France is the most big country Europe (borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain and Andorra), area 555 thousand km2, length of borders - 5.5 thousand km, of which sea borders - 2.7 thousand km. The country's territory is almost a regular hexagon. Even ancient historians and geographers noted the unusually convenient geographical position of France. Strabo wrote that “Providence itself raised mountains, brought seas closer, laid out riverbeds in order to create here the most prosperous place on earth.”

France is the third largest country in Europe (after Russia and Ukraine); if you count the overseas regions, it is the second. The lowest point in France is the Rhone delta (2 m below sea level), the highest is Mont Blanc (4,810 m above sea level). France borders 11 countries. The metropolis borders on 8 countries, and overseas regions on three. total length land borders are 4,082.2 km. With the exception of the northeastern part of the country, France mainly has natural borders: the Rhine, the Jura, the Alps, the Pyrenees.

The north of the country is almost at sea level. The center of the country - the Loire Valley is higher. The topography of the coastal areas of Aquitaine and the regions facing the Mediterranean coast is also mostly flat.

Climate of France

Normandy and Brittany are characterized by a maritime climate, which extends its influence over the entire western part of the country. Brittany has a particularly mild and humid climate, characterized by small differences between summer and winter temperatures, as well as cloudy days with strong winds.

It is warm here in winter (average January temperature is +7°C), but summer is cool and cloudy (in July +17°C). In the eastern regions of the country, the continental climate dominates: here the annual range of average monthly temperatures reaches 20°C. Paris is characterized by mild winters, the average January temperature is +3.5°C. Sheltered from the northern winds by the Alps and the Massif Central, the Mediterranean coast has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and humid warm winter. In lowland areas far from the sea, the average January temperature is also positive, and summer is much warmer. In the southern part of France on the coast, the climate is Mediterranean subtropical: summers are dry and hot, winters are warm, but the rains begin in autumn.

In Nice the average temperature in July is +23°C, in January +8°C. In the mountains - the Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central - there are low winter temperatures, strong winds, abundant precipitation, and long-lasting snow cover. The average annual precipitation in most of the country is 600-1000 mm, and precipitation is distributed relatively evenly throughout the country, with the exception of the Mediterranean coast.

Geographical areas of France

There are several in the country mountain ranges. The Alps are the highest mountains, stretching from north to south (in fact to the Mediterranean Sea) for 370 km, the highest point in Europe is Mont Blanc (4807m) - There are many ski resorts in the Alps, which are considered one of the best in terms of location and equipment in the world. The Jura Mountains are a kind of outskirts of the Alps. There are cold winters and many forests. The Pyrenees stretches for 430 km from west to east, (altitude up to 3000 m), the natural border between France and Spain.

The Massif Central is a high mountain range in the center of the country, the highest point is Mount Puy de Sancy (1886 m). The massif contains the sources of many rivers, and in the Auvergne there are extinct volcanoes. (The screen mountains of the Massif Central - the Cevennes, stretch from north to south, their height is up to 1700 m. This is a kind of climate dividing line: humid in the west; dry in the east. The forested Vosges (approx. 1400 m) separates the Alsace of Lorraine. The Ardennes (no higher than 700 m) are located in northwestern France. Their name comes from the Celtic word for oak.

The north of the country is almost at sea level. The center of the country - the Loire Valley is higher. The topography of the coastal areas of Aquitaine and the regions facing the Mediterranean coast is also mostly flat. The Loire, whose length is more than a thousand kilometers, gives its name to the wine-growing region - the Loire Valley, which is divided into five large regions: Muscodet-Ley-Nantes, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine. Central Loire and Haute-Loire. The region stretches from west to east, so its climate varies from mild maritime in Muscadet to continental - with a sharp difference in temperature: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.

The French Massif Central, located between the basins of the Loire, Garonne and Rhone rivers, is the largest massif resulting from the destruction of the ancient Hercynian mountains. Like other ancient mountain regions of France, it rose during the Alpine era, with the softer rocks of the Alps folded and the dense rocks of the Massif Central fractured by cracks and faults. Deep molten rocks rose through such disturbed zones, which was accompanied by volcanic eruptions. In the modern era, these volcanoes have lost their activity. Nevertheless, many extinct volcanoes and other volcanic landforms have been preserved on the surface of the massif.

