tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12712383896977414842024-02-07T22:10:06.699-08:00European Destinations and AttractionsAraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-64835654618418695952010-10-06T04:31:00.000-07:002010-10-06T04:31:37.031-07:00Destination attractions: things to do in spain<b>Barcelona is one of the most exciting and most visited cities in Spain</b>. The "old town" section of Barcelona is called La Ciutat Vella and is where a visitor will find most of the attractions that are of historical interest. One of the most photographed buildings to see in Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia designed by Antoni Gaudi. The construction of this breathtaking church was begun in 1883 but has never been, even to this day, completed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVHgW0yOBFkbHWemVJSvqvRCY36pRcM0FBfg2qsV3RGz9jHSU8ZKiLNO0LY_XE1dP2o-1gGnX7DCHcVlQZWrDwtxrJMzB0yMKqY-hFOouN0qlZ69scWqU3iHx9p-dLJYP0iPV3G0rQM9v/s1600/Celebrities+Vacation+Destination+Alicante+Spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVHgW0yOBFkbHWemVJSvqvRCY36pRcM0FBfg2qsV3RGz9jHSU8ZKiLNO0LY_XE1dP2o-1gGnX7DCHcVlQZWrDwtxrJMzB0yMKqY-hFOouN0qlZ69scWqU3iHx9p-dLJYP0iPV3G0rQM9v/s320/Celebrities+Vacation+Destination+Alicante+Spain.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br />
Other architecture of Gaudi appears in Barcelona, as well. Guell Park (Parc Guell) with its lovely paths and sculptures was designed by Gaudi, and if you see a building that looks like a mountain, you are most likely looking at Gaudi's La Pedrera – Mila House, or Casa Mila. For even more of his work, look for the Casa Batllo, designed to resemble St. George's dragon.<br />
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Another attraction not to be missed in Barcelona is the Picasso Musuem. Found in the Gothic District, many of Picasso's paintings and art in other mediums are housed here. In addition to the permanent exhibits, temporary exhibits are shown here at various times during the year. There are more than three and a half thousand pieces in the permanent exhibit alone.<br />
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Barcelona is filled with shops, restaurants, stunning architecture, gothic and medieval buildings, museums, and art. Try walking down La Rambla for great food, entertainment, and shopping. This street seems to never sleep. It is just one of the many places in Barcelona to find a fabulous meal whether you are hungry for Mediterranean cuisine or sushi or anything in between.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ObW3RwE9NttZ_3KYBHFIwBd5udNWTXVU8FpzIs61tGn86_QScOucOOCT4xGnMrTkcpHeZRKO6NXOB46jcfBdNiMycR3L1fXMcHxnghKd8C0Rro30olK6S_8csT0I-f7cjdNYlabs3AD0/s1600/Spain-holiday-pool-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ObW3RwE9NttZ_3KYBHFIwBd5udNWTXVU8FpzIs61tGn86_QScOucOOCT4xGnMrTkcpHeZRKO6NXOB46jcfBdNiMycR3L1fXMcHxnghKd8C0Rro30olK6S_8csT0I-f7cjdNYlabs3AD0/s320/Spain-holiday-pool-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a>If you are searching for a different kind of fun for a few hours, though, try the huge aquarium at Moll d'Espanya del Port Vell. The more than ten thousand species that live here are shown to visitors in twenty large aquariums. If you prefer seeing land animals instead of marine life, the Barcelona Zoo is one of the best zoos in Spain and is found in the city park.<br />
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If your travels take you near Bilbao, Spain, one of the top draws here is the Guggenheim Museum. This is a new museum with construction starting in 1994 and already is considered among the world's top museums.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Spain's capital city of Madrid is also a destination full of excitement and there never seems to be enough time to see everything. Many top rate art museums dot the city including the Prado Museum, the Thyssen – Bornemisza Museum, and the Queen Sofia Arts Center.<br />
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Another place not to miss visiting in Madrid is the Palacio Real, the Royal Palace owned by the King of Spain. The palace has twenty-eight hundred rooms and fifty of them are open to the public. The rooms in the Palacio are exquisite and certainly worth the time to stop in for a tour.<br />
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You will not be imagining things if you think you see an Egyptian temple in Madrid. Egypt donated the Templo de Debod to Spain in 1968 and after it was rebuilt in Madrid, it was opened to tourists in 1972. The temple is more than two thousand years old and was built to honor the gods of Isis and Amon.<br />
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In the mood for shopping? Try the El Rastro in Madrid. This is a huge flea market that has various areas in which to find certain items. Dancers, bullfighters, and musicians are known to entertain the shoppers, and there are vendors selling food here also. The El Rastro is held on Sundays in Madrid. A Saturday visit is possible if you wish to avoid some of the Sunday crowd, but there are not as many vendors participating on Saturdays.<br />
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You may want to find a flamenco show while in Madrid. Be advised that many of the places showing up as "tablaos (places for flamenco performance) are not generally visited by the locals and are specifically set up for tourists. There are many theaters, ballets, opera houses, and clubs in Madrid for all kinds of entertainment to satisfy the tastes of any visitor.<br />
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Without a doubt, the top attraction in Granada, Spain, is the Alhambra. It is the second most visited place in Europe and the top attraction for tourists in Spain. Situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevadas, the Alhambra was home to the Moorish kings. The medieval city within a palace was first built as a fortress in the 9th century. Plan to spend at least a few hours exploring this beautiful piece of medieval history.<br />
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In Segovia, visitors can see one of the remaining wonders of Roman engineering, the Aqueduct. Still standing from its beginning in the first century, this amazing bit of history is nearly three thousand feet long. The Aqueduct is built with granite blocks (more than twenty thousand of them) with no mortar to hold them together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhc7Jq30trC98N-KdAaHtXSs5-7kU6Idya8_6Ogr50C9cSlAFzHmT3W3jZPjyI6AGC3NBSgLNC8F4vWb1-Q6XaLtzENjJQDS8rbmpc0PKjHeTPq9bJn84nrrSQMvZqjbyS0YBSA8sKmzg-/s1600/Santiago+de+Compostela,+Galicia,+Spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhc7Jq30trC98N-KdAaHtXSs5-7kU6Idya8_6Ogr50C9cSlAFzHmT3W3jZPjyI6AGC3NBSgLNC8F4vWb1-Q6XaLtzENjJQDS8rbmpc0PKjHeTPq9bJn84nrrSQMvZqjbyS0YBSA8sKmzg-/s320/Santiago+de+Compostela,+Galicia,+Spain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Another point of interest in Segovia is the Alcazar. This impressive medieval archetypal Spanish castle fortress was impenetrable for centuries from its start in the 11th century. It is thought that the Alcazar of Segovia was the model for the castle that Walt Disney used for the Disney Cinderella castle. Today the Alcazar is an extensive museum.<br />
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The Spanish town of Seville has a few attractions visitors to Spain will enjoy as well. The Alcazar here is also medieval and Islamic. Also in this city, you will find the 15th century Seville Cathedral, and the Giralda Bell Tower, which was originally built as a minaret to top a mosque.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-4341844099128613822010-10-06T04:16:00.000-07:002010-10-06T04:18:37.923-07:00Destination attractions: stats, facts and information on Latvia<b>Facts and information about Latvia, including stats about the government, climate, geography, population, economy and culture.</b><br />
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<b>Introduction</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BX7uZarzrftu-ai1Q47_ez80KQeIv7kPhqIQxpQY3M-xl0hnmDhgpgB0hPkwUth2h7stytq7lDZvTZaP4sHy-B_SyOmXUK1xIh9jwRXufL_Cssgkxuuh4cq_5hwwY3tCxVGwWrmKIYsF/s1600/latvia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzQxqtbCrhZQ0wubKXGGl9Ci_60RkLSc5u5xNMy8kGzlQPzPVfqGCTXUuJgZimyMMyNxyX8rAgTBdw4JL7ULs7mKJ2UcKqGD07pj9b3L4pH7m0ZkKI9aOSM4xpkWHsxDr31iAuV4phZ7o/s1600/latvia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzQxqtbCrhZQ0wubKXGGl9Ci_60RkLSc5u5xNMy8kGzlQPzPVfqGCTXUuJgZimyMMyNxyX8rAgTBdw4JL7ULs7mKJ2UcKqGD07pj9b3L4pH7m0ZkKI9aOSM4xpkWHsxDr31iAuV4phZ7o/s320/latvia.jpg" width="320" /></a>Background: Along with most of the other small nations of Europe, Latvia shares a history of invasion by a succession of expansionist nations, e.g., Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Russia. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The USSR recaptured Latvia from its German occupiers in 1944. Latvia reestablished its independence in August 1991, a few months prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union; the last Russian troops left in 1994. The status of ethnic Russians, who make up 30% of the population, is an issue of concern to Moscow. Unemployment has become a growing problem and Latvia hopes to receive an invitation to begin EU accession talks by the end of 1999.<br />
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<b>Geography</b><br />
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Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania<br />
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Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E<br />
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Map references: Europe<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BX7uZarzrftu-ai1Q47_ez80KQeIv7kPhqIQxpQY3M-xl0hnmDhgpgB0hPkwUth2h7stytq7lDZvTZaP4sHy-B_SyOmXUK1xIh9jwRXufL_Cssgkxuuh4cq_5hwwY3tCxVGwWrmKIYsF/s1600/latvia.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BX7uZarzrftu-ai1Q47_ez80KQeIv7kPhqIQxpQY3M-xl0hnmDhgpgB0hPkwUth2h7stytq7lDZvTZaP4sHy-B_SyOmXUK1xIh9jwRXufL_Cssgkxuuh4cq_5hwwY3tCxVGwWrmKIYsF/s320/latvia.jpg" width="250" /></a><br />
Area:<br />
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total: 64,589 sq km<br />
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land: 64,589 sq km<br />
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water: 0 sq km<br />
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Area—comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia<br />
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Land boundaries:<br />
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total: 1,150 km<br />
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border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km<br />
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Coastline: 531 km<br />
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Maritime claims:<br />
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continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation<br />
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exclusive economic zone: 200 nm<br />
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territorial sea: 12 nm<br />
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Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters<br />
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Terrain: low plain<br />
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Elevation extremes:<br />
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lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m<br />
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highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m<br />
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Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite<br />
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Land use:<br />
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arable land: 27%<br />
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permanent crops: 0%<br />
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permanent pastures: 13%<br />
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forests and woodland: 46%<br />
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other: 14% (1993 est.)<br />
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Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1993 est.)<br />
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Natural hazards: NA<br />
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Environment—current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases<br />
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<b>Environment—international agreements:</b><br />
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands<br />
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signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol<br />
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People<br />
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Population: 2,353,874 (July 1999 est.)<br />
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Age structure:<br />
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0-14 years: 18% (male 216,369; female 207,242)<br />
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15-64 years: 67% (male 749,396; female 825,988)<br />
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65 years and over: 15% (male 114,038; female 240,841) (1999 est.)<br />
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Population growth rate: -1.25% (1999 est.)<br />
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Birth rate: 8.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
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Death rate: 15.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
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Net migration rate: -4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
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Sex ratio:<br />
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female<br />
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under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female<br />
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15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female<br />
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65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female<br />
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total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (1999 est.)<br />
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Infant mortality rate: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)<br />
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Life expectancy at birth:<br />
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total population: 67.3 years<br />
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male: 61.24 years<br />
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female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)<br />
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Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (1999 est.)<br />
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Nationality:<br />
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noun: Latvian(s)<br />
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adjective: Latvian<br />
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Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%, Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%<br />
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Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox<br />
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Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other<br />
