Although formally considered a continent in its own right, Europe forms part of the Eurasian land mass. For its size, being the second smallest of the continents, its has the greatest density of population. The majority of the once expansive deciduous and coniferous woodlands have been cleared and now exist to any degree of density only to the north and east of the continent. The climatic range is generally moderate - having cool winters and mild summers - and warms considerably in the south-east where it borders the Middle Eastern countries. The Middle East itself forms a climactic and cultural bridge between Europe, the continent of Africa to the south and Asia to the east.