Regions 22 main regions, of which 4 are islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Reunion), French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, SFAT (French Antarctica and Antarctic territory).
Population 65.4 million (2013).
Number of tourists 84.7 million (2013) - the world's number one tourist destination for over 20 years.
3.2 million US tourists in 2013 (+3% compared to 2012), with a similar increase expected in 2014.
Cultural facts.
There are more than 44,000 historical monuments in France.
There are more than 1,140 museums in France. Among them, the Louvre Museum attracts 9.3 million visitors. Seven important museums have opened in France in the last five years:
2010 - Centre Pompidou, Metz (Lorraine)
2012 - Louvre Museum Reims (Pas-de-Calais department)
2013 - MUCEM (Marseille)
2013 - Musee Overlord (Normandy region)
2014 - Musee de la Soulages (South)
2014 - Fondation Louis Vuitton
2014 - Musée de la Confluence (Lyon)
Hotels & Restaurants
In 2013, there were 17,700 hotels in France and 1,430 in Paris.
There are 147,100 restaurants in France, 13,643 of which are in Paris. There are 610 Michelin-starred restaurants in France, 95 of which are in Paris. Nature and environment
France has 118 natural protected areas. 6 acres of agricultural land and forests cover 82% of the country's surface area.
France ranks third among EU countries in terms of forest area, with 26% of its surface area covered by forests. Sweden and Finland lead the way in this respect.
France has 136 tree species, an impressive number for a European country. Wildlife numbers are also increasing, with the number of deer doubling and white-tailed deer tripling in the last 20 years. To protect and enhance France's natural heritage, the Government
9 national parks
156 nature reserves
516 protected areas for flora and fauna
45 regional nature parks (covering more than 7% of the country)
47.7 billion euros have been allocated for environmental protection, three quarters of which is earmarked for wastewater treatment. France is a signatory to a number of international conventions and agreements on the environment, including UN treaties on climate, biodiversity and desertification. The main mountain ranges are the Alps (the highest peak is Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe at 15,871 ft), Pyrenees, Jura, Ardennes, Central and Vosges.
Coastline France is surrounded by four seas: North Sea, English Channel, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The total length of the French coastline exceeds 2,100 miles.
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