Nature of France. Flora and fauna of France Flora and fauna of France in brief

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Federal Education Agency

Branch of Sochi State University Tourism and Resort Business

In the city of Nizhny Novgorod

Essay on the topic "Tourism and recreation potential and modern tourism in France"

Completed: Valery Zhukovskaya

Gr. M-21-09

Checked: Piyashova Svetlana

Nikolaevna

nizhny Novgorod

2010

Plan

The geographical position of France and general information about the country.
History of france
Features of the nature of France
National characteristics of the population
Tourist centers and their main attractions.
Resorts france
Conclusion
Information sources
Geographic Map of France

1. The geographical position of France and general information about the country.

Geographical position.

France is located in Western Europe, washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Andorra and Monaco. The state includes the island of Corsica (Mediterranean), as well as overseas departments (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion and French Guiana), territories with special status (Mayotte Islands, St. Pierre, Miquelon) and overseas territories (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna Islands (Horn)).

General information.

Full name: French Republic (Republique Francaise)
Area of France: 551,500 square meters. km
The capital of France:Paris
The main cities of France: Lille,Lyon , Marseilles , Toulouse , Nice , Strasbourg , Nantes, Bordeaux
Head of State: President Nicolas Sarkozy (since 2007), former President of France - Jacques Chirac
The state system of France: the republic
Exports: equipment, vehicles, metallurgical and chemical products, weapons, textiles, fruits, wine, vegetables, cosmetics
Currency: Euro
Population: 59.3 million
Ethnic composition: French, immigrants from Africa (including Algerians, Moroccans), as well as Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians
Life expectancy: 76 years (women - 80 years, men - 72 years)
Natural population growth: 0.5%
Language: French
The main religions of France: Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism
Illiteracy among the population: less than 5%
GDP: $ 22,360 per capita

2. History of France

The history of France dates back to the 5th century BC. Celtic Gauls tribes settled on its present territory, displacing the Iberians and Ligurians to the outskirts of the indigenous people. In the middle of I century BC. the Romans conquered the lands of the Gauls who had fought among themselves, and at the end of the 5th century the Franks, whose king Chlodvig accepted Christianity as the state religion in 496.
The Franks Empire reached its peak during the reign of Charlemagne. His heirs divided the state of the Carolingians (Treaty of Verdun in 843), part of which (the Kingdom of West Francais) became the heart of the future of France.
The next page in the history of France and the Capetian dynasty that prevailed in 1328 greatly strengthened the royal power and gathered many lands under its own hands. The dispute over the French crown between Philip VI Valois and the English king Edward III escalated into the Hundred Years War (1337-1453), which ended with the expulsion of the British from French soil. By the way, it was during this period in the history of France that the famouscastles of the loire valley .
Under Louis XIV (1643-1715), the history of France experienced a significant rise, the state became the leading European power with colonies in Canada, Louisiana, onAntilles in India and Africa.
The 17th century is the era of absolutism and the growth of general discontent, especially among the lower strata of the population. The monarchic arbitrariness, chaos in politics and economics, the unbridled prodigality of the court became the causes of the Great French Revolution, which began with the Bastille on July 14, 1789. In the same year, for the first time in the history of France, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was adopted, two years later a constitutional monarchy was established, and in 1792 - the I Republic.
In 1799, the history of France made another turn in the opposite direction, and as a result of a military coup, General Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and carried out a series of internal reforms - the French legal system is still based on the "Napoleon Code" introduced by him.
The XIX century is the epoch of the II Republic, and later the II Empire of Napoleon III, which significantly limited the parliamentary system. In 1871, the Paris Commune revolted against the Versailles government. The Constitution of 1875 proclaimed France a republic with a bicameral parliament and a strong presidential power.
During the years of the III Republic in the history of France, new colonial conquests took place in West Africa and Indochina. As a result of World War I, the country returned the provincesAlsace and Lorraine lost after the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71.
World War II led to the fall of the Third Republic. In 1944, the temporary government of liberated France was led by General Charles de Gaulle. The regime of the IV Republic in the history of France (1946-58) was marked by a series of acute government crises, the loss of colonies in Indochina and Africa, the beginning of decolonization and the national liberation war in Algeria (1954).
A distinctive feature of the V Republic was the strong power of President de Gaulle, who granted wide autonomy to almost all overseas territories and strengthened the position of the state in the international arena. The years of Charles de Gaulle became a solid foundation for the development of France, whose recent history is that today it is one of the most economically and culturally developed countries in the world and the leading power of the European Union.

3.Features of the nature of France

The natural conditions of France are quite diverse. Here you can find literally everything - coastal plains in the north and west of the country, the sublime Central Massif in the southern and central regions, vast river valleys surrounded by picturesque hills, low mountain ranges of the Ardennes, Argon, Langres, Morvan, Auvergne and Vosges, as well as the highest mountain ranges. massifs of the Alps in the southeast and the Pyrenees in the southwest.
   The western and northern regions of France are flat. A wide (up to 300 km) strip of the coastal lowland stretches from the coast of the North Sea and the English Channel far to the south, right up to the Massif Central and Pyrenees. The highlands of the central part of the country, cut by numerous river valleys, are almost entirely covered with agricultural land, vineyards and small mashes of heavily cultivated forests. Along the entire perimeter, they are framed by short chains of low mountain ranges, more like large hills. Only the ancient Ardennes (up to 585 m high) in the north and the wooded Vosges (up to 1426 m) in the east tear up this level landscape.
To the south of the plains, the vast highlands of the Central Massif begin - an area of ancient volcanism, the hallmark of which is a huge number of volcanoes extinct more than 10 thousand years ago (there are more than 450 of them - probably the largest concentration of extinct volcanoes on the planet). Radial mountain ranges of Gharring, Seven (Cevennes), Segal, Margerid, Auvergne, Charolais and Vercors, short and heavily eroded, (average altitude about 1000 m, highest point - Puy de Sancy mountain, 1886 m ) enclose the central array around the perimeter. From the east, the massif abruptly terminates towards the wide valley of the Rhone, forming the ledge Cillon Rodainen (literally “the groove of the Rhone”). The green plateaus of Larzac and Millevas, as well as the deep valleys of Perigord and Limousin complement the landscapes of these picturesque places.
   East of the Massif Central, beyond the Rhone Valley, the western spurs of the Alps begin, occupying almost all the south-eastern departments of France. Between the wide valley of the Rhone and the border a few mountain ranges run up like a fan - Vercors, Beldon, Vanoise massif, Savoy, Graysk, Kotsk, Maritime Alps and others. It is here that the highest point of France itself, and of the whole of Western Europe, is the Mont Blanc mountain (Mont Blanc, height according to different estimates is from 4807 to 4810 m). This entire area is literally lined with a complex tie of river valleys and intermontane basins, forming one huge area of active recreation. South of the Alpine ranges, along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea, stretches a narrow strip of the Mediterranean coast of France, better known as the Côte d'Azur, bounded to the west by the mouth of the Rhone and the wet lands of the Camargue National Park - an amazing area of endless reeds and flood meadows. North of the upper part of the Rhone Valley, along the entire Swiss border, the Jura (Jura) massif stretches for 250 km and is widely known for its low mountains (the highest point is Mount Nezh, 1718 m) and overgrown with forests and vineyards on picturesque slopes.
   The southwestern border of the country is formed by the high (up to 3404 m, Aneto peak) Pyrenees mountains, stretching for 450 km from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea.
   The coast of France stretches for 3,120 km (4,668 km with overseas departments), forming a zone unique in its conditions.

