France Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Geography== {{Main|Geography of France}} ===Location and borders=== [[File:Chamonix valley from la Flégère,2010 07.JPG|thumb|[[Chamonix]] valley with the [[Mont Blanc]] at background, the highest mountain in the [[Alps]] and [[Western Europe]] on the border with [[Italy]]]] The vast majority of France's territory and population is situated in Western Europe and is called [[Metropolitan France]], to distinguish it from the country's various overseas polities. It is bordered by the [[North Sea]] in the north, the [[English Channel]] in the northwest, the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the west and the [[Mediterranean Sea]] in the southeast. Its land borders consist of [[Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg]] in the northeast, [[Germany]] and [[Switzerland]] in the east, [[Italy]] and [[Monaco]] in the southeast, and [[Andorra]] and [[Spain]] in the south and southwest. Except for the northeast, most of France's land borders are roughly delineated by natural boundaries and geographic features: to the south and southeast, the Pyrenees and the Alps and the Jura, respectively, and to the east, the Rhine river. Due to its shape, France is often referred to as ''{{Lang|fr|l'Hexagone}}'' ("The [[Hexagon]]"). Metropolitan France includes various coastal islands, of which the largest is [[Corsica]]. Metropolitan France is situated mostly between latitudes [[41st parallel north|41°]] and [[51st parallel north|51° N]], and longitudes [[6th meridian west|6° W]] and [[10th meridian east|10° E]], on the western edge of Europe, and thus lies within the northern [[temperateness|temperate]] zone. Its continental part covers about 1000 km from north to south and from east to west. Metropolitan France covers {{Convert|551500|km2|sqmi|0}},<ref name=France/> the largest among [[European Union]] members.<ref name="superficy">{{Cite web |title=Europa Official Site – France |url=http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/france/index_en.htm |access-date=28 October 2014 |publisher=EU}}</ref> France's total land area, with its overseas departments and territories (excluding [[Adélie Land]]), is {{Convert|643801|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, 0.45% of the total land area on Earth. France possesses a wide variety of landscapes, from coastal plains in the north and west to mountain ranges of the [[Alps]] in the southeast, the [[Massif Central]] in the south-central and [[Pyrenees]] in the southwest. Due to its numerous [[Overseas departments and territories of France|overseas departments and territories]] scattered across the planet, France possesses the second-largest [[exclusive economic zone]] (EEZ) in the world, covering {{Convert|11035000|km2|sqmi|-3|abbr=on}}, just behind the EEZ of the [[United States]], which covers {{Convert|11351000|km2|sqmi|-3|abbr=on}}, but ahead of the EEZ of Australia, which covers {{Convert|8148250|km2|sqmi|-3|abbr=on}}. Its EEZ covers approximately 8% of the total surface of all the EEZs of the world. ===Geology, topography and hydrography=== [[File:2013.07.05 roussillon - roque anthéron 172.JPG|thumb|Geological formations near [[Roussillon, Vaucluse|Roussillon]], [[Vaucluse]]]] Metropolitan France has a wide variety of topographical sets and natural landscapes. Large parts of the current territory of France were raised during several tectonic episodes like the [[Hercynian uplift]] in the [[Paleozoic Era]], during which the [[Armorican Massif]], the [[Massif Central]], the [[Morvan]], the [[Vosges]] and [[Ardennes]] ranges and the island of [[Corsica]] were formed. These massifs delineate several sedimentary basins such as the [[Aquitaine Basin]] in the southwest and the [[Paris Basin]] in the north, the latter including several areas of particularly fertile ground such as the silt beds of [[Beauce, France|Beauce]] and [[Brie (region)|Brie]]. Various routes of natural passage, such as the [[Rhône Valley]], allow easy communication. The Alpine, Pyrenean and Jura mountains are much younger and have less eroded forms. At {{Convert|4810.45|m|ft|0}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 November 2009 |title=Mont Blanc shrinks by {{Convert|45|cm|2|abbr=on}} in two years |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/mont-blanc-shrinks-by-45cm-in-two-years-20091106-i0kk.html |access-date=9 August 2010}}</ref> above sea level, [[Mont Blanc]], located in the Alps on the [[France–Italy border]], is the highest point in Western Europe. Although 60% of municipalities are classified as having seismic risks, these risks remain moderate. The coastlines offer contrasting landscapes: mountain ranges along the [[French Riviera]], coastal cliffs such as the [[Côte d'Albâtre]], and wide sandy plains