Background
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Background
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy.

National flag: Three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white and red; known as the ‘Le drapeau tricolore’ (French Tricolour), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the design and/or colours are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; the official flag for all French dependent areas.

Geography

Location: Metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK and bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain. French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname. Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico. Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.
Geographic coordinates: Metropolitan France 46 00 N, 2 00 E; French Guiana 4 00 N, 53 00 W; Guadeloupe 16 15 N, 61 35 W; Martinique 14 40 N, 61 00 W; Reunion 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Total area: 643,427 sq km; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France)
Land area: 640,053 sq km; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France)
Water area: 3,374 sq km; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France)
Note: The first numbers include the overseas regions of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion.
Comparative area: Slightly less than the size of Texas.
Total land boundaries: Metropolitan France 2,889 km; French Guiana 1,183 km
Border countries: Metropolitan France: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km; French Guiana: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km.
Coastline: Total 4,668 km; metropolitan France 3,427 km
Maritime claims: Territorial sea 12 nm; contiguous zone 24 nm; exclusive economic zone 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean); continental shelf 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation.
Climate: Metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral; French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation; Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April).
Terrain: Metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains; Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains, Grande-Terre is low limestone formation, most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin; Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano; Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast.
Lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
Highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources: Metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish; French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay.
Land use: Arable land 33.46 percent; permanent crops 2.03 percent; other 64.51 percent. Note: French Guiana: arable land 0.13 percent, permanent crops 0.04 percent, other 99.83 percent (90 percent forest, 10 percent other); Guadeloupe: arable land 11.70 percent, permanent crops 2.92 percent, other 85.38 percent; Martinique: arable land 9.09 percent, permanent crops 10.0 percent, other 80.91 percent; Reunion: arable land 13.94 percent, permanent crops 1.59 percent, other 84.47 percent (2005)
Irrigated land: Total 26,190 sq km; metropolitan France 26,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: 189 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): Total 33.16 cu km/yr (16 percent/74 percent/10 percent); per capita 548 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards: Metropolitan France: flooding, avalanches, midwinter windstorms, drought, forest fires in south near the Mediterranean; overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones), flooding, volcanic activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion).
Environment issues: Some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff.
Environment agreements: Party to Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling. Signed but not ratified none of the selected agreements.
Note: Largest West European nation.

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