Continental Europe

What is Continental Europe?

Continental Europe is the big, connected part of Europe without the islands around it. People sometimes call it the European continent or just "the Continent." This area connects many countries and cultures, making it very important.

Islands and the Mainland

Most people think of continental Europe as the large part of Europe, not including islands like the Greek islands, Cyprus, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, the Balearic Islands, Great Britain, and Ireland. Other faraway islands like the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Svalbard are also not included.

Bridges and Connections

In 1994, a tunnel called the Channel Tunnel was built, connecting Great Britain to France under the sea. This tunnel allows people to travel between the two places by train. Later, in 1998 and 2000, the Great Belt Bridge and Øresund Bridge were built, creating a direct land connection from the Scandinavian Peninsula to the Danish mainland.