France

FranceBy: Tiffany Cox

Location• Country in Europe known

for the Eiffel Tower and vineyards• Belgium, Germany, Spain,

and Switzerland are neighbors• France is almost twice the

size of the United Kingdom• Slightly smaller than Texas• Largest nation in Western

Europe

Climate• Climate is different in each

part of France• Maritime is the biggest

climate zone of France• The five climate zones are:• Maritime• Alpine• Lower Alpine• Continental• Mediterranean

Population• Total estimated population in 2008

is around 62 million in the metropolitan part of France• They have a few thousand more

people than the United Kingdom and have a lot more space• There are 12.73 more births per

1,000 with an average life expectancy of 80.2 years• It has a population density of 110

per sq km which is a little less than Europe’s average• Paris has a population of 12 million

Cities• Paris is known as the city of love and

there is a lot to do• They have the Louvre, which is an art

museum, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower• Lyon is the second best tourist stop

because it’s one of the oldest cities• It’s known as the gourmet capital of

France and a world heritage site• There is also Nice, a small port town,

and Strasbourg, which is famous for its Cathedral

Food• France is known for its fine dining• A typical French meal will consist of

an entrée, the main dish, and then the dessert• Dessert is usually a type of tart or

pastry or ice cream, called glace• Coffee at the end of the meal is

extra• At restaurants a dinner can consist

of 6 courses • France is known for its frog legs and

snails, but those are more traditional compared to what is served now

Festivals• France celebrates a lot of the

same holidays we do• Their biggest is Christmas which

is celebrated all throughout France with a magnificent display• In mid-July to early August they

have the Festival of the Orange, otherwise known as Les Choregies, which is a world famous Opera music festival• The festival is small, but it

attracts many world class performers

Religion• The majority of France is Roman

Catholic because of the nearness of Italy and Rome• People in France do have other

religions• Church attendance in France is

among the lowest in the world• Around 31% of France considers

themselves Atheist, when it used to be around 85% Roman Catholic• There isn’t a big emphasis on

religion

Economy• France is one of the world leaders in tourist

attractions• It’s a leading economy in automotive,

aerospace, and railways, which make France have one of the strongest economies in the world

• France businesses are taxed more than any other business in the world with 43%

• Lose less working days to strike than the U.S. and U.K.

• 75% of employment comes from the services sector with the rest in agriculture and industrial

Physical• There are many physical dangers in France• Flooding is a danger, and people fear one

like the great flood of 1910 will happen again

• Forest fires are also a danger, in 1949 over 80 people died in a forest fire and another in 2003 that destroyed a lot of land

• Freak storms can pop up anywhere and a freak storm in 2010 claimed the lives of 53 people

• France also has 21,000 towns in active earthquake prone areas

Warnings• Be wary of pickpockets, they work in

groups to distract you• There are also scams to make you think

you’ll win something• There have been many cases of assaults

and various other crimes near the airport• When you go to a new country to visit

always stay in well lit, well populated areas• You can easily end up with all of your

money and belongings stolen

Sources•"About-France.com." About France. About-France, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2015. <http://about- france.com/>.•"France Travel Guide." World Travel Guide. Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the Uk, 11 Dec. 2015. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.worldtravelguide.net/france>.•"French 'unprepared' for Future Natural Disasters." - The Local. The Local, 04 Dec. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.thelocal.fr/20131204/french-unprepared-for-natural-disasters>.•"Where to Go in France." Where to Go in France. Rough Guides, 2015. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/france/where-to-go/>.•Zimmermann, By Kim Ann. "French Culture: Customs & Traditions." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 21 Jan. 2015. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.livescience.com/39149-french-culture.html>.