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Literacy:<br />
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write<br />
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total population: 100%<br />
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male: 100%<br />
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female: 99% (1989 est.)<br />
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Government<br />
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Country name:<br />
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conventional long form: Republic of Latvia<br />
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conventional short form: Latvia<br />
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local long form: Latvijas Republika<br />
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local short form: Latvija<br />
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former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic<br />
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Data code: LG<br />
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Government type: parliamentary democracy<br />
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Capital: Riga<br />
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Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular—rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons<br />
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Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)<br />
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National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)<br />
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Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms<br />
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Legal system: based on civil law system<br />
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Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens<br />
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Executive branch:<br />
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chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993)<br />
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head of government: Prime Minister Vilis KRISTOPANS (since 21 November 1998)<br />
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cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament<br />
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elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); election last held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June/July 1999); prime minister appointed by the president<br />
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election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote—Guntis ULMANIS 53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%<br />
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Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms—amended from three-year term on 4 December 1997)<br />
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elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)<br />
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election results: percent of vote by party—People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TVB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%; seats by party—People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TVB/LNNK 17, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8<br />
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Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament<br />
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Political parties and leaders: New Party [Raimonds PAULS]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei PANTELEJEVS]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TVB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvian National Conservative Party or LNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS]; Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSK]; Latvian Farmers Union or LZS [Andris ROZENTALS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS]; National Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Sergejs DIAMANIS]; Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Political Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; Latvian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP [J. BOJARS]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front of Latvia or LTF) [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [Edvins KIDE]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party or LSDSP [Janis DINEVICS]; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People [leader NA]; Latvian Independence Party or LNP [Valdis KONOVALOVS]; Association of Latvian Social Democrats [Juris BOJARS, Janis ADAMSONS]<br />
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International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO<br />
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Diplomatic representation in the US:<br />
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chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS<br />
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chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011<br />
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telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214<br />
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FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785<br />
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Diplomatic representation from the US:<br />
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chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES<br />
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embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga<br />
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mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723<br />
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telephone: [371] 721-0005<br />
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FAX: [371] 782-0047<br />
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Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon<br />
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Economy<br />
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Economy—overview: Developments in 1998 include an invitation to join the World Trade Organization (the first Baltic country invited), GDP growth of 3.6% (down from 6% in 1997), and reduced inflation at 4.7% (from 8.4% in 1997). The drop in GDP growth is largely attributable to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets following the Asian financial troubles. Unofficial sanctions that Russia imposed in the spring initially hit Latvia's exporters—Russia is among Latvia's top three trade partners—but also prompted them to seek alternative markets. Latvia continued its strict fiscal and monetary policy, including its second balanced budget and had a 1.8% budget surplus. Its draft 1999 budget is based on conservative projections of 2% to 4% GDP growth and 4.5% inflation. Unemployment climbed to 9.2% in 1998, a considerable increase over the 6.7% rate in 1997. Latvia continued to have a high current account deficit, estimated at about 9%. Privatization of large state utilities—especially the energy sector—was postponed and is unlikely to resume before late 1999. EU accession remains Latvia's top priority, and Latvia expects to be invited to start EU accession talks by the end of 1999. Continued troubles in the Russian and East Asian economies probably will hold growth to around 2.5% in 1999.<br />
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GDP: purchasing power parity—$9.7 billion (1998 est.)<br />
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GDP—real growth rate: 3.6% (1998 est.)<br />
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GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$4,100 (1998 est.)<br />
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GDP—composition by sector:<br />
<br />
agriculture: 7%<br />
<br />
industry: 28%<br />
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services: 65% (1997)<br />
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Population below poverty line: NA%<br />
<br />
Household income or consumption by percentage share:<br />
<br />
lowest 10%: 4.3%<br />
<br />
highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)<br />
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1998 est.)<br />
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Labor force: 1.4 million (1997)<br />
<br />
Labor force—by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, services 43% (1990)<br />
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Unemployment rate: 9.2% (1998)<br />
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Budget:<br />
<br />
revenues: $1.33 billion<br />
<br />
expenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products<br />
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Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Electricity—production: 3.2 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—production by source:<br />
<br />
fossil fuel: 28.12%<br />
<br />
hydro: 71.88%<br />
<br />
nuclear: 0%<br />
<br />
other: 0% (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—consumption: 6.18 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—exports: 300 million kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—imports: 3.28 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Agriculture—products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish<br />
<br />
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)<br />
<br />
Exports—commodities: wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, textiles, foodstuffs<br />
<br />
Exports—partners: Russia 21%, Germany 14%, UK 14%, Sweden 8% (1997)<br />
<br />
Imports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)<br />
<br />
Imports—commodities: fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals<br />
<br />
Imports—partners: Russia 16%, Germany 16%, Finland 10%, Sweden 8% (1997)<br />
<br />
Debt—external: $212 million (1998)<br />
<br />
Economic aid—recipient: $96.2 million (1995)<br />
<br />
Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims<br />
<br />
Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1—0.570 (January 1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994)<br />
<br />
Fiscal year: calendar year<br />
<br />
Communications<br />
<br />
Telephones: 710,848 (1997)<br />
<br />
Telephone system: Lattelekom is 51% state owned, plans to privatize in 2000 to satisfy EU concerns; 50,000 people are on the waiting list to receive telephone service; Internet service is available throughout Latvia<br />
<br />
domestic: local—two cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM standards provide service nationwide; over 75% of population covered; intercity—two synchronous digital hierarchy fiber-optic rings form the national backbone; 11 digital switching centers, 3 service centers<br />
<br />
international: Latvia has international fiber-optic connectivity to Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to Sweden<br />
<br />
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note—there are 25 stations of unknown type; 75% of commercial broadcasts must be in the Latvian language; remainder mostly in Russian and European languages<br />
<br />
Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)<br />
<br />
Television broadcast stations: 30 (origin of TV broadcasts must be 40% Latvian and 40% other European languages)<br />
<br />
Televisions: NA; note—almost 100% of the population have TV access, 16% have VCRs, and 20% have cable or satellite dishes (1995)<br />
<br />
Transportation<br />
<br />
Railways:<br />
<br />
total: 2,412 km<br />
<br />
broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)<br />
<br />
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)<br />
<br />
Highways:<br />
<br />
total: 55,942 km<br />
<br />
paved: 21,426 km<br />
<br />
unpaved: 34,516 km (1997 est.)<br />
<br />
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable<br />
<br />
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)<br />
<br />
Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils<br />
<br />
Merchant marine:<br />
<br />
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,429 GRT/44,583 DWT<br />
<br />
ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports: 50 (1994 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports—with paved runways:<br />
<br />
total: 36<br />
<br />
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6<br />
<br />
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2<br />
<br />
914 to 1,523 m: 1<br />
<br />
under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports—with unpaved runways:<br />
<br />
total: 14<br />
<br />
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2<br />
<br />
914 to 1,523 m: 2<br />
<br />
under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)<br />
<br />
Military<br />
<br />
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)<br />
<br />
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age<br />
<br />
Military manpower—availability:<br />
<br />
males age 15-49: 565,811 (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Military manpower—fit for military service:<br />
<br />
males age 15-49: 443,879 (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:<br />
<br />
males: 16,883 (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $60 million (1999)<br />
<br />
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.9% (1999)<br />
<br />
Transnational Issues<br />
<br />
Disputes—international: draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over maritime boundary dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)<br />
<br />
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; limited production of illicit amphetamines, ephedrine, and ecstasy for export<br />
<br />
*Information obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Fact Book.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-4227459508767336122010-10-06T04:00:00.000-07:002010-10-06T04:19:08.602-07:00Country in Western Europe: Jersey<b>Not exactly a country in Western Europe, Jersey is a small island in the English Channel.</b> Here is a comprehensive guide to the island...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZywoowKQIbVQPXTsJ-pg0VLJw7sQrS3nFl7PUzuMwM8k1DDyroD1r2kOWd3rN0fZVPUnqAvazAS9cEkQuGEq30O6LxQbU84rEzOsmcosFpLICUxCaHrcUEgaj-KFwJK6SsZ-X9fLGy2J/s1600/western_europe.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZywoowKQIbVQPXTsJ-pg0VLJw7sQrS3nFl7PUzuMwM8k1DDyroD1r2kOWd3rN0fZVPUnqAvazAS9cEkQuGEq30O6LxQbU84rEzOsmcosFpLICUxCaHrcUEgaj-KFwJK6SsZ-X9fLGy2J/s320/western_europe.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Geography</b><br />
<br />
Location: Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France<br />
<br />
Geographic coordinates: 49 15 N, 2 10 W<br />
<br />
Map references: Europe<br />
<br />
Area:<br />
<br />
total: 116 sq km<br />
<br />
land: 116 sq km<br />
<br />
water: 0 sq km<br />
<br />
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Area—comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC<br />
<br />
Land boundaries: 0 km<br />
<br />
Coastline: 70 km<br />
<br />
Maritime claims:<br />
<br />
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm<br />
<br />
territorial sea: 3 nm<br />
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Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers<br />
<br />
Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast<br />
<br />
Elevation extremes:<br />
<br />
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m<br />
<br />
