The continent of Europe, as a recognisable 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, to form the outline of the continent that we are
familiar with from maps and the photographs of Europe from space that we
view today.
Graham Park 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.
The Making of Europe is a book for all those curious about the origins,
variety and geological history of the continent of Europe. Why are there
such distinct regions and landscapes, ranging from the wide plains of
Northern Europe to the mountains of the South?
Although some previous knowledge of geology will be useful, important
geological concepts are explained in the Introduction, technical terms
are kept to a minimum and a comprehensive glossary is provided in
addition to an index. Copiously illustrated in colour, this book will
educate and inform all those who are interested in European geology.