Travel Guide

Background Facts: France

Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier more purely parliamentary administrations.

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. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy.

Location	Metropolitan France: 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. France also incorporates: French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic Coordinates	46 00 N, 2 00 E
Geographical Area
Land	545,630 Sq Km.
Water	1,400 Sq Km.
Land Boundary	2,889 Km.
Border Countries
Andorra	57 Km.
Belgium	620 Km.
Germany	451 Km.
Italy	488 Km.
Luxembourg	73 Km.
Monaco	4 Km.
Spain	623 Km.
Switzerland	573 Km.
Length of coastline	4,668 Km.
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
Natural Resources	Coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish
Land Use
Arable Land	33%
Permanent Crops	2%
Other	65%
Irrigated Land	26,000 Sq Km.
Natural Hazards	Flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
Environmental Issues	Some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff