France is a state located in the west of Europe. In its southern part, it adjoins Andorra and Spain, in the southeastern part with Luxembourg and Belgium, in the eastern part with Italy and Switzerland, and in the eastern and northeastern parts with Germany. The southern borders of the country are washed by the Mediterranean Sea, the western - by the Bay of Biscay, the north-western - by the straits of Pas de Calais and the English Channel.
General information about France
Under the jurisdiction of the country is about. Corsica in the Mediterranean, departments of Martinique, Guadeloupe, Reunion and French Guiana, as well as New Caledonia, Miquelon, Saint Pierre, French Polynesia and some Pacific archipelagos.
What is the area of France? It is 551 thousand square kilometers. The western and northern lands of the country are endless plains with rounded low hills. Center and east - the location of the mid-altitude mountains, among which are the Central massif, and the Jura, and the Vosges. The natural border with Spain in the southwest is formed by the Pyrenees. The highest point of the indicated mountain range is Pie de Vinimal (3298 m). The famous French Alps are located in the southeast of the country.
The main rivers are called the Seine, Laura, Garonne. Information about France includes one curious fact: there are few lakes in the country, and the largest of them (Geneva) is located mainly in Switzerland.
The main natural resources are coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, wood and fish. Arable land is found in 32% of the country's territory, shrubs and forests for 27%, and pastures and meadows for 23%.
Population
The following information about France will help you learn more about the inhabitants of this beautiful country. So, over sixty-four million people live in the state. The population density is approximately 104 people per square kilometer. The vast majority of the inhabitants are French (95%), other ethnic groups are represented by Bretons, Catalans, Basques, Germans, Portuguese, Italians, Algerians, Moroccans and Turks.
French is recognized as the official language. Some speak Basque, Alsatian, Breton, Catalan, Provencal, Corsican. Ninety percent of the population adhere to the Catholic religion, some are Jews, Protestants, Muslims. As for the average life expectancy, it is 74 years for men and 82 for women.
Most able-bodied citizens are employed in the service sector (61.5%), in industry (31.3%) and in agriculture (7.3%).
Climatic features
In most of the country, climate formation occurs under the constant influence of the Atlantic air masses, so it is mostly humid, warm, temperate and marine.
The most humid climate in Brittany. The days there are often overcast, strong winds blow, the difference between winter and summer temperatures is small. However, not all of France is characterized by such not very favorable climatic conditions. Brief information, for example, about the capital of the state, encourages travelers. So, the winters in Paris are mild, the thermometer column extremely rarely reaches minus marks. The mountain climate of the Alps, the Central Massif, the Pyrenees is much more severe - there is a lot of rainfall, cold, windy, snow cover almost never disappears.
The mildest winter is in the eastern part of the coast, on the Riviera. The average July temperature in Nice is 23 degrees Celsius, the January temperature is eight frosts.
Meteorological information about France is supplemented by another fact: the average annual rainfall is from six hundred to a thousand millimeters, while they are distributed evenly throughout the country. The only exception is the Mediterranean coast, caressed by the warm sun more often than other areas.
Information about the plant world
Unfortunately, at present only 25% of the country is covered by forests, although in the past this figure reached 90%. The largest massifs are preserved in the Northern Alps, Jura and Vosges. Forests in France are mostly formed by deciduous trees. Most oaks and beech trees. Among the representatives of conifers, pine prevails. In the northern part of the country, beech and oak forests with an admixture of alder, hornbeam, and birch are typical. In the northwest, a moisture-loving beech dominates. A characteristic feature of the central zone of the Paris Basin is the fields and meadows that occupy open plains. The southwestern slopes of the central massif and Corsica boast beautiful chestnut forests.
A typical representative of the wild Mediterranean flora is maquis, which is a dense, low, impenetrable thicket that consists of stunted stone oaks, myrtle, oleander, juniper, perennial xerophytic grasses and evergreen hard shrubs.
Features of the animal world
In recent centuries, not only forests have become smaller in the country. The animal kingdom of France is also impoverished. This is due to thoughtless hunting activity of man and the deterioration of living conditions. However, the wildlife of France is much richer than in other European countries.
The West Pyrenees Park is home to about forty brown bears, and the Vanoise Park (Savoy) is the only shelter of stone goats. In the country live foxes, badgers, otters, genes, squirrels, bats, rats and mice, hares. In Corsica, you can see mouflons - the likely ancestors of domestic sheep. The country is home to many species of birds, among the most common - larks, hazel grouse, swallows, partridges, flamingos live in nature reserves in the south. These are the features of the nature of France.
State structure, modern parties
French Republic - this is the official name of France. Information about the country allows you to find out what type of government is the presidential republic. The country includes twenty-two regions. They, in turn, are divided into ninety-six departments. The capital of the state is Paris.
In the fifth century, the Frankish kingdom was formed. In 1792, the first republic was proclaimed. The last constitution was adopted in 1958. On July 14, 1792 the Bastille was taken. Since then this date has become festive.
The President of France is empowered to appoint a Prime Minister - the head of the Council of Ministers.
