France. Geographical Position and Natural Features.

Map   Questions.

France, like Great Britain, is a large capitalist state in Europe, a former possessor of great colonies.
Geographical Position. France occupies a territory of 551,000 square kilometres and is the second largest country in Europe after the U.S.S.R. It is twice the size of Great Britain. Washed by the Atlantic in the west, France is well placed for overseas trade. In the south, moreover, it borders on the Mediterranean Sea, an im­portant water-route leading to Africa and Asia. The island of Cor­sica in this sea is French territory. In contrast to Great Britain, however, France has land boundaries with many countries of Eu­rope and has been invaded by hostile forces time and time again.
Natural Features. Northern France consists of flat country in­terrupted in places by low ridges of hills. Here lies the Northern Plain across which flows the Seine, emptying its waters into the English Channel. This is France's most important inland water­way. Further south flows the Loire, entering the Bay of Biscay. In the western part of this region the climate is maritime, resembling that of Southern England. In the eastern part it is mild, varying from maritime to temperate continental. The average temperature for January in Paris is 2°C above zero, for July 18°C. The soil every­where is under crop, with a predominance of wheat, oats and sugar-beet. There are juicy meadows on which cattle are grazed, while here and there are clusters of oak and beech. The hill-slopes are covered with vineyards (the province of Champagne to the east of Paris was the first to produce high-grade champagne). In the north­east there are apple orchards.
Northern France possesses large deposits of iron ore (Lorraine), coal (near the Belgian border) and potassium (close to the German border).
Unlike Northern France, Southern France is mountainous. In its centre rises an ancient massif called the Central Pla­teau, reaching a height of 1,886 metres. We find traces of former volcanic activity here: extinct volcanic cones, coulees, hot springs. The climate is rather severe, and there is frost and snow in winter. The surface is covered with grass and shrubs. Pine, beech, and at lower altitudes chestnut grow on the slopes. There are rich deposits of uranium, an element used in the production of atomic energy.
To the south-west of the Central Plateau lies the Garonne Lowland, following the Garonne River to its mouth in the Bay of Biscay. The coastline of this bay is regular and cannot be used for ports. The sand dunes along the coast are planted with pine. There are forests of oak on the Lowland. Maize and wheat are culti­vated, and there are many orchards and vineyards. There is oil and natural gas. Further to the south rise the Pyrenees, lofty and almost impassable mountains (3,400 metres), separating France from Spain.
The narrow Rhone Valley lies to the east of the Central Plateau. It leads to the Mediterranean Sea in the south and is linked with the Upper Rhine Valley in the north. The Rhone Valley is covered with orchards, vineyards and mulberry plantations. (The leaves of the latter are used to feed silkworms.') Further east rise the Alps, the western portion of which, Mont Blanc included, extends into France.
The climate of Mediterranean France is of the subtropical type, with dry, hot summers and warm, moist winters. The average tem­perature for July is 23°C and for January 7°C above zero. In place of the felled forests grow tough-leaved evergreen shrubs. There are many vineyards, olive, orange and lemon groves. Much attention is given to the cultivation of flowers. There are many resorts along the seashore that attract rich tourists from abroad.
Near the sea there are large deposits of bauxite, from which alu­minium is smelted. The required energy is furnished by the mountain streams coming down from the Alps, Pyrenees and Central Plateau.
Questions and Assignments,

• Compare Great Britain and France as to position, relief and
  minerals.
• Inscribe on the outline map the mountains, lowlands and
  rivers of France. Mark the mineral resources.