The Armorican massif, which occupies the territory of the Brittany and Cotentin peninsulas, is less elevated and less fractured compared to the French Massif Central. However, despite the low altitudes, the Armorican massif is deeply dissected by river valleys and there are few leveled areas there. Steep slopes predominate, which, combined with infertile soils, limits the possibilities for agricultural development.

The Vosges Mountains, which separate the fertile Rhine Valley in Alsace from the rest of France, are only 40 km wide. The smoothed and forested surfaces of these mountains rise above the deep valleys. A similar landscape prevails in the north of the country in the Ardennes (their main massif is located in Belgium). The Paris Basin is located in north-central France, surrounded by the Armorican Massif, the French Massif Central, the Vosges and the Ardennes. Around Paris there is a system of concentric ridges separated by narrow strips of plains.

The Garonne Lowland, located in southwestern France at the foot of the Pyrenees, is a flat region with fertile soils. Landes, a triangular wedge-shaped area southwest of downstream The Garonnes have less fertile soils and are planted with coniferous forests. The Rhône-Saône graben in southeastern France forms a narrow passage between the Alps to the east and the French Massif Central to the west. It consists of a series of small depressions separated by highly dissected uplifted areas.

Rivers of France

Most of France's rivers, starting in the Massif Central, flow into the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea. The Seine (775 km, from the Latin “tranquility”) is a flat river. It forms a widely branched system with large right tributaries Marne and Oise and left tributary Ion. The Seine is navigable and facilitates the movement of goods between Paris and Rouen.

The Garonne (650 km) originates in the Spanish Pyrenees, flows through Toulouse and Bordeaux, when it flows into the ocean, forming a vast estuary - the Gironde. The main tributaries are the Tarn, Lot and Dordogne. Used in agriculture for irrigation.

The Rhone (812 km, nickname of the river is “angry bull”) is the deepest river in France, begins in the Swiss Alps from the Rhone glacier, flows through Lake Geneva. Near Lyon, the Saône River flows into it. Other major tributaries are the Durance and Isère. It has important hydroelectric and transport significance. Provides water supply to cities located on the Cote d'Azur. Navigable below the tributary - the En River. Also plays an important role in agriculture (used for irrigation).

Loire (1020 km) - the longest river in France begins in the Massif Central. The river receives many tributaries, the main ones being the Allier, Cher, Indre and Vienne. The river is navigable only in the lower reaches, where Nantes and Saint-Nazaire are located. In December and January, the Loire is especially full of water (it increases approximately eight times) and only in summer the water subsides. In former times, important trade routes passed along the Loire and it was called the queen river. The banks of the Loire are composed of white limestone, which was used to build temples and palaces. The Loire is navigable to the city of Rouen. It is of great tourist importance.

Minerals of France

Coal deposits are found in the foothills and intermountain depressions of the Hercynian Mountains in northern France, Lorraine and the Massif Central. The total reserves of hard coal are estimated at 2-3 billion tons, with low-quality coals predominating, few coking coals and anthracites. The largest reserves in Europe have been discovered in the Massif Central and other Hercynian uplands. uranium ore; Antimony, gold and other non-ferrous metals are also mined here in small quantities.

The largest iron ore deposits in Europe were found in the Jurassic limestone layers in the west of the Lorraine plateau. Lorraine ores are not rich: they contain only 30-33% iron and a lot of phosphorus, but their layers are thick, lie shallow and the ores contain natural fluxes. Nearby, east of Nancy, rock salt deposits are known. The western part of the French Alps (Pre-Alps) is composed of sedimentary rocks, mainly limestones, while the eastern, higher part is composed of crystalline rocks. Centuries of activity by ice, snow and meltwater have led to the severe dismemberment of the Alps.

The Pyrenees (only their northern slopes belong to France) are significantly lower than the Alps (~2500m). Particularly majestic is the huge glacier cirque of Gavarny with almost vertical walls 400-500 m high, from where waterfalls fall, giving rise to the river. By. Nowadays, there are almost no glaciers left in the Pyrenees.

The powerful mountain systems of the Alps and Pyrenees have large reserves of water, their vast subalpine and alpine meadows are used for pastures, and forests provide raw materials for the wood processing industry. There are also centers of international tourism and mountaineering here.

