# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Geography >> Europe >> France History and Timeline Capital: Paris
Population: 65,129,728

The Geography of France
Borders: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, maritime border with the United Kingdom, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, English Channel

Total Size: 547,030 square km Size Comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Colorado Geographical Coordinates: 46 00 N, 2 00 E World Region or Continent: Europe General Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east Geographical Low Point: Rhone River delta -2 m Geographical High Point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral Major Cities: PARIS (capital) 10.41 million; Marseille-Aix-en-Provence 1.457 million; Lyon 1.456 million; Lille 1.028 million; Nice-Cannes 977,000 (2009) Major Landforms: French Alps, Jura Mountains, Pyrenees, Massif Central plateau, Gorges du Verdon canyon, Loire Valley, Corsica Island Major Bodies of Water: Seine River, Loire River, Meuse River, Rhone River, Gulf of Lion, Bay of Biscay, English Channel, Strait of Dover, Etang de Berre lagoon, Lac du Bourget, Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean Famous Places: Eiffel Tower, The Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, French Riviera, Champs Elysees, Palace of Versailles, Les Invalides, Mont Blanc, Gorge du Verdon, Mont Saint-Michel, St. Tropez, Chateau de Chambord, Dune of Pyla
Economy of France
Major Industries: machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism Agricultural Products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish Natural Resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorospar, gypsum, timber, fish Major Exports: machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages Major Imports: machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals

Regions of France
(click for larger view)

Currency: euro (EUR) National GDP: $2,214,000,000,000
Government of France
Type of Government: republic Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis) Divisions: The country of France is divided into 27 administrative regions. There are 22 regions in the main area of European France called "metropolitan regions" and 5 regions overseas. See the map to the right for the 22 metropolitan regions.
The overseas regions include French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion. The largest regions by population are Ile-de-France (the largest and includes Paris), Rhone-Alpes, and Province-Alpes-Cote d'Asur (PACA).
National Anthem or Song: La Marseillaise (The Song of Marseille) National Symbols:

Animal - Gallic Rooster

Bird - French Imperial Eagle

Motto - Liberty, equality, fraternity

Great Seal of France - A seal featuring Marianne, the Goddess of Liberty

Colors - Red, White, and Blue

Other symbols - the letters "RF" for the Republic of France, Marianne (Lady Liberty), French Coat of Arms

Description of flag: The flag of France, also called the "Tricolour", was readopted in July of 1830. It consists of three equal vertical stripes of blue (left or hoist side), white (middle), and red (right). Sometimes the three colors are said to represent the three parts of the French motto: liberty (blue), equality (white), and fraternity (red). National Holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Other Holidays: New Years' Day (January 1), Good Friday, May Day (May 1), Bastille Day (July 14), All Saints' Day (November 1), Armistice Day (November 11), Christmas (December 25)
The People of France
Languages Spoken: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish) Nationality: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) Religions: Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4% Origin of the name France: The name "France" comes from the Latin word "Francia" which means "land of the Franks." The Franks were an empire in France during the Middle Ages. Famous People:

Marie Antoinette - Queen who was beheaded during the French Revolution

Josephine Baker - Civil rights activist and singer

Charles de Gaulle

Napoleon Bonaparte - French emperor

Louis Braille - Invented Braille system

Coco Chanel - Fashion designer

Edgar Degas - Painter

Rene Descartes - Philosopher and mathematician

Charles de Gaulle - World leader

Gustave Eiffel - Engineer (Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty)

Joan of Arc - French heroine and warrior

Antoine Lavoisier - Father of modern chemistry

Louis XIV - King of France (Sun King)

Yo-Yo Ma - Musician

Claude Monet - Artist, painter

Tony Parker - Basketball player

Louis Pasteur - Scientist

Albert Schweitzer - Philosopher and doctor

Georges Seurat - Painter

Emma Watson - Actress

Zinedine Zidane - Soccer player

Geography >> Europe >> France History and Timeline

** Source for population (2019 est.) is United Nations. GDP (2011 est.) is CIA World Factbook.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kids learn about the Geography of France. The history, capital, flag, climate, terrain, people, economy, and population.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kids learn about the Geography of Argentina. The history, capital, flag, climate, terrain, people, economy, and population.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Capital: Nairobi
Population: 52,573,973

Brief History of Kenya:
Kenya has been inhabited by local tribal people for thousands of years. Cushite-speaking people migrated to the area in 2000 BC. In the first century AD, traders visited the coast of Kenya and soon Arabs and Persians began to settle along the coast.
In 1498 the first Europeans, the Portuguese, arrived. Later in the 1800s the British would start to colonize the land. They created the East African Protectorate in 1895 and Europeans began to settle in Kenya. In 1920 Kenya was made an official British colony.

In 1952, rebels called the ?Mau Mau? began to fight against the British. In 1957, Africans were able to be elected to the Legislative Council of the government and in 1963 Kenya gained full independence. The first president of Kenya was Jomo Kenyatta.

The Geography of Kenya
Total Size: 582,650 square km Size Comparison: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada Geographical Coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E World Region or Continent: Africa General Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west Geographical Low Point: Indian Ocean 0 m Geographical High Point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior Major cities: NAIROBI (capital) 3.375 million; Mombassa 966,000 (2009)
The People of Kenya
Type of Government: republic Languages Spoken: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK) National Holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963) Nationality: Kenyan(s) Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2% National Symbol: lion National Anthem or Song: Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu (Oh God of All Creation)
Economy of Kenya
Major Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism Agricultural Products: tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs Natural Resources: limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower Major Exports: tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement Major Imports: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics Currency: Kenyan shilling (KES) National GDP: $71,210,000,000
** Source for population (2012 est.) and GDP (2011 est.) is CIA World Factbook.

Back to Geography Home Page

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kids learn about the Geography of Kenya. The history, capital, flag, climate, terrain, people, economy, and population.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kids learn about the Geography of Canada. The history, capital, flag, climate, terrain, people, economy, and population.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kids learn about the Geography of Japan. The history, capital, flag, climate, terrain, people, economy, and population.