Worldwide, over 4 million students choose to study abroad each year. Europe plays an important role in the international mobility of students, especially since the Bologna system agreement. Many European countries have been offering English programmes in order to attract foreign students and overcome the disadvantages of English-speaking countries. Europe is usually described as one of the seven continents of the world. Economically, it's one of the most important, containing a larger number of developed countries than any other continent. Europe is a land of variety. It contains huge rivers, tall mountains, and an astonishing length of coastline. In Europe, you'll find hidden valleys covered with fertile soil, metals and gems to mine, oil in the North Sea, and hydropower potential. Europe comprises many countries, with many different natural resources. For example, Iceland and Norway have large populations of fish, as well as great hydropower and geothermal power potential. Countries of northern Europe often contain many minerals and metals, including gold, lead, silver, and zinc. Across Europe, there are oil and natural gas reserves, most notably in the North Sea, and natural gas in Germany and nearby countries.