highest point: unnamed location 143 m<br />
<br />
Natural resources: agricultural land<br />
<br />
Land use:<br />
<br />
arable land: 66%<br />
<br />
permanent crops: NA%<br />
<br />
permanent pastures: NA%<br />
<br />
forests and woodland: NA%<br />
<br />
other: 34%<br />
<br />
Irrigated land: NA sq km<br />
<br />
Natural hazards: NA<br />
<br />
Environment—current issues: NA<br />
<br />
Environment—international agreements:<br />
<br />
party to: NA<br />
<br />
signed, but not ratified: NA<br />
<br />
Geography—note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier<br />
<br />
<b>People</b><br />
<br />
Population: 89,721 (July 1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Age structure:<br />
<br />
0-14 years: 18% (male 8,308; female 7,663)<br />
<br />
15-64 years: 68% (male 30,168; female 30,754)<br />
<br />
65 years and over: 14% (male 5,348; female 7,480) (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Population growth rate: 0.63% (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Birth rate: 11.85 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Death rate: 9.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Net migration rate: 3.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Sex ratio:<br />
<br />
at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female<br />
<br />
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female<br />
<br />
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female<br />
<br />
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female<br />
<br />
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Infant mortality rate: 2.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Life expectancy at birth:<br />
<br />
total population: 78.83 years<br />
<br />
male: 76.08 years<br />
<br />
female: 81.87 years (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Nationality:<br />
<br />
noun: Channel Islander(s)<br />
<br />
adjective: Channel Islander<br />
<br />
Ethnic groups: UK and Norman-French descent<br />
<br />
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian<br />
<br />
Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts<br />
<br />
Literacy: NA<br />
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Government<br />
<br />
Country name:<br />
<br />
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey<br />
<br />
conventional short form: Jersey<br />
<br />
Data code: JE<br />
<br />
Dependency status: British crown dependency<br />
<br />
<br />
Government type: NA<br />
<br />
Capital: Saint Helier<br />
<br />
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)<br />
<br />
Independence: none (British crown dependency)<br />
<br />
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)<br />
<br />
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice<br />
<br />
Legal system: English law and local statute<br />
<br />
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult<br />
<br />
Executive branch:<br />
<br />
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)<br />
<br />
head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Sir Michael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA 1995)<br />
<br />
cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States<br />
<br />
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch<br />
<br />
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (57 seats—53 elected including 12 senators popularly elected for six-year terms, half retiring every third year, 12 constables popularly elected triennially, and 29 deputies popularly elected triennially)<br />
<br />
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)<br />
<br />
election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 52<br />
<br />
Judicial branch: Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff<br />
<br />
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents<br />
<br />
International organization participation: none<br />
<br />
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)<br />
<br />
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crown dependency)<br />
<br />
Flag description: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag<br />
<br />
Economy<br />
<br />
Economy—overview: The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light tax and death duties make the island a popular tax haven.<br />
<br />
GDP: purchasing power parity—$NA<br />
<br />
GDP—real growth rate: NA%<br />
<br />
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$NA<br />
<br />
GDP—composition by sector:<br />
<br />
agriculture: 5%<br />
<br />
industry: 2%<br />
<br />
services: 93% (1995)<br />
<br />
Population below poverty line: NA%<br />
<br />
Household income or consumption by percentage share:<br />
<br />
lowest 10%: NA%<br />
<br />
highest 10%: NA%<br />
<br />
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1996)<br />
<br />
Labor force: 57,050 (1996)<br />
<br />
Unemployment rate: 0.7% (1996)<br />
<br />
Budget:<br />
<br />
revenues: $666.9 million<br />
<br />
expenditures: $618.5 million, including capital expenditures of $128.4 million (1996 est.)<br />
<br />
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy<br />
<br />
Industrial production growth rate: NA%<br />
<br />
Electricity—production: NA kWh<br />
<br />
Electricity—production by source:<br />
<br />
fossil fuel: NA%<br />
<br />
hydro: NA%<br />
<br />
nuclear: NA%<br />
<br />
other: NA%<br />
<br />
Electricity—consumption: 467 million kWh (1995)<br />
<br />
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh<br />
<br />
Electricity—imports: NA kWh; note—much electricity supplied by France<br />
<br />
Agriculture—products: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; beef, dairy products<br />
<br />
Exports: $NA<br />
<br />
Exports—commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles<br />
<br />
Exports—partners: UK<br />
<br />
Imports: $NA<br />
<br />
Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals<br />
<br />
Imports—partners: UK<br />
<br />
Debt—external: none<br />
<br />
Economic aid—recipient: none<br />
<br />
Currency: 1 Jersey pound (£J) = 100 pence<br />
<br />
Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (£J) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound<br />
<br />
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March<br />
<br />
Communications<br />
<br />
Telephones: 61,447 (1983 est.)<br />
<br />
Telephone system:<br />
<br />
domestic: NA<br />
<br />
international: 3 submarine cables<br />
<br />
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0<br />
<br />
Radios: NA<br />
<br />
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)<br />
<br />
Televisions: NA<br />
<br />
Transportation<br />
<br />
Railways: 0 km<br />
<br />
Highways:<br />
<br />
total: 577 km (1995)<br />
<br />
paved: NA km<br />
<br />
unpaved: NA km<br />
<br />
Ports and harbors: Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier<br />
<br />
Merchant marine: none<br />
<br />
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports—with paved runways:<br />
<br />
total: 1<br />
<br />
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Military<br />
<br />
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the UK<br />
<br />
Transnational Issues<br />
<br />
Disputes—international: none<br />
<br />
*Information obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Fact Book.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-52805628308669063842010-10-06T03:04:00.000-07:002010-10-06T04:19:33.659-07:00Destination attractions: things to do in prague<b>Prague is a vacation destination that offers beautiful architecture and plenty of breathtaking views.</b><br />
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After their first visit, many people would immediately argue that Prague is the most beautiful city in Europe. Regardless of whether that's what you're hoping for on your next vacation, there's a good reason that thousands of tourists flock to the city every spring and summer. Its breathtaking views, well-preserved architecture, and the dark, gothic aura surrounding its churches and castles lend Prague a highly evocative sense of history on even most casual stroll through the city center.<br />
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The first must-see destination that most tourists head to is Old Town Square, where the main attraction is the city's Astronomical Clock, whose tiny mechanical saints deliver an hourly performance when the clock chimes to the flashes of cameras and glee of the crowds. In summertime the square's pavement is lined with the tables of upscale outdoor cafés, giving your break from a long day of sightseeing an unabashedly decadent feel while you sit back and do some leisurely people-watching. In the wintertime the square is decorated with Christmas trees and packed with souvenir booths, making it the perfect outdoor setting to enjoy a hot cup of grog. Admittedly, this area is so dense with hoards of tourists in the spring that with its "so-perfect-that-it's-surreal" buildings and narrow, winding streets, it could be described as strangely reminiscent of Disneyland. Those who'd prefer to drink their espresso in the company of locals can find refuge only a few minutes' walk away, in quieter cafés such as the cozy Literary Kavarna, which features a bookstore and courtyard seating, or the more laid-back Monmartre, where a Czech Surrealist group purportedly still meets.<br />
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Just a stone's throw away is another classic photo opp: Charles Bridge. By day, the bridge is cluttered with vendors, street musicians, and camera-armed tourists (it's probably impossible to cross without having your picture taken). This is a popular location for pickpocketing, however, so use your common sense. At night, the bridge is less crowded, and it's much easier to appreciate the scenery as well as the ever-so-slightly sinister quality of the statues looming overhead.<br />
<br />
Cross the bridge, and you'll find yourself in Mala Strana, a far less crowded district that offers a less commercial atmosphere that's ideal for a romantic walk or introspective wandering. If you don't lose your breath climbing the hundreds of steps to the famous Prague Castle (known as Hradcany), you'll be rewarded with a glorious view of the city. Like Charles Bridge, the castle is best enjoyed at night, when there is dramatic lighting and few visitors. The cathedral of St. Vitus, with its exquisite stained glass windows, is well-worth a visit in the daytime. If you're in the area and want to experience the most quintessential of traditional Czech pubs, head to Urouha, which is guaranteed to be loud, lively, and packed with locals on any night of the week. This is also the area in which to find restaurants serving traditional Czech cuisine such as fried pork cutlets, gulasch, and dumplings.<br />
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Prague certainly has no shortage of breathtaking views, and on the next hill over from the castle, is Petrin Hill, which offers a less obstructed panorama-style view as well as a treat for families. At the top of the hill are gardens, the Observatory, and a wacky Mirror Maze for kids. If you're not in the mood for hiking uphill, you can always take a cable car all the way to the top. An alternative for adults is an evening watching the sunset from the heights of the Letna Beer Garden, where you can sample Czech beer, world-famous for its superb quality and low cost, in a casual outdoor setting. Other exceptional views can be found at the more serene area of Vysehrad, which is also the site of one of Prague's most beautiful churches, The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, and a cemetery where famous figures such as Dvorak and Smetana are buried. And finally, those who are curious about the country's fascinating recent history, can contemplate under the colorful giant Metronome, the bizarre landmark built on the original site of what was once the world's largest monument to Stalin.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-57522580983688536752010-10-06T02:38:00.000-07:002010-10-06T02:38:11.025-07:00Destination attractions: things to do in denmark<b>There are many things to see and do in Denmark. </b>This list will help make sure you don't miss the most charming attractions this country has to offer.<br />
<br />
Denmark is a magical city filled with history, castles, museums and gardens. There is so much to see and do in this Scandinavian country, that you might find you have run out of time to see all that Denmark has to offer. There are some things that simply must make it on your itinerary. While no list could be exhaustive when planning your stay, the following things to see and do are some of the most charming and are guaranteed to create memories that will last a lifetime.<br />
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<b>Trivoli Gardens</b><br />
<br />
More than just a garden, Trivoli Gardens is an amusement park as well and a must see in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital city. You will need to plan a whole day to spend at Trivoli. Opened in 1843, it boasts more than 400,000 flowers, 100,000 lamps, 30 restaurants, two theatrical shows a day, concerts and dozens of rides. Don’t forget that Wednesday and Friday there are fireworks at night as well. It has been hailed as one of the most romantic places at night as the lamps provide a charming glow about the gardens.<br />
<br />
<b>Amalienborg Palace</b><br />
<br />
The home of Queen Margrethe II, Amalienborg Palace is actually made up of four castles. They are Moltkes Palace, the Schackske Palace, the Levetzaus Palace and the Brockdorfske Palace. In the center sits a statue of King Frederik V on horseback. While visiting you must plan to be there at noon for the Changing of the Guards. Some of the private and official rooms of the palace are open to visitors as well as the square and gardens. You can always tell if the Queen is home as she flies her colors with her royal coat of arms. If you happen to be planning your trip in the spring you will find that the Danish citizens gather April 16th in the square to celebrate the Queens birthday.<br />
<br />
<b>Canal Tours</b><br />
<br />
One of the best ways to see the fairy tale city of Copenhagen is by a canal tour. You will glide past the finest architecture of the city including towers, churches and castles on your hour long tour. You will also get a glimpse of the Little Mermaid statue which is next on our list. The boats are heated and leave from Nyhavn Canal between 10 am and 5 pm.<br />
<br />
<b>The Little Mermaid Statue</b><br />
<br />
This small statue is called the National Symbol of Denmark and is one of Denmark’s biggest tourist attractions. The statue is of course inspired by the story written by famous Danish poet Hans Christian Andersen. The statue was donated to The Royal Theater by Carl Jacobsen who commissioned sculptor Edvard Eriksen to sculpt her. Originally Jacobsen was to donate a fountain but after seeing the ballet rendition of The Little Mermaid at The Royal Theatre, he was so taken with dancer Ellen Price, who portrayed The Little Mermaid, that he asked her to pose for the statue that bears her face today.<br />
<br />
<b>Fredricksborg Slot Royal Castle</b><br />
<br />
If you only had time for one castle during your trip this is the one to see. The 16th century renaissance castle looks to be straight from a fairy tale with its towering spires and fortress walls. It spans no less then three islands on Castle Lake. The castle entrance boasts a statue of Neptune atop a glorious fountain. Once known as the summer house of Denmark’s royal family, it now houses a national museum.<br />
<br />
<b>Stroget</b><br />
<br />
