but excludes the overseas administrative divisions

Land boundaries:
total: 2,892.4 km
border countries: Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,
Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,
Switzerland 573 km

Coastline: 3,427 km (mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km)

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa
Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island;
Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles
claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana;
Mexico claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in Antarctica
(Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime
boundary dispute between Canada and France; claims Matthew and
Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia

Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters
and hot summers along the Mediterranean

Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and
west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps
in east
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc,
potash

Land use:
arable land: 32%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 23%
forest and woodland: 27%
other: 16%
note: includes Corsica

Irrigated land: 14,850 sq km (1993 est.); note - includes Corsica

Environment:
current issues: some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution
from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban
wastes, agricultural runoff
natural hazards: flooding
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not
ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic note: largest West European nation; occasional strong,
cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral

People
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