The exercise of legislative power is vested in a bicameral parliament. The lower house is represented by the National Assembly, and the upper by the Senate. Among the largest political parties, the following are distinguished: Republican, French Socialist, Communist, Union in support of the republic, National Front and Union of French Democracy.
About economics and transport communications
One of the richest countries in the world is France. Information about the country includes the following information: the main industries that form up to a quarter of the annual GNP are automobile, chemical, textile, mining, food, electronic, as well as metallurgy, aircraft and machine building. Thanks to large tracts of fertile land, the use of modern technology and material support from the government, the state is a leading producer of agricultural products throughout Western Europe.
Currently, the service sector is beginning to play an increasingly important role in the country's economy. In addition, there is an increase in economic union within the framework of the EU. With whom did France build trade relations? Industry and agriculture, as mentioned above, play a large role in ensuring the well-being of the country. Products from these industries are currently of interest to Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Japan and the United States.
A third of all the country's railways are electrified. Their total length is 34 568 kilometers. More than half of all roads are paved. In total there are 1,551,400 kilometers. The length of the waterways is fifteen thousand kilometers. The main ports of France are Dunkirk, Le Havre, Rouen, Bordeaux and Nantes-Saint-Nazaire.
A bit of history
In the middle of the first century BC, Gallia (that is what the territory of modern France was called) was conquered by Roman troops. In the fifth century AD, this territory became home to the Franks. Since then, they have gradually assimilated with the local population. The Frankish kingdom reached its peak of power during the reign of Charlemagne, the representative of the Carolingian dynasty. He successfully spread the Christian faith in Western Europe. After his death, the great empire fell apart.
In 987, the Capetian dynasty came to power. They managed to restore the weakened position of the king as head of the country. The influence of France increased significantly in the thirteenth century under the rule of Philip II and Louis IX. The latter successfully played the role of arbiter in the event of strife between European states.
After the last heir of Philip the Beautiful departed to another world, Valois appeared in power. This period in the history of the country cannot be called bright. France was weakened not only by the Hundred Years War, but also by the plague epidemic and famine. Nevertheless, it was then that the national self-determination of citizens significantly strengthened, and all thanks to Joan of Arc.
Another heyday of the country was observed in the sixteenth century, when Louis the Fourteenth was in power. Two centuries later, due to the crisis of absolutism, the power of the monarch in France was limited. The country was declared a republic in 1792.
The first president of France - Napoleon III - held the reins of government from 1852 to 1870. Currently, the country is ruled by Francois Hollande.
Auto industry
Vehicles manufactured in France are widely known and popular outside the country due to their absolute reliability and compliance with all modern safety requirements. The largest manufacturers are Renault and Peugeot Citroen. They supply their products to countries not only in Europe, but also in Asia and the United States. Due to the fact that there are only two serious manufacturers in the state, it can be concluded that this industry is monopolized. French cars - this is 90% of the development of the two above-mentioned companies. Renault and Peugeot Citroen employs a total of two and a half million people.
Despite the unconditional popularity enjoyed by French cars at home and abroad, local manufacturers have some problems. And the main point to which experts pay the most attention is the reduction in the cost of production. According to analysts, the average difference in the cost of the East European and French cars ranges from one and a half thousand euros. Often, a more attractive price is a decisive factor when buying a vehicle. The high cost of French cars can be explained not only by the impeccable quality of components and raw materials, but also by the solid salary of employees, and impressive taxes.
Automotive in the country is currently in crisis. This is due to a decline in consumer demand, difficulties with lending and other economic problems. In order to maintain leading concerns, the government of the country, together with the EU, has developed financing programs designed to help survive the crisis period with minimal losses.
sights
The calling card of France is, of course, the Eiffel Tower. It was built in 1889 as a decoration of the entrance to the World Exhibition. It was planned to be dismantled in twenty years, but, as everyone knows, it pleases the eye of travelers and locals to this day. And all thanks to the advent of the era of radio: the top of the Eiffel Tower was the best fit for the installation of powerful antennas.
The largest scam of the last century, organized in 1925, is associated with this legendary building. Daredevil Victor Lustrig gathered a secret meeting of the richest businessmen in the country. He said that the government plans to sell the tower for scrap. The entire structure was able to redeem Andre Poisson. He gave the scammer a fabulous amount in cash. Even after the fraud was uncovered, Poisson did not go to the police because he did not want to become the object of general ridicule. It is noteworthy that then Lustrig sold the tower to another hunter for scrap metal.
Want to be in an atmosphere of stunning luxury? Go to Versailles. This palace is twenty-two kilometers from the capital. It was originally planned to erect an unremarkable hunting lodge for Louis XII. Construction began in 1634. Over the next five decades, Versailles grew so much that it became the largest palace in Europe. He played the role of a royal residence until the French Revolution. Currently, this palace is a historical monument, protected by UNESCO. Many tourists visit it annually.
Paris is undoubtedly the country's cultural center. Its unique architectural appearance has been taking shape for centuries. Despite the combination of different styles, the city managed to maintain artistic unity. World famous architectural monuments are the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Pantheon, the Field of Mars, and the Arc de Triomphe. Millions of tourists annually come to the country to take a stroll through the Bois de Boulogne and the Botanical Forest, get an adrenaline rush at Euro Disneyland and admire Montmartre.