The predominance of plains and low massifs, the location of powerful mountain systems on the outskirts of France and low passes make its territory convenient for the development of internal and external communications. At the same time, mountain ranges stand as a kind of barrier on land borders France in such a way that France, despite its continental location, is, as it were, cut off from the neighboring lands of Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Germany. This fact largely predetermined its borders precisely along the mountain ranges of the largest mountain ranges in Western Europe. The Alps, the Pyrenees, the Ardennes, along with the seashores, eventually formed the territory of France in its modern form.

The relief of France is characterized by great diversity . The lowlands and plains of the west and north of France gradually rise into mountain ranges. The highest of them - the Alps, is located in the south-east of France, gradually rising to the border with Italy and Switzerland. It is here that the highest point of France and Western Europe is located - Mount Mont Blanc (4807m.). The southwestern borders of France are also marked by mountain ranges - the mountain system of the Pyrenees. Their height is somewhat lower than the height of the Alpine ranges, reaching almost 3500 meters.

In order to better imagine the relief of France and the location of the French mountains in spatial terms, you should look at map of the mountain ranges of france , which displays all the main mountain ranges of France.

The relief of France on the map:

Most of France underlain by continental crust, consolidated at the end of the Paleozoic, in the Hercynian tectonic era, and further developed in the platform mode. The exception is French Alps and Pyrenees .

In the Middle Carboniferous, almost throughout France, including the Alps and the Pyrenees, mountainous terrain emerged . Through the extreme north-east of the country (Department of Hop and Pas de Calais) stretches a piedmont trough, which is part of the so-called Coal Canal of Europe; it is filled with a paralic industrial coal-bearing formation of the Middle Carboniferous (Westphalian), located before the Late Carboniferous, and a red-colored clastic formation of the Upper Carboniferous (Stefanian) - lower Permian (Otenian). Intermountain troughs (grabens of the same age) are known in the Massif Central, in the Alps, and at the base of the Paris Basin.

Jurassic Cretaceous, Lower Paleogene formations - shallow marine sediments (sandstones, clays, limestones), general regression begins from the Oligocene, and marine sediments in the Paris basin are replaced by continental ones; in the Aquitaine basin, the marine regime persists until the Miocene inclusive. The Alps in the Triassic still represented part of the epihercynian platform, and at the beginning of the Jurassic rifting took place here, a basin with oceanic crust arose - part of the Tethys; relics of its crust are represented by ophiolites of the Pennine zone, the innermost zone of the Alps. The ophiolites are overlain by the Lower Cretaceous and Upper Cretaceous-Paleogene flysch "brilliant schists". The outer zones of the Alps belonged to the underwater margin of the European continent; on the Hercynian basement, protruding in the so-called Outer crystalline massif, lagoonal sediments of the Triassic and shallow-marine Jurassic, Cretaceous and Lower Paleogene occur. The main deformations of the Alps began at the end of the Eocene and continued until the late Miocene. They were caused by the collision of the Adriatic microcontinent (Apulia) with the continent of Eurasia and led to the formation of an extremely complex cover-thrust structure with a whole system of ridges displaced in the western and northwestern directions.

In the Oligocene - Miocene, between the Alps and the Central Massif, the meridional system of rift grabens of the Sona and Rhone stretched, opening into the Mediterranean Sea; it forms a link in the larger Western European rift system, which also includes the Rhine graben and extends from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. The Pyrenees are connected to the Alps through the latitudinal folded structures of Provence and the Gulf of Lion. They also arose on the Hercynian basement, protruding to the surface in their axial part in a number of massifs; platform development here continued almost until the end of the Early Cretaceous (Albian), after which, on both sides of the Hercynian axis, relatively deep-sea troughs arose on the thinned continental crust with the accumulation of a thick thickness of the Upper Cretaceous - Lower Paleogene flysch. At the end of the Eocene, these sequences underwent intense folding and thrusting; On the territory of France, the formations of the North Pyrenean trough were pushed over the Cis-Pyrenean trough filled with Oligocene-Miocene molasse and closing in the east, bordering the Aquitaine basin.

In the Pliocene, almost all French territory became land ; Armorican, Massif Central and the Vosges experienced uplift. In the Central Massif, it was relatively the most intense and was accompanied by an outbreak of volcanic activity; volcanic apparatuses are well preserved in relief.

