Andorra, France and Monaco are the chief countries in these zones. The north and west of France is made up of mainly flat, grassy plains and low hills. Wooded mountain line the country border in the south and east and much of central France is taken up by Massif Central, an enormous plateau, cut by deep rivers valley and scattered with extinct volcanoes. Three major rivers. The Loire, Seine and Garonne drain the low land basins. The Paris Basin is a saucer-shaped hollow made up of layers at hard and soft rock covered with very fertile soil. It runs across about 100,000 sq. km. of Northern France. The Western end of the European Alpine Mountain chain stretches into southeast France. The French Alps can be crossed by several passes, which give access to Italy and Switzerland.
Landscape
The coast of Normandy is lined with high chalk cliff. The Mount Blanc in the French Alps is the tallest in Eastern Europe. It is 4,807 m. high. Pyrenees Mountain forms a natural barrier between France and Spain. Several of their peaks reach heights of over 3,000 meter. The Pyrenees are difficult to cross, due to their height and because they have few low passes. The vast granite plateau of Massif Central was formed over 200 million years ago. Volcanic activity here only stopped within the last 10,000 years and regions rounded hills are the worn down remains of the volcanic mountain. The Camargue is an area of marshes, pastures, sand dunes and salt flats at the mouth of the river Rhone. Rare animal and plant are found there.
Climate
In winter, the coldest areas of France are mountain of the Massif Central and the Alps. Summer is the hottest on Mediterranean coast.
Industry
France is one of world’s top manufacturing nations, with a variety of both traditional and high tech industries. Cars, machinery and electronic products are exported worldwide, along the luxury goods such as perfumes, fashion and fine wines. Fossil fuel provides some energy, but France is currently the world’s second biggest producer of Nuclear power.
Population
In the past 50 years, most people have moved from the countryside into the urban areas. Paris and its suburb, the industrial cities, and the Cote d’Azur in the southeast are parts of France and now have the biggest population.
Farming and Land-Use
France is able to produce a variety of crops because of its rich soil and mild climate. Wheat is grown in many parts of north, along with potatoes and other vegetables. Fields of maize and sunflower and fruit orchards are found in the south, while grapes for the famous wine industry grown across the country. Beef and dairy cattle are grazed on low-lying pasture.