The subsoil of France as a whole contains significant reserves of mineral raw materials, especially iron ore, bauxite, potassium and rock salts, but fuel resources are very limited. Mineral reserves as of 2001:

  • Barite - 1300 thousand tons (general), 800 thousand tons (confirmed)
  • Bauxites - 100 million tons (identified), 53 million tons (total), 13 million tons (confirmed)
  • Tungsten - 40 thousand tons (identified), 20 thousand tons (general), 20 thousand tons (confirmed)
  • Gas - 9.7 billion cubic meters.
  • Iron ore - 2200 million tons (total, confirmed)
  • Tin - 65 thousand tons (total, confirmed)
  • Fluorspar - 14 million tons (total), 10 million tons (confirmed)
  • Silver - 4000 tons (general), 2000 tons (confirmed)
  • Lead - 700 thousand tons (general), 320 thousand tons (confirmed)
  • Brown coal - 161 million tons (total), 14 million tons (confirmed)
  • Hard coal - 441 million tons (total), 15 million tons (confirmed)
  • Data is given as of January 1, 2007.

Flora and fauna of France

Forests occupy 27% of the country's territory. Walnut, birch, oak, spruce, and cork trees grow in the northern and western regions of the country. On the Mediterranean coast there are palm trees and citrus fruits. Among the representatives of the fauna, deer and fox stand out. Roe deer live in alpine regions, and wild boar survive in remote forests. Also lives here a large number of various types birds, including migratory ones. Reptiles are rare, and among snakes there is only one poisonous one - the common viper. In coastal sea ​​waters There are many types of fish: herring, cod, tuna, sardine, mackerel, flounder, silver hake.

Source - http://ru.wikipedia.org/

Do you want to know which countries another country borders on? You've come to the right place! Now you will find out which states have a common border with France. So, let's begin.

How many land borders are there with France?

8 countries. EIGHT. The longest with Spain is 623 kilometers, with Belgium 620 kilometers. France also borders Switzerland - 573 (five hundred seventy-three) kilometers. The length of the border with Germany is 451 (four hundred fifty-one) kilometers.

How many countries are left to name?

3! Three! France borders on very small states. For example, Andorroy. The length of the border line is 56 (fifty-six) kilometers. France also borders on another state - Luxembourg, which has the same name for both the city and the country.

Smallest border with the Principality of Monaco

The length is 4.4 (four point four) kilometers. Imagine! The longest border is 623 (six hundred and twenty-three) kilometers (with Spain), that is, the difference is 618.6 kilometers (six hundred and eighteen point six). It is also interesting to know the area of ​​these states. The area of ​​Luxembourg is 2,586 (two thousand five hundred eighty-six) square kilometers, and the area of ​​Spain is 505,990 (five hundred five thousand nine hundred and ninety) square kilometers. Now it’s clear why these numbers are so high.

Education

The Republic of France borders on how many countries? This question is not as idle as it seems. This country is large, approximately equal in area to Ukraine. And who are her neighbors? And where, strictly speaking, is a state like France located? To say that in Western Europe would be correct. But this answer is incomplete. After all, France still has so-called overseas territories, which previously were nothing more than colonies. And if you take into account these countries and islands, then the number of neighbors will increase.

The answer to the question of whom France borders depends on whether we take into account the maritime cordons of this power or only the land ones. Indeed, in the first case, Great Britain is included in the number of neighbors. Paris and London are connected by an underground road and rail tunnel across the English Channel. And this already allows us to call France and its old rival Great Britain close neighbors. Who else does this country border with? Read about this in our article.

Geographical position

In terms of territory, France is the largest state in Western Europe. Its area is 551.5 thousand square meters. km. France is usually divided into the “central part”, the one that is located in the Old World, that is, in Western Europe, and the “overseas territories”. The first includes the large island of Corsica, which lies off the coast of the country in the Mediterranean Sea. But even without taking into account its and overseas territories, mainland “central” (or “old”) France still leads in area among Western European states. Its territory on the continent is 545,630 square kilometers. A quick look at the map gives us an idea that France is bordered by three countries: Germany and Italy on the east side, and Spain on the southwest. But this opinion is wrong.

Consider the "dwarfs"!

Next to giant countries such as Germany and Spain (which are not much smaller than France in territory), there are also very small states. This is primarily Switzerland. Unlike France, it is not a member of the European Union; it maintains its own currency. But Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Agreement. In the northeast, in close proximity to France, is Belgium. This country is part of the EU, the Schengen Agreement, and the euro currency area. In the east, France borders Germany. But squeezed between them is one dwarf state - Luxembourg. Not far from the Franco-Italian border there is another principality of miniature size - Monaco. The Principality is an enclave because it is surrounded on all sides by France. However, Monaco has its own private access to the sea. In the southwest, another “dwarf” is wedged between France and Spain. This is Andorra. The Principality is interesting in that its co-rulers are equally (according to the medieval treaty of paréage) the Republic of France and the King of Spain. Andorra is not part of the Schengen area. Therefore, to come to this Pyrenees principality, which has no airports, theoretically you need a multiple-entry visa.

