Geography of France

Geography of France
ContinentEurope
RegionWestern Europe
Coordinates48°51′N 2°21′E / 48.850°N 2.350°E / 48.850; 2.350
AreaRanked 42nd
 • Total551,695 km2 (213,011 sq mi)
 • Land99.48%
 • Water0.52%
Coastline5,500 km (3,400 mi)
Borders4,176 km (2,595 mi)
Highest pointMont Blanc 4,808 m (15,774 ft)
Lowest pointÉtang de Lavalduc −10 m (−33 ft)
Longest riverLoire 1,012 km (629 mi)
Largest lakeLac du Bourget 44.5 km2 (17.2 sq mi)
ClimateOceanic climate, Mediterranean climate (south), mountain climate (Alps and Pyrenees)
TerrainPlains and hills (north and west), mountainous (south)
Natural resourcesCoal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, fish, gold
Natural hazardsFlooding, avalanches, midwinter windstorms, drought, forest fires (south)
Environmental issuesWater pollution, air pollution, agricultural runoff, acid rain
Exclusive economic zoneIn Europe: 334,604 km2 (129,191 sq mi)
All overseas territories: 11,691,000 km2 (4,514,000 sq mi)
A topographic map of the Republic, excluding all the overseas departments and territories
Simplified physical map

The geography of France consists of a terrain that is mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in the north and the west and mountainous in the south (including the Massif Central and the Pyrenees) and the east (the country's highest points being in the Alps). Metropolitan France has a total size of 551,695 km2 (213,011 sq mi) (Europe only). It is the third-largest country in Europe by area (after Russia and Ukraine) and the largest in Western Europe.