What Are the Natural Resources of Europe?
Copper, natural gas, coal and petroleum are among the many natural resources of Europe. The availability of each resource varies by country due to differences in climate and geography.
Iceland and Norway are both good sources of fish due to their locations. Iceland is in the Atlantic Ocean, while Norway is situated on the coast of the Norwegian Sea. The natural resources of Iceland also include hydropower and geothermal power. Sweden has natural deposits of several different minerals, including gold, lead, zinc and silver. Uranium deposits are also found in Sweden.
The countries in southern Europe have a mix of minerals as well as natural gas and crude oil reserves. Natural resources found in Spain include coal, zinc, tungsten, potash and uranium. Italy has mercury, asbestos, pumice and fish. Iron ore, nickel, bauxite and petroleum are all found in Greece. Western Europe serves as a source of construction materials and minerals. Belgium, for example, has silica sand deposits. Manufacturers use the sand to produce glass, ceramics, silicon chips and other products. The mines of France contain gypsum, coal, antimony, iron ore and zinc. Germany is a source of natural gas.
Eastern European countries are also rich with natural resources. Poland has natural gas, sulfur and copper deposits, while Belarus is known for its timber, limestone, clay, gravel and sand. Romania is a source of petroleum, but the petroleum reserves are declining.