Video on the topic

Who does France border on the European continent?

Let's summarize. So, land borders make France a neighbor of seven European countries. These are Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Monaco on the eastern side and Spain and Andorra on the southwestern side. If we take into account maritime cordons, then Great Britain also falls into this list. It is separated from France by the English Channel, the smallest width of which (between Calais and Dover) is only thirty-two kilometers.

The longest border is with Spain. It runs through the Pyrenees from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic Ocean. The length of this border is 623 kilometers. The border with Belgium is only 3 km shorter. This is followed by Switzerland (573), Italy (488), Germany (451 kilometers). The length of cordons with dwarf countries is small due to the miniature nature of the latter. Among the small but independent principalities, Luxembourg has the longest border with France - 73 kilometers. And the list is completed by Andorra (60 km) and Monaco (only a little over four kilometers).

Sea frontiers

From the west, France is washed by the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic Ocean. Consequently, the state has no close neighbors on the other side of the world. We have already found out who France borders on in the north. On the other side of the English Channel lies the United Kingdom of Great Britain. In the Mediterranean Sea, French Corsica is closely adjacent to Sardinia, which is located to the south. This island belongs to Italy. However, France also has land borders with this Apennine state. If you add up all the sea cordons of the republic, you get a fairly respectable figure - five and a half thousand kilometers.

Overseas territories

France was a metropolis for a long time and owned colonies. Now these territories are called differently. But nevertheless, they significantly expand the list of countries with which France borders. Some of these territories are departments, meaning their residents are considered full French citizens. These are: Guadeloupe, Mayotte, Martinique Reunion and Guiana.

There are also overseas communities. As a rule, they are located on islands. These are French Polynesia, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna. The territories owned by the Republic include New Caledonia, an administrative-territorial entity with a special status.

The island of Saint Helena is owned by Great Britain. But the place of Napoleon's exile and the valley in which the emperor is buried belongs to France. The Republic also staked out Adelie Land in Antarctica. But this is contrary to UN rules, and claims to this territory are considered unfounded.

States bordering France "overseas"

Based on the above, the list of neighbors of a European state has expanded. Even if we do not take into account the islands and Terre Adélie, the length of the land borders increases significantly. The longest is the cordon with Brazil – 730 kilometers. Suriname, which is adjacent to French Guiana in the west, has a common border with it of 510 km. The shortest cordon in the overseas territories is on the island of Saint Martin. Its length is a little over ten kilometers. But this border divides a tiny piece of land into two halves. The southern part - Sint Maarten - is part of the Netherlands Antilles.

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Capital of France

Photography - the capital of France

Main location: Paris

Paris is the capital of France, the main economic and cultural center countries.

The city was founded in III. A century before our count. The area occupied by the city is 105.4 km² and the population is 2,233,818 according to the 2010 census.

Compared to previous years, the population has increased.

The time difference in Moscow is +1 in summer, and +2 in winter, which has little effect on the process of accommodating tourists in changing time zones.

The national language is French and the euro is the unit of national currency (EURO). Euro to Russian ruble exchange rate: EUR 1 = 46 rubles.

According to statistics from 2008, more than 300,000 foreigners lived in Paris, representing about 14% of the total population of the French capital. According to the religious composition of the city's population, 80% of Christians are Christians and 75% are Catholics.

Paris - Big city, and, as you know, many big cities suffer from environmental pollution.

But in recent years, the environment has improved. Construction of factories outside the city ended in the 1920s. Most of the pollution comes from automobile exhaust gases.

Geography of France

In the sky above the city balloon- blue, which changes color depending on the air condition. The condition of the Seine River has improved and some experts are convinced that, as circumstances converge, it will be possible to swim in the Seine in the near future.

The Eiffel Tower is the most famous and world famous site of the French capital. The tower was created by the architect Eiffel, and his great opening was in 1889. Today it is difficult to imagine the city without the famous tower.

At the top of the tower there is an observation deck and a revolving restaurant. In the second stage of the tower you can visit the reconstructed study of the Eiffel.

The Louvre was once the palace of French kings, each of whom made changes to the palace. Currently, the Louvre is an architectural monument, as well as the most famous museum in the world.

