The smallest of the Balkan nations, Kosovo is a landlocked country about the size of Delaware. In 2008, the country declared its independence from neighboring Serbia; two years later, Kosovo’s sovereignty was formally recognized by the International Court of Justice. This makes Kosovo the youngest nation in Europe, second to Serbia itself, which only became an independent country in 2006.

With a population of under 40,000, Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in Europe. The German-speaking micronation is nestled in the Alps between Switzerland and Austria; at just 62 square miles, it’s Europe's fourth-smallest country by land area.

Lake Como may be well known for celebrity residents like George Clooney, but it is less than half the size of Italy's largest lake. Lake Garda covers a surface area of 143 square miles and stretches over 32 miles long. Located in northern Italy, Garda extends through the provinces of Brescia, Trentino, and Verona. Lake Como is the third-largest lake in Italy.

Both New York City and Madrid lie at about 40 degrees north latitude. If you're wondering where the sunny beaches are in New York, keep in mind there are a lot of other factors that impact climate, including the jet stream that carries warm water from the Caribbean to Europe. Other nearby latitude neighbors for New York? Naples and Sorrento, Italy, are also both on roughly the same 40-degree line.

The longest river that does not venture outside of mainland Europe is the Danube, which is 1,780 miles long and flows through 10 countries — from Germany to Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine, before emptying into the Black Sea. Many of Europe’s most scenic capitals are located on the Danube, including Vienna and Budapest.

Europe is the second-smallest of the seven continents — only Australia is smaller — and covers about one-fifteenth of Earth’s landmass. It is considered an anomaly among Earth’s continents because it is technically an appendage of Eurasia, but thanks to its distinct geography and the course of human history, it is considered its own civilization.

Sandwiched high in the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France, the microstate of Andorra has an average elevation of 6,550 feet. Home to only about 77,000 people, Andorra is the 16th-smallest country in the world and the sixth-smallest in Europe. Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe.

Norway is home to the northernmost point of Europe's mainland area, Cape Nordkinn, located at 71 degrees north latitude. This remote spot can only be reached after a daylong hike to the site. The island of Rossøya in Svalbard, Norway, is home to the continent’s northernmost point overall (outside of Russia) at 81 degrees north.

Though it is geographically part of both Asia and Europe, Russia still holds the number-one spot as the most populated European country. The country’s estimated population of 143 million people almost equals the combined populations of the next two most populous countries: Germany (81 million) and France (66 million).

Europe is made up of 44 countries, and beyond that, is broken down into various regional groupings, such as the Balkans. The northern European countries that make up Scandinavia include Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. While it borders both Norway and Sweden, Finland is not traditionally considered part of the group, though some have advocated for its inclusion.

There are 49 landlocked countries in the world, which are surrounded by at least one other country. However, only three countries in the world are entirely landlocked within a single other country. Two are located in Europe: Italy surrounds both San Marino and Vatican City. The other, Lesotho, is surrounded by South Africa. These are also known as enclave countries.

Located in southwestern Russia, Mount Elbrus is Europe's tallest mountain and one of the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent. This inactive volcano is part of the Caucasus Mountain Range, which straddles Europe and Asia. It has an elevation of 18,510 feet above sea level.

Stretching a distance of 1,550 miles from the Arctic Ocean to the Caspian and Aral Seas, the Ural Mountains serve as the primary land boundary between Europe and Asia. The range is relatively narrow, ranging from about 20 to 90 miles wide, and is rich in mineral resources. The Urals have been inhabited by people for centuries; today, the majority of the population is Russian.

Europe’s coastlines draw tourists from all over the world — from the Amalfi Coast of Italy to the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia and the French Riviera. However, the Gold Coast is located halfway around the world in Queensland, Australia. It stretches from the border with New South Wales for more than 40 miles north to Brisbane.

Norway is located on the Atlantic coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula, extending from the Barents Sea in the north to the North Sea in the south. Its long, meandering coastline includes many fjords and islands. With over 36,000 miles of oceanfront, Norway has the third-longest coastline in the world, after Canada and Indonesia.

Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan are all transcontinental countries that are partially located in both Europe and Asia. But Istanbul, a city in Turkey, is unique in that the city itself can also claim both continents. The Bosphorus River in Istanbul separates the European and Asian sides. Approximately 65% of Istanbul’s 15 million residents live on the European side.

The Vatican City is home to only just over 800 residents, including the Pope, but it's not only small in population. This country, a sovereign nation within Italy, covers less than one square mile. It is the global headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and does, in fact, have its own post office, banking system, radio station, and other important signs of nationhood.

The European continent's largest island is Great Britain, which includes the countries of England, Scotland, and Wales. Covering more than 80,000 square miles, Great Britain is larger than Ireland and far larger than Iceland. It's not as large as Greenland, however, which is the largest island in the world but considered part of North America.

Italy is easy to spot on a map thanks to its unique boot-like shape. The Italian mainland is a long peninsula stretching into the Mediterranean Sea, where the “toe” of the boot points toward the island of Sicily. The Apennine Mountains run the length of the country, and it is surrounded on each side by the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Adriatic Sea.

Cabo da Roca in Portugal is the westernmost point in mainland Europe. The area features the scenic Cabo da Roca lighthouse and a monument declaring the area’s western coordinates. Including islands, the Monchique Islet of Portugal’s Azores archipelago is the westernmost point of the continent overall.

There are 44 landlocked countries in the world — countries completely surrounded by land with no direct access to a major body of water. But there are two countries that are doubly landlocked, Uzbekistan in Central Asia and Liechtenstein in Europe. That means they aren't just separated from a major body of water by one country; they are surrounded by other landlocked countries.