World Atlas 2010 (4th edition)

218

France

EUROPE

FACTFILE

OFFICIAL NAME: French Republic

DATE OF FORMATION: 987

CAPITAL: Paris

POPULATION: 62.3 million

TOTAL AREA: 211,208 sq. miles

(547,030 sq. km)

DENSITY: 294 people per sq. mile

LANGUAGES: French*, Provençal, other

RELIGIONS: Catholic 88%, Muslim 8%,

Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Buddhist 1%

ETHNIC MIX: French 90%, North African 6%,

German 2%, Breton 1%, other 1%

GOVERNMENT: Mixed presidential–

parliamentary system

CURRENCY: Euro = 100 cents

Stretching across western Europe, from the English

Channel (la Manche) to the Mediterranean Sea, France was Europe’s

first modern republic, and is still a leading industrial power.

GEOGRAPHY

Broad plain covers northern half of

the country. Tall mountain ranges in the

east and southwest, with a mountainous

plateau in the center.

CLIMATE

Three main climates: temperate

and damp northwest; continental east;

and Mediterranean south.

PEOPLE & SOCIETY

Strong French national identity

coexists with pronounced regional

differences, including local languages.

Immigration laws have been tightened

since the 1970s, but ethnic minorities

growing up in city suburbs feel

increasingly alienated. New rules aim to

bring more women into politics.

THE ECONOMY

Chemicals, electronics, heavy

engineering, cars, and aircraft typify a

strong and diversified export sector.

World leader in cosmetics, perfumes, and

quality wines. Modernized agriculture.

INSIGHT: France is the most

popular tourist destination in the

world, with over 80 million visitors a year

3000m/9843ft

2000m/6562ft

1000m/3281ft

500m/1640ft

200m/656ft

Sea Level

MONACO

BELGIUM

LUX.

GERMANY

SWITZ.

ITALY

ANDORRA

SPAIN

Bay

of

Biscay

English Channel

Mediterranean

Sea

A

lp

s

(^) Py
rene
es
Massif
Central
Channel Is.
(to UK)
Corse
(Corsica)
Loire
Rhin
e
Rhône
L. Geneva
Perpignan
Toulouse Nice
Cannes
Bordeaux
Limoges
Nantes
Grenoble
Tours
Le Mans
Lyon
St.-Étienne
Clermont-
Ferrand
Orléans
Toulon
Rennes
Caen
Rouen
Versailles
Le Havre Amiens
Montpellier
Nancy
Brest
Strasbourg
Lille
Dijon
Besançon
Reims
Mulhouse
Aix-en-
Provence
Biarritz
Marseille
Calais
Mâcon
Avignon
Cognac
PARIS
100 km
100 miles
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0