in the [[Languedoc]]. Corsica lies off the Mediterranean coast. France has an extensive river system consisting of the four major rivers [[Seine]], the [[Loire]], the [[Garonne]], the [[Rhône]] and their tributaries, whose combined catchment includes over 62% of the metropolitan territory. The Rhône divides the Massif Central from the Alps and flows into the Mediterranean Sea at the [[Camargue]]. The Garonne meets the [[Dordogne (river)|Dordogne]] just after Bordeaux, forming the [[Gironde estuary]], the largest estuary in Western Europe which after approximately {{Convert|100|km|mi|0}} empties into the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://medoc-tourisme.com/en/mondes/close-to-estuary/|title=Close to ESTUARY}}</ref> Other water courses drain towards the Meuse and Rhine along the northeastern borders. France has {{Cvt|11000000|km2}} of marine waters within three oceans under its jurisdiction, of which 97% are overseas. ===Environment=== {{See also|List of national parks of France|Regional natural parks of France|Climate change in France}} France was one of the first countries to create an environment ministry, in 1971.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Protection of the Environment |url=http://www.ambafrance-ca.org/kid/pages_en/eco6.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425005903/http://www.ambafrance-ca.org/kid/pages_en/eco6.htm |archive-date=25 April 2011}}</ref> Although it is one of the most industrialised countries in the world, France is ranked [[List of countries by carbon dioxide emissions|only 19th by carbon dioxide emissions]], behind less populous nations such as Canada or Australia. This is due to the country's heavy investment in [[Nuclear power in France|nuclear power]] following the [[1973 oil crisis]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2011 |title=Nuclear Power in France |url=http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf40.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719055222/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf40.html |archive-date=19 July 2011 |access-date=17 July 2011 |website=World Nuclear Association}}</ref> which now accounts for 75 per cent of its electricity production<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Energy profile of France |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Earth |publisher=Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment |location=Washington, D.C. |url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_profile_of_France |access-date=17 July 2011 |date=10 September 2010 |others=Topic editor: Langdon D. Clough |orig-date=First published: 23 April 2010 |editor-first=Cutler J. |editor-last=Cleveland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429235144/http://www.eoearth.org/article/Energy_profile_of_France |archive-date=29 April 2011 |author=Eia}}</ref> and results in less pollution.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Morgane |last=Remy |date=18 June 2010 |title=CO2 : la France moins pollueuse grâce au nucléaire |trans-title=CO2: France less polluting thanks to nuclear |url=http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/co2-la-france-moins-pollueuse-grace-au-nucleaire.N133933 |url-status=live |journal=L'Usine Nouvelle |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621042424/http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/co2-la-france-moins-pollueuse-grace-au-nucleaire.N133933 |archive-date=21 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 January 2008 |title=L'énergie nucléaire en France |trans-title=Nuclear energy in France |url=http://www.ambafrance-cn.org/L-energie-nucleaire-en-France.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701211529/http://www.ambafrance-cn.org/L-energie-nucleaire-en-France.html |archive-date=1 July 2010 |website=La France en Chine |language=fr}}</ref> According to the 2020 [[Environmental Performance Index]] conducted by [[Yale]] and [[Columbia University|Columbia]], France was the fifth most environmentally conscious country in the world (behind the United Kingdom).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2018 EPI Results {{!}} Environmental Performance Index |url=https://epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/epi-topline |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723205354/https://epi.envirocenter.yale.edu/epi-topline |archive-date=23 July 2019 |access-date=20 August 2019 |website=epi.envirocenter.yale.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hsu |first=A. |display-authors=etal |year=2016 |title=2016 Environmental Performance Index |url=http://epi.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2016EPI_Full_Report_opt.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004102150/http://epi.