A core region of Europe Why is the Paris basin a core region A Core Economic Region of Europe A distinct economic core region because of its geology soils agricultural productivity thriving economy and city of Paris ID: 171550
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Slide1
The Paris Basin
A core region of Europe
.Slide2
Why is the Paris basin
a core region?Slide3
A Core Economic Region of Europe
A distinct economic core region because of its geology, soils, agricultural productivity, thriving economy and city of Paris.
Many natural and human advantages for settlement and industrial location. (Relief, climate, soils, accessibility, population).
Over 20 million people live in the region.
A centre of in-migration.
Culturally mixed.
Largest manufacturing centre in France.
Well developed transport network.
Centre of government and decision making in France.Slide4
Sketch mapSlide5
Sketch Map Question
Draw an outline map of a European region – not Ireland – or
a continental /
subcontinental
region.
Show and name the following on it:
1 – any
two
physical
features in the region.
2 – any
two
urban
centres in the region.
(
20 marks
)Slide6Slide7Slide8Slide9Slide10Slide11
Physical Characteristics
Relief and soils
Drainage
Climate
Land rivers weather soilsSlide12
Relief and Soils
Occupies nearly 25% of France.
480km from west to east. 320km from north to south.
A huge down-fold (syncline) in sedimentary rocks created over 400 million years ago. The biggest scarp is called the
Falaise
de France.
Each rock type (clay, chalk, limestone, sand and gravel) has produced different soils which have influenced the type of farming across the basin.
The different farming areas are known as
pays
in French.Slide13
In the centre of the basin, very fertile
limon soil lies on the sands and gravels (North European Plain).
Limon soil
– a fertile
stoneless
soil easily worked by machinery; ideal for the growth of cereals.
Alluvium
– deposited by rivers on their flood plains.
Clay
soils – ‘heavier’ soils and suitable for dairy farming.
This central region is extremely productive and is known as the
Ile De France
.
Most of the area is under
200m in height
and is very suitable to agriculture.
Well known for its cereal production and is often nicknamed the
Granary of France
.
Varied, fertile soils allow a
wide range of farming activities
.Slide14Slide15
Drainage
3
rivers flow across the region.
The
Seine
and its tributaries (
Yonne
, Oise and Marne
) flow north-west through Paris and enters the sea at Le Havre.
The River
Somme
flows across the north of the Paris Basin.
The River
Loire
flows west across the southern edge of the region.Slide16Slide17
Climate
Changes as you travel from west to east across the region.
West –
maritime climate
(sea influence) keeps summers cool (16
deg
) and winters mild (5
deg
), average rainfall of 800mm.
East of region –
continental climate
(no sea influence) with hot summers (19
deg
) and cold winters (2
deg
), less than 700mm of rainfall.
Between the two extremes of maritime and continental climatic regions, there is a
transitional type climate
.
The even distribution of rainfall and the long growing season are great advantages for agriculture.Slide18Slide19
Towns of the Paris Basin:
Paris
Beauvais
Epernay
Reims
RouenSlide20
Primary Economic Activities.
Agriculture is influenced by factors such as:
Fertile soils
Mild climate
Low lying relief
2 main topics are:
Agriculture
Energy ProductionSlide21
Agriculture
Fertile
limon
soil and climate have allowed the production of wheat, barley and maize
cereal crops
throughout the region.
Spring and early summer
rainfall
help crop growth and the
long hours of sunshine
are ideal for ripening crops.
Close to the River Seine,
alluvial soils
also favour
intensive farming
.
Farms are big
(over 400 hectares), mechanised and highly productive.
Large consumer market
– over 21 million people.Slide22Slide23
Farm production in different farming areas (pays) of the Paris Basin
Different farming regions have developed based mainly on the soil types of the region.
The Ile de France
.
Low lying, flat region covered with fertile
limon
soil.
Large farms (over 400 hectares) that produce wheat.
Yields are the highest in France.
Beauce
Limestone upland covered in
limon
soil. Large and mechanised farms.
Main wheat producing region.
Sugar beet also grown.Slide24
Brie and Valois
In these 2 pays, clay soils occur.This soil produces good pasture land.
Farmers here are dairy farmers, famous for cheese (Brie cheese) and butter.
Being so close to the urban area of Paris, they also supply fresh milk to the city.
The Champagne Region.
The chalk ridges are infertile, well drained soils. They have a southerly aspect and are suitable for vines.
It is here around the town of
Reims
that the famous champagne wine is produced.
