GeodlyEurope
France
France is the largest country in the European Union by area. Its mainland, roughly six-sided in shape, is often called l’Hexagone by the French. It has coasts on the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and the island of Corsica lies to the south-east. France also has overseas regions and territories around the world, including French Guiana in South America and islands in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, ended the absolute monarchy and spread the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity that are still the national motto. The current constitution dates from 1958 and founded the Fifth Republic. With about 68 million people, France is one of Europe’s largest economies, and Paris, its capital, is one of the most visited cities in the world.
The flag of France
The flag has three vertical stripes of equal width: blue by the flagpole, white in the middle and red on the outside. It is known simply as the Tricolore.
The flag comes from the French Revolution. Blue and red were the colours of the city of Paris, and white was the colour of the monarchy, so the cockade that combined them stood for the union of the king and the people. The Tricolore became the national flag in the 1790s, and its vertical three-stripe design has inspired many other flags, including those of Italy, Ireland and Mexico.
Landscape and geography
France has a wide variety of landscapes. The Alps rise along the border with Italy and Switzerland, and Mont Blanc, at about 4,800 metres, is the highest mountain in Western Europe. The Pyrenees form the border with Spain, and the old volcanic hills of the Massif Central rise in the middle of the country. The north and west are mostly lowlands crossed by large rivers such as the Seine, the Rhône and the Loire, which is the longest river in France.
The climate ranges from mild and wet in Brittany to hot and dry summers on the Mediterranean coast. This variety helps France produce wine in many regions, from Champagne and Burgundy to Bordeaux and Provence.
Did you know?
- Because of its overseas territories, France spans more time zones than any other country.
- France’s longest land border is not in Europe but in South America, between French Guiana and Brazil.
- The Eiffel Tower was built for the World’s Fair of 1889 and was meant to stand for only twenty years.
- The Tour de France cycle race was first held in 1903.
Key facts
- Capital
- Paris
- Continent
- Europe
- Population
- About 68 million
- Land neighbours
- 8
- Coast
- Has a coastline
- European Union
- Member
- NATO
- Member
- Language in GeoLingo
- French
Land neighbours
French Guiana, an overseas part of France, also borders Brazil and Suriname.
France in numbers
| Population | 68,070,000 people |
|---|---|
| Land area | 547,557 km² |
| Population density | 124 people/km² |
| Total GDP | $3,030,000,000,000 |
| GDP per capita | $44,400 |
| Life expectancy | 82.5 years |
| Unemployment rate | 7.3% |
| Coastline | 4,853 km |
| Forest coverage | 31.5% |
| Human Development Index | 0.903 |
| UNESCO World Heritage sites | 52 sites |
| Airports | 464 airports |
These are the figures used in GeoDecide. They are rounded and can lag behind the latest official statistics.
World rankings
Geo Sort asks you to place countries by rank. A lower number means a higher place in that category.
| Land Area | #43 |
|---|---|
| Coastline | #9 |
| FIFA Ranking (M) | #2 |
| Military Strength | #11 |
| Avg Annual Temperature | #132 |
| UNESCO Sites | #5 |
| Population Density | #85 |
| Highest Point | #10 |
Say it in French
GeoLingo shows these four phrases and asks which country they belong to.
- Hello
- Bonjour
- Thank you
- Merci
- Yes
- Oui
- Goodbye
- Au revoir
Practise France on Geodly
- Flag Drawing: The flag of France is in the Easy set. Draw it from memory and compare your drawing with the real design.
- Border Clash: Draw the border between France and Spain on a blank map.
- Border Clash: Draw the border between France and Germany on a blank map.
- Geo Click: Find France on the map, or locate its capital, Paris, in the capital modes.
- Geo Chain: Link countries through shared land borders. Knowing the 8 neighbours of France gives you more routes.
- GeoDecide: Compare France with other countries on the statistics listed above.
- Geo Sort: Place France in the category where its world rank is strongest.
- GeoLingo: Recognise French from four short phrases and match it to France.
- Terra Tac Toe: Use France as an answer when its facts fit both the row and the column of a square.
Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica: France · CIA World Factbook: France