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2016EPI_Full_Report_opt.pdf |archive-date=4 October 2017 |access-date=14 December 2017 |publisher=Yale University |location=New Haven, CT}}</ref> Like all European Union state members, France agreed to cut [[carbon emissions]] by at least 20% of 1990 levels by 2020,<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Ian |last1=Traynor |first2=David |last2=Gow |date=21 February 2007 |title=EU promises 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/feb/21/climatechange.climatechangeenvironment |access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> compared to the United States' plan to reduce emissions by 4% of 1990 levels.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Marie |last=Verdier |date=6 December 2009 |title=Les quatre enjeux de Copenhague |work=[[La Croix (newspaper)|La Croix]] |url=http://www.la-croix.com/Actualite/S-informer/Sciences/Les-quatre-enjeux-de-Copenhague-_NG_-2009-12-06-569870 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111125721/http://www.la-croix.com/Actualite/S-informer/Sciences/Les-quatre-enjeux-de-Copenhague-_NG_-2009-12-06-569870 |archive-date=11 January 2012}}</ref> {{As of|2009}}, French carbon dioxide emissions per capita were lower than that of China.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kanter |first=James |date=1 July 2010 |title=Per-Capita Emissions Rising in China |work=The New York Times |url=https://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/emissions-soar-in-china-and-india/ |access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> The country was set to impose a [[carbon tax]] in 2009 at 17 euros per tonne of carbon emitted,<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 September 2009 |title=France Sets Carbon Tax at 17 Euros a Ton |work=The New York Times |agency=Reuters |location=France |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/business/global/11carbon.html |access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> which would have raised 4 billion euros of revenue annually.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 September 2009 |title=France set to impose carbon tax |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8248392.stm |access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> However, the plan was abandoned due to fears of burdening French businesses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saltmarsh |first=Matthew |date=23 March 2010 |title=France Abandons Plan for Carbon Tax |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/business/global/24iht-carbon.html |access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> Forests account for 31 per cent of France's land area—the fourth-highest proportion in Europe—representing an increase of 7 per cent since 1990.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 July 2019 |title=Why France's forests are getting bigger |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/07/18/why-frances-forests-are-getting-bigger |access-date=20 August 2019 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Countries Compared by Environment > Forest area > % of land area |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Environment/Forest-area/%25-of-land-area#2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108120450/http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Environment/Forest-area/%25-of-land-area#2005 |archive-date=8 January 2018 |access-date=7 January 2018 |website=Nationmaster.com |publisher=International Statistics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Evolution of the French forest from 1984 to 1996 |url=http://www.ifn.fr/spip/?rubrique83&lang=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513083104/http://www.ifn.fr/spip/?rubrique83&lang=en |archive-date=13 May 2011 |publisher=Inventaire Forestier National [National Forest Inventory]}}</ref> French forests are some of the most diverse in Europe, comprising more than 140 species of trees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=La forêt en France et dans le monde |trans-title=The forest in France and in the world |url=http://www.lepapier.fr/foret_france.