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East of the river Rhones pile up ridges french alps , which represent the western part of the highest mountain range in Western Europe - the Alps, with average heights of mountain peaks of 3.5-4 thousand meters. The northern mountain ranges are especially grandiose - Savoy Alps crowned with white caps of snow and glaciers dazzlingly sparkling in the sun.

Formation (orogenesis process) of the Alps was an episodic process that began about 300 million years ago. During the Paleozoic era, the supercontinent Pangea was formed by a single tectonic plate that was formed from several plates during the Mesozoic era, and the ancient Tethys ocean (named after the Greek goddess of the sea Tethys) stretched between Laurasia and Gondwana during the Jurassic period.

Folded structure of the Alps created mainly by the movements of the last 50 million years, which in geology are called Alpine folding. The highest - the axial zone of the Alps is composed of ancient crystalline (gneisses, mica schists) and metamorphic (quartz-phyllite schists) rocks, characterized by a wide distribution of mountain-glacial relief and modern glaciation. The total area of ​​glaciers is over 4,000 km². Glaciers and eternal snows drop to 2,500-3,200 meters. To the north, west and south of the axial zone there are zones of limestones and dolomites of the Mesozoic and younger flysch and molasse formations of the Prealps with medium and low mountain relief.

Transverse valley between Lake Constance and Lake Como Alps divided into higher Western Alps (height up to 4807m, Mount Blanc) and lower and wider Eastern Alps (altitude up to 4049 m, Mount Bernina).

It should be noted that in the French tradition, instead of a single Western Alps, it is customary to single out Western and Central Alps . In this model, the borders between the three parts of the Alps practically coincide with the state ones: The Western Alps end up mostly in France , Central - in Switzerland, and Eastern - in Austria.

It should be said that there is another division of the Alps into regions separated by passes and river valleys. At the same time, many researchers indicate the boundaries of such regions in their own way, which is why these alpine regions overlap each other. On the territory of France there are several such regions: Maritime Alps (the highest point is Mount Argentera, 3297 m), Provencal Alps (Tete de l "Estro (2961 m)), Kotian Alps (Monte Viso (3841 m)), Alpes Dauphine (Bar des Ecrens (4103 m)), Graian Alps (Mont Blanc (4807 m)), located on the territory of 34.2 thousand sq. km.

Western part of the French Alps (Prealps) composed of sedimentary rocks, mainly limestones. In the Prealps, karst rocks are widespread. In the Prealps (Krol) is one of the deepest karst caves in the world with a depth of up to 658 m. Through relatively low passes (1800–2100 m), railways and highways leading to Italy and Switzerland are laid.

The eastern part of the French Alps is higher. Solid crystalline rocks predominate here. It is here, in the French Alps, on the border with Italy, that the highest point of Western Europe is located - mount mont blanc , whose height reaches 4807 m. Powerful glaciers with an area of ​​​​2 thousand square meters descend from Mont Blanc. km. The centuries-old activity of ice, snow and meltwater has led to a strong dissection of the French Alps. The grandiose ridges and rocky massifs are separated by deep and wide valleys with steep slopes, which attracts an increasing number of tourists who love outdoor activities in the form of skiing and paragliding. Under Mont Blanc and Mont Cenis, tunnels over 10 km long each were laid.

Pyrenees, Pyrenees (Spanish Pirineos, French Pyrenees) - a mountain system in the South-West of Europe (in Spain, France and Andorra). The Pyrenean mountain range is an important natural boundary that separates the Mediterranean from Central Europe. Extends from the Bay of Biscay to mediterranean sea approximately 450 km; width up to 110 km (in the central and eastern parts), maximum height up to 3404 m (Aneto peak in the Maladeta massif, Spain).

As a result of mountain-building movements (mainly of Alpine age), the ancient Hercynian core Pyrenees was raised to a considerable height, and the sedimentary strata covering it were crumpled into steep folds, forming thrusts in places. For relief Pyrenees a combination of medium-altitude flat-topped massifs and folded rectilinearly elongated ridges is characteristic. In the highest parts of the mountains, which were subjected to Pleistocene glaciation, the relief acquired alpine forms. Modern glaciation (total area of ​​about 40 sq. km.) is concentrated in Central Pyrenees , composed mainly of crystalline rocks - granites, gneisses, as well as shales, sandstones.

Usually Iberian mountain system divide by three major region: Atlantic (Western), Central (Aragonese) and Eastern (Mediterranean) Pyrenees. Geographically, today the Pyrenees region includes the following departments in France: Aude, Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Upper (Eastern) Pyrenees and Atlantic Pyrenees. