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France

1112 S. Cochran Ave, Los Angeles

practical information

practical information

France

• Location:
  
Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain


• Map references:
  
Europe


• Area:
  


total area: 547,030 sq km


land area: 545,630 sq km


comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Colorado


note: includes Corsica and the rest of metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions


• Land boundaries:
  
total 2,892.4 km, Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km


• Coastline:
  
3,427 km (mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km)


• Maritime claims:
  


contiguous zone: 24 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


territorial sea: 12 nm


• International disputes:
  
Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana; Mexico claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France


• Climate:
  
generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean


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


• Natural resources:
  
coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash


• Land use:
  


arable land: 32%


permanent crops: 2%


meadows and pastures: 23%


forest and woodland: 27%


other: 16%


• Irrigated land:
  
11,600 sq km (1989 est.)


• Environment:
  


current issues: some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff


natural hazards: flooding


international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Desertification, Law of the Sea


• Note:
  
largest West European nation; occasional warm tropical wind known as mistral