Modern France The Land And The People (2nd ed, 1965)

[Music] new factories are one evidence of France's Growing Power as an industrial nation modern technology has brought new Industries and new jobs to the people of France Frenchmen today are proud of their country's achievements of its modern roads and highways it's immense dams to produce more hydroelectric power and its atomic energy plants a newer source of power for Industries the modern industrial developments contrast with the older traditional activities of Agriculture large areas of ferti soil worked by industrious Farmers have long provided food for the French people unlike most countries France grows enough food crops and raises enough cattle to feed its population a factor that contributes to its power in the Western European community of Nations like most of these nations France has an extensive Coast line it faces the sea on three sides on the English Channel on the Atlantic Ocean and on the Mediterranean two sides of France are mountainous on the south the Pyrenees separate France from Spain on the East the high mountains of the Alps help divide it from Switzerland Italy and Western Germany on the northeast the low countries border France we can simplify the boundaries to a six-sided shape three sides facing land three sides facing sea the sea has helped to moderate the climate of much of the country and favorable climate in turn has benefited agriculture some of the most productive farms are in the Paris Basin in northern France in the Paris Basin much of the soil is fertile truck Farms Produce a variety of vegetables these men are harvesting potatoes which will be sent to Paris and other cities on larger Farms Machinery is being increasingly used especially in level regions like the Paris Basin mechanization is increasing Farm production wheat grown in the Paris Basin and in northeastern France is the most important food crop produced this wheat Harvest scene resembles one we might see on the Great Plains of the United States or Canada although French Farms are much smaller in size from the wheat Farms of northern France the grain is shipped to flour Mills the wheat is cleaned and sifted before being ground into flour here the bags are being filled and sewn up before being shipped to all parts of the country and so wheat is an important part of the geography of northern France but in southern France the farm products are different along the Mediterranean in the region called the Riviera the Mediterranean climate is much like that of Southern California this is the sunny France of the South a subtropical region where pal trees and citrus fruits grow the mild Winters make it possible to grow oranges lemons and other fruits this woman is picking lemons this man is harvesting an early crop of cherries a very special product comes from the region around grass an inland city of the Riviera here Acres of roses are grown commercially thousands of the flowers picked by hand are used to make perfume it takes many pounds of rose petals to make a single ounce of perfume one of France's Chief exports in the perfumery the rose petals are distilled to extract the essential oils perfumes from grass are one of the famous exports of France not far from grass facing the med Anan is the city of nce Tourism is its main industry travelers from all over the world enjoy n's warm climate and beautiful beaches in Southwestern France in the gon Valley for instance the climate and soil are ideal for growing grapes in the gon region Vineyards are a common site and the grape industry employs many men and women although grapes are cultivated in other parts of the country many farmers in Southwestern France specialize in growing grapes most of the grapes are used to make wine an important French product the famous Bordeaux wines are named after this Inland port in Southwestern France historic Bordeaux is the leading trading center of this area on the Wares we'll find some of the exports of Bordeaux in the surrounding region products being shipped include electrical Goods condensed milk tires and cartons of bottled vichi water a famous mineral water another Harbor on the Atlantic coast is balone one of France's largest fishing ports the French have long had a thriving fishing industry based in many small Harbors along their 18800 miles of Coastline French fishermen go as far as the grand Banks off the coast of Newland to fish for cod as they've done for three centuries French fleets also fish in the English Channel and in the Mediterranean the chief Mediterranean port is Marseilles the Old Port of Marseilles traces its history back to Greek and Roman times today most of the Commerce centers in the Newport 5 miles northward this is the destination for ships from the Far East the Middle East and North Africa a ship from alers is a reminder that France has had historic and economic ties with North Africa for centuries cities in Morocco and Algeria were once centers of French colonial rule and such cities still show many influences of French life and culture French territories in North Africa gained independence from France during the presidency of Charles deal a gallant Soldier during World War II deal was elected president of the Republic in 1958 a new constitution gave him strong executive powers which he used to St iiz France with strong support from the French people the French legislature is composed of a National Assembly which meets in this building formerly a palace and a senate which also meets in a former palace in Paris another historic Palace now an art museum is the Lou Priceless collections of Art in the Lou attract students and visitors from all over the world other cultural centers are the Opera House in Paris and the Cathedral of Notre Dam it is an outstanding example of medieval architecture the cathedral stands on an island in the sen this river is part of the transportation network of Paris for the city is also a center of Commerce barges on the sand carry many different products out of and into the city articles for sale in Paris shops include China and fine glassware two products for which France is famous fashionable clothes designed and made in Paris are another world famous product of France Paris is a manufacturing City too some of the things produced are textils light machinery and Automobiles the French automotive industry has introduced modern production techniques with great success French cars are exported to other countries as well as sold in France this automobile dealer in Paris has an expert knowledge of his cars his customers may include people from neighboring nations of Western Europe much of the steel used in the manufacturer of French automobiles comes from the industrial Northeast from such cities as long Wei Mets stasbor and nansi nansi is one of the major steel producing cities in France and these are some of the steel workers of Noni who represent another part of French life skilled industrial workers have helped to make France one of the leading steel producers of the world in the mill where these men work vast amounts of coke made from coal are used in the production of Steel much coal is imported by France from the rure area in West Germany the coal enters France at a low tariff made possible through the European coal and Steel Community trade agreements the European coal and Steel Community was the beginning of the European common market set up in 1957 to the member nations of the Common Market France sells steel and other industrial products made in northeastern France from n and other cities of this region some of the heavy Industrial Products for export are shipped along France's network of canals and rivers barges carry heavy goods from the industrial Northeast region down the marah river to the sen here we enter Paris again the capital and Commercial Center of France some barges pass through Paris and continue Westward through the moist grasslands of Normandy the leading Dairy region of France finally the barges reach laav the largest port in the Northwest laav which in French means the harbor is the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean here ships depart for the trade routes of the world carrying goods and products of one of the Agricultural and Industrial Giants of Western Europe the nation of France oh