The production of wine is a specialist type of farming called
viticulture.Slide25Slide26Slide27Slide28Slide29
Types of farm:
Intensive farmingLarge farms (400Ha +)Mechanised
High yields
Agriculture
Conditions:
Fertile Limon Soil
Sedimentary rocks
Hours of sunshine
Summer rainfall
= crops grow and ripen
Ile de France:
‘Granary of France’
Low lying centre region
Limon soils
Wheat
Supply of bread
Champagne Region:
(Dry area)
Clay valleys between chalk ridges
Well-drained
Southerly aspect
Viticulture = wine
Champagne Region:
(Wet area)
Dairying
Cattle breeding
Low lying valleys
Picardy & Artois:
Low lying flat areas
Limon soils
Barley
Wheat
Sugar beet
Dairying in coastal areas
Brie and Valois:
Clay soils
Pasture land
Dairying
Brie cheese
Milk/cream to citySlide30
EnergySlide31
Energy Production
High energy consumption.
Oil and gas are imported through the port of Le Havre where oil refining and petrochemical production form the basis of the economy.Slide32
Oil and Natural Gas
France has small oil reserves at about 150 to 160 million barrels.
They are located in the Paris Basin and in the Aquitaine region.
France is the 3
rd
greatest oil-consuming country in Europe after Germany and Russia and 10
th
greatest in the world.
It has to import 95% of its oil needs.
The Paris Basin does not contain any gas reserves.
Gas is brought by pipeline from gas wells in the Aquitaine Basin to the south and from the Netherlands.Slide33
Coal
Small reserves existed in the south of the region, but in 2004 coal production was phased out completely.
France now imports its coal needs
.
CoalSlide34
Nuclear Energy
France
depends
heavily on its nuclear generating infrastructure for its electricity supply.
75% of French electricity is generated by
nuclear power
and its nuclear generating capacity has increased by about 10% over the past decade.
10 of its 37 power stations are located in and around the Paris Basin.Slide35Slide36
Secondary Economic Activities
SRP’s
(Why the Paris Basin is suitable for industry):
Transport:
Two international airports
River Seine runs for 13km through the city from Paris port to Le Havre port
Channel tunnel to London, UK.
Metro train system
SNCF rail lines
(
Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français)
TGV
Population:
12 million in Paris City
21 million total in region
Agri
raw materials:
Variety of crops grown in region
Cereal crops, dairy, meat, wine
etc
Food processing and bottlingSlide37
SRP’s
(Why the Paris Basin is suitable for industry):
Industry:
20% of workforce employed in industry Jewellery (Cartier)
Perfume (Yves St. Laurent)
Clothing (Chanel)
Car manufacturing (in Canal St. Denis: Citroen)
Academic printing and publishing (near Sorbonne university)
Oil/Steel/iron refining (Canal St. Denis)Slide38
Tertiary Economic Activities.Slide39
Tertiary Economic Activities: Tourism
Tourists to the Paris Basin are attracted due to a number of reasons ranging from sport to culture, history, art, architecture and a well known theme park.
Tourists interested in art are provided for with the world famous
Louvre
museum. This old building with the modern glass pyramid is home to the ‘
Mona Lisa
’ by Da Vinci. Four miles north the artists’ quarter is the location for the former studio of
Salvidor
Dali
.
Architecture also draws many visitors to the area. The
Sacre
Coeur Cathedral on
Montmarte
provides a view of the capital city. The Eiffel tower contains a restaurant and visitor viewing area. The
Notre Dame
Cathedral has an interactive tour for the 800,000 visitors who come each year. Out of the city the old walled town of
Caen
displays reminders of the medieval era.
Sport is another attraction. The city of Paris and France itself was home to the
1998 World Cup
(which France won) and the region includes the world famous
Stade
des France and
Parc
des Princes stadia. The Tour de France always finished under the Arc de
Triomphe
at the end of the Champs Elysees.
The Seine river is home to the daily open-top boat trips and night time diner cruises. This allows tourists to see the length of Paris with areas like the Military museum, La
Gare
station/Museum and the palaces en route. Finally, the rich agricultural practices of the region draw thousands of visitors to the world famous towns of Reims and Epernay for the annual wine tasting festivals.Slide40
Students should note that other tourist attractions not mentioned include:
Paris Fashion week
Shopping the famous Boulevard Hausmann area
Disneyland Paris in Marne la Vallee
The ‘inside out’ museum of modern art the George Pompideau centre
The Normady landing sites in memorial to WW2Slide41
Tourism
Transport in the Paris Basin is a key tertiary activity due to a number of reasons.
The region has two international airports linking Paris to many countries around the world. Charles de Gaulle airport north of Paris and Orly airport which lies south of the capital. Combining with the airports is the Metro system which enables tourists to freely access all areas of Paris city and it directly links to the SNCF rail system in France. This allows over 20 million visitors to visit sites of interest in Paris city each year and attend festivals held in the region. The river Seine travels for 13km through the city. This river is used for open top cruises and night time diner cruises each day.Slide42
The peopleSlide43
Human Processes.Slide44Slide45Slide46Slide47Slide48Slide49Slide50Slide51Slide52Slide53Slide54Slide55
Jean Marie Le PenSlide56Slide57