The geographical regions and features of France and their cultural significance

France, especially Paris, has a geographical feature that are of important for the people who reside in the region and even the visitors from outside for they offer a wonderful environment that is admirable as well as a platform of studies. Several departments exist in the regions that mark them but not to a limit number for a region.

Activity 1

Indeed, this is a reasonable goal for our class because studying different perspective of France assists Americans learn to appreciate another culture and also apart from better international relation, link liberal education directly for better understanding of our selves. For example we come to appreciate the type of food, clothing, traditions and spiritual life as we compare them with ours. These cultures tend to have similarities and differences but they all originate from a common perspective.

Question 2

Our ideas regarding French civilization may have widely originated from the widely spread documentary television channels. These documentaries bring out a lively perspective of French culture which arise the interest of people towards learning about this culture. An example is U.S.. National Geographic Channel which was launched in 1997.

Question 3

One of the film starts by showing a cultural perspective when Francois meet this beautiful girl called Zaka showing the people you expect to meet in Paris. The other starts by mainly capturing geographical perspective of Paris. The two points-of-view are accompanied by description of the events that are captured. They also involve a media, a person, to provide the information.

Question 4

What surprised me a lot was Paris Catacombs which is an underground chest building. It is a hidden museum which has bones dated centuries ago. I expected to see a tall tower like the one in United States and indeed there was Eiffel Tower which is among the tallest in the world.

Question 5

Alsace impressed me by its Auvers sur Oise which is the final resting place of the great Vincent Van Gogh. Some other interesting things were languages, diet of sauerkraut, Rhine River, and Van Gogh. Never to forget the existing villages of half-timbered houses that overflow with geraniums.

Question 6 (Brittany)

It has a coast that is so much indented with several capes, rias, and cliffs. There is an enormous natural harbor formed by Gulf of Morbihan in addition to forty islands that nearly makes a closed sea. Around 800 islands lie off the mainland, and the one which is the largest is in the south called Belle Ile.

Question 7 (Provence)

There are complicated range of mountains in the west of the Gorge, a meeting point of Pyrennean and Alpine folds. This is where there is Mont Ventoux which is the highest peak in Provence. To the furthest south is the buckled ridge of Montagne Ste Victoire. Toward the east and north of the Verdon there are other mountain ranges like beautiful Estel and Maures, in addition to the pre-Alps mountain wall that is separating the area from the real Alpine France.

Activity 2

Question 1

Location or climate of a place can easily play a role in defining the identity of an area. This is much evidence in Africa which I once visited where most of the areas are either developed or under developed depending the location they are; because of the potential of the area. When the area is located in hilly place or around the mountains the type of vegetation and even the climate will be different with other areas. These areas always have favorable climate for vegetation hence the economic activities might be majorly farming and others related with this kind of climate which boost the development of the area. It can also affect the kind of housing to be built. Regions which are a long deserts experience high temperatures which influences the type of clothing, the economic activities, and the economic income that can sustain the development of that area hence poor housing and lifestyle. Light clothing is used where there are high temperatures like in areas covered by desert and since the vegetation in that area may not do well they become pastoralists.

Question 2 (Provence)

As a fast-flowing frontier river, broad Rhone has dams and it coils snake-like and sluggishly past gravel islets along a broad valley. Provence has a landscape with various kinds of characters and contrasts. A part from the lush river valleys, Provence tend to be associated with less fertile vegetation. The major rivers, especially the Rhone, have alluvial plains that follow along the sides. A dramatic landscape is revealed through Camargue, with a blurred distinction between land and sea, moreover, few of the available wildlife have resemblance with the one in African environment.

I heard about their famous people such as the Nobel Prize writer Frederic Mistral, the prophet Nostradamus. Some of the available foods are: gardianne de taureau (Camargue bull meat cooked in red wine, gibassier (a galette made with fruited olive oil), and anchoiade (southern French fondue with anchovy, capers and olive oil). It came clearly that Provence came about when the Romans made it their first Roman province beyond the Alps and named it Provincia Romana, thereby evolving into the present name.

Question 4(Brittany)

Brittany is to the south by Bay of Biscay while English Channel to the north as well as the waters situated between the western coast, moreover Ushant Island has formed the Iroise Sea. The border of Breton has not been marked with any strong geographical landmark, if not river Couesnon that has separated Brittany and Normandy.

What comes out about Brittany that I heard is that they trace their heritage to migrants of British speakers groups from southwestern Great Britain, as well as Cornwall, during the 3rd to 9th century into Armorican peninsula, thereby named after them Brittany. Famous people are Nobel Peace Prize-winning climatologist Jean Jouzel, the writer Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand, and explorer Jacques Cartier. Food offered include Bretagne's culinary jewels that comes from seafood platters with solely local shellfishes and fishes to the traditional pancakes known as Crepes and Galettes among others.

Discussion 1

What I have learn about French is from our U.S. history which showed west of the Mississippi River as once were part of the Lousiana Purchase and is now French influence. I have knowledge about incorporating the history (military wars), music, food, and excursion sites. What I would like to know is the French language.

Discussion 2

I already know about their great food and that they have another language which they speak. Areas which I know as per now are: their independent, their foods, excursion sites and the Britons people. I have leant this from documentary TV channel, newspapers and magazines. I want to know their good climate one time.

Conclusion

Studying France with its geographical location and the climate reveals a different distinction with some of the region across the world. Every region within France has been favored by its position to some extent.