France is one of the European countries and one of the most recognizable countries in the world. On the world map, its area is relatively small, but its influence and position in Europe and the world are very important. For many, the impression of France is the Eiffel Tower, food, wine and fashion. But in reality, France is not only a tourist destination, but also a country with diverse cultures, rich history and geographical characteristics. How big is France in the eyes of the French? Its territory covers six continents and covers an area of more than 1 million square kilometers.
France is a country in the western part of the European continent, bordered by the English Channel and Belgium and Luxembourg to the north, Germany to the northeast, Switzerland and Italy to the southeast, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The territory of France includes two parts, mainland France, which covers an area of about 551,500 square kilometers, and the overseas territory covers an area of more than 800,000 square kilometers, with a total area of more than 1 million square kilometers.
Although the territory of mainland France is not as large as some large countries, its geographical characteristics are very diverse. France is located in the southwest corner of the European continent, and due to its diversity of topography and landforms, France's geographical environment is also diverse. There are many famous rivers in France, such as the Seine, the Rhône, the Loire, etc., as well as many mountains and hilly areas, such as the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Marne Valley, Carcassonne and Provence, forming their own natural landscapes and geographical environments.
In addition, France's overseas territory is also very vast, covering six continents such as Antarctica, South Pacific, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Pacific Ocean, including New Caledonia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Reunion, Mayotte, French Polynesia and other overseas territories. The geographical environment of these territories is unique, including tropical rainforests, deserts, coral reefs, volcanic islands, etc.
France, a famous tourist destination and economic power in Europe, is also one of the world's famous historical and cultural cities. However, you know what? In the eyes of the French, France is not just a country in Europe, it also spans six continents, has a territory of more than 1 million square kilometers, and is a true "overseas empire".
France has a long history and has been settled since the Roman period. During the Middle Ages, France gradually formed two centers of power, the grand feudal family and the city alliance, and finally achieved centralized power under King Louis IX. At the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon I seized power, and France began more than a century of colonial expansion. In the eyes of the French, this colonial expansion is not only for economic gain, but also a "mission", that is, to spread French values and culture to the world.
Today, although France is no longer a colonial empire, it still has extensive overseas territories, which are divided into two types: overseas provinces and overseas territories. Overseas provinces refer to French territories in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Caribbean Seas, which are part of France and enjoy the same political status as the native provinces. Overseas territories refer to French territories in Oceania, Antarctica and South America, which are not part of France, but special areas, and are considered "overseas territories" of France.
France's overseas provinces include: Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Reunion, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, New Caledonia, the French Southern and Antarctic Territories, French Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Most of these provinces are located in the tropics, with a pleasant climate and a strong tourism industry. In addition, these departments are more economically and culturally linked, and more closely linked to metropolitan France.