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727011505/http://www.lepapier.fr/foret_france.htm |archive-date=27 July 2010 |website=lepapier.fr |language=fr}}</ref> France had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 4.52/10, ranking it 123rd globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{Cite journal |last1=Grantham |first1=H. S. |last2=Duncan |first2=A. |last3=Evans |first3=T. D. |last4=Jones |first4=K. R. |last5=Beyer |first5=H. L. |last6=Schuster |first6=R. |last7=Walston |first7=J. |last8=Ray |first8=J. C. |last9=Robinson |first9=J. G. |last10=Callow |first10=M. |last11=Clements |first11=T. |last12=Costa |first12=H. M. |last13=DeGemmis |first13=A. |last14=Elsen |first14=P. R. |last15=Ervin |first15=J. |year=2020 |title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material |journal=Nature Communications |volume=11 |issue=1 |page=5978 |doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3 |issn=2041-1723 |pmc=7723057 |pmid=33293507 |last16=Franco |first16=P. |last17=Goldman |first17=E. |last18=Goetz |first18=S. |last19=Hansen |first19=A. |last20=Hofsvang |first20=E. |last21=Jantz |first21=P. |last22=Jupiter |first22=S. |last23=Kang |first23=A. |last24=Langhammer |first24=P. |last25=Laurance |first25=W. F. |last26=Lieberman |first26=S. |last27=Linkie |first27=M. |last28=Malhi |first28=Y. |last29=Maxwell |first29=S. |last30=Mendez |first30=M. |last31=Mittermeier |first31=R. |last32=Murray |first32=N. J. |last33=Possingham |first33=H. |last34=Radachowsky |first34=J. |last35=Saatchi |first35=S. |last36=Samper |first36=C. |last37=Silverman |first37=J. |last38=Shapiro |first38=A. |last39=Strassburg |first39=B. |last40=Stevens |first40=T. |last41=Stokes |first41=E. |last42=Taylor |first42=R. |last43=Tear |first43=T. |last44=Tizard |first44=R. |last45=Venter |first45=O. |last46=Visconti |first46=P. |last47=Wang |first47=S. |last48=Watson |first48=J. E. M.|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G }}</ref> There are nine [[national park]]s<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parks and other protected areas in France |url=http://www.parks.it/world/FR/Eindex.html |website=Parks.it}}</ref> and 46 [[Protected area|natural parks]] in France.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fédération des parcs naturels régionaux de France |trans-title=Federation of Regional Natural Parks of France |url=http://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.tm.fr/fr/accueil/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712003310/http://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.tm.fr/fr/accueil/ |archive-date=12 July 2010 |language=fr}}</ref> A regional nature park<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 2013 |title=The regional nature Parks of France |url=http://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.tm.fr/en/parc.UK2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722030433/http://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.tm.fr/en/parc.UK2.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2013 |access-date=22 June 2014 |publisher=Fédération des Parcs naturels régionaux de France [Federation of the regional nature Parks of France]}}</ref> ({{Lang-fr|parc naturel régional|links=no}} or PNR) is a public establishment in France between local authorities and the [[Government of France|national government]] covering an inhabited rural area of outstanding beauty, to protect the scenery and heritage as well as setting up sustainable economic development in the area.<ref>{{Cite book |first=William M. |last=Lafferty |title=Sustainable communities in Europe |publisher=Earthscan |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-85383-791-3 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VHP96jPKl-0C&pg=PA181 181]}}</ref> A PNR sets goals and guidelines for managed human habitation, sustainable economic development and protection of the natural environment based on each park's unique landscape and heritage. The parks foster ecological research programmes and public education in the natural sciences.<ref name="FGTO">{{Cite web |year=2008 |title=Regional Natural Parks |url=http://uk.franceguide.com/Regional-natural-parks.html?NodeID=1&EditoID=205227 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405192042/http://uk.franceguide.com/Regional-natural-parks.html?NodeID=1&EditoID=205227 |archive-date=5 April 2012 |access-date=27 October 2011 |website=France Guide |publisher=Maison de la France}}</ref> {{As of|2019}} there are 54 PNRs in France.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Découvrir les 54 Parcs |url=https://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr/les-parcs-naturels-regionaux-de-france/decouvrir-les-54-parcs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819171349/https://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr/les-parcs-naturels-regionaux-de-france/decouvrir-les-54-parcs |archive-date=19 August 2019 |access-date=16 October 2019 |website=Fédération des Parcs naturels régionaux de France}}</ref> ===Administrative divisions=== {{Main|Administrative divisions of France}} The French Republic is divided into 18 [[Regions of France|regions]] (located in Europe and overseas), five [[Overseas collectivities of France|overseas collectivities]], one [[Overseas territory (France)|overseas territory]], one special collectivity – [[New Caledonia]] and one uninhabited island directly under the authority of the Minister of Overseas France – [[Clipperton Island|Clipperton]]. ====Regions==== {{Further|Departments of France}} {{France Regions Labelled Map}} Since 2016, France is divided into 18 administrative regions: 13 regions in [[metropolitan France]] (including [[Corsica]]),<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2015 |title=La réforme territoriale |url=http://www.gouvernement.fr/action/la-reforme-territoriale |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230075909/http://www.gouvernement.fr/action/la-reforme-territoriale |archive-date=30 December 2015 |access-date=1 January 2016 |publisher=Government of France |language=fr}}</ref> and five [[overseas region|overseas]].