- 03/12/2012
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
Due to internal sources, France covers about 50% of total energy consumption. Although this percentage is growing, one of the major limitations in the production of energy remains a shortage of its own resources. The volume of coal, oil and natural gas is low. To improve their own energy supply with the 1970’s realized an extensive program of nuclear power development.
France ranks fourth in the list of the richest countries in the world. This is the largest country in Western Europe – 551 ths. km, including Corsica. The French Republic is divided into 22 economic regions with a characteristic landscape, which in turn is divided into 96 departments. From north to south and from west to east France, stretching nearly 1000 km it is the largest country in Western Europe. Maritime boundary extends for 3120 km, divided into three bands: the Mediterranean, the Atlantic coastline with the Bay of Biscay and Strait of La Manche in the North Sea. Sea coast of France is very picturesque: the granite cliffs in Brittany, the long ridge of dunes on the Atlantic coast, sandy beaches and coves on the Mediterranean Sea. To 96 metropolitan departments are added 4 more overseas departments – Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guiana and Reunion and 3 overseas territories – New Caledonia, French Polynesia, French Antarctic Territory. All of these coastal ownership makes France the third after the U.S. and British naval ruler of the planet. Four own full-flowing rivers cross the country: Seine (770 km) flows into the Channel, the Loire (1010 km) and the Garonne (650 km) – in the Bay of Biscay, and Ron (522 km) – in the Mediterranean Sea. One major European waterway – Rhine – the French during the 190 km shared with the Germans. On the territory of France dotted with ski stations of the Alps is the highest mountain in Western Europe – Mont Blanc (4807).
Population of France is 65.4 million (January 2010), including about 90 percent – the citizens of France. Religion – people are mostly Catholics (over 76 per cent). Legislature – Senate and National Assembly. In general, France is one of the few countries in the armed forces which has almost full range of modern weapons and military equipment of own manufacture – from small arms to attack nuclear aircraft carriers.
France is secular country, freedom of conscience provides a constitutional right. According to a survey conducted in January 2007, 51% of French people consider themselves Roman Catholics, 31% identify themselves as agnostics or atheists, 10% said that they belong to other religious groups or have no opinion on the subject, 4% – Muslims, 3% – Protestants, 1% – Jews. According to Le Monde, in France 5 million people are sympathetic to Buddhism, but practice the religion of about 600 000 people. Of these, 65% practiced Zen Buddhism. France is 6 th economic power in the world after the United States, China, Japan, Germany and Britain. From its territory in the metropolis of 551,602 km ² and 64 million residents, including overseas territories, France can not be considered “large” country. And yet, its economic weight allows it to play a major role on the international stage. France enjoys its natural advantages, from the central geographical position in Europe before the possession of exits to the main commercial routes in Western Europe: the Mediterranean Sea, the Channel, the Atlantic.
Higher education is available only with a bachelor’s degree. The higher education system in France, features a large variety of universities and courses offered. Most universities are public and accountable to the Ministry of Education of France. Historically, in France there are two types of higher educational institutions: Universities and “Great Schools”. The universities prepare teachers, doctors, lawyers, scientists.
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