4.National features of the population

The main concern of the French - to be true French. They are absolutely convinced of their own superiority over all nations. This is their famous charm. The rest they do not despise, but regret: after all, we, alas, are not French. The French are great snobs. It manifests itself in absolutely everything: in the preference of the breed of dogs, in stores where purchases of clothes and food are made, in a place of rest and school for a child.

The French nation is one of the oldest on the European continent, with a rich history and culture. The French are more gallant than polite, skeptical and calculating, cunning and resourceful. At the same time, they are enthusiastic, trusting and generous. In France, they love and know how to show off with a word, a silent person kills himself socially. The conversation of the French is relaxed and goes extremely quickly. Great influence on the French style of business communication has an education system focused on the education of independent and critical citizens. In business life, personal connections and acquaintances play a significant role. New partners seek to find through intermediaries connected by friendly, family or financial relations. The French skillfully, even with grace, defend one or another principle and their position, while they are quite tough in negotiations and, as a rule, do not have a spare position. The French are not accurate and not always punctual. Receptions follow the rule: the higher the guest status, the later he comes. Being invited to dinner as a business partner in France is considered an exceptional honor.

The French are discreet people, they are reasonable and prudent. They are very affable and polite, they will never tell you the truth in their faces, although the French dislike other nations: the British are considered arrogant and boring, the Americans are greedy and hypocritical, and the Russians are ill-bred.
Most of the French do not like the English language, so if you do not know French, it is better to immediately say that you are from Russia. With questions about orienteering, it is best to contact the police. It is not customary to disturb a person by phone later than 21.00, for a business conversation it is better to call the office.

Usually, the French buy food once a week, and every day they buy only bread or famous bagels (croissants). As for vegetables and fruits, many Parisians buy them on the market - there is more choice and quality is better..

5. Tourist centers and their main attractions.

Paris - The capital of France, located on both banks of the river. The Seine. The Seine divides Paris into right and left banks, washing the island of Cité and the island of St. Louis. Actually Paris, that brilliant city that we know now, grew up on the Isle of Cite from a small Gallic settlement. From here he spread to the left (southern), and then to the right (northern) bank of the Seine.

At present, Paris is the most important economic and cultural center of the country and the whole world. Paris is also of great international importance, since here are the headquarters of UNESCO, the OECD and the International Chamber of Commerce.

Every year more tourists visit the country than in the whole of France. And most of them will certainly be sent to Paris. In Paris, a lot of attractions that are simply not possible to see in one round and the first acquaintance with Paris begins with the most famous, of course, from the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Versailles, Pompidou Center for the Arts, the Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady (Notre Dam), Arc de Triomphe Square l'Etoile et al

The best time to visit Paris is May, when chestnuts are blooming in the parks and there is still no tiring summer heat and a large flow of tourists and September, the beginning of October, when the heat subsides and the flow of tourists is much less. Paris is great before the New Year and Merry Christmas.

Nice - a city and port in the south of France, located on the Mediterranean coast, between Marseille and Genoa, with a population of just over 300,000 inhabitants. The city is a major tourist center and the leading resort of the French Riviera (Cote d'Azur).

Numerous beaches in Nice are covered with pebbles, and for the most part they are free, warm and clean. Only starting from Cape Antibes, they become sandy. One of the main attractions of Nice is Promenade des Anglais, a wide boulevard overlooking the bay and stretching for 6 km along the beaches. Overgrown with “islands” of palm trees and flowers, the quay from Victorian times is considered to be a favorite place for unhurried walks. The beach faces the rows of luxury cafes, the Massena Museum, villas and hotels. On the east side, the Promenade des Anglais passes to the Quai des Etats-Unis Quay, where some of the best restaurants in Nice are located.

Along the English Embankment, one should pay attention to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas - the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, which was built in 1859 and is considered the oldest Russian church in Eastern Europe. It is located in the city center and is considered a French national monument.  In Nice there are museums of Matisse, Chagall, Rodin, Chekhov's house, the Museum of Art and History, the Museum of Modern Art. The Matisse Museum contains the largest collection of works by the master. The Museum of Fine Arts was opened in 1928. It houses collections of works by artists and sculptors who worked on the French Riviera: Jules Sheret, Gustav Adolf Moss, Jean-Baptiste Carpo, Francois Rude and Auguste Rodin, there are also ceramics painted by Pablo Picasso. On the hill of Chateau there used to be a castle, in 1706 it was demolished, now there are several stones left on this place. Now here is a park overgrown with pines and exotic flowers. On the northern slope there is the largest cemetery in France. From the top of the hill offers a magnificent view of the city.  Most of the buildings in Nice’s Old Town were built in the 11-13th centuries. We advise you to walk along the old narrow streets, such as Massena Street, which are intended exclusively for pedestrians. In these narrow streets you will find cheap cozy restaurants and cafes.4.National features of the population
5. Tourist centers and their main attractions.
6. French resorts
7. Conclusion
8. Sources of information
9. Geographical Map of France

The largest country in foreign Europe is the Republic of France.

