The Making of Europe ─ A Geological History

The continent of Europe, as a recognizable geographic entity, attained roughly its present shape around 20 million years ago. Even since then, the European coastline has undergone significant changes, due mainly to sea-level movements. This book relates how Europe has been assembled through geological time by the accretion of various distinct geological components, some of which have travelled a considerable distance across the globe to reach their present positions. It is written for those who are curious about the shape, variety, and origins of the continent of Europe. How did the continent come to adopt certain shapes as presented on maps? Why are there such distinct regions and landscapes, ranging from the wide plains of Northern Europe to the mountains of the South? Illustrated in color, with technical terms kept to a minimum, The Making of Europe: A Geological History will educate all those who travel in Europe and who are interested in the study of geology.

Graham Park is Emeritus Professor of Tectonic Geology at the University of Keele and the author of the popular books Introducing Geology and Introducing Tectonics, Rock Structures and Mountain Belts also published by Dunedin Academic Press.