<ref name=France/> The regions are further subdivided into 101 [[Departments of France|departments]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Departments of France |url=http://www.myfrenchproperty.com/departments/departments.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714142645/http://www.myfrenchproperty.com/departments/departments.php |archive-date=14 July 2011 |access-date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Myfrenchproperty.com |language=fr}}</ref> which are numbered mainly alphabetically. The department number is used in postal codes and was formerly used on [[Vehicle registration plates of France|vehicle registration plates]]. Among the 101 French departments, five ([[French Guiana]], Guadeloupe, [[Martinique]], [[Mayotte]], and [[Réunion]]) are in overseas regions (ROMs) that are simultaneously overseas departments (DOMs), enjoying the same status as metropolitan departments and are thereby included in the European Union. The 101 departments are subdivided into 335 [[Arrondissements of France|arrondissements]], which are, in turn, subdivided into 2,054 [[Cantons of France|cantons]].<ref name="constituencies">{{Cite web |title=Circonscriptions administratives au 1er janvier 2015 : comparaisons régionales |trans-title=Administrative constituencies of 1 January 2015: regional comparisons |url=http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/tableau.asp?reg_id=99&ref_id=t_0203R |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430033500/http://www.insee.fr/fr/themes/tableau.asp?reg_id=99&ref_id=t_0203R |archive-date=30 April 2014 |access-date=5 July 2015 |publisher=[[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]] |language=fr}}</ref> These cantons are then divided into 36,658 [[Communes of France|communes]], which are municipalities with an elected municipal council.<ref name=constituencies/> Three communes—Paris, Lyon and Marseille—are subdivided into 45 [[Municipal arrondissements of France|municipal arrondissements]]. ====Overseas territories and collectivities==== {{Main|Overseas France}} {{Further|Overseas collectivity|Overseas territory (France)}}In addition to the 18 regions and 101 departments, the French Republic has five [[overseas collectivity|overseas collectivities]] ([[French Polynesia]], [[Saint Barthélemy]], [[Collectivity of Saint Martin|Saint Martin]], [[Saint Pierre and Miquelon]], and [[Wallis and Futuna]]), one ''[[sui generis]]'' collectivity ([[New Caledonia]]), one [[overseas territory (France)|overseas territory]] ([[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]]), and one island possession in the Pacific Ocean ([[Clipperton Island]]). Overseas collectivities and territories form part of the French Republic, but do not form part of the European Union or its fiscal area (except for Saint Barthélemy, which seceded from Guadeloupe in 2007). The Pacific Collectivities (COMs) of French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and New Caledonia continue to use the [[CFP franc]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Currency and Exchange Rate |url=http://www.thetahititraveler.com/touristinfo/moneycurr.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717034857/http://www.thetahititraveler.com/touristinfo/moneycurr.asp |archive-date=17 July 2011 |access-date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Thetahititraveler.com}}</ref> whose value is strictly linked to that of the euro. In contrast, the five overseas regions used the French franc and now use the euro.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2085rank |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2085rank.html?countryName=France&countryCode=fr®ionCode=eu&rank=7#fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513121037/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2085rank.html?countryName=France&countryCode=fr®ionCode=eu&rank=7#fr |archive-date=13 May 2012 |access-date=29 July 2010 |website=The World Factbook |publisher=CIA}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! 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