What is the difference between the geographical position of France and neighboring Great Britain?
According to the climate map, determine which part of the country has the most precipitation.

Nature. Almost half of France (north and west) is occupied by plains suitable for agriculture. In the south-eastern part of the dominant hills and mountains. The highest mountains are the Alps (Alps, alb means “high mountain”). On the border with Spain stretch the Pyrenees. Alpine and subalpine meadows on their slopes serve as summer pastures. High mountains - the kingdom of peaked peaks, rocks, ice and snow - the world-famous areas of tourism and mountaineering.

Of the mineral resources, France is most rich in iron ore, coal, aluminum raw materials — bauxite and potassium salts. (Find their deposits on the integrated map.) However, there is little oil and gas, and the country has to buy them abroad.

The temperate and maritime climate prevails in most of the country. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean is most noticeable in the west, where cloudy days and winds from the ocean are frequent. Summer on the Mediterranean coast is hot and dry, winter is warm and humid. Here is a large resort area - Cote d'Azur.

There are many rivers in France and picturesque lakes in the Alps. Hydroelectric power stations are built on mountain rivers, which provide about 1/3 of the total electricity generated in the country. The longest river in France is the Loire. No less famous is the Seine, on which the capital of the country stands - Paris.

The nature of France is greatly changed by man. Forests preserved mainly in the Alps. Many of them, especially in the south of the country, suffered from fires. In the Mediterranean, the original vegetation is replaced by cultural. Olive groves, vineyards, orchards with orange and lemon trees have been planted on the site of felled forests. In the Alps and the Pyrenees, on the sea coasts for the protection of the environment created reserves and national parks.

The population is relatively homogeneous. In addition to the French, there are several million foreigners living in the country. They came here in search of work from neighboring countries - Italy, Spain, Portugal, and also from Algeria.

Natural conditions of the country - moderate temperatures, sufficient rainfall - favorable for farming. The rural population is larger in number than in the UK, although it is constantly declining. Small villages sometimes consist of only a few courtyards. Small cities predominate. The capital of the country is Paris - one of the largest and most beautiful cities in the world.

Fig. 105. One of the streets of Paris

France is a highly developed industrial state. Mechanical engineering is especially developed in the country, they produce airplanes, automobiles, sea vessels and other vehicles. Created space industry. French perfumery and cosmetics, elegant and elegant clothes and shoes are well known all over the world.

Agriculture almost completely provides the country with food. By the number of cattle France ranks first in Europe. The main crop is wheat. Its crops prevail in the north of the country, and in the south, where the corn is hotter. France is famous for its gardens and vineyards. In the north, there are many apple and cherry orchards, and in the sunny south they gather peaches, apricots, and olives. On the Mediterranean coast, thousands of farms grow flowers for sale. Aircraft take them from here to all corners of the country. In the fields of roses, jasmine, carnations, women collect flower petals, which are used in the perfume industry.

Various vegetables are also grown. The French are proud of their cuisine, in which a lot of vegetables.

The economy of the country is of great importance of tourism, bringing great income. Millions of tourists are attracted to Paris - a huge city in which about 7 million people live. His story goes back centuries. It originated about 2000 years ago on an island among the river Seine. On this island is located the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. On the left bank of the Seine are the ancient Sorbonne University, government offices. The former royal palace of the Louvre is now a famous art museum. On the right bank - business and shopping districts. Every tenth resident of Paris is engaged in trade. The central street of the city is wide and beautiful Champs Elysees. Industrial enterprises are made far beyond the city limits. Attracted tourists and the ancient culture of the country. No wonder France is called a paradise for tourists.

Using the text and maps, specify the features of the nature of France. How does geography affect it?
Using the integrated map of Western and Southern Europe, find out how the occupation of the rural population changes from north to south. How to explain the differences?

FLORA FRANCE. Flora of France and its regions

All vegetation in france greatly changed by human activity in the XIX-XX centuries. Forests, which once covered almost the entire country, now occupy no more than 25% of the area of France, in spite of the planting of forests in the wastelands after the Second World War. The largest tracts of natural forests are preserved in the mountains of the Vosges, Jura, and the Northern Alps. Growing areas of planted forests. Particularly large planting forests of seaside pine in Landach. Mostly in France dominated by artificial landscapes created by man. There are practically no wild forests left. However, in France nowadays they are very sensitive to the remaining forests, which are hardwood forests and belong to the group of broad-leaved West-Atlantic oak, hornbeam, and oak-birch forests.

In this way, indigenous forests of France consist mainly of hardwood trees, among which the largest areas are oak and beech. Of the conifers most common pine. For the northern half of the country, oak and beech forests are typical with a significant admixture of hornbeam, birch and alder in the northeast and the dominance of moisture-loving beech in the north-west. However, not all the forests of France have such a structure. The southern regions of the country, located on the Mediterranean coast, are more likely to evergreen Atlantic-Mediterranean forests and are composed of a predominance of oak, cork wood.

In France, only insignificant remains of majestic forests that once covered plains and low mountains have survived. Most of the plains are plowed and used in the agricultural sector. Forest areas are confined to poorer soils. However, the lowland regions of France are by no means devoid of trees: plantations usually stretch along roads and canals. At the same time, at the legislative level, these plantations have a special mode of use, which does not provide for economic activities in such plantations.

More about France:

Forests in France have a special protection status and are in the exclusive ownership of the state. This is due to the deplorable state of the forests in this country, where as a result of human economic activity in the 18th and 19th centuries, huge tracts of forest land in which French kings and princes used to have fun during a hunt were plagued. In 2006 there was a change in forest legislation in France. Now the legal status of forest plantations is governed by the Forest Code of France. According to Art. 3211-5 of the Code "forests and state forests in France can not be alienated by virtue of the law." However, it also provides for exceptional cases and conditions under which forest plantations can be transferred to the use of the Senate for harvesting timber. In this case, the area of such forest land should not exceed 150 hectares. In addition, the use of forest plantation in any form is prohibited when they protect the canals, rivers, mountain slopes from destruction, maintain the established balance of water in natural water bodies, and ecological balance in the region.

