France, is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and also has various islands and overseas territories located on other continents.
Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean.
The French often refer to Metropolitan France as L'Hexagone (Hexagon) because of the geometric shape of the territory. France is a unitary semi-presidential republic. Its main ideology is enshrined in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
France borders Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain. Due to having overseas departments, France also shares land borders with Brazil and Suriname (bordering French Guiana), and the Netherlands Antilles (bordering Saint-Martin). France is also connected to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which runs under the English Channel.
France is a great country with all its greatness and tragedy. This country with a population of more than 55 million, is located in the heart of Europe.
The language is an international language spoken by more than 60 million people worldwide, especially in France, Belgium, several countries in the West African region, Haity, and also the French colonies in the Pacific.
French is the official language of instruction used by the European Union and the official language of instruction at the United Nations, alongside other major languages. Many people know France from its perfumes and models, such as Versace.
Whereas France has high technology which in some respects is not inferior to the USA, such as automotive technology with its TGV/fast trains, Airbus aircraft, telecommunications technology, etc. The country also has a sophisticated car industry, such as the Renault car which won the F1 race in 2006.
France is also famous for its writers, such as Victor Hugo. France is one of the founders of the European Union, one of the members of the G8, one of the leading Industrialized countries.
France is one of the countries that dared to criticize the USA, and rejected the USA's desire to send troops to Iraq in order to disarm Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (it was not proven that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq).
Apart from that, France is a member of the UN Security Council, which has veto power. The country is also a member of the Paris Club which provides financial assistance to developing countries.
France has been one of the world's greatest powers since the mid-17th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries, France created one of the largest colonial empires of its time, stretching across West Africa and Southeast Asia, influencing the culture and politics of the region.
France is a developed country, with the world's sixth-largest (nominal GDP) or eighth-largest (PPP) economy. It is the most visited country in the world, receiving 82 million foreign tourists per year (including business travelers, but excluding people staying less than 24 hours in France).
France is one of the founding states of the European Union, and has the largest territory of all the members. France is also a founding member of the United Nations, and a member of the Francophonie, G8, NATO, and Latin Union.
Is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council; also a large nuclear power with 360 active warheads and 59 nuclear power plants.