john

Europe is physically defined by jagged coastlines, peninsulas, islands, mountains and rivers. Since prehistoric days, people have been challenged by rugged barriers and have taken advantage of natural waterways and highways.

The present road network developed through the centuries, with rail systems expanding rapidly in the 19th century and air travel in the 20th.

Over the past 30 years, Europe built most of its present modern airports, the impressive web of modern highways and a new high-speed rail system. That work goes on today, with vast investments from the European Union.

Important goals for the 21st century are to further reduce travel times between major cities, and to significantly increase the number of people and tons of freight that move by rail. The intention is to slow the growth of both air and highway travel on the busiest routes.

Toward these ends, remarkable projects have been undertaken, including the Channel Tunnel, Scandinavia's Store B ælt and Øresund crossings, the Main-Danube canal, the current Greek highway and rail program, the new Swiss rail tunnels through the Alps, and the Strait of Messina bridge, which Italy is determined to finally build to Sicily.