According to national Forest Inventory (2006-2011) in France forest covers 16.3 million hectares. This corresponds to 29.7% of the territory of the metropolis. In departments abroad, numbers vary depending on location: in French Guiana, Amazon forests cover almost 83,000 km2, which corresponds to 96% of its area; on Reunion, forests occupy 53% of the total area (1,370 km2); in Martinique - 490 km2 of forest occupy 46% of the area; Mayotte - 140 km2 of forests (37% of the area); Guadeloupe - 640 km2 of forests (39% of its area). In total, France and its overseas departments have about 246,640 km2 of diverse forests, which corresponds to 36.76% of the total land area.

In the metropolis of France, after a lengthy destruction of forests, a process of their restoration is observed. Over the last century, the forest area of France has increased by 6 million hectares, despite the fact that during this time the volume of logging has increased: from 24 million cubic meters. meters in 1908 to 54 million cubic meters of wood in 2009. The process of reforestation now takes place mainly in the area inconvenient for cultivation and abandoned areas. As a result of the reforestation policy, France ranked fourth among European countries in forest areas after Sweden, Finland and Spain. In France, 10% of forest stands of the European indicator are located.

The composition of forest plantations in France is extremely diverse. This is due to some climatic features of certain areas of France. The forest of northern France is quite different from the forest that grows in the southern part of France on the Mediterranean coast. However, it is possible to identify some features of the "French forest". So, about 64% of the total volume of forest plantations is occupied by deciduous trees. Their qualitative composition varies depending on the location of the forest. At the same time, 12% of the forest is occupied by pedunculate oak, 11% each - with rocky oak and beech, 5% - with chestnut, 26% - with other deciduous species; 7% of the total forest area is occupied by spruce and fir mainly in mountainous areas, 6% each is occupied by pine forests and forests of mountain pine. Other species of coniferous trees occupy 9% of the total forest area. Poplar plantations in France occupy only 190 thousand hectares.

The largest forest in France is preserved in the Center-Loire Valley region. It is called Orleansky and covers an area of 34.7 thousand hectares. This is a mixed forest. Among the hardwood trees dominated by English oak. Among conifers - pine, which occupies about 30% of the entire forest. In the Orleans forest there are also birch, beech, hornbeam, hazel, Corsican pine, linden, wild apple trees.

Other large forest areas include the forest of Sho in the Jura department with an area of 20.493 thousand hectares, the Fontainebleau forest in the department of Sena-e-Marne with an area of 20,272 hectares, the Compiène forest in the department of Oise with an area of 14.357 thousand hectares. The remaining forests are somewhat smaller and are located in various regions of France throughout its territory.

For most of France is characteristic zone of deciduous western Atlantic forests . Here are typical oak and beech forests with a significant admixture of hornbeam, birch and alder in the north-east and the dominance of moisture-loving beech in the north-west. Thick undergrowth consists of heather, gorse and other shrubs mixed with ivy, holly. In large areas of northern France, forests are mostly reduced, only small groves and parklands remain. However, it is here that the largest forests are located: the Orleans Forest, the Forest of Sho, the Forest of Fontainebleau, the forests of Retz, Compiegne and others. The composition of these forests may be slightly different from the neighboring forests, however, common features are characteristic of this vegetation zone. The peculiarity of the French forests in this zone is the fact that, when moving away from the coast, the number of coniferous trees in proportional ratio gradually increases.

At the same time, it cannot be said that forests in this area of France occupy a dominant position in territorial terms. On the contrary, for the central part of the Parisian basin, for example, open plains occupied by fields and meadows are characteristic, the so-called campaigns, in which trees are found only around human settlements, along river valleys and canal borders. Almost the entire north-west of France is treeless, but apple-tree orchards and hedges of low-growth trees and shrubs around the fields typical of this part of the country, in contrast to the open campaign, create the impression of forest cover. This landscape is called bokazh.

In the north-west of France and in the Central Massif, where waterproof crystalline rocks come to the surface, there are quite a few wetlands and peatlands, as well as heathlands covered with heather thickets and used as sheep pastures.

To the south of France, as the climate gets drier and warmer, there is zone of evergreen atlantic-mediterranean forests . From the north to the south, beech and hornbeam gradually disappear, southern oak species are more common, chestnut forest areas on the southwestern slopes of the Massif Central and in Corsica increase. For the higher parts of the Massif Central are characterized by beech and pine, on the volcanic massifs of Cantal and the House is a lot of fir forests.

Has a special character mediterranean vegetation in France and the surrounding mountain slopes. Due to the dryness of the climate, the influence of man has been especially disastrous. Forests of evergreen stone and cork oak, seaside and Alep pine and other valuable tree species are mostly cut down, destroyed by fires and cattle grazing.

The destruction of forests in many places led to washing off of soil cover during the winter rains, exposing bare rocky slopes. Now for the wild flora of the Mediterranean maquis is typical - low, up to 3 m, dense, impassable thickets of evergreen hard-leaved shrubs, perennial xerophytic grasses and short trees: oak, juniper, myrtle, oleander.

For the Mediterranean coast is characterized by cultural, planted vegetation; here and there you can see olive groves, vineyards, various southern fruit and ornamental trees. Many exotic southern trees; Australian eucalyptus trees rise in swampy lowlands, palm trees, agaves grow along roads and city streets. However, due to the lack of moisture and poor soil conditions, some of the wastelands here, some of which have recently been planted with pine, are developed. Despite this, there are large forests here too: the forest of Eton (d "Aitone) in Corsica, the forest of Gresin in the department of Tarn, which occupy an area of 1 to 3 thousand hectares. In other cases, green areas in this area of France, as already it was said to represent undersized shrub thickets.

