Kathleen M. Ryerson
Geography
France, often called “la belle France”, has a variety in climate, scenery and products. France is smaller than the State of Texas, with an area of 210,000 square miles. France is shaped like an hexagon; it has water on three sides: the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea, therefore, the climate is essentially temperate. The countries that form France’s borders are: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.
The principal mountain ranges are: the Alps, which includes the Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in Europe; the Pyrenees, which form a natural barrier, separating France from Spain; the Vosges, which are located near Germany; and the Jura, which forms a natural border between Switzerland and France’s Central Plateau.
The principal river is the Seine. It flows from central France up through Paris, dividing the city into the left and right banks. The Loire, which is the longest river, is famous for the beautiful chateaux which adorn it. The Garonne, the Rhone and the Rhine are the other major rivers.