If you want to spend some time shopping in Denmark you must visit Stroget Pedestrian Mall. It is a mile long and considered the world’s largest pedestrian mall. It contains shops, restaurants, sculptures and fountains. You will no doubt find what you are looking for here.<br />
<br />
<b>Sand Church</b><br />
<br />
When looking at this church near the dunes in Skagen, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. What you will see is a white church of the Sct. Laurentius parish however, this is but the bell tower. The rest of the huge church was buried beneath a sand drift. It was torn down in 1810 but the tower remains as well as some of the remnants under ground. It is a breathtaking example of the power of the migrating sand dunes of Denmark.<br />
<br />
<b>Round Tower</b><br />
<br />
This tower was built in 1642 as part of King Christian IV’s Trinity complex for the scholars of the seventeenth century. It includes an astronomical observatory, a university library and a church. The attraction to Round Tower today is the view from the roof. You can reach the top by a cobblestone ramp that winds inside. It is Europe’s oldest still functioning observatory and is open for the public to use its telescope.<br />
<br />
<b>Charlottenborg Palace</b><br />
<br />
If art is up you alley, visit Charlottenborg Palace. The palace was built in 1683 for Ulrik Frederik Gyldenlove and was then bought by Queen Dowager Charlotte Amalie giving it its current name. Charlottenborg is now the Royal Danish Academy of Art, and also a library. The palace is where the regions artists hold their exhibitions.<br />
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<b>Rosenborg Castle and Castle Gardens</b><br />
<br />
This Dutch renaissance castle was built in 1624 by King Christian IV as a summer house. It holds the royal collection of interiors, crafts and portraits all the way from Christian IV to Fredrik VII. It is also home to the country’s oldest garden, also known as the King's Garden.<br />
<br />
There are many other wonderful sights to see in Denmark, but I know that this list will get you started in planning an unforgettable trip to this most magnificent country.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-28580294257206533892010-10-06T01:46:00.000-07:002010-10-06T01:46:58.264-07:00What is Finland?<b>What is Finland and other information about this mysterious land.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Introduction</b><br />
<br />
Background: Long ruled by foreign powers, including Sweden and the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire, Finland finally declared independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland fought the USSR twice and then the Germans toward the end of the war. In the following half-century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy. Per capita income has risen to the West European level; Finland is a member of the European Union and is the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.<br />
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</b><br />
<b>Geography</b><br />
<br />
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia<br />
<br />
Geographic coordinates: 64 00 N, 26 00 E<br />
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Map references: Europe<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEPmBQXWnMkc7AvaOAGcZPy7DvNeyks6nd4CTzhG-Pn1A9qOdjjmGcsjRb-syfR_igwutwn6daGrO2pLKKL89l0GsUJyvmTM59jHIHcujMla32IcgxlEFSosz7kJS1qBF-Ca03Cafa1gr/s1600/finland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEPmBQXWnMkc7AvaOAGcZPy7DvNeyks6nd4CTzhG-Pn1A9qOdjjmGcsjRb-syfR_igwutwn6daGrO2pLKKL89l0GsUJyvmTM59jHIHcujMla32IcgxlEFSosz7kJS1qBF-Ca03Cafa1gr/s320/finland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Area:<br />
<br />
total: 337,030 sq km<br />
<br />
land: 305,470 sq km<br />
<br />
water: 31,560 sq km<br />
<br />
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Montana<br />
<br />
Land boundaries:<br />
<br />
total: 2,628 km<br />
<br />
border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km<br />
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Coastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)<br />
<br />
Maritime claims:<br />
<br />
contiguous zone: 6 nm<br />
<br />
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation<br />
<br />
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm<br />
<br />
territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland—3 nm)<br />
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Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes<br />
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Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills<br />
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Elevation extremes:<br />
<br />
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m<br />
<br />
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m<br />
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Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver<br />
<br />
Land use:<br />
<br />
arable land: 8%<br />
<br />
permanent crops: NA%<br />
<br />
permanent pastures: NA%<br />
<br />
forests and woodland: 76%<br />
<br />
other: 16% (1993 est.)<br />
<br />
Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)<br />
<br />
Natural hazards: NA<br />
<br />
Environment—current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations<br />
<br />
Environment—international agreements:<br />
<br />
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling<br />
<br />
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol<br />
<br />
Geography—note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain<br />
<br />
People<br />
<br />
Population: 5,158,372 (July 1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Age structure:<br />
<br />
0-14 years: 18% (male 483,700; female 464,431)<br />
<br />
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,743,340; female 1,706,873)<br />
<br />
65 years and over: 15% (male 289,405; female 470,623) (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Population growth rate: 0.15% (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Birth rate: 10.77 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Death rate: 9.67 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Sex ratio:<br />
<br />
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female<br />
<br />
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female<br />
<br />
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female<br />
<br />
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female<br />
<br />
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Infant mortality rate: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Life expectancy at birth:<br />
<br />
total population: 77.32 years<br />
<br />
male: 73.81 years<br />
<br />
female: 80.98 years (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Nationality:<br />
<br />
noun: Finn(s)<br />
<br />
adjective: Finnish<br />
<br />
Ethnic groups: Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Lapp 0.11%, Gypsy 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%<br />
<br />
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%<br />
<br />
Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities<br />
<br />
Literacy:<br />
<br />
definition: age 15 and over can read and write<br />
<br />
total population: 100% (1980 est.)<br />
<br />
male: NA%<br />
<br />
female: NA%<br />
<br />
Government<br />
<br />
Country name:<br />
<br />
conventional long form: Republic of Finland<br />
<br />
conventional short form: Finland<br />
<br />
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta<br />
<br />
local short form: Suomi<br />
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Data code: FI<br />
<br />
Government type: republic<br />
<br />
Capital: Helsinki<br />
<br />
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular—laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Lanni, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani<br />
<br />
Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Russia)<br />
<br />
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)<br />
<br />
Constitution: 17 July 1919<br />
<br />
Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations<br />
<br />
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal<br />
<br />
Executive branch:<br />
<br />
chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994)<br />
<br />
head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)<br />
<br />
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament<br />
<br />
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed from the majority party by the president after parliamentary elections<br />
<br />
election results: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of vote—Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%<br />
<br />
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)<br />
<br />
elections: last held 21 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)<br />
<br />
election results: percent of vote by party—Social Democratic Party 22.9%, Center Party 22.5%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 21.0%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.9%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green Union 7.2%, Finnish Christian League 4.2%; seats by party—Social Democratic Party 51, Center Party 48, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 46, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 20, Swedish People's Party 11, Green Union 11, Finnish Christian League 10, other 3<br />
<br />
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president<br />
<br />
Political parties and leaders:<br />
<br />
government coalition: Social Democratic Party [Paavo LIPPONEN]; National Coalition (conservative) Party [Sauli NIINISTO]; Leftist Alliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Claes ANDERSSON]; Swedish People's Party [(Johan) Ole NORRBACK]; Green League [Pekka HAAVISTO]<br />
<br />
other: Center Party [Esko AHO]; Finnish Christian League [C. P. Bjarne KALLIS]; Rural Party [Raimo VISTBACKA]; Liberal People's Party [Pekka RYTILA]; Greens Ecological Party or EPV [Eugen PARKATTI]; Young Finns [Risto PENTTILA]<br />
<br />
Political pressure groups and leaders: Finnish Communist Party-Unity [Yrjo HAKANEN]; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party [Timo LAHDENMAKI]<br />
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International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC<br />
<br />
Diplomatic representation in the US:<br />
<br />
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA<br />
<br />
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008<br />
<br />
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800<br />
<br />
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030<br />
<br />
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York<br />
<br />
Diplomatic representation from the US:<br />
<br />
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric EDELMAN<br />
<br />
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki<br />
<br />
mailing address: APO AE 09723<br />
<br />
telephone: [358] (9) 171931<br />
<br />
FAX: [358] (9) 174681<br />
<br />
Flag description: white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)<br />
<br />
Economy<br />
<br />
Economy—overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing—principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. The economy has come back from the recession of 1990-92, which had been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe—Finland was one of the 11 countries joining the euro monetary system (EMU) on 1 January 1999—will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 1999 probably will slow, perhaps to 3%, a barrier to any substantial drop in unemployment.<br />
<br />
GDP: purchasing power parity—$103.6 billion (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
GDP—real growth rate: 5.1% (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$20,100 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
GDP—composition by sector:<br />
<br />
agriculture: 5%<br />
<br />
industry: 32%<br />
<br />
services: 63% (1997)<br />
<br />
Population below poverty line: NA%<br />
<br />
Household income or consumption by percentage share:<br />
<br />
lowest 10%: 4.2%<br />
<br />
highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)<br />
<br />
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Labor force: 2.533 million<br />
<br />
Labor force—by occupation: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%<br />
<br />
Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Budget:<br />
<br />
revenues: $33 billion<br />
<br />
expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)<br />
<br />
Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing<br />
<br />
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1995)<br />
<br />
Electricity—production: 67.469 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—production by source:<br />
<br />
fossil fuel: 54.73%<br />
<br />
hydro: 17.35%<br />
<br />
nuclear: 27.9%<br />
<br />
other: 0.02% (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—consumption: 71.169 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—exports: 1.7 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—imports: 5.4 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Agriculture—products: cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish<br />
<br />
Exports: $43 billion (f.o.b., 1998)<br />
<br />
Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, and pulp<br />
<br />
Exports—partners: Germany 11%, UK 10%, Sweden 10%, US 7%, Russia 7%, France 4%, Japan (1997)<br />
<br />
Imports: $30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)<br />
<br />
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains<br />
<br />
Imports—partners: Germany 15%, Sweden 12%, UK 8%, Russia 8%, US 7%, Japan 5% (1997)<br />
<br />
Debt—external: $30 billion (December 1993)<br />
<br />
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $388 million (1995)<br />
<br />
Currency: 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia<br />
<br />
Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1—5.12 (January 1999), 5.3441 (1998), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235 (1994);<br />
<br />
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 5.93472 Markkaa per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002<br />
<br />
Fiscal year: calendar year<br />
<br />
Communications<br />
<br />
Telephones: 2.5 million (1995 est.)<br />
<br />
Telephone system: modern system with excellent service<br />
<br />
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular net care for domestic needs<br />
<br />
international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations—access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note—Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)<br />
<br />
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0<br />
<br />
Radios: 4.98 million (1991 est.)<br />
<br />
Television broadcast stations: 120 (in addition, there are 431 low-power repeaters) (1997)<br />
<br />
Televisions: 1.92 million (1995 est.)<br />
<br />
Transportation<br />
<br />
Railways:<br />
<br />
total: 5,859 km<br />
<br />
broad gauge: 5,859 km 1.524-m gauge (2,073 km electrified; 480 km double- or more-track) (1996)<br />
<br />
Highways:<br />
<br />
total: 77,796 km<br />
<br />
paved: 49,789 km (including 444 km of expressways)<br />
<br />
unpaved: 28,007 km (1997 est.)<br />
<br />
Waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers<br />
<br />
Pipelines: natural gas 580 km<br />
<br />
Ports and harbors: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus<br />
<br />
Merchant marine:<br />
<br />
total: 101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,192,559 GRT/1,161,594 DWT<br />
