Geography
Of France
Objectives
• Identify France on a blank map of Europe.
• How do France’s borders protect it? What is the weak point in France’s border?
• Why have Germany and France fought over the provinces of Alsace and Loraine (Alsaẞ and Lothringen)?
• How does France meet its energy needs? How does this compare to the United States?
• What is France’s relationship to the European Union?
• What challenges France facing with immigration?
Notre Dame is a cathedral in Paris.
Terms and PlacesCentral Massif is a large hilly land in France.
The Riviera is a resort and beach area of France’s Mediterranean coast.
The Pyrenees are the mountains that separate France and Spain.
Versailles is the palace of the former king of France.
An immigrant is a person moving into a country from another land.
France lies in western Europe. It is the second largest country entirely in Europe.
(Ukraine is the largest.)
Bay of Biscay
Pyrenees Mediterranean Sea
English Channel
The Alps
France has borders of water or mountain on almost all sides.
Rhin
e Va
lley
Bay of Biscay
Pyrenees Mediterranean Sea
English Channel
The Alps
BelgiumGermany
These give France borders that are resistant to invaders on almost all sides.
France has borders of water or mountain on almost all sides.
The northeast border is a low, level plain. It is through this plain that France has been invaded.
Rhin
e Va
lley
This painting by Albert Bettannier is called "The Black Stain“. It shows schoolchildren being taught not to forget the lost provinces, which were colored in black on maps. The artist was a native of Metz who fled to Paris after the French defeat.
It was through this weak part of their borders that Germany invaded and took Alsace-Lorraine.
The region was valuable because of its rich deposits of coal.
Bay of Biscay
Rhin
e Va
lley
Brittany
Two important peninsulas are on the north of France.
The United States landed its troops on the beaches of Normandy in its war against the Nazis.
Between Normandy and Brittany is Mont St. Michel, built in the 11th Century.
Normandy
English Channel BelgiumGermany
Bay of Biscay
English Channel BelgiumGermany
Brittany
Normandy Paris
The capital city is (of course) Paris.
Bay of Biscay
Rhin
e Va
lley
Mount Blanc is the highest peak in the Alps, and it’s in France.
Bay of Biscay
Mediterranean Sea
English Channel
The Alps
BelgiumGermany
Brittany
Normandy Paris
Bay of Biscay
Mediterranean Sea
English Channel
The Alps
BelgiumGermany
Brittany
Normandy Paris
Central Massif
Riviera
The Coast between the Alps and the Mediterranean is called the Riviera.
It’s the opposite of the Central Massif - famous for beaches and nightlife.
The Central Massif has a lower population, but some great hiking.
The steep Pyrenees Mountains are very effective in separating France from Spain.
Bay of Biscay
Pyrenees Mediterranean Sea
English Channel
The Alps
BelgiumGermany
Brittany
Normandy Paris
Riviera
Central Massif
Bay of Biscay
Pyrenees Mediterranean Sea
English Channel
The Alps
BelgiumGermany
Normandy Paris
Riviera
Central Massif
The population of France is concentrated on the Riviera and its four river valleys – the Seine, the Loire, the Garonne, and the Rhone
Brittany
Land use map
What type of a map is this?
Where is the majority of France’s cropland?
Where are France’s forests?
How are these connected to population?
What type of map is this?
A political map
These two provinces have rich coal deposits.
Because of this, France and Germany have
fought over the region.
France ended up with them when Germany lost the Second World War.
Currently, France uses nuclear power plants to supply most of its energy.
Compare this to energy sources in the United States.
Sources of Energy in
France
France is a full member of the EU. It has dropped its old currency (the Franc) and now uses the Euro.
Many French businesses are familiar to Americans.
French food is (of course) famous.
Escargot
Macaroni and CheeseQuiche
croissants
Ratatouille
Which nation is France?
France
Which nation is Belgium?
Location
Which physical feature separates France from England?
The AlpsThe English ChannelThe Pyrenees The Rhine River
Borders
Which physical feature separates France from Spain?
The AlpsThe Mediterranean The Pyrenees The Rhine River
Which physical feature separates France from Switzerland and Italy?
The AlpsThe English ChannelThe Pyrenees The Rhine River
Italy
Switz.
What body of water lies to the south of France?
The Mediterranean Sea The English ChannelThe North Sea The Rhine River
Mediterranean
On what peninsula did American and British troops land in World War II?
The PyreneesNormandyThe Riviera The Biscay coastline
Physical Geography
For what is the Central Massif famous?
Growing world famous wines Manufacturing and industry Landscapes and hiking Beaches and resorts
For what is France’s Riviera most famous?
Growing world-famous wines Manufacturing and industry Landscapes and hiking Beaches and resorts
How does France meet most of its energy needs?
Coal Nuclear Natural GasHydroelectric
What is France’s relationship with the EU?
France is not a member.
France is a member but does not use the Euro.
France is a member and uses the Euro.
Economy
France’s economy is:
Better than most of Western Europe.
About the same as the rest of Western Europe
Much worse than the rest of Western Europe
Where is France’s population most concentrated?
The Pyrenees and the Central Massif Normandy and Brittany River valleys and the Riviera Rhine River and the Biscay coastline
Population Density
Please read:“France.” World Studies: Europe and Russia. Pearson-Prentice-Hall, 2005. pg. 135 -137.
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