Biographies Republic French

France, officially the French Republic (French: République française, French spelling: [ʁepyblik fʁɑsɛz]), is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and also has various overseas islands and territories located in other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean to the English Channel and North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. French people often refer to Metropolitan France as "L'Hexagone" ("Hexagon") because of geometric shapes territory. France is a unitary semi-presidensia republic that has no president. Its main ideals are expressed in the Declaration of Human Rights and the Citizen.

France is bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra, and Spain. Due to its overseas departments, France also shares land borders with Brazil and Suriname (bordering French Guiana), and Sint Maarten (bordering Saint-Martin). France is also linked to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel, which is under the English Channel.
France has become one of the greatest power the world since the mid-17th century. In the 18th century and 19th centuries, France built one of the largest colonial empires of the time, stretching across West Africa and Southeast Asia, the region's political and cultural influence. France is a developed country, with the sixth largest economy (nominal GDP) or eighth (PPP) in the world. Is the most visited country in the world, receiving 82 million foreign tourists annually (including business travelers, but excluding people staying less than 24 hours in France).  France is one of the founding countries of the European Union, and has a region The biggest of all members. France is also a founding member of the United Nations, and members of the Francophonie, the G8, NATO, and the Latin Union. Is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations; also a large nuclear power with 360 active warheads and 59 nuclear power plants.