Highland vegetation zones in France most pronounced in the Alps and the Pyrenees. In the lower part of the mountain slopes deciduous forests of oak, chestnut, maple, beech dominate; in the middle part - pine forests, interspersed with forests of oak and beech; in the upper part - mainly beech, spruce and fir forests mixed with birch. On the southern and eastern slopes, landscapes are characterized by alternation of forests with shrub thickets and wastes, with shrubs prevailing in the Middle Mediterranean parts of the Pyrenees and Alps. Up to a height of 500–700 m, evergreen formations such as maquis, garigi, tomillari and rare-growth forests of stone and cork oak, subtropical species of pine trees are spread here. Above the forest belt there are landscapes with alpine shrub thickets (creeping mountain pine, juniper, rhododendrons, azaleas, etc.), alternating with landscapes of alpine meadows.

At an altitude of 1,800–2,300 m, forests are replaced by subalpine vegetation — thickets of low-growing pine trees, small brightly flowering shrubs of rhododendron, and lush tall-grass meadows. The alpine zone with low-grass meadows among scree, rocks and snow begins even higher.

Read more about the vegetation of the mountainous regions of France:

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In France, there are three different types of relief - mountains, plateaus and plains. Features of the structure of the country's surface are such that the presence of several elevated areas is not an obstacle to communication between the plains. The Pyrenees, the Alps and the Jura are the mountains of the alpine system. The central massif, the Armorican massif, the Vosges and the Ardennes are the destroyed remnants of the ancient Hercynian mountains. The Paris basin (North-French lowland), the Garonne lowland (Aquitaine basin) and the graben of the Rhone and Saone are plains with small amplitudes of heights.

The mountains. Along the border with Spain stretches the mountain range of the Pyrenees. In the Ice Age, the Pyrenees did not undergo powerful glaciation. There are no large glaciers and lakes, picturesque valleys and jagged ridges characteristic of the Alps. Due to the considerable height and inaccessibility of the passes, communications between Spain and France are very limited. Communication between these countries is maintained mainly by the few narrow passages between the mountains and the seas in the west and east.

The Alps partially form the border of France with Italy and Switzerland (up to Lake Geneva), and partly extend into the limits of southeastern France up to the Rhone. In the high mountains of the river developed deep valleys, and the glaciers that occupied these valleys in the glacial era, expanded and deepened them. Majestic peaks, such as, for example, the highest point of Western Europe, Mount Mont Blanc (4807 m), stand out picturesquely against the background of glacial valleys. Unlike the Pyrenees, there are a number of relatively easily accessible passes in the Alps.

The Jura Mountains, along which the border with Switzerland passes, are located between Geneva and Basel. They have a folded structure, are composed of limestones, are lower and less dissected in comparison with the Alps; however, they were formed during the same epoch and have a close geological connection with the Alps.

In France, in the mountains of the alpine system there are no significant ore deposits. However, due to the high altitudes and abundance of precipitation, these mountains are important sources of water and energy, which was widely used in the construction of hydroelectric power plants. The soils of the mountain regions, with the exception of the bottoms of the valleys, are thin and not suitable for agriculture. The slopes of the valleys are heavily forested, and forestry plays a large role in the economy of these regions. Mountain meadows, located above the forest border, serve as the basis for the development of dairy farming.

Plateau.The central massif, located between the basins of the Loire, Garonne and Rhone rivers, is the largest massif resulting from the destruction of the ancient Hercynian mountains. Like other ancient mountainous areas of France, it rose in the Alpine era, with the softer rocks in the Alps were crumpled into folds, and the dense rocks of the Central French massif are broken by cracks and faults. On such disturbed zones, deep molten rocks were rising, which was accompanied by volcanic eruptions. In modern times, these volcanoes have lost their activity. Nevertheless, many extinct volcanoes and other volcanic landforms have survived on the surface of the massif.

The Armorican Massif, which occupies the territory of the Brittany and Cotentan peninsulas, is less elevated and less fractured than in the Central French Massif. However, despite the low heights, the Armorican Massif is deeply dissected by river valleys and there are few leveled areas. Steep slopes predominate, which in combination with infertile soils limits the possibilities for the development of agriculture.

The Vosges Mountains, which separate the fertile Rhine valley in Alsace from the rest of France, are only 40 km wide. The flattened and forested surfaces of these mountains rise above the deep valleys. A similar landscape prevails in the north of the country in the Ardennes (their main body is located in Belgium).

Plains.The Paris basin is located in the north of central France, surrounded by the Armorican Massif, the Central French Massif, the Vosges and the Ardennes. Around Paris is a system of concentric ridges of ridges, separated by narrow stripes of plains. When you go from Paris, in almost any direction you cross a row of flattened plains and steep ledges.

The Garonne Lowland, located in the south-west of France at the foot of the Pyrenees, is a flat region with fertile soils. Landa, a triangular wedge-shaped area to the south-west of the lower reaches of the Garonne, is less fertile soils and planted with coniferous forests.

The Graben of the Rhone and Sona in southeastern France forms a narrow passage between the Alps in the east and the Central French Massif in the west. It consists of a series of small depressions separated by heavily dissected elevated areas.

Water resources.

In France there are four large rivers - the Seine, the Loire, the Garonne and the Rhone, among them the Loire is the longest (1000 km). The largest seaports of Le Havre, Nantes, Bordeaux and Marseille are located in the mouths of these rivers. The Seine drains the Paris basin and flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Le Havre. It is distinguished by a uniform distribution of runoff throughout the year, which favors navigation, and is connected by canals to other rivers. The Loire originates in the Central French Massif, crosses the southern part of the Paris Basin and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Nantes. The water level in this river varies greatly, so there are often floods. This is also characteristic of the Garonne, which begins in the Pyrenees, crosses the Garonne Lowland and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Bordeaux. Ron originates in Switzerland and, emerging from Lake Geneva, enters the territory of France. It connects with Sona in Lyon and flows into the Mediterranean Sea in Marseille. Ron has a fast turbulent flow and has a great hydropower potential. A number of hydroelectric power plants have been built on this river.