Here are the originals of almost all paintings by world famous artists, Egyptian scrolls, Assyrian palaces and much more.

The Latin Quarter is another interesting glimpse into the capital. The name of the quarter was obtained due to the already existing university, where classes were in Latin and even in the open air. Later a university was built, but only in the 17th century. There are still quite a lot of students here, although the number of tourists here is impressive, so the Latin Quarter is, not surprisingly, a "motive" of the public.

Capital of France

Capital of France

Find out where France is on an interactive map.

Return to Form of Government

“France is an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic.”

This was established by the French Constitution of 1958. The Basic Law established a republican form of government, which has a mixed character, since it has the features of a presidential republic (the head of state is elected without the participation of parliament, the government is appointed by it) and a parliamentary republic (the government is responsible to the lower house of parliament) .

The main feature of the 1958 constitution is the concentration of political power in the hands of the executive bodies. The concentration of power in the hands of the head of state and government is one of the manifestations of the constitutionally enshrined authoritarian tendency in the French political regime. The President is at the top of the hierarchy of authorities state power. Article 5 of the Constitution assigns to him the obligation to ensure “by his arbitration the normal functioning of state bodies, as well as the continuity of the state.”

The same article declares that the president is “the guarantor of national independence, territorial integrity, compliance with Community agreements and treaties.”

The President has broad legislative prerogatives. He is vested with the right of legislative initiative. In relation to parliament, the president has the power to dissolve the lower house of parliament.

The legislative body of the Republic - the parliament - plays a relatively small role in political life countries. Parliament consists of two chambers - the National Assembly and the Senate.

The main function of parliament - passing laws - is severely limited by the constitution. The Constitution precisely defines the range of issues on which Parliament has the power to make laws. Issues not included in this list are the responsibility of the government. Parliament's rights are also limited in the financial sphere.

The Constitution sets a certain deadline for Parliament to pass financial bills. Parliament has the right to control the activities of the government.

The French government is the Council of Ministers, according to Art. 20 of the Constitution, “determines and conducts the policy of the nation.” The government consists of the Prime Minister - the head of government, ministers heading ministries, and state secretaries leading the divisions of individual ministries.

How many countries does France border on?

The government is responsible to the National Assembly. If the resolution of censure is passed by an absolute majority of the National Assembly, the government must resign. The Constitution specifically outlines the powers of the Prime Minister. He is entrusted with responsibility for national defense, he must ensure the implementation of laws and carry out rule-making activities.

The Constitutional Council is a special body that monitors compliance with the Constitution. All laws before their promulgation by the President and regulations of the chambers before their adoption must be submitted to the consideration of the Constitutional Council, which gives an opinion on whether they comply with the Constitution. If the Constitutional Council decides that a particular act is contrary to the Constitution, it has the right to repeal it.

Also, the powers of the Constitutional Council include monitoring the progress of presidential elections and referendums.

The process of concentration of political power in the hands of executive bodies led to a change in the status of parliament.

Government authorities are given ample opportunities to influence parliament, and in some cases to act “over its head.”

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FRANCE. The official name of the country is the French Republic

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Official name countries - French Republic

(La Republique Française)

Area (with offshore islands and Corsica)

551.6 thousand sq. km

Population - 62.9 million people. (2006)

Capital: Paris

Geographical position. The largest country in Western Europe. In the northeast it borders with Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, in the east - with Germany and Switzerland, in the southeast - with Monaco and Italy, in the southwest - with Spain and Andorra. On the Mediterranean coast, the territory of France embraces the dwarf coastal state of Monaco on three sides.

In addition to the continental part, the state also includes: the island of Corsica and several other smaller islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Biscay. France is a metropolis that has “overseas departments” - Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guiana, Reunion, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and several small archipelagos in Pacific Ocean. The total area of ​​dependent territories is 127 thousand.

km. square, where 1.9 million people live.

France has wide access to the seas. Its sea border is longer than its land border. The country's seashores are washed by the Northern and Mediterranean seas, the Pas de Calais straits, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay. After the opening of the Channel Tunnel, which separates France from Greater Britain, a dry border with this country emerged, with French border guards stationed at a checkpoint near the entrance to the tunnel on the British coast.

The area of ​​France is 551 thousand square meters. km (including Corsica). The length of its sea borders is 3120 km.

