FRANCE

GEOGRAPGHY & ECONOMYBy Kevin Maldonado Torres

France: GeographyTerritorial evolution

France is the largest West European nation; is located in Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, Belgium, Germany, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and the Mediterranean Sea. Its Geographic coordinates: 46° 00 N, 2 °00 E

France: Geography

France: Geography

Population - Its estimated population is 65,630,692 (July 2012 est.)

Total Area -The total area of france is 547,030 sq. km , which 545,630 sq km is land and 1,400 sq. km of water

Coastline - 3,427 km

Climate - Generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral

Terrain -Mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 27% other: 18% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 16,300 sq km (1995 est.)

France: Geography

Natural Resources - Although diverse, the natural resources of France are relatively limited in quantity. France has some coal, iron ores, bauxite, and uranium; but the coal veins are deep and difficult to work and are unsuitable for use in the manufacture of steel. Iron ores are of a low grade, and the uranium ore is found only in small quantities.

Deposits of petroleum are almost nonexistent, and natural gas reserves discovered (1951) at Lacq in the Pyrenées are now nearly exhausted. Hydroelectric production, although well developed, does not meet France's needs. On the other hand, high-quality soils cover almost half the country's surface, giving France an agricultural surplus that makes it an exporter of food.

Natural Hazards-flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean.

France: Geography

Alpes Mont Blanc

France: Geography

Pyrenees

France: Geography

French rivers

France: Geography

Vineyards

France: Geography

France is the world's number four economic power in terms of GDP –Gross Domestic Product. The country's assets are varied and include its transport and telecommunications sectors, agri-foodstuffs and pharmaceutical industries along with banking, insurance, tourism and the traditional luxury products (leather goods, ready-to-wear fashion, perfumes, fine wines and spirits, etc.).

Historically, agriculture was one of France's major industries. France is still a leading producer of wine.

France: Economy

French business is currently burdened by the world's highest level of payroll tax (cotisations sociales), which at 43% are far higher than in any other country. The next highest rates are found in Spain and the Czech Republic (30%), while businesses in the UK pay a payroll tax (NI contributions) of just 11%, and those in the USA just 5%.

In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999.

France: Economy

French state has maintained an above-average ability to intervene in economic affairs, remaining a major shareholder in utilities such as EDF where it has a majority holding, or France Telecom (Orange), in which it has a 27% holding.

The French state - which for most of this time was in the hands of Conservatives - played an active role through the establishment of a series of four year plans (Contrats de plan), whereby the state set economic targets and economic priorities, but left it up to private enterprise to achieve or apply them. For example, the rapid development of the French motorway system was achieved (and is still being achieved) by public investment offset by the sale of long-term concessions to private or semi-private companies to operate and maintain them.

France: Economy

Regarding its labor market, France has one of the highest levels of graduates, and the highest number of science graduates per 1000 workers of any European country.

France: Economy

France was the first country in the world to propose, plan and set up a dedicated high-speed rail network; today the country can boast the world's most extensive high-speed rail network, one which runs without interruption from the North Sea to the Mediterranean, and east-west from near the German border to the lower reaches of the Loire.

State intervention in the automotive sector has helped Renault become one of the main world players; the French government still holds a 15% stake in Renault which, in turn, is the leading investor (almost 45%)  in Nissan.

France: Economy

Since 2007, France like other countries has had to adapt to new global economic realities. It is doing so through measures designed to modernize its economy; but modernization in France is often a difficult process.

France: Economy

National Products Wine - Red Grape & White grapes Champagne Perrier sparkled water

France: Economy

Fashion and Boutique

France: Economy

France: Economy

Renault

Concord

High Speed Train

Transportation

France: Economy

Palace of Versailles Eiffel Tower

 Arc de Triomphe

 Mont Saint Michael

Tourism

France: Economy

Fin