The canal system connects the main rivers of the country, including the Rhine River, which partly passes the country's eastern border and is one of the most important inland transport routes in Europe. Rivers and canals are of great importance for the economy of France.

Climate.

Over the territory of France there is a continuous struggle between the masses of oceanic air from the west, continental - from the east and the Mediterranean - from the south. The climate of any part of the country depends on the prevalence of a particular trend, although, naturally, the influence of altitude and local conditions also affects.

Oceanic influence is manifested in the establishment of warm, wet weather. The western air masses, passing over the warm waters of the North Atlantic Current (a continuation of the Gulf Stream), are saturated with moisture. When passing over the ocean, this air cools in summer and warms up in winter. As a result, extreme temperatures are rarely observed during the spread of western air masses. For example, in Brest, the average temperature in January is 7 ° C, in July - 17 ° C. Here it is wet, there are 185 days with precipitation per year, and the total amount of precipitation reaches 840 mm. Most of the precipitation falls as a continuous drizzle. The sky is usually covered with clouds, but snowfall and frost are rare.

The continental impact is accompanied by dry weather with sharper temperature contrasts. Air masses coming from the east from the vast internal parts of Eurasia, bring little moisture. At the same time cold weather is established in winter, and hot in summer. For example, in Strasbourg, the average January temperature is –1 ° C, and in winter the period with temperatures below 0 ° C is usually 80 days, including at least 20 days with snow. However, the summer in Strasbourg is hot and often stifling, characterized by heavy rains.

Mediterranean influence extends to a 160 km wide seaside zone in southern France. The winters here are mild and wet, although most of the precipitation falls in the form of short rains, and the weather is clear in between. Summer is hot and dry. For example, in Marseille, the average temperature in January is 7 ° C, and in July it is 22 ° C, although during the day the temperature sometimes rises to 38 ° C. The average annual precipitation is 580 mm, there are 95 days with precipitation per year. Mistral, a cold wind, sometimes blowing from the north, especially in winter, brings unusually cold weather to the Mediterranean coast of France.

In places, the climate varies significantly with altitude - in such mountainous areas as the Vosges, the Jura, the Massif Central, the Pyrenees and the Alps. In general, the temperature decreases with altitude and the amount of precipitation increases. In the mountains, even at the height of summer, there are low temperatures and heavy snowfalls in the afternoon. Most of the snow in the spring and summer melts, but at high altitudes the snow remains, glaciers are developed there. Mont Blanc is covered with snow all year round.

Vegetation.

In the mountains near the snow line, exposed rocky substrates with a slight development of moss and lichen are common. Further down the slopes, but still above the upper boundary of the forest, alpine meadows are used for grazing sheep and cattle. Below the upper boundary of the forest, a higher belt is represented by coniferous forests of pine, larch, fir and spruce; at the very border, their growth is inhibited and the woodland prevails, but with a decrease in height the trees grow taller and slimmer. Coniferous forests are replaced by broad-leaved oak, beech and chestnut.

The most peculiar vegetation of the Mediterranean coast, where there can be only plants that tolerate a long summer drought. Instead of forests there are isolated low trees and shrubs, between which there are outcroppings. The most characteristic trees are olive, cork oak and Aleppo pine.

Animals

France is very depleted under the influence of human activities. Nevertheless, the wild fauna here is better preserved than in neighboring countries. There are Central European, Mediterranean and Alpine animal species, especially many of them in reserves and national parks. For example, brown bears and chamois live in the West Pyrenean Park, and stone goats are found in the Vanoise National Park in Savoie.

Among predatory mammals, fox, badger, and otter are common in France, and genet in the south. Rodents are characterized by squirrels, rats and mice. In the southern areas there are a lot of bats. The hares have remained in places, and among the ungulates in some large forests there are red deer, roe deer, wild boar and beaver. Mouflons, or wild sheep (from which domestic sheep probably originated) are found in the mountains of Corsica Island.

The world of birds is very rich and diverse. For example, in the Pyrenees, moving from the foothills to the tops, we can consistently observe the following types: spring warbler, bullfinch, pika, meadow chase, song thrush, wood grouse, feather rattle, woodcock, red-winged stenola, white-eyed thrush, alpine dung, red-clawed, red-footed stenola, white-eyed thrush, alpine chapel, chinchip, red-winged stenola, white-eyed thrush, alpine chapel, chinchip, red-winged stenola, white-eyed thrush, alpine chapel, and tundra partridge and alpine finch. Of the birds that feed on carrion, bearded, griffon vulture and vultures are distinguished. Large feathered predators have survived in the mountains of France, including eagles and eagles. An exceptional abundance of waterfowl and other birds is the Camargue area in the Rhone Delta.

France's fish resources are severely depleted. Most of the catch in rivers and lakes is trout, which is artificially bred. In the Bay of Biscay, sardines, flounders and herrings are hunted, as well as lobsters, shrimps and clams.

The area of the land: General population: The composition of the population: Official language: Religion: Internet domain: Power supply voltage: Telephone country code: Country barcode:

Climate

Oceanic influence is manifested in the establishment of warm, wet weather. The western air masses, passing over the warm waters of the North Atlantic Current (a continuation of the Gulf Stream), are saturated with moisture. When passing over the ocean, this air cools in summer and warms up in winter. As a result, extreme temperatures are rarely observed during the spread of western air masses. For example, in Brest, the average January temperature is 7 ° C, July - 17 ° C. It is humid here, there are 185 days with precipitation per year, and the total amount of precipitation reaches 840 mm Most of the precipitation falls as a continuous drizzle. The sky is usually covered with clouds, but snowfall and frost are rare.

The continental impact is accompanied by dry weather with sharper temperature contrasts. Air masses coming from the east from the vast internal parts of Eurasia, bring little moisture. At the same time cold weather is established in winter, and hot in summer. For example, in Strasbourg, the average January temperature is -1 ° C, and in winter the period with temperatures below 0 ° C is usually 80 days, including at least 20 days with snow. However, the summer in Strasbourg is hot and often stifling, characterized by heavy rains.

