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France is the second largest
country in Europe, with the fifth largest population in
Europe.
Population: 57.5 million
Geographic size: 212,935 square miles
Capital: Paris
Major cities and population: Paris - 8.7 million
people, Lyon - 1.2 million, Marseille - 1.2 million,
Lille - 950,000 and Bordeaux - 640,000. |
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| 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 Mediterranean coast includes the popular
tourist area, the French Riviera. Its hot, dry summers
and mild winters make it a popular beach area.
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. |
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| The Cathedral of Notre Dame
was built in 1163. It is the largest church in Northern
France.
It got worldwide recognition in the popular
book "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor
Hugo. The book was also made into a successful movie. |
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| Paris is one of the world's
most beautiful cities, and a popular tourist area.
Paris
was founded by, and named after, the Celtic tribe, the
Parisii.
Paris is a major culture center for Europe and the
world. |
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| The Louvre is one of the
world's best known, and finest art galleries. It contains
many of the world's most famous art, including the Mona
Lisa. |
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| The Arc de Triomphe is a
Paris landmark. It is the entrance way to the Champs
Elysees. |
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| Historically,
agriculture was one of France's major industries. France
is still a leading producer of wine.
Today the economy
is much more industrialized. 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. |
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| Early French
settlers were the Celts in 1000 BC. Later the Romans took
over the area in 58 BC. In 486 AD, a Germanic tribe
called the Franks invaded the area. France got its name
from the Franks.
In the 17th and 18th centuries France
was ruled by Monarchs. French explorers discovered many
parts of the world, and established French colonies all
over the world.
In the early 19th century, General Napoleon Bonaparte
conquered much of Europe and established himself as an
Emperor. He was finally defeated at the Battle of
Waterloo in 1815.
In 1789, the French Revolution managed to overthrow
the monarchy. This led to the establishment of the
National Assembly, an elected government. |
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| 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.
Art and culture are an important part of France. Many
famous artists, such as Renoir and Monet, are from
France. Several famous writers, including Victor Hugo who
wrote Le Miserables and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, are
from France.
Sports are also popular, with Soccer being a major
team sport. France is also well known for the "Tour
de France," a 2,500 mile bicycle race. |
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| 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. |
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