France Unit 2 Climate Terrain Western Europe Capital

France Unit 2

Climate / Terrain • • Western Europe Capital= Paris Divided into 22 regions Climate: Cool Winters, mild summers • Rain: 23 -45 inches (more in the north) • Terrain: Flat land with some hills, Mountains in the South & East (Alps & Pyrenees)

Government/Economy • Government: Republic – majority of power lies with the citizens • Head of government: Chief of State • Assembly: Senate & National Assembly – similar to the U. S. (Congress) • Currency: Euro – 1 Euro = $1. 11 US • Ranked # 6 in World & #3 in W. Europe

Demography/Culture • Population: 64+ million • Literacy rate: 99% – ranked #1 in the world – tied with Germany, Japan & USA. • Life expectancy: 76 (M) & 83 (F) • Religions: Roman Catholic (86%), Muslim (8%), Protestant (2%), Jewish (1%) • Language: French (100%)

Brief History • Joan of Arc was the heroine of the Hundred Year War • Home of the Enlightenment Thinkers (John Locke, Voltaire) • King Louis XVI was beheaded by guillotine during the French Revolution • Napoleon Bonaparte seized control and conquered lands

Tourism • The world’s leading tourist destination

Palace of Versailles Home of Louis XIV, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Interesting Facts • • The Louvre museum in Paris Over 800 Mc. Donalds Popular food- Crepes In Paris you are never more that 400 meters from a subway station. • Known for clothes, wine, perfumes • Gave the U. S the Statue of Liberty as a gift • National Sport is soccer – not big on baseball/Football • Legal drinking age is 16

Food