The Most Extreme Points of Europe

Mount Elbrus is sometimes considered to be the highest mountain in Europe.

The Highest Points In Europe

The selection of the highest points in Europe depends on how Europe’s boundaries are defined.

Mount Elbrus, 18,506 feet above sea level

If the Caucasus Mountains watershed is accepted as the natural boundary separating Europe from Asia, then the 18,506 feet tall Mount Elbrus in Russia is the highest point in Europe.

The mountain, which is a dormant volcano, is the world’s 10th most prominent peak. Both the peaks of this mountain are dormant volcanic domes. The 18,442 ft tall east summit is slightly shorter than the 18,510 ft tall west summit.

Mont Blanc, 15,774 ft above sea level

If Mount Elbrus is excluded, Mont Blanc enjoys the title of being the “tallest mountain in Europe.” It is the highest Alpine mountain with an altitude of 15,774 ft above sea level. The mountain is a part of the Graian Alps and its summit is located on the watershed line between the French valleys of Arve and Montjoie and the Italian valleys of Veny and Ferret. The Mont Blanc is a popular tourist and mountaineering destination in the world. A range of activities like skiing, hiking, snowboarding are offered to tourists visiting the mountain.

Lowest Points In Europe

Lowest Natural Point On The Surface Of Land: Shores Of Caspian Sea, 92 feet below sea levelT

he Caspian Sea, often considered to be the biggest lake in the world, is an endorheic basin that is located in between Asia and Europe. The shores of the Caspian Sea in Europe are regarded as Europe’s lowest elevation on the surface of land.

Lowest Natural Point Under Water: Calypso Deep, 17,280 ft below sea level.

Located in the Ionian Sea, the Calypso Deep is the deepest part of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located near Pylos in Greece. Here, the Hellenic Trench is created since the African Plate slides underneath the Aegean Sea Plate.

Lowest Natural Point Underground

Just like the case with the highest point, the lowest point underground in Europe has two contenders.

Krubera Cave, 7,205 ft below surface

The Krubera Cave is regarded as the world’s deepest cave, and is located in the Arabika Massif of the Western Caucasus. In 2004, a record was created when the members of an expedition organized by the Ukrainian Speleological Association reached a depth of over 2,000 meters in the Krubera cave and explored it. It was the first time a cave deeper than 2,000 meters had been found.

Lamprechtsofen Cave, 5,354 ft below surface

If the Krubera Cave is left out because of the ambiguity of whether it is a part of Europe or not, then the Lamprechtsofen Cave of Austria can be regarded as Europe’s deepest place underground. The limestone karst river cave is located in the Leogang Mountains near the city of Salzburg.

Lowest Artificial Point On The Surface Of Land: Hambach surface mine, 961 feet below sea level

The large open-pit mine is located in Germany’s North-Rhine Westphalia state. The mine is used for extracting lignite and is operated by RWE. The mine currently covers an area of 39 square km.

Lowest Artificial Point Underground: Kola Superdeep Borehole, 40,230 feet below surface

The Kola Superdeep Borehole is regarded as the deepest man-made depression on the surface of land. The borehole was created as a result of a scientific drilling project initiated by the Soviet Union. The borehole is located on the Kola Peninsula in the Murmansk Oblast of Russia.

The Northernmost Points In Europe

Northernmost Point In Europe (mainland + islands): Cape Fligely, 81°50′35″N 59°14′22″E

Whether Cape Fligely is Europe’s northernmost point is a matter of controversy. It is definitely the northernmost point of Russia and Eurasia but its position as Europe’s northernmost point varies according to the definition of the boundary between Europe and Asia. Cape Fligely is located on the Rudolf Island in the Russian Federation and is only 911 km from the North Pole. The members of an Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition first visited the point on April 12, 1874. It was named after August von Fligely, a cartographer from Austria.

If Cape Fligely is not considered a part of Europe, then the island of Rossøya in Svalbard, Norway is home to the continent’s northernmost point at 81° 48′ 24″ N.

Northernmost Point in mainland Europe: Cape Nordkinn, 71°08′02″N 27°39′00″E

Cape Nordkinn is located in the Norwegian county of Finnmark. It is the Nordkinn Peninsula’s northernmost point. It is also the northernmost point of mainland Europe. Cape Nordkinn is a remote spot that can only be reached after an entire day’s hike. There are also no trails to the point but only cairns and poles are erected long distances apart to lead to the point.

Southernmost Points In Europe

Southernmost point in Europe (mainland + islands): Gavdos, Greece, 34° 50′ 0″ N, 24° 5′ 0″ E

The Greek island of Gavdos can be regarded as the least ambiguous southernmost point of Europe.

Southernmost point in mainland Europe: Punta de Tarifa, Spain, 36° 0′ 15″ N, 5° 36′ 37″ W

The southernmost point of mainland Europe is located on the Iberian Peninsula in Andalusia, an autonomous community in southern Spain. The Punta de Tarifa offers a view of the Moroccan coast.

Easternmost Points In Europe

Easternmost point in Europe (mainland + islands): Cape Flissingsky, 76°42′07″N 69°05′28″

The easternmost point of Europe, Cape Flissingsky, is located in Russia’s Northern Island. The cape was discovered in 1596 by Willem Barents, a Dutch Arctic explorer.

Easternmost point of mainland Europe: Unnamed peak, 68°18′37″N 66°37′05″E

The easternmost point of mainland Europe is located on an unnamed peak that is 545 m tall. The peak is located 17 km to the northeast of Gora Anoraga that is an 875 m tall peak.

Westernmost points of Europe

Westernmost point in Europe (mainland + islands): Monchique Islet, 39°29′43″N 31°16′30″W

The Monchique Islet is located to the west of the Fajã Grande village in western parts of the Azores archipelago of Portugal. Although the point is on the North American Plate, it is considered to be a part of Europe. The islet can be reached only by boat and the surrounding waters are excellent for scuba diving.