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1994-05-02
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<text>
<title>
France: Geography
</title>
<article><hdr>The World Factbook 1993: France
Geography</hdr><body>
<p>Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean
between Spain and Germany
</p>
<list>
<l>Area:</l>
<l> total area: 547,030 km2</l>
<l> land area: 545,630 km2</l>
<l> comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of
Colorado</l>
</list>
<p>note: includes Corsica and the rest of metropolitan France,
but excludes the overseas administrative divisions
</p>
<p>Land boundaries: total 2,892.4 km, Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620
km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4
km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km
</p>
<p>Coastline: 3,427 km (mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km)
</p>
<list>
<l>Maritime claims:</l>
<l> contiguous zone: 12-24 nm</l>
<l> exclusive economic zone: 200 nm</l>
<l> territorial sea: 12 nm</l>
</list>
<p>International disputes: Madagascar claims Bassas da India,
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and
Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims
Tromelin Island; Seychelles claims Tromelin Island; Suriname
claims part of French Guiana; Mexico claims Clipperton Island;
territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and
Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada
and France
</p>
<p>Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild
winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean
</p>
<p>Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north
and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in
south, Alps in east
</p>
<p>Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber,
zinc, potash
</p>
<list>
<l>Land use:</l>
<l> arable land: 32%</l>
<l> permanent crops: 2%</l>
<l> meadows and pastures: 23%</l>
<l> forest and woodland: 27%</l>
<l> other: 16%</l>
</list>
<p>Irrigated land: 11,600 km2 (1989 est.)
</p>
<p>Environment: most of large urban areas and industrial centers
in Rhone, Garonne, Seine, or Loire River basins; occasional warm
tropical wind known as mistral
</p>
<p>Note: largest West European nation
</p></body></article></text>