<br />
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, oil tanker 11, passenger 1, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 38, short-sea passenger 12 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports: 157 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports—with paved runways:<br />
<br />
total: 68<br />
<br />
over 3,047 m: 3<br />
<br />
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26<br />
<br />
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10<br />
<br />
914 to 1,523 m: 20<br />
<br />
under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports—with unpaved runways:<br />
<br />
total: 89<br />
<br />
914 to 1,523 m: 6<br />
<br />
under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Military<br />
<br />
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea Guard)<br />
<br />
Military manpower—military age: 17 years of age<br />
<br />
Military manpower—availability:<br />
<br />
males age 15-49: 1,274,654 (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Military manpower—fit for military service:<br />
<br />
males age 15-49: 1,050,944 (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:<br />
<br />
males: 34,336 (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $1.8 billion (1999)<br />
<br />
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2% (1999)<br />
<br />
Transnational Issues<br />
<br />
Disputes—international: none<br />
<br />
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for the West European market<br />
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*Information obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Fact Book.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-5040245422919195142010-10-06T01:35:00.000-07:002010-10-06T01:35:19.948-07:00Finland tour, introduction, information and facts<b>A brief introduction to Finland, with a tour and information about the european country.</b><br />
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Situated in northern Europe between Sweden and Russia is the country of Finland. Finland covers a total area of 338,145 km2 that is covered in ice and snow for up to six months of the year. Finland is one of world's last great wildernesses. It has over 60,000 lakes and rivers, and over 100,000 islands - one for every 55 of its inhabitants.<br />
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With timber being Finland's major export item, it is not surprising that the country is covered in forests of pine trees and white birches. There are no towering mountains, as there are in Norway, and Finland is relatively flat with an average height of 152m. Finland has a climate that is extreme in regions north of the Arctic Circle, and temperatures may fall to -30C during the 6 months of winter. In this period it is rare to be able to view the sun as it only rises for a short period of time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMHGyFu4jYvPBMHYNgjp8RvfKdZ2P_zoNh3FVRXlWiXMuGAppeSAbbgq7T5f01yR3P8mpzll0l3oJfiF3oRAJzXfVA-qcxpXeYtUHjs8JKYBAoJRFMkeNyR6DDIUL7S5FykuulGhX58xc/s1600/Finland%2520Vacations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMHGyFu4jYvPBMHYNgjp8RvfKdZ2P_zoNh3FVRXlWiXMuGAppeSAbbgq7T5f01yR3P8mpzll0l3oJfiF3oRAJzXfVA-qcxpXeYtUHjs8JKYBAoJRFMkeNyR6DDIUL7S5FykuulGhX58xc/s1600/Finland%2520Vacations.jpg" /></a>It isn't surprising that the Sauna originated from Finland. In the months of May, June and July, Finland celebrates its summer season. The summer sun (known as the Midnight Sun) doesn't set for three months and the people enjoy spending time in the great outdoors.<br />
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Finland is divided up into 12 provinces with over 50% of the population living in the five southernmost provinces. Finland's major cities and towns are Helsinki (capital), Espoo, Tampere, Turku and Vantaa. The two official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish, with approximately 5% of the population speaking Swedish. English is also taught at all public schools, and Finland boasts a 100% literacy rate.<br />
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With religion, the population are mostly Lutheran, with 1% being Greek Orthodox. In addition, there are approximately 16,700 Jehovah's Witnesses, 13,192 members of the Evangelical Free Church, 1,309 Jews, and 926 Muslims.<br />
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Finland is an independent nation. Its government employs a President, who holds supreme executive power. Finland gained its independence in 1917, where previously at different periods of time in history, Russia and Sweden ruled the country.<br />
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Finland is famous for its creative Architects and Musicians. Finland is also the home of the famous mobile phone, Nokia. Ice Hockey, Fishing, Skiing, and Ice Skating are the most popular sports in Finland, but Finland has also produced famous Rally drivers.<br />
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With its cold, long winter, Finland's tourism increases in the summer. With beautiful buildings to view in the cities, and a vast amount of lakes and rivers to explore in the country-side, Finland is truly an enchanting country to visit.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-14763089817290577142010-10-06T01:20:00.000-07:002010-10-06T01:20:30.131-07:00Destination attractions: things to do in finland<b>Finland is not only a beautiful country to visit, but it is also rich in fun, activities, culture and things to do.</b><br />
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On planning a vacation to Finland, one will be pleasantly surprised at how family-oriented the country is. Whether your family is active or seeking a more cultural experience, Finland will be sure to please everyone of all tastes from the youngest child to the hard-to-please teenager. Finland is a large European country with interesting attractions in all its regions.<br />
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Helsinki, the nation’s capital, is perhaps the most popular place for the tourist to visit. This city boasts eleven museums such as the Finnish National Gallery, the Museum of Cultures, and the Maritime Museum. The city also has a zoo with a wide variety of animal species and the local amusement park, Linnanmaki is a day happily spent. Also near Helsinki is the Serena Water Park, the largest park of that type in all of Europe. Even in the heart of winter, you and your family can slide down water slides and float in heated wave pools. This Water Park also has a ski center attached to it.<br />
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A trip to Finland is not complete until one takes in the scenery of the countryside. A country of mountains and beautiful forests, there are many places to hike. Other sports that the country provides is, of course, cross-country and alpine skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, snowmobile safaris, fishing, and husky-drawn sleigh rides. This Scandinavian country is one of the most beautiful in Europe since so many of its forests are well maintained and well cared for.<br />
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While touring the countryside, there are many other attractions to see. Castles and ruins are numerous as are the lighthouses which give the tourist a beautiful view of the sea. The Untamala Archaeology center, located in the village of Laitila, allows tourists to walk amongst the ancient graves of a stone age graveyard and a medieval village.<br />
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The Northern region of Lapland is almost a vacation in itself. Here lies the infamous Snow Castle, or Luni Linna as the Finnish people call it. This hotel is sculpted entirely from ice and even has a restaurant that serves warm meals and beverages. While staying there, you and your family can visit the Ranua Wildlife Park. This park has large enclosures for its 150 species of native animals including the polar bear.<br />
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An activity that native Fins enjoy is ice water swimming. This is where they change into bathing suits and warm themselves in saunas and then run into a nearby frozen lake to cool off.<br />
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If you and your family want to stay in one place then Finland also has a wide variety of resorts. Tahko, which is located in central Finland has three hotels and 650 holiday apartments. A family can golf here or go canoeing, hiking, or skiing as the weather permits. Another great family resort is the Kalajoki Sand Dunes. Open only in summer, the kids can play for hours in the long, shallow beaches and then go to the Juku Juku Maa Amusement Park. There are also a spa, an animal park, and great nightclubs that suit all tastes.<br />
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Finland is not only a beautiful place to go on vacation, but a fun experience as well. Everyone in your family will enjoy the warmth and enthusiasm that this country invokes.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-49473588297844140142010-10-06T00:59:00.000-07:002010-10-06T04:10:10.111-07:00Historical facts and information: the history of FranceFacts and information about the history of France, including stats about the government, climate, geography, population, economy and culture.<br />
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<b>Introduction</b><br />
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Background: Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France lost many men, much wealth, its extensive empire, and its rank as a dominant nation-state. France has struggled since 1958—arguably with success—to construct a presidential democracy resistant to the severe instabilities inherent in the parliamentary democracy of early 20th century France. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the advent of the euro in January 1999.<br />
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<b>Geography</b><br />
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Location: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain<br />
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Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 2 00 E<br />
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Map references: Europe<br />
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Area:<br />
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total: 547,030 sq km<br />
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land: 545,630 sq km<br />
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water: 1,400 sq km<br />
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note: includes only metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions<br />
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Area—comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Colorado<br />
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Land boundaries:<br />
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total: 2,892.4 km<br />
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border countries: Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km<br />
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Coastline: 3,427 km<br />
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Maritime claims:<br />
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contiguous zone: 24 nm<br />
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continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation<br />
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exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)<br />
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territorial sea: 12 nm<br />
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Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean<br />
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Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east<br />
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Elevation extremes:<br />
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lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m<br />
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highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m<br />
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Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash<br />
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Land use:<br />
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arable land: 33%<br />
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permanent crops: 2%<br />
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permanent pastures: 20%<br />
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forests and woodland: 27%<br />
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other: 18% (1993 est.)<br />
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Irrigated land: 16,300 sq km (1995 est.)<br />
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Natural hazards: flooding; avalanches<br />
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Environment—current issues: some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff<br />
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Environment—international agreements:<br />
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party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling<br />
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signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol<br />
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Geography—note: largest West European nation; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral<br />
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People<br />
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Population: 58,978,172 (July 1999 est.)<br />
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Age structure:<br />
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0-14 years: 19% (male 5,638,462; female 5,375,911)<br />
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15-64 years: 65% (male 19,302,121; female 19,235,235)<br />
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65 years and over: 16% (male 3,825,232; female 5,601,211) (1999 est.)<br />
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Population growth rate: 0.27% (1999 est.)<br />
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Birth rate: 11.38 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
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Death rate: 9.17 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
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Net migration rate: 0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)<br />
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Sex ratio:<br />
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female<br />
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under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female<br />
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15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female<br />
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65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female<br />
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total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)<br />
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Infant mortality rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)<br />
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Life expectancy at birth:<br />
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total population: 78.63 years<br />
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male: 74.76 years<br />
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female: 82.71 years (1999 est.)<br />