Geography

France occupies 551 thousand sq. Km. This is the largest state in Western Europe. It borders in the northeast with Belgium and Luxembourg, in the east with Germany, Switzerland and Italy, in the south with Spain. Most of the borders pass through the mountain systems: with Spain - along the Pyrenees, with Italy - along the Alps, with Switzerland - along the Alps and the Jura, with Belgium - along the Ardennes. In the French Alps is located the highest point of Western Europe - Mount Mont Blanc (4807 m). However, in most of the country, plains stretch. The country is washed by the waters of the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean), the English Channel (North Sea) and the Mediterranean Sea. Inland waters of France are concentrated mainly in the basins of the Loire, Garonne, Rhone and Seine rivers. The longest of them is the Loire.

France is divided into 22 provinces. In addition to its mainland, France belong to Fr. Corsica in the Mediterranean, distant by thousands of kilometers 4 departments - Guadeloupe, Guiana, Martinique and Reunion, as well as New Caledonia, French Polynesia and the French Antarctic Territories.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world. In the mountains near the snow line, exposed rocky substrates with a slight development of moss and lichen are common. Further down the slopes, but still above the upper boundary of the forest, alpine meadows are used for grazing sheep and cattle. Below the upper boundary of the forest, a higher belt is represented by coniferous forests of pine, larch, fir and spruce; at the very border, their growth is inhibited and the woodland prevails, but with a decrease in height the trees grow taller and slimmer. Coniferous forests are replaced by broad-leaved oak, beech and chestnut.

In France, only insignificant remains of majestic forests that once covered plains and low mountains have survived. Most of the plains are plowed, and forest areas are confined to poorer soils. However, the lowland regions of France are by no means devoid of trees: plantations usually stretch along roads and canals. They are especially typical of the landscape bocage of Normandy and Brittany. The most peculiar vegetation of the Mediterranean coast, where there can be only plants that tolerate a long summer drought. Instead of forests there are isolated low trees and shrubs, between which there are outcroppings. The most characteristic trees are olive, cork oak and Aleppo pine.

Animal world. The fauna of France is greatly depleted under the influence of human economic activity. Nevertheless, the wild fauna here is better preserved than in neighboring countries. There are Central European, Mediterranean and Alpine animal species, especially many of them in reserves and national parks. For example, brown bears and chamois live in the West Pyrenean Park, and stone goats are found in the Vanoise National Park in Savoie.

sights

Paris

The capital of France is Paris, a city with a long history. There are many attractions that are worth seeing. First of all, this is the Eiffel Tower. It is an integral part of Paris. Her project was conceived in the late 19th century by the engineer Gustave Eiffel, as a symbol of technical progress. The steel structure is 324 meters high and weighs about 8,000 tons and rises on the left bank of the river Seine. In the evening and night hours the tower is highlighted. At its different levels there are three observation platforms, from where you can see all of Paris. It is impossible to imagine Paris without the Notre Dame Cathedral of Notre Dame, which is located on the Cite Island in the city center. It was built from 1163 to 1245 in the Gothic style. From above the cathedral is decorated with two 70-meter towers. In one of them is the bell Emmanuel, which weighs about 13 tons. The towers are connected by the Chimera Gallery. Here is the zero mark, from where the distances are calculated in France. Special chic is to walk along the Champs Elysees, the most beautiful avenue of Paris, almost 7 km long. Its construction began in the 17th century. At the very beginning of the avenue on either side of it is a park. From the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe there is a district of numerous shops and restaurants. Here are the Elysée Palace - the current residence of the French President, the largest opera house in the world, the Grand Opera, the Georges Pompidou Center, which houses works of art of the 20th century. Another museum in Paris, known throughout the world - the Louvre, in the past was the residence of the French kings. More than 300 thousand works of masters of different eras are collected here. A large number of museums and galleries makes Paris the cultural capital of the country. It is worth visiting the Salvador Dali Museum, the Carnival Museum of Paris, the Hugo House Museum, the House of the Disabled with the tomb of the Emperor Napoleon, the National Museum of Popular Art and Traditions, the Rodin Museum, the Museum of Painting d'Orsay. The highest point of Paris is Montmartre. can be a funicular. This is a kind of cultural center of Paris. Here are going to artists and musicians. The main attraction is the Sacré-Coeur, which is located near the observation deck and the Place de la Homme. e "Moulin Rouge". Every day two performances are given here, but mostly tourists visit them. One of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe - Sarbonne can be seen by visiting the Latin Quarter.

Chartres

Chartres Cathedral, as many believe, is the most beautiful Gothic cathedral of France, if not Europe. This is one of the most revered church buildings in the world. The Cathedral of Chartres was built in 1145. Somewhere at the same time, a precious relic appeared in it - the Shroud of the Virgin Mary (Sancta Camisia), which, according to legend, was on it at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. After the fire of 1194, the cathedral was destroyed, but the Protection of the Virgin Mary survived, which was regarded as a good sign. The restoration of the cathedral was completed in 1260, while the crypt of the destroyed cathedral was incorporated into the foundation, and the early Gothic facade was built into the new facade. The temple is built of limestone, its length is 130 meters, the height of the arch of the main hall is 36 meters. It has 176 stained glass windows. Numerous sculptures depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

Versailles

Located in the vicinity of Paris. Versailles was built in the 17-18 centuries. It is the former residence of the kings and the political center of France of previous years. In front of the palace is the Armory Square, to which the three main streets converge. In the palace itself there are 6 rooms. The most famous of them was the Hall of Mirrors, in which in 1919 the Versailles Peace Treaty was signed. There are 17 windows and as many mirrors. Next to the palace is a classic park with 24 artificial ponds and fountains.

Laura's castle

In the 15-16th centuries, the Loire Valley was the center of the kingdom. There are more than 1,000 castles, which were the residences of kings and nobles. Going to this historical area of the country you will see the most preserved and most beautiful of them - Blois, Chambord and Chenonceaux. The most impressive is the castle of Chambord. It was built at the request of Francis I and was originally conceived as a hunting palace. Inside there are about 440 rooms and a spiral staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Very impressive castle roof. There are many turrets on it. Now this castle is protected by UNESCO. Under Henry II, an elegant castle of Chenonceau was built. It is located on the water. The castle was intended for the favorite of the king - Diana de Poitiers. Later the wife of Henry II Ekaterina Medici lived there. Another castle is connected with the name of Catherine de Medici - Blois. Here, during the reign of her son Henry III, the murder of the universal favorite of the French, Heinrich de Guise, occurred. His success did not give rest to the weak king and he decided on extreme measures, for which he was cursed by his mother.

