France

France capital is Paris. France is the largest country in western Europe. It is bordered by both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. France, the largest country in Europe, is bordered to the north by the English Channel (La Manche), the northeast by Belgium and Luxembourg, the east by Germany, Switzerland and Italy, the south by the Mediterranean (with Monaco as a coastal enclave between Nice and the Italian frontier), the southwest by Spain and Andorra, and the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The island of Corsica, southeast of Nice, is made up of two departements.

Famous cities is Lyon, Marseille, Lille and Bordeaux. France is the second largest country in Europe, with the fifth largest population in Europe. Two thirds of France is mountains and hills, with the Alps, Pyrenees and Vosges ranges. Mont Blanc in the Alps is the highest mountain in Europe. The Eiffel Tower is one of France's national landmarks. At 1,050 feet tall, it is one of the world's most recognizable structures.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame was built in 1163. It is the largest church in Northern France. Paris is one of the world's most beautiful cities, and a popular tourist area. The Louvre is one of the world's best known, and finest art galleries. France industry produces cars, aerospace products, and other manufactured goods. It is also a major producer of chemical products. Fashion, textiles and tourism also play a significant role in the French ecomony.

The French population has very diverse origins. Many people have settled in France including the Celts, Romans, Germans, Russians, Asians, Africans and North Americans. The populations tend to vary by region.

Historically, France was primarily a rural community. Today about 75% of people live in cities or towns. Many famous artists, such as Renoir and Monet, are from France. Sports are also popular, France is also well known for the "Tour de France," a 2,500 mile bicycle race.

France is located mid-way between the equator and the North Pole. This gives France a temperate climate. Most areas do get extremely hot or cold. Along the Mediterranean coast, the warm Gulf Stream current provides for mild winters and hot, dry summers. Mountain areas tend to be colder, with considerable rain and snow.

Monaco, a small independent hereditary principality in Western Europe, is located on the Mediterranean Sea along the southern coast of France.

A resort city on the French Riviera; and Nantes, a seaport on the Atlantic coast that is noted for shipbuilding, food processing and other industries. Strasbourg (272,700) is the principal French port on the Rhine River and is also a major industrial center. Montpellier (244,300) is a commercial and manufacturing city in southern France. Bordeaux (230,600) is a major seaport in southwestern France and the principal exporting center for one of the great French vineyard regions.