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Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)<br />
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Nationality:<br />
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noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)<br />
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adjective: French<br />
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Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities<br />
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Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (North African workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%<br />
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Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)<br />
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Literacy:<br />
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write<br />
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total population: 99%<br />
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male: 99%<br />
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female: 99% (1980 est.)<br />
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Government<br />
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Country name:<br />
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conventional long form: French Republic<br />
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conventional short form: France<br />
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local long form: Republique Francaise<br />
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local short form: France<br />
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Data code: FR<br />
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Government type: republic<br />
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Capital: Paris<br />
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Administrative divisions: 22 regions (regions, singular—region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes<br />
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note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)<br />
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Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna<br />
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note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica<br />
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Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis)<br />
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National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)<br />
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Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993<br />
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Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts<br />
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Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal<br />
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Executive branch:<br />
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chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)<br />
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head of government: Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN (since 3 June 1997)<br />
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cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister<br />
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elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 23 April and 7 May 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president<br />
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election results: Jacques CHIRAC elected president; percent of vote, second ballot—Jacques CHIRAC 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN 47.36%<br />
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Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats—296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms)<br />
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elections: Senate—last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held September 2001); National Assembly—last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002)<br />
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election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 99, Centrist Union 52, Republicans and independents 47, PS 78, PCF 16, other 29; National Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PS 245, RPR 140, UDF 109, PCF 37, PRS 13, Ecologists 8, MDC 7, LDI-MPF 1, FN 1, various left 9, various right 7<br />
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Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation, judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary; Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel, three members appointed by the president, three members appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate; Council of State or Conseil d'Etat<br />
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Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR [Philippe SEGUIN]; Union for French Democracy or UDF (coalition of PR, FD, RAD, PPDF) [Francois BAYROU]; Parti Republican or PR [Alain MADELIN]; Democratic Force or FD [leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS [Francois HOLLANDE]; Communist Party or PCF [Robert HUE]; National Front or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; The Greens [Jean-Luc BENNAHMIAS]; Generation Ecology or GE [Brice LALONDE]; Citizens Movement or MDC [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; National Center of Independents and Peasants or CNIP [Oliver d'ORMESSON]; Radical Socialist Party or PRS (previously the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Movement for France or LDI-MPF [Philippe DEVILLIERS]; Mouvement des Reformateurs [Jean-Pierre SOISSON]; Mouvement Ecologiste Independant [Jenevieve ANDUEZA]; Parti Populaire Pour la Democratie Francaise or PPDF [Herve de CHARETTE]; Parti Radical [Thierry CORNILLET]; Adherents Directs [Pierre-Andre WILTZER]; Centrist Union [leader NA]; Republican Party [leader NA]; La Droite [Charles MILLON]; National Front-National Movement [Bruno MEGRET]<br />
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Political pressure groups and leaders: Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, about 800,000 members (est.); independent labor union or Force Ouvriere, 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union or Confederation Generale des Cadres, 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais) or CNPF or Patronat<br />
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International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUA, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC<br />
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Diplomatic representation in the US:<br />
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chief of mission: Ambassador Francois V. BUJON DE L'ESTANG<br />
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chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007<br />
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telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000<br />
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FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166<br />
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consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco<br />
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Diplomatic representation from the US:<br />
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chief of mission: Ambassador Felix G. ROHATYN<br />
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embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08<br />
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mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777<br />
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telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22<br />
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FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83<br />
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consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg<br />
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Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas<br />
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Economy<br />
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Economy—overview: One of the four West European trillion-dollar economies, France matches a growing services sector with a diversified industrial base and substantial agricultural resources. Industry generates one-quarter of GDP and more than 80% of export earnings. The government retains considerable influence over key segments of each sector, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990s. The government is slowly selling off its holdings in France Telecom, in Air France, and in the insurance, banking, and defense industries. Meanwhile, large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. A major exporter of wheat and dairy products, France is practically self-sufficient in agriculture. The economy expanded by 3% in 1998, following a 2.3% gain in 1997. Persistently high unemployment still poses a major problem for the government. France has shied away from cutting exceptionally generous social welfare benefits or the enormous state bureaucracy, preferring to pare defense spending and raise taxes to keep the deficit down. The JOSPIN administration has pledged both to lower unemployment and trim spending, pinning its hopes for new jobs on economic growth and on legislation to gradually reduce the workweek from 39 to 35 hours by 2002. France joined 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.<br />
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GDP: purchasing power parity—$1.32 trillion (1998 est.)<br />
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GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)<br />
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GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$22,600 (1998 est.)<br />
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GDP—composition by sector:<br />
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agriculture: 2.4%<br />
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industry: 28.4%<br />
<br />
services: 69.2% (1997)<br />
<br />
Population below poverty line: NA%<br />
<br />
Household income or consumption by percentage share:<br />
<br />
lowest 10%: 2.5%<br />
<br />
highest 10%: 24.9% (1989)<br />
<br />
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.7% (1998)<br />
<br />
Labor force: 25.4 million<br />
<br />
Labor force—by occupation: services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1995)<br />
<br />
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1998)<br />
<br />
Budget:<br />
<br />
revenues: $222 billion<br />
<br />
expenditures: $265 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism<br />
<br />
Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (1998)<br />
<br />
Electricity—production: 480.783 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—production by source:<br />
<br />
fossil fuel: 8.72%<br />
<br />
hydro: 12.92%<br />
<br />
nuclear: 78.25%<br />
<br />
other: 0.11% (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—consumption: 411.743 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—exports: 72.64 billion kWh (1996)<br />
<br />
Electricity—imports: 3.6 billion kWh (1996)<br />
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Agriculture—products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish<br />
<br />
Exports: $289 billion (f.o.b., 1998)<br />
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Exports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles and clothing<br />
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Exports—partners: Germany 16%, UK 10%, Italy 9%, Spain 8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, US 6.5%, Netherlands 4.5%, Japan 2%, Russia 0.9% (1997)<br />
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Imports: $255 billion (f.o.b., 1998)<br />
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Imports—commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products<br />
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Imports—partners: Germany 17%, Italy 10%, US 9%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, UK 8%, Spain 7%, Netherlands 5%, Japan 3%, China 2.5% (1997)<br />
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Debt—external: $117.6 billion (1996 est.)<br />
<br />
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $8.4 billion (1995)<br />
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Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes<br />
<br />
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1—5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994)<br />
<br />
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 6.55957 French francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002<br />
<br />
Fiscal year: calendar year<br />
<br />
Communications<br />
<br />
Telephones: 35 million (1987 est.)<br />
<br />
Telephone system: highly developed<br />
<br />
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system<br />
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international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas—2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries<br />
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Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 800 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0<br />
<br />
Radios: 49 million (1993 est.)<br />
<br />
Television broadcast stations: 310 (in addition, there are about 1,400 repeaters) (1997)<br />
<br />
Televisions: 29.3 million (1993 est.)<br />
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Transportation<br />
<br />
Railways:<br />
<br />
total: 32,027 km ( 31,940 km are operated by French National Railways (SNCF); 13,803 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked)<br />
<br />
standard gauge: 31,928 km 1.435-m gauge<br />
<br />
narrow gauge: 99 km 1.000-m gauge<br />
<br />
note: does not include 33 tourist railroads, totaling 469 km, many being of very narrow gauge (1996)<br />
<br />
Highways:<br />
<br />
total: 892,900 km<br />
<br />
paved: 892,900 km (including 9,900 km of expressways)<br />
<br />
unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)<br />
<br />
Waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled<br />
<br />
Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; natural gas 24,746 km<br />
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Ports and harbors: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg<br />
<br />
Merchant marine:<br />
<br />
total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,826,364 GRT/2,962,338 DWT<br />
<br />
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 20, passenger 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 1<br />
<br />
note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in Iles Kerguelen (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports: 474 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports—with paved runways:<br />
<br />
total: 267<br />
<br />
over 3,047 m: 13<br />
<br />
2,438 to 3,047 m: 31<br />
<br />
1,524 to 2,437 m: 94<br />
<br />
914 to 1,523 m: 73<br />
<br />
under 914 m: 56 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Airports—with unpaved runways:<br />
<br />
total: 207<br />
<br />
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3<br />
<br />
914 to 1,523 m: 75<br />
<br />
under 914 m: 129 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)<br />
<br />
