<P> Europe lies mainly in the temperate climate zones, being subjected to prevailing westerlies . The climate is milder in comparison to other areas of the same latitude around the globe due to the influence of the Gulf Stream . The Gulf Stream is nicknamed "Europe's central heating", because it makes Europe's climate warmer and wetter than it would otherwise be . The Gulf Stream not only carries warm water to Europe's coast but also warms up the prevailing westerly winds that blow across the continent from the Atlantic Ocean . </P> <P> Therefore, the average temperature throughout the year of Naples is 16 ° C (61 ° F), while it is only 12 ° C (54 ° F) in New York City which is almost on the same latitude . Berlin, Germany; Calgary, Canada; and Irkutsk, in the Asian part of Russia, lie on around the same latitude; January temperatures in Berlin average around 8 ° C (14 ° F) higher than those in Calgary, and they are almost 22 ° C (40 ° F) higher than average temperatures in Irkutsk . Similarly, northern parts of Scotland have a temperate marine climate . The yearly average temperature in city of Inverness is 9.05 ° C (48.29 ° F). However, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, is on roughly the same latitude and has an average temperature of − 6.5 ° C (20.3 ° F), giving it a nearly subarctic climate . </P> <P> The geological history of Europe traces back to the formation of the Baltic Shield (Fennoscandia) and the Sarmatian craton, both around 2.25 billion years ago, followed by the Volgo--Uralia shield, the three together leading to the East European craton (≈ Baltica) which became a part of the supercontinent Columbia . Around 1.1 billion years ago, Baltica and Arctica (as part of the Laurentia block) became joined to Rodinia, later resplitting around 550 million years ago to reform as Baltica . Around 440 million years ago Euramerica was formed from Baltica and Laurentia; a further joining with Gondwana then leading to the formation of Pangea . Around 190 million years ago, Gondwana and Laurasia split apart due to the widening of the Atlantic Ocean . Finally, and very soon afterwards, Laurasia itself split up again, into Laurentia (North America) and the Eurasian continent . The land connection between the two persisted for a considerable time, via Greenland, leading to interchange of animal species . From around 50 million years ago, rising and falling sea levels have determined the actual shape of Europe, and its connections with continents such as Asia . Europe's present shape dates to the late Tertiary period about five million years ago . </P> <P> The geology of Europe is hugely varied and complex, and gives rise to the wide variety of landscapes found across the continent, from the Scottish Highlands to the rolling plains of Hungary . Europe's most significant feature is the dichotomy between highland and mountainous Southern Europe and a vast, partially underwater, northern plain ranging from Ireland in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east . These two halves are separated by the mountain chains of the Pyrenees and Alps / Carpathians . The northern plains are delimited in the west by the Scandinavian Mountains and the mountainous parts of the British Isles . Major shallow water bodies submerging parts of the northern plains are the Celtic Sea, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea complex and Barents Sea . </P>

When did europe arrive at the location it is in today