Western Europe
The term western Europe has a definition that is largely dependent on context. For example, people may talk of western Europe in terms of culture, economics or politics (particularly during the cold war when western Europe was used to describe the non-Communist states of Europe), each with a different boundary in mind. Geographically, however, Western Europe is considered to be that part of the landmass of Europe that is home to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands and Switzerland. The climate round the western and northern coast of western Europe is a typical maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. Temperatures are higher in the central and southern regions, becoming colder in the snow-capped Alps.