lombards established their own kingdoms across Central, Western, Southern, and Southeastern Europe. This period gave way to a second phase of migrations (around 500-700 AD), primarily involving the movement of Slavic peoples.
Throughout this tumultuous period, Europe experienced pivotal events such as invasions by the Avars and Bulgarians, the Muslim conquest of Sicily, Hungarian invasions, and Viking incursions. These events profoundly shaped the course of European history, influencing the composition of its peoples and the evolution of their cultural heritage over the centuries.
8. Greatest Empires
Europe has been home to many of history’s grandest empires. Among these, the British Empire stood as the largest empire in the world at one point. Encompassing over 36 million square kilometers and a population estimated between 480 and 570 million people, it earned the epithet that the “sun never sets” on it, due to its vast global reach covering a quarter of the Earth’s surface.
Other significant colonial powers included the Spanish, Russian, French, and Portuguese Empires. Prior to the era of colonial expansion, the Roman Empire, often hailed as the cradle of modern civilization, emerged as one of the most influential and successful empires in world history.
9. Europe’s Most Famous and Active Volcanoes
Etna stands as Europe’s largest active volcano, reaching a height of approximately 3,350 meters. Located in Sicily, southern Italy, it is a stratovolcano known for its frequent activity. Etna recently erupted this year, with a notable eruption occurring in late July. For updates, visit the website of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, which offers an English version. Documented eruptions of Etna date back to 1500 BC, marking it as the volcano with the longest recorded history of eruptions in the world.
Stromboli, situated among the Aeolian Islands off Italy’s coast, is renowned as one of the planet’s most active volcanoes and the sole active one on the European mainland.
Mount Vesuvius, famed for its devastating eruption that obliterated Pompeii and Herculaneum, last erupted in 1944, 67 years ago.
In Iceland, Vatnajökull boasts the largest volume of any European glacier. Beneath its ice-cap lie at least seven volcanoes.
10. The Mediterranean Was Once a Desert
In the past four decades, compelling evidence has emerged showing that the Mediterranean Sea underwent periodic complete drying, famously known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis. This remarkable discovery is detailed in Kenneth J. Hsu’s book “The Mediterranean Was a Desert, Voyage of the Glomar Challenger.”
Rob Butler has noted that the ‘Salinity Crisis’ in the Mediterranean stands out as one of the most striking instances of environmental change in the geological record, particularly in areas not affected by glaciation.
