Northern Europe

Northern Europe (pronunciation: /ˈnɔːrðən ˈjʊərəp/) is the northern part or region of Europe. The term is usually used to refer to the countries and territories located in the northern part of the continent, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Etymology

The term "Northern Europe" is derived from the cardinal direction north, which is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. The word "north" comes from the Old High German nord, and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European unit *ner- (meaning "left; below" as north is to left when facing the rising sun). The word "Europe" is derived from the name of the ancient Greek mythological figure Europa.

Related Terms

Scandinavia: A region in Northern Europe, consisting of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Nordic countries: A geopolitical region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic, which includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as their associated territories.
Baltic Sea: A sea of the Atlantic Ocean, enclosed by Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic countries, and the North European Plain.
Baltic States: The countries in the northeastern region of Europe, on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Fennoscandia: A geographical peninsula comprising Norway, Sweden, Finland, and parts of Russia.
Arctic Circle: One of the two polar circles and the most northerly of the five major circles of latitude as shown on maps of Earth.