Carcassonne

The medieval city of Carcassonne is located in the French province of Languedoc Roussillon. The main attraction of Carcassonne is a fortress surrounded by 52 towers and 2 rows of fortress walls with a total length of 3 km. The fortress stands on a hill with beautiful views of the Pyrenees and the city below. The fortress of Carcassonne is the largest ancient fortress in Europe, it began to be built during the times of the Roman Empire. The ramparts were built in the 4th century, the castle itself was built in the 12th century. Because of its strategic position, the city has repeatedly passed from hand to hand. In the 19th century, Carcassonne was restored.

Rocamadour

Built in limestone cliffs, with medieval houses climbing the slopes, Rocamadour is an important religious center and is on a par with Rome, Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela. He gained fame after the remains of St. Amadur were discovered in a chapel near the city in 1166, after which miracles began to occur. Tourists can climb the Grand Escalier to the religious city (Cite Religeuse) of the 12th century, located on the top, which consists of seven chapels. It is also possible to climb the Path of the Cross (Chemin de Croix) to the castle of the 14th century, from where there is a beautiful view of the Dordogne (Dordogne) valley. Of the other attractions in the vicinity of the city, there is the Rocher des Aigles bird conservation center and the underground caves of the Grottes de Lacave.

Abbey on Mount St. Michael

Mount St. Michael is located in Normandy, 1.5 kilometers from the coast. Once upon a time this rock was called the Grave (Mont-Tombe), because the ancient Celts buried the dead here. In the V-th century, the place where the mountain stood was a peninsula, then for some reason the land sagged and during the tides, which are among the highest in Europe, the sea completely cut off the mountain from the mainland. The peninsula became an island, and for a long time it was possible to get there at low tide along a dangerous, marked by milestones trail on quicksand, or by boat. The legend says that in the year 708, Archangel Michael appeared in a dream to Bishop Obert of Avranshis and ordered to build a chapel on a rock. The rock was renamed "Mount St. Michael", and the new chapel was dedicated to Archangel Michael. A number of miracles accompanied the construction, which attracted many pilgrims here and already two and a half centuries later, in 966, the construction of a Benedictine monastery began on the top of the mountain, which lasted almost 500 years. Today, the island is connected to the mainland by a 1.5 km dam, but still on the days of the full moon and the new moon, you can only get there by boat.

Avignon

Avignon is located in the department of Vaucluse in the south of France. It became the center of the Christian world after the Holy See was moved here from Rome in 1309. After the Holy See moved back to Rome in 1377, Avignon remained its property and was used by members of the Papacy. The main attraction of Avignon is the Papal Palace. In the Middle Ages, the palace was constantly being completed and, as a result, it became the largest Gothic palace in Europe. Today, many rooms of the palace are open to the public, but its appearance is more interesting. The Papal Palace also gave the name of the famous wine Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which tastings are regularly held in the wine cellar.

Wine provinces of France.

France is the birthplace of wine. Its ancient vineyards are famous all over the world. There are several wine regions in the country. First of all, it is Burgundy, Provence and Bordeaux with the Medoc wine road. In Burgundy, the center of local winemaking is the city of Bon. Here is the Wine Museum and huge wine cellars. In the city of Chablis every year in the last week of November wine festival is held. The main wine regions of Provence, visited by tourists, are Côtes de Provence, Bandol and Cotes du Rhone. In the area are located extensive olive groves. Here you can see with your own eyes the technology of production of olive oil. The city of Bordeaux is located at the mouth of the Garonne. Here is the Vinoram Museum, which tells about the history of winemaking and wine trade. The most famous vineyards in the region are Château Margaux, Medoc, Pessac Leognan, Graves, Haute-Briond, Sauternes, Beishevel, Saint-Julien, Pauillec, Saint Estephe, Lafite and Mouton-Rothschild. Near each are majestic castles and manors.

Disneyland

Disneyland is located 32 km from Paris in Marne-la-Vallee. The park covers about 2,000 hectares of land. The park consists of four thematic areas - the Discoverers Park, Adventure Park, Fantasy Park and Adventure Park. Here you will find all sorts of attractions, both for children and for adults, meetings with your favorite cartoon characters, colorful parades and delicious dinners in restaurants. For one day to explore the whole park is unreal. Next to him are hotels where you can spend the night, there are shops and bars.

Banks and currency

Banks in Paris usually work on weekdays from 10.00 to 17.00 or from 9.30 to 16.00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. On the eve of the holidays, they work only in the morning.

In the provinces, banks operate from Tuesday to Saturday. Break, as a rule, from 13.00 to 15.00, on the eve of the holidays also close earlier than usual. Currency exchange offices are open daily from 9.00 to 18.00, the day off is Sunday.

It is recommended to take care of the acquisition of currency before entering the country. The most favorable exchange rate is offered by Bank de France and exchange offices with a sign "No Commission" ("no commission"). Kiosks at airports, hotels and railway stations offer not the most favorable rate, plus the percentage for the operation is taken, but their hours of operation are very convenient. For exchange of dollars, most of the exchange points take 15% commission, although this is not indicated anywhere.

Traveler's checks are easy to cash in the bank or exchange office. Credit cards are widespread. By checking in France at a time you can get an amount not exceeding 60 euros, it is better to take checks in Eurocurrency. It is also beneficial to exchange currency through ATM machines.

VAT and tax-free in France

VAT (TVA) is 20.6% (33% for luxury items) and is included in the cost of many products. Foreigners buying goods in one store in the amount of not less than 185 euros can receive a tax refund.

The money is returned to the customs when crossing the border upon presentation of the check and the goods, or the check is sent at the place of residence and cashed in the bank.

The monetary unit in France is the Euro (Euro), equal to 100 cents. In circulation are banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

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