Interesting:The longest tunnel under the seabed is the Channel Tunnel, 49.94 km long. Despite the fact that it is inferior in length to the Seikan Tunnel (Japan), its underwater section is 24.7 km longer than the Seikan Tunnel. The tunnel officially opened in 1994.

The length of France's land borders is 2070 km. Almost a quarter of the dry state border goes along the difficult ridge of the Pyrenees.

In the east, the border runs along the Alps, where there are many convenient passes. A feature of the geographical location of the state is also its proximity in the north and east to the most developed part Western Europe, which stretches from central England to northern Italy.

The main point for France's foreign relations has always been its eastern land border, where the most important trans-European routes pass.

Thus, within the framework of trans-European airlines, transit airports in Paris are actively developing, which provide transit to the countries of North America.

One of the axes of European development passes through France - the most important land transport corridor in the world - London - Paris - Geneva - Milan - Rome.

Compactness coefficient = 4*3.14*551600 / (3120+2070)2 = 0.26 - meridional elongation of the country’s territory

Territory. France is divided into 26 regions (régions), of which 21 are located on the European continent, one (“Corsica”) is on the island of Corsica, and four more are in the overseas territories.

Regions do not have legal autonomy, but can set their own taxes and manage their budgets.

The 26 regions are divided into 100 departments (départements), consisting of 342 districts (arrondissements) and 4,039 cantons (cantons). The basis of France are 36,682 communes.

The division into departments and communes is comparable to the division of Ukraine into regions and districts.

The department of Paris consists of a single commune.

The four overseas regions (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion) each consist of a single department. The region of Corsica (including 2 departments) has a special status as an administrative-territorial entity, different from other regions of the metropolis (continental France).

All these regions are part of the European Union.

Currently, the use of the names of the historical provinces (Brittany Burgundy, Gascony, Alsace, Languedoc, Lorraine, Normandy, Provence, Flanders, Champagne), into which the country was divided before the bourgeois revolution, is maintained. (slide)

The natural environment in France is relatively little polluted, and many lands are protected.

Coat of arms (slide)

The modern coat of arms of France is a lictor's bun with an axe, laurel and oak branches.

The old royal coat of arms was a crowned shield with three fleurs-de-lis. Since some kings sometimes combined two crowns, French and Navarre, and Henry IV did this definitively, the coat of arms had two shields. On the second was the symbol of Navarre - crossed chains.

The complicated image could have shield holders - laurel branches.

Flag (slide)

The French tricolor of three vertical stripes - blue, white and red - conveys the three main ideas of the French Revolution (and later revolutionary movements) - freedom, equality and fraternity.

Which countries does France border on?

This combination of colors owes its origin to the Marquis de Lafayette, who proposed to revolutionary-minded citizens to wear a tricolor, red, white and blue cockade. Red and blue have long been considered the colors of Paris (and the revolutionaries took advantage of this on the day of the storming of the Bastille), and white was the color of the French monarchy.

First appearing in 1790, the French tricolor was then slightly modified (originally red was at the hoist, that is, on the left) and redesigned in 1794. Although the tricolor fell out of use after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, it reappeared in 1830 - with the assistance of the same Marquis de Lafayette - and remains the flag of France to this day.

The old royal flag was gold lilies on a white background (oriflamme).

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France- a country in Western Europe.

Official name of France:
French Republic.

French territory:
The national territory of the French Republic is 547,030 km².

Population of France:
The population of France is more than 60 million people.

Who's with France? Geographical location of France

residents (60,180,529 people).

Ethnic groups of France:
More than 90% is French. France is one of many countries that do not keep official statistics on ethnic groups. Any database on the "true or suspected racial or ethnic origin of citizens" is a criminal offense in France.

At the same time, it is known that France has one of the largest Jewish communities There are 600,000 Jews in Europe. Large number of immigrants from Africa. The Armenian diaspora is important.

Average life expectancy in France:
The average life expectancy in France is 79.28 years (see World Life Expectancy Ranking).

Capital of France:
Paris.

Great cities of France:
Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille.

Official language of France:
French.

Religion in France:
Believers in France are mostly Catholic (more than 76%), and about 15% of the French population are Muslim.

Geographical location of France:
France is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and north (Bay of Biscay and English Channel), and in the south by the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Lyon and Ligurian Sea).

France is bordered to the south by Spain, to the northeast by Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, and to the east by Italy and Switzerland.

