Extreme points of Europe

This is a list of the extreme points of Europe: the geographical points that are higher or farther north, south, east or west than any other location in Europe. Some of these positions are open to debate, as the definition of Europe is diverse.

Extremes of the European continent, including islands

• Northernmost point. Cape Fligely, Rudolf Island, Franz Josef Land, Russia (81° 48′ 24″ N).^{[dubious – discuss]} Franz Josef Land is near the ill-defined border between Europe and Asia; if it is not considered a part of Europe, then the northernmost point is on the island of Rossøya, Svalbard, Norway (81°N).
• Southernmost point. Cape Trypiti, Gavdos Island, Greece (34° 48′ 02″ N) is the least ambiguous southernmost point of Europe. However, there are other contenders, depending on definition. The island of Cyprus has cultural links with Europe and it is also part of European Union; Cyprus's southernmost point is the British base at Akrotiri (34°35′N). The Portuguese islands of Madeira are borderline between Europe and Africa; their southernmost point is at Bugio Island, at (32°24′14″N). La Restinga on the island of El Hierro (27°45′N) in the Spanish Canary Islands is yet further south and could be considered politically, though not physiographically as part of Europe.
• Westernmost point. Monchique Islet, Azores Islands, Portugal (31° 16′ 30″ W) (If considered part of Europe, though it sits on the North American Plate). If not, then the Capelinhos Volcano, Faial Island, Azores Islands, Portugal (28° 50′ 00″ W), the westernmost point of the Eurasian Plate above sea level. Bjargtangar (24° 31′ 55″ W) is Iceland´s Westernmost point and thus furthest west of a European country.
• Easternmost point. Cape Flissingsky (69° 02′ E), Severny Island, Novaya Zemlya, Russia.

Mainland Europe

• Northernmost point. Cape Nordkinn (Kinnarodden), Norway (71°08′02″N 27°39′00″E)
• Southernmost point. Punta de Tarifa, Spain (36°00'00.2"N). This is the southernmost point of a small island connected to the coast by a causeway in 1808, so no longer an island. If manmade land is not accepted, the continental southernmost point is located slightly more to the North at 36°00'25"N.
• Westernmost point. Cabo da Roca, Portugal (9°29'56.44 W).^{[1][note 1]}
• Easternmost point. The easternmost point is dependent upon the various definitions of Europe's eastern border. Utilizing the most common definition of Europe's eastern edge (the watershed divide of the Ural Mountains), the easternmost point of the Ural watershed (and thus mainland Europe) lies on an unnamed 545-metre (1,788 ft) peak at 68°18′37″N 66°37′05″E / 68.31028°N 66.61806°E / 68.31028; 66.61806 as shown on various detailed maps such as the Soviet General Staff maps and as shown on Google Earth/Maps. This peak is 17 km (11 mi) northeast of an 875-metre (2,871 ft) peak named Gora Anoraga and 60 km (37 mi) southwest of Ostrov Lediyev (island) on Arctic waters south of the Kara Sea.

Elevation

• Highest point. The highest point is dependent upon the definition of Europe:
  • The Caucasus Mountains watershed divide is the most common definition for the European/Asian border. This places the highest point at Mount Elbrus, Russia (5,642 metres; 18,506 feet), which is 11 km (6.8 mi) onto the European side of the Caucasus watershed divide.
  • If the Caucasus mountains are excluded, the highest point is Mont Blanc, on the border between France and Italy (4,810 metres; 15,781 feet).
• Lowest point (natural, with open sky). Caspian Sea shore, Russia (28 metres; 92 feet below sea level).
• Lowest point (natural, under water). Calypso Deep, Ionian Sea, Greece (5,267 metres; 17,280 feet below sea level).
• Lowest point (natural, underground). Dependent upon the definition of Europe: either Krubera Cave, Abkhazia, Georgia (2196 metres; 7205 feet below surface) (also the deepest cave in the world)^[2] or Lamprechtsofen, Austria (1,632 metres; 5,354 feet below surface).
• Lowest point (artificial, with open sky). Hambach surface mine (open-pit mine), Germany (293 metres; 961 feet below sea level). Also deepest of the world.
• Lowest point (artificial, underground). Kola Superdeep Borehole, Russia (12,262 metres; 40,230 feet below surface). Also the deepest artificial point on Earth.

Highest attainable by transportation

• Cable car (and lift) – Klein Matterhorn, Switzerland (3,883 metres; 12,736 feet)
• Teide Cableway – Teide volcano, Spain (3,555 metres; 11,663 feet)
• Funicular – Mittelallalin, Switzerland (3,456 metres; 11,339 feet)
• Train (dead end) – Jungfraujoch, Switzerland (3,454 metres; 11,330 feet)
• Train (mountain pass) – Bernina Pass, Switzerland (2,253 metres; 7390 feet)^[3]
• Restricted access paved road (dead end) – Veleta (Sierra Nevada), Spain (3,300 metres; 10,827 feet)
• Paved road (dead end) – Ötztal Glacier Road, Austria (2,830 metres; 9,285 feet)
• Paved road (mountain pass) – Col de l'Iseran, France (2,770 metres; 9,090 feet)
• See also: List of highest paved roads in Europe and List of highest railways in Europe

Lowest attainable by transportation

• Lowest public tunnel – Ryfast Tunnel, Norway (292 metres (958 ft) below sea level)

Extreme points attainable by train

Extreme station of the European continent, including islands

• Northernmost station: Terminal station: unclear which is in service: Pechenga (railway station), Murmansk Oblast, Murmansk Oblast, Russia (274 kilometres (170 mi) from Cape Nordkinn)
• Easternmost station: Crossing of the watershed border of the Ural: Polyarnyj Ural station, literally named after the region of Polar Urals, Komi Republic, Russia (180 km (110 mi) from the easternmost point)
• Southernmost station: Terminal station: Algeciras, Andalusia, Spain (20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast from Punta de Tarifa)
• Westernnmost station: Terminal station: Tralee railway station, County Kerry, Ireland (70 km (43 mi) east from The westernmost point of Ireland)

Continental Schengen area

• Northernmost station: Terminal station: Narvik, Nordland, Norway
• Easternmost station: Stop on the line Joensuu–Kontiomäki: Uimaharju, North Karelia, Finland
• Southernmost station: Terminal station: Algeciras, Andalusia, Spain
• Westernmost station: Terminal station: Cascais, Lisbon Region, Portugal

See also

• Extreme points of Africa-Eurasia
• Extreme points of Earth
• Extreme points of Eurasia
• Extreme points of the European Union
• Geographical midpoint of Europe
• Geography of Europe
• List of highest points of European countries
• The world's most northern city, capital, island etc.

Notes

References

External links

• Franz-Joseph-Land, the northernmost islands Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine
• picture of the westernmost point of Europe