Military<br />
<br />
Military branches: Army (includes Marines), Navy (includes Naval Air), Air Force (includes Air Defense, National Gendarmerie<br />
<br />
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age<br />
<br />
Military manpower—availability:<br />
<br />
males age 15-49: 14,666,286 (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Military manpower—fit for military service:<br />
<br />
males age 15-49: 12,203,675 (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:<br />
<br />
males: 411,911 (1999 est.)<br />
<br />
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $39.831 billion (1997)<br />
<br />
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.5% (1995)<br />
<br />
Transnational Issues<br />
<br />
Disputes—international: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and French Guiana; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu<br />
<br />
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin<br />
<br />
*Information obtained from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Fact Book.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-29375704353726210212010-10-06T00:38:00.000-07:002010-10-06T00:38:17.447-07:00Grasse: perfume's French center<b>Grasse, in Southern France, the place where most of the world's most exotic perfumes are made.</b><br />
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Grasse has been called 'the perfume capital of the world' and despite four centuries as the Queen of Perfume it still rightly deserves this title. The town has more to offer the visitor than wonderful ornate bottles of scent however, and this article will describe Grasse's rich history, it's many tourist attractions and will explain why the area is ideal for perfume production.<br />
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Situated a mere fifteen kilometers north from Cannes, the French Riviera's lure for the rich and famous, Grasse is also close to the city of Nice (30 minutes east by car). The town is nestled amongst wonderful countryside enjoying a backdrop of hills, forests, rivers and canyons. Public transport connecting Grasse with the other major towns in the Alpes-Maritime region is by bus - there is a regular service daily between the towns of Cannes, Nice, Vallauris (the 'home' of pottery), Antibes and Silicon Valley - Sophia Antipolis.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV9nqt510DFSKWJPJeLjEeIytMqUpmGSd_GrwkFNP_pnarDNeInpmGFj3jUgstFB6uhZPjy-EdPjo5YTPMkDDNtS2akfI3dGecQurUI7ZEUOTNJzPzYmLLuB_NyhaXGMuqH9D5bFFyKjD/s1600/grasse-card-main-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmV9nqt510DFSKWJPJeLjEeIytMqUpmGSd_GrwkFNP_pnarDNeInpmGFj3jUgstFB6uhZPjy-EdPjo5YTPMkDDNtS2akfI3dGecQurUI7ZEUOTNJzPzYmLLuB_NyhaXGMuqH9D5bFFyKjD/s200/grasse-card-main-small.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Despite being so close to the fine sand beaches of Cannes, with their stifling heat in summer, Grasse at an altitude of 300 - 400 meters enjoys a fresher climate all year round. The plentiful sunshine and mild temperatures make the town and surrounding areas ideal for flower growing, and thus ideal for the production of perfume.<br />
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The importance of scent in Grasses' history is brought to life at the Musée International de la Parfumerie - a museum in the town which provides details of the process of perfume manufacture and covers 3000 years of the industry's history. The museum's chief treasure is the travel case of Marie Antoinette and the building also houses a greenhouse where the public can experience the all-encompassing, aromatically fragrant plants and flowers growing at first hand.<br />
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There are also many perfumeries in the region, including Molinard, Galimard, Salon des Parfums etc, which are open year-round to the public. Visitors can enjoy the free, guided tours provided by the perfumeries, watch the process of perfume manufacture, learn the history of Grasse's importance in the industry and buy products in the on-site shops. The perfumes on sale are typically packaged in ornate bottles bearing a flower encased for perpetuity in the glass.<br />
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There are other sites of interest (besides those catering to the perfume industry) in Grasse. These include Le Musée d'Art et d'Historie de la Provençe - a museum using the old town house of the Marquise de Clapier-Cabris. Also referred to as Le Petit Trianon, this 18th century mansion houses a wonderful collection of Provençal paintings, pottery, archaeology and ethnology, while also providing a history of the Provençe region.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_uqjdnHC3KAY__x5Ihs0QACWWiXYaYhQFcen__WFSrbkY6bvMcEyILkDKM-ZaXPEwK1TC0Ts1i0MFlFtQ4Uy5IMdDPQCY_POwdtYZGIgcb5hAN2Zo7pZGAwcCFKVOxSEcJfB9ch6vUey/s1600/grasse-perfume-factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_uqjdnHC3KAY__x5Ihs0QACWWiXYaYhQFcen__WFSrbkY6bvMcEyILkDKM-ZaXPEwK1TC0Ts1i0MFlFtQ4Uy5IMdDPQCY_POwdtYZGIgcb5hAN2Zo7pZGAwcCFKVOxSEcJfB9ch6vUey/s200/grasse-perfume-factory.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Another museum is the Musée de la Marine, situated in the 18th century Hôtel Pontevès-Morel, it depicts the career of the Admiral de Grasse, who fought in America's War for Independence and was instrumental in the victory at the Battle of Yorktown. The final museum in Grasse houses the work of the famous French painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Housed in the 17th century Villa Fragonard it also depicts the life of the painter - in fact he actually stayed here with his family in March of 1791.<br />
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On the subject of paintings, three works of art by Rubens can be found in the Notre Dame du Puy cathedral on the Place Godeau. Dating from the 10th - 11th century the cathedral was rebuilt in the 17th century and a clock tower was added in the 18th century. Rubens paintings were originally commissioned by Archduke Albert for the Santa Croce di Gerusalemme in Rome and were completed by 1601. They were given to the town of Grasse in the 19th century. The cathedral also houses the famous painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard - the 1754 'Christ Washing The Feet of the Apostles'.<br />
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The main street in Grasse is the Boulevard du Jeu de Ballon and it is here that carnivals take place throughout the year, winding their way through the old part of town, past 17th and 18th century buildings, arched tunnels and tiny squares. The main square is the Place Aux Aires, which is picturesque with its three-tiered fountain in the center. A daily flower and local produce market is held in this square marrying the ancient with the modern.<br />
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Two major festivals throughout the year pay tribute to Grasse's most important commodity - flowers. The Fête du Jasmin is held in August while the International Rose Festival takes place in May.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizXImKMA6EIFHMc6BP9kxPnI3W4H1Qeu_CxamP_bFCMPQ9T-WDSeQiROWXAotxA4m1LWjZHA80hmHdwM5XrAiqWLvqm1-3SmVTG4t9EZ4vNoE3jZMRfEhq9QNHBGGHP6HSWMmNIJ6uF_g/s1600/grasse-perfume-bottles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizXImKMA6EIFHMc6BP9kxPnI3W4H1Qeu_CxamP_bFCMPQ9T-WDSeQiROWXAotxA4m1LWjZHA80hmHdwM5XrAiqWLvqm1-3SmVTG4t9EZ4vNoE3jZMRfEhq9QNHBGGHP6HSWMmNIJ6uF_g/s200/grasse-perfume-bottles.jpg" width="200" /></a>Historically, Grasse has an interesting story to tell. Principally a medieval town (it still maintains this), ancient artifacts can be observed in the area. These include megaliths and mausoleum ruins amongst other archaeological sites. The town did not surrender to raids by the Saracens in the 9th century and by the 12th century it was an independent republic that enjoyed diplomatic relations with Genoa and Pisa (Italy). The surrounding area, including Grasse and Nice, was part of Italy for centuries and Grasse only became part of the Alpes-Maritimes region as recently as 1860 when the country of Nice became part of France. During the French Revolution Grasse was the capital of the Var region.<br />
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Famous people have always visited Grasse. These have included Napoleon's sister Princess Pauline de Bonaparte who spent the winter of 1807-08 recuperating from ill health here. Napoleon himself passed through Grasse and Queen Victoria stayed at the Grand Hotel or at the Rothschild's here. Tourists continue to visit, lured by the countless activities the town and the surrounding areas have to offer (including caving in the limestone hills north of Grasse) and to buy some of the famous Grasse perfume.<br />
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The French perfume industry began here in the 16th century. Grasse had been a center for leather and tanning and was famous for glove production since the 13th century. When fashions changed in favor of scented gloves Grasse provided them. Eventually the perfume industry surpassed its' leather industry. Perfumers and apothecaries began to settle in Grasse by the 17th century and the perfumeries were officially registered in 1729.<br />
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Today the industry relies more on synthetic chemicals then on the flowers that were always used. Some of the ancient factories have been abandoned and stand testament to bygone times with their brick smokestacks stretching across the south side of the old town. Perfume made from flower sources is still popular however, and the flower fields around Grasse though smaller and fewer in numbers than they once were, still use traditional methods. (In 1975 there were 2200 flower growers while by 1997 there were only 120 growing roses and 20 growing jasmine.)<br />
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Chanel No.5 is the best-selling perfume in the world and its principal ingredients are rose du mai, jasmine, and a synthetic musk. A few years ago jasmine production was disrupted by bad weather and Chanel took the precaution of buying their own farm in the Grasse area. Run by the Muhl family it produces 20 tons of jasmine and 50 tons of rose du mai annually, exclusively for Chanel.<br />
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Jasmine Grandiforum was initially introduced into Grasse from Nepal in 1560 and its delicate flowers require careful handpicking from expert pickers who are specifically employed for this purpose. About 8 to 10,000 flowers are equivalent to 1 kilogram and pickers typically manage to harvest ½ kg per hour. More expensive than roses, jasmine fetched 170 francs or approximately $28/kg in 1997 while roses sold for 30 francs or $5/kg.<br />
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The roses are picked for 6 weeks annually from April to June while jasmine is picked from August until September. Stored in sacks the petals are transported within half an hour at Chanel to the onsite production plant. At other farms extraction of the essential oils tends to take place the next day, but at Chanel freshness is a prerequisite. After weighing they are loaded into huge 50kg vats, raked and washed 3 times using over 2000 liters of the extraction solvent. The solvent dissolves the essential oils, resins and waxes from the petals.<br />
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Once the flowers are removed from the vats the remaining solvent is vaporized for 1½ hours, so forming a solid known in the industry as 'a concrete'. This can be stored for several years and when the essential oils are required, alcohol is used to extract them. Once the alcohol is evaporated what is left is the purest form of floral scent - known as the 'absolute'. Blending then occurs to create different perfumes.<br />
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Perfume has always been important in the history of mankind. Used by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Chinese and mentioned in the Bible it has been used to seduce, to mask unpleasant odors and for other industrial purposes. France has always been a world authority in the industry - the first guild of perfumers was established in the 12th century by Philippe-Augustine of France.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv80eJ9vOy5YK1gu23K-q3RcNgIicHrYdIWcTY8qOj5juu2n0YW9Q-mYoLc0zvc7s_kbtIK0taaAmFU-yhReJM-FsqHpnmzo_h3O4NV32lglGD5k9I9Qu9djTtBdhFd-P7QG7eweJa3fj/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv80eJ9vOy5YK1gu23K-q3RcNgIicHrYdIWcTY8qOj5juu2n0YW9Q-mYoLc0zvc7s_kbtIK0taaAmFU-yhReJM-FsqHpnmzo_h3O4NV32lglGD5k9I9Qu9djTtBdhFd-P7QG7eweJa3fj/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Initially, scents were only the privilege of the wealthy, but François Coty from Ajaccio in Corsica changed that by making perfume affordable for the masses in the 1900s. A first cousin of Napoleon de Bonaparte, he studied for a year under the expert tutelage of perfumers in Grasse before opening the 1st mass-production perfume factory on the outskirts of Paris in 1905. After the 1920s many other countries began to manufacture perfume but French perfume is still regarded as the best in the world by scent connoisseurs.<br />
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There are 3 basic processes for making perfume including: distillation, enfleurage (which was developed in Grasse) and extraction. The four premier perfumeries in France - Fragonard, Galimard, Mane, and Moulinard are all based in Grasse. In conclusion, Grasse the 'Perfume Capital of the World' is truly that. A medieval town it is well worth a visit if only to experience the wonderful fragrances hanging in the air during the summer months. Every time we spray on some perfume, and when a memory is stirred by the whiff of a scent, we should remember that we owe the luxury to the pioneering perfumers of Grasse.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-67469175630356365482010-10-06T00:26:00.000-07:002010-10-06T00:26:04.495-07:00Planning a ski trip vacation to Courchevel: resorts, costs, clothes and weather<b>Courcheval, France is an excellent place to go skiing</b>. Located in the French alps, it has several resorts to choose from depending on your needs.<br />
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Courcheval, France is an excellent choice for a ski vacation. Courcheval is located in the French Alps. Well-known for fantastic skiing, Courcheval also offers access to the three valley network, which gives you over 200 ski lifts and 330 downhill runs to choose from. Courcheval itself offers 63 lifts and 117 runs within the four separate villages that make up Courcheval. The resorts are based on their height in meters, with 1300 and 1500 being more quiet and family-oriented, and 1650 and 1850 much more cosmopolitan and chic. The ski season goes from mid-November to mid-April depending on the weather. Courcheval does have it’s own snow-making equipment and has been rated very high on both snow quality and quantity.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvL4yD3hFNJcHf_PXIjk03JvkrtFFDvvvRCt2rb8_tAxK8LRVNYGf0orR5Uf5KKMgZBMkNVkFLDf76I3prL3V_gE23XWjb_LlSoBBJdWzM2FttuV8RZxpvOBI-w_tLDpmQ5lL7DItlRRD/s1600/france_travel_val_disere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvL4yD3hFNJcHf_PXIjk03JvkrtFFDvvvRCt2rb8_tAxK8LRVNYGf0orR5Uf5KKMgZBMkNVkFLDf76I3prL3V_gE23XWjb_LlSoBBJdWzM2FttuV8RZxpvOBI-w_tLDpmQ5lL7DItlRRD/s200/france_travel_val_disere.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The prices for accommodations in each resort vary. Accommodations in the lower resorts can be had for around $100 per person per night for cheaper rooms to over $600 for the premium accommodations. The resorts of 1650 and 1850 are much more expensive, and small chalets abound for ski parties of just a few to over 30 members. These resorts offer very posh lodgings, with all the trimmings, include on-site catering of three meals a day. These are definitely more expensive, and can run anywhere from $750 a night per person to well over $1000.<br />
