BP4 QTR4: Research and Interpretation-Geography
Geography
Location: The latitude and longitude of France is 46 00 N, 2 00 E. The regional location is in Europe. France borders Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain.
Area-Comparative: France's area is slightly less than the size of Texas.
Area: The total area of France including land and water areas is 643,801 sq km; 551,500 sq km
Land Boundaries: The total length of all land boundaries in metropolitan France is 2,889 km. If you include the French Guiana, the total is 4,702 km.
Climate: France has generally cool winters and mild summers. Although they have mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral.
Terrain: France consists of mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east.
Environment-Current Issues: Some of the current issues in France are some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, and agricultural runoff.
Environment-International Agreements: France is a party to Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, and Whaling. France is signed but not ratified to none of the selected agreements.
Natural Hazards: The potential natural disasters in France are flooding, avalanches, midwinter windstorms, drought, and forest fires in the south near the Mediterranean.