France enjoys four distinct seasons and an incredible variety of landscapes.
There were more than 59 active nuclear plants as of 2010 with all of them contributing around 94.6% of all the primary electricity used in homes and factories around the country.As much as nuclear power is vital in France, hydro-electric energy is France's most important source of renewable energy accounting for about 19.7% of installed capacity in France; it comes second to nuclear energy.
Minerals like Potash are mined in Alsace while sodium chloride is extracted from the Lorraine mines and parts of the Franche-Comte.
France has many rivers that run through its vast landscapes creating waterfalls backed by reservoirs and dams that are harnessed to produce electricity for the masses.
Sulfur is also another resource that is found in limited deposits of natural gas in Aquitaine.
More than 25 percent of its territory is covered with forest, and another 50 percent is countryside or farmland.
Some of the natural resources found in France include the following:Coal was an essential resource that played a significant role in the Natural gas was first discovered in the south-western region of France called Lacq in 1957 where it was estimated that approximately 8.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas were trapped underground ready for extraction.
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Uranium deposits are located in the Massif Central which at one time had uranium ore reserves estimated at 50,000 tonnes. As the world moves towards reducing reliance on nuclear energy and natural gas, other environmentally friendly sources of energy have been explored worldwide.
Bauxite was first discovered in France in 1821 in the Brignoles region in the Foix mining district.
France’s strategic location allows it to receive long hours of direct sunshine which makes solar energy a viable option.There are other major and minor natural resources that France relies on for trade and the day to day running of the country. In 2016 France inaugurated their first geothermal power station in Marseille with the aim of providing an alternative to wind energy.
Coal was an essential resource that played a significant role in the industrial revolutionwave that swept across European countries including France.
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France’s nature and wildlife France has lots of land area to provide habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. We often say there are two sorts of natural resources: renewable resources and non-renewable resources.
By the end of the millennia, natural gas production was negligible and too small to support the country's needs forcing France to turn to imports.
A renewable resource is one which can be used again and again.
Much of the natural minerals that were abundant across the nation were depleted after they were heavily exploited during the industrial revolution that played a huge part in turning France into what it is today. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. In the early postwar years, coal provided the larger part of energy needs. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.The metal industry is poorly supplied by indigenous raw materials, although traditionally France was an important producer of Through the post-World War II years, the increase in the demand for energy has closely followed the rate of The demand for different types of energy has changed considerably over time.