Western and northern regions of France - plains (Parisian basins, etc.) and lowlands; in the center and east there are medieval mountains (the French massif central, Vosges, Jura). In the southwest are the Pyrenees, in the southeast are the Alps (the highest point in France and Western Europe is Mont Blanc, 4807 m).

River France:
Seine, Rhone, Loire, Garonne, to the east - part of the Rhine River.

Administrative divisions of France:
France is divided into 26 regions (regions), of which 21 are on the European continent, one (Corsica) is on the island of Corsica, and four are in the overseas territories.

Regions have no legal autonomy, but they can determine their own taxes and manage budgets.

In 26 regions, 100 departments (departments) are allocated, which are then divided into 342 districts (districts).

Foreign real estate in France.
Many territories (mostly islands) belong to France, but are far from the main European territory.

Foreign departments (Regions) of France:

    Guadeloupe (la Guadalupe)

    Martinique

    Reunion

    French Guiana (la Guyane)

Foreign communities (communities) of France:

  • Saint Barthelemy

    Saint Martin (Saint Martin)

    Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

    Wallis and Futuna (Wallis and Futuna)

    French Polynesia

Overseas Special (Associated) Territory of France:

    New Caledonia (la Nouvelle-Calédonie)

French overseas territory without permanent residents:

    French southern and Antarctic territories (Terres australes et antarctiques françaises)
    In the Indian Ocean:

    on the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul (l’île Amsterdam, l’ile Saint-Paul)

    Crozet (Archbishop of Crozet)

    Kerguelen Islands (les îles Kerguelen or les iles de la Désolation)
    In Antarctica (proclaimed allegiance contradicts UN decisions):

    Country Adela (la terre adélie)

Small (“scattered”) islands (lam Éparses).
In the Indian Ocean (subordinate to the French southern and Antarctic territories):

    Bassas da India (Bassas da India)

    Europa (island) (Europe)

    Famous Islands (Gloria)

    Tromelin (island) (Tromelin)

    Juan de Nova

In the Pacific:

    Clipperton (l'ile Clipperton)

French government structure:
The head of state is the president.

The government is headed by the prime minister.

The legislative branch is a bicameral parliament.

National Assembly - 577 members elected for 5 years;
Senate of the Republic - 321 members elected for 9 years.

France

The French Republic is the largest state in Western Europe, with an area of ​​551.5 thousand square kilometers.

The continental territory of the country occupies the extreme western part of the European continent. France also includes the island of Corsica and several other smaller islands of the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of Biscay. France has possessions in America, Africa and Oceania. Their total area is 127 thousand square meters. km, and the population is about 2 million.

Human. The most important of them are “overseas territories”: Guiana (French), the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, New Caledonia, French Polynesia.

Sea borders are longer than land borders. Length coastline is 3427 km, and the land borders are 2892 km long.

In the north, France is separated from England by the narrow English Channel and Pas de Calais. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the south by the Mediterranean Sea.

The state has land borders with Belgium in the northeast, with Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland in the east. France borders Italy in the southeast, and Andorra and Spain in the southwest.

Most of the land borders run along high mountains or other natural barriers: in the southwest, France is separated from Spain by the Pyrenees, in the southeast, the border with Italy and Switzerland runs along the Alps and the Jura, the Franco-German border in a large area is the Rhine, and only in In the north, the lowlands of France imperceptibly merge with the plains of Belgium.

Relief

In the northwestern and northern regions of the country, flat or hilly plains (the Garonne Lowland, the Paris Basin) and low mountains predominate; in the center and east there are medium-high mountains (the French Massif Central, the Vosges, part of the Jura Mountains).

Lowlands or plains are usually the basins of large rivers. Along the southwestern and southeastern outskirts, i.e. Along the borders with Spain and Italy, respectively, are the high ridges and massifs of the Pyrenees and Alps. The highest point in France and Western Europe is Mont Blanc, located in the French Alps and having a height of 4807 meters. Most often, all mountain formations in France are divided into 2 groups: new (Alps, Pyrenees, Jura) and old (Vosges, Massif Central).

Natural areas
Hardly any other country offers such a varied palette of landscapes: the Alps, midlands, numerous plateaus, vast plains, vast forests.

Who does France border on: land and sea borders

The sea coasts of France stretch for 3120 km and are also very picturesque: granite cliffs in Brittany, long ridges of dunes on the Atlantic coast, sandy beaches and bays on the Mediterranean Sea.

The southern slopes of the mountains and hills of the Massif Central are completely covered with vineyards. In France, brown forest soils predominate, locally leached and podzolized; in the south there are brown soils of dry forests and shrubs, red soils.