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The easiest and cheapest way to get to Courcheval is by air. The two nearest international airports are in Lyon, France and Geneva, Switzerland. The Courcheval resorts are less than three hours from either airport. Flights from the US to Courcheval will cost anywhere from $690-$1100 on average. However, it is always possible to get a good deal on a flight or entire ski package if you do your research online and go during a non-holiday time of the season.<br />
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Lift passes are available for only Courcheval and also for the three valleys, which cost a bit more. All four of the villages offer ski and boot rentals. They also offer some great ski instruction and have many good ski schools for those who are just learning or who need to brush up.<br />
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Courcheval also has activities for the non-shier and for after the skiing is over for the day. Other fun activities include walking trails, sledding, hang-gliding, hot air balloon rides, ice hockey and skating. The two higher resorts have great bars and nightlife, with the best ones being in 1850. There is a bar to appeal to everyone, however some of them are quite expensive. For those on a budget that still want to enjoy some evening fun, the restaurants and establishments in 1650 can offer better prices. For families and those on a very tight budget, the lower two resorts are their best bet. The food is still good, the atmosphere is family-friendly, and you can get an aperitif for a reasonable price.<br />
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The kind of clothing you will need in Courcheval is similar to any ski resort. It is best to dress in layers, so that you can remove or add layers as needed. Upscale clothes are recommended for evening activities. Anything you don’t have or forgot is available in the shopping areas of the resorts, but will probably be pricier than at home. It is important to dress sensibly and make sure to avoid exposure to the elements for very long periods of time.<br />
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Courcheval is one choice for those looking for an interesting place to go skiing. Most visitors think it is worth the price and have an excellent time while there. The people are friendly and helpful, and many speak English for the out of town tourist.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271238389697741484.post-66771204691529213872010-10-06T00:08:00.000-07:002010-10-06T00:08:40.770-07:00Visiting paris with kids<b>Visiting Paris with kids can be a great chance to expose them to culture</b>, but you have to learn to take their special needs into consideration.<br />
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We recently did a spur-of-the-moment trip to Paris with our young son. Although he's well-traveled, we weren't sure how to mix kids and culture on a visit to the City of Lights.<br />
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After we decided to take advantage of incredibly low off-season fares through a special saver's program, I had five days to plan the five-day trip for the middle of August. Five days! For our trip to Britain last year, we planned for six months.<br />
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The first thing we did was search the Internet for hotels. Most didn't have online reservations, so we put in requests for information and headed for the bookstore. My husband and I couldn't agree on travel guides, so we bought two: The Complete Idiot's Travel Guide to Paris and Time Out Guide: Paris. Between the two of them, we thought we'd have plenty of information for planning our trip. Wrong!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ8ZQUxmlNJ88B7yHN1MdEZnYzi6l-nnY64ot-Pii-Q3wW5w93ekPbAHR0-RTUGdXEHumq5FFv6mCt06SYjs_1YAnB_mQWQf2PWAtDFbRgebKMZ8TmiGgnbJOBzwnwQZVmhGAZW4Vj7td/s1600/Pictures_of_Eiffel_Tower_black_and_white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ8ZQUxmlNJ88B7yHN1MdEZnYzi6l-nnY64ot-Pii-Q3wW5w93ekPbAHR0-RTUGdXEHumq5FFv6mCt06SYjs_1YAnB_mQWQf2PWAtDFbRgebKMZ8TmiGgnbJOBzwnwQZVmhGAZW4Vj7td/s320/Pictures_of_Eiffel_Tower_black_and_white.jpg" width="214" /></a>The Complete Idiot's Travel Guide to Paris did provide one essential tip: Aparthotels are the best hotel bets for families. These apartment-hotel hybrids, similar to all-suite hotels in North America, can be big money-savers for families of three or more. Our suite had two separate rooms, allowing us to put our six-year old son to bed early and giving us some privacy. It also had a full bath, something you're not likely to get in a typical European hotel. The courtyard exposure and double-glazed windows made for peaceful nights. On the downside, the rooms were more like modern American hotel rooms, lacking the charm of older French hotels.<br />
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The mini kitchen in our room allowed us to keep breakfast and snack food, and could easily have saved us a considerable amount of money on meals if we'd chosen to prepare our own lunches or dinners. We were too tempted by the great restaurants nearby to dine in our room, though.<br />
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Despite the fact that both guides said these section of the city had little to recommend it, we found it charming. We discovered several good restaurants within a few blocks of the hotel, the kind of places that catered more to locals than tourists. In the evenings, performers took up their posts in the plaza, juggling flaming batons, strumming guitars, or miming in classic French fashion.<br />
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<b>Getting Around</b><br />
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Unless you are familiar with French driving, do not plan to drive in Paris. You're much better off using their excellent Metro system. Your feet will thank you, and you won't have to worry about parking. Metro passes are inexpensive, and can be bought individually or for a set number of days. Inquire at the station to find the best options for your trip.<br />
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Don't succumb to the temptation to try and see everything Paris has to offer. Be selective, get input from your kids, and make sure to take plenty of breaks. Remember that vacations are not marathons, and your children will not thank you for making them endure endless museums and mile-long queues.<br />
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Even if you've visited Paris before, you may find that bringing your children will show you a side you've never seen. The French, and perhaps Parisians in particular, dote on children. They are very welcoming toward young visitors of any nationality. In shops, clerks seem to go out of their way to find just the right souvenirs. In restaurants, they may try to accommodate unusual requests more easily than they would for an adult.<br />
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<b>Food</b><br />
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Regarding restaurants in Paris, it's definitely Buyer Beware. Food is very expensive, and meals can take two hours or more, so you want to choose your restaurants wisely when you're traveling with kids. We made the mistake one night of trying a place recommended by The Complete Idiot's Guide, and were very<br />
disappointed. The food was mediocre, the service was awful, and the prices were outrageous. We learned our lesson: ALWAYS read the menu posted outside before going inside. If we'd taken that simple precaution, we'd have realized this placed specialized in duck and liver dishes, leaving nothing our usually adventurous six-year old even wanted to try. We chose safe beef and fish dishes, thinking he could sample our meals, but the beef was tough and strong-flavored, while the fish was bland and over-cooked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXgpc5BJjrY7GUG6X5Nz9dhs-DPVShL0h-y7ISF4BxGeXZX_ly801HznwN4-7vVGECjVFGCQh0GPbpU4S_acMzkI6M_MKWbe5ZRSkGofrmcDmkSrDB0uUqISJb-fZBjnmIAlgN4u98HX_/s1600/French_food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXgpc5BJjrY7GUG6X5Nz9dhs-DPVShL0h-y7ISF4BxGeXZX_ly801HznwN4-7vVGECjVFGCQh0GPbpU4S_acMzkI6M_MKWbe5ZRSkGofrmcDmkSrDB0uUqISJb-fZBjnmIAlgN4u98HX_/s200/French_food.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you want to save money and still have a satisfying, quick lunch, try one of the many creperies. You can order salee (salty) or sucre (sweet), for lunch and dessert. The crepes are large, thin pancakes, filled with savory ingredients like ham and cheese, or Nutella and hazelnuts. Best of all, they're good finger food, and kids love them.<br />
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Another great idea: The plaza near our hotel, in Place des Halles, sported a McDonald's, Pizza Hut, KFC and Chicago Ribs. We found that feeding our son on familiar food before going out to dinner accomplished two things: he got to eat something he recognized and enjoyed, and he was much more patient during the long restaurant meals. While he's not normally a picky eater, he definitely doesn't like long waits for his meals.<br />
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If you want to bring a few taste treats back home, many shops in the Latin Quarter offer gourmet food items packaged for export. You'll also find many delis and shops where you can sample pastries, pates, and other delights.<br />
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<b>Museums and kids:</b><br />
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We knew ahead of time we'd have to limit our time in art museums, which aren't stimulating enough for a six-year old, so we bought a Carte Musee at the Metro station. These passes are a great deal for several reasons: (1) They let you go to the head of the line or use a separate entrance at most museums, with more than 70 museums and monuments included. When you see some of the lines, you'll realize what a time-saver this can be. (2) They can be bought for one, three or five days. Add up the admissions to the museums and monuments you plan to see to find out if it's a good deal. (3) If you have the pass, you're more likely to visit marginal places (some of which are real finds). Plus, you won't feel bad if your kids start whining at the Louvre and you have to leave after two hours, or if your feet are killing you and you just need to go sit down at a café and take a break.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHPGQ3n18_o7M63dHJArk79hQVw0fk6H30X2qt9y2RpG7rOmbbCb_jukOnDRKxRbr7714chiNHK-qZ7l17s4Y1FEBPYy3d2jxnBAtxOlytzXjynq7wGj8kuALv7zZaKapAB_oINGdTODd/s1600/Paris_view_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHPGQ3n18_o7M63dHJArk79hQVw0fk6H30X2qt9y2RpG7rOmbbCb_jukOnDRKxRbr7714chiNHK-qZ7l17s4Y1FEBPYy3d2jxnBAtxOlytzXjynq7wGj8kuALv7zZaKapAB_oINGdTODd/s200/Paris_view_1.JPG" width="200" /></a>The museum pass also allows you to key in on a few highlights rather than struggling to see entire collections in order to get your money's worth. Try to focus on art objects or paintings your kids will recognize and remember. On the way to see the Mona Lisa, for instance, you can enjoy the Louvre's exceptional Renaissance art collection. A brief detour will allow you to browse through the Impressionists while you make your way through the gallery to see Whistler's Mother.<br />
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Our favorite place was one the guide books gave a thumbs-down: the Musee de L'Armee military museum. Although the main attraction here is Napoleon's tomb, that was a mere footnote to our visit. The collection of medieval weapons was what caught - and kept - our attention. Our son, a history buff like his parents, would have gladly spent two more hours touring the weapons collections. I'd read the description, and thought it would be a hit, but our guide books didn't agree. One, The Complete Idiot's Travel Guide to Paris, said the museum was tedious. The other suggested it would be good for weapons buffs, especially the World War I and II collections, which we never even saw. Another bonus: it wasn't crowded at all, so we had plenty of time to browse and enjoy.<br />
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On the other hand, the Musee de Moyen Age was a disappointment. We went there expecting a glimpse into medieval life, but saw mostly artwork and tapestries. It was more a museum of medieval art than a look at the Middle Ages.<br />
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<b>Other sites</b><br />
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Although August is supposed to be the off-season, most of the tourist sites were incredibly crowded. The worst was Versailles, which was so jam-packed with tour groups that we just pushed our way through without pausing to admire the art and architecture: a pity because the palace and gardens are quite beautiful. The crowds and the din of multi-lingual tours detracted too much from the splendor. Add to that the fact that the grounds had three restrooms for about 10,000 visitors, and you have the makings of a real nightmare.<br />
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Ditto for the Eiffel Tower. After spending two hours in line (our pass didn't include this site), we were so pressed and oppressed by the crowds that we couldn't wait to leave. The view may have been magnificent, but we had trouble seeing anything over the heads of all the other visitors.<br />
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The stairs at the Arc de Triomphe are hard on the feet, and may be difficult if you've must maneuver young children and strollers up the narrow staircases. The view at the top is worthwhile, but the kids may not be impressed. Far better, in that regard, is the Notre Dame Cathedral. For one thing, most kids are familiar with the Hugo's story of the hunchback, if only from the Disney film. For another, they'll be so delighted with the gargoyles, they'll probably forget how many steps they had to climb to see them.<br />
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The sewers were supposed to be a sure bet for kids. What they really were was a smelly look at a very modern sewer system, with a little history thrown in. Definitely not worth the trip, especially not since our clothes ended up smelling of sewers for the rest of the day.<br />
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A better bet is the Champs Elysee, which has plenty of shops, arcades, and cafes. Our son especially liked the Lego store; in fact, he seemed to have a sixth sense, unerringly ferreting out the store in a vast arcade of shops. And, while you may not find haute couture, you will find plenty of clothing shops catering to all tastes.<br />
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When you're tired of walking, head for one of the city's many parks. Most have playgrounds, with nearby benches for weary parents. You'll soon realize that language is no barrier, as your kids quickly find playmates. Snacks and drinks are available at kiosks, so you can stay as long as you and your kids need the break.<br />
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Rest assured that, no matter how much planning you put into your trip to Paris, your kids will remember the strangest things: the playgrounds in every park, the pay toilets that are nothing more than holes in the ground, and the fact that you must never, ever walk on the grass.AraGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08776696437664762899noreply@blogger.com0