The map of Europe displays great variation in elevation. Most of the European continent consists of lowland areas, whereas only one third consists of highlands and mountains. The European continent contains only a few depressions, or areas that are located below sea level.

The movement of tectonic plates has created the European folded mountain ranges over the course of hundreds of millions of years. These mountain ranges include the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Apennines, the Balkans and the Carpathian Mountains. They are all considered to be young orogenic mountain ranges, characterized by tall mountains, sharp peaks and steep slopes. In contrast, the Ural Mountains of Russia are an old orogenic mountain range.

The Scandes of Scandinavia are an old mountain range that has formed hundreds of millions of years ago. However, the mountain range also contains peaks that have formed only a couple of million years ago.



​​