The largest forest areas predominate in the western regions of Aquitaine, in the east of the Paris Basin, in the Alps and in the Pyrenees. Forests cover 24% of the territory of France - mainly oak, beech, chestnut, pine, in the mountains - also spruce and fir. In the south there are evergreen forests and shrubs of the Mediterranean type.

Nature reserves Pelvou (in the Alps), Camargue (in the Rhone delta) and others.

Palm trees and citrus fruits are grown on the Mediterranean coast.

Among the representatives of the fauna, deer and fox stand out. Roe deer live in alpine regions, and wild boar survive in remote forests. There are a large number of different species of birds, including migratory ones, reptiles are rare, and among snakes there is only one poisonous one - the viper.

The coastal sea waters are home to a large number of fish species: herring, cod, tuna, sardine, mackerel, flounder, silver hake.

French cuisine is considered one of the best in the world. Its most famous products are croissants, chocolate bread, baguette, long loaves, as well as Burgundy snails, cocotte eggs with tarragon, socca pea flour pancakes, Lyonnaise sausages, lobster with parsley, pie onion pisaladie and, of course, onion soup. Plus the mandatory use of a variety of sauces (more than 3,000 recipes) and a variety of spices.
Moreover, each region of the country has its own traditional cuisine, often completely different from its “neighbors”.

The cuisine of Provence, Languedoc and Gascony is distinguished by its spiciness and extensive use of wines and spices for cooking. On the Loire coast you can try extraordinary dishes made from dandelion leaves and freshwater fish. Alsatian cuisine is very similar to German.
The cuisine of Burgundy is famous for its cheeses (chaurs, vézelay, macon, epoisse, Charolais and sumantran), Chablis sausages, chicken in red wine, Dijon mustard, Burgundy snails, goat cheese from Macon, poultry from Bresse, ham with parsley, Burgundy truffles, and the famous Charolais beef. Haute cider and blackcurrant liqueur are very popular.
Brittany is widely known for its “sea cuisine”; almost all edible representatives of marine fauna are used as food here, and fish, oysters, crabs, lobsters, lobsters and shrimp are used to prepare every second dish. Also popular are “crepes” - a type of pancake with a variety of fillings.
Normandy is famous for its dairy products, primarily cheese (Camembert, Pont-Leveque, Livaro, Neufchatel, etc.), sour cream and mushrooms, added to almost all dishes, as well as Vire sausage and "tru Normand" - apple fruit ice cream in Calvados.
The cuisine of Provence is primarily bouillabaisse of various types of fish with rouille sauce, fresh mussels in an onion broth with spices, boat-shaped bread - "navette", dishes of crab and fish in sauce or fried with anise liqueur on the grill , fish soup with garlic sauce - "burrida", vegetable stew "ratatouille" and lamb stew, Provençal tomatoes, goat cheese, truffles, etc., all generously seasoned with olive oil. And, of course, the famous "nougat" from Montelimar.
Corsica is famous for its brocchiu sheep's milk cheeses, coppa ham, fig jam, omelet with mint and cheese, game, corn porridge, seafood, delicious sweets, several types of honey and strawberry jam. Excellent meat dishes are prepared here - chestnut soup with onions and garlic in meat broth, pork fillet "lonzu", ham "prizuttu", bacon with eggs or baked potatoes "panzetta" and smoked liver sausage "figatella". The most popular “fruits” on the island are the sweet chestnut, from which a huge number of dishes are made, as well as the Corsican variety of tangerines, the “clementine”.

French wines deserve a separate discussion. France produces thousands of varieties of excellent wine “of all colors”; the vineyards are considered the national treasure of this country, which gave the world cognac (in its modern sense), champagne and the famous Armagnacs. The magnificent red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy were considered the “liquid currency of Europe” in the Middle Ages. Brittany and Normandy are famous for their cider (a sparkling apple-based drink with an alcohol content of about 3-5%) and Calvados (a product of distillation of cider aged two or three years using cognac technology, “strength” more than 40%), which began to be produced here back in XIII century Corsican wines are more tart and aromatic than “continental” varieties and are made from several grape varieties. Famous varieties include Schiaciarelli and Nielucci, dry white wines from Vermentino, Cap Corse aperitif, Corsican vodka Acquavita, Ratafia liqueur, numerous liqueurs from myrtle, lemon, strawberry, orange, plum and nut. guilt.