2. GEOGRAPHY
France is a country located primarily in
Western Europe, but containing territory
in South America, the Caribbean, and the
Indian Ocean, as well as numerous
territories of various status. In Europe
Fance borders the Atlantic Ocean and the
Mediterranean. To the west is the Bay of
Biscay, to the north is the English
Channel.
4. Area
Total area: 674,843 km ²
(Whole territory of the French Republic, including all
the overseas departments and territories, but
excluding the disputed French territory of Terre
Adélie in Antarctica)
5. Area
Metropolitan France: 551,695 km²
(Metropolitan - i.e. European - France
only, French National Geographic
Institute data)
7. Terrain
Mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in
north and west.
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Rhone River Delta -2 m
Highest point: Mont Blanc 4,808 m
8. Terrain
Land use
Arable land: 33.46%
Permanent crops: 2.03%
Other: 64.51% (2005)
Irrigated land: 26,700 km² (2003)
Total renewable water resources:'
189 km3 (2003)
13. Boundaries
Land boundaries:
Total: 4082.2 km
2889 km (metropolitan), 1183 km (French
Guiana) 10.2 km (Saint Martin)
14. Border countries:
Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km,
Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km,
Luxemburg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km,
Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km
(metropolitan)
Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km,
1183 km (French Guiana)
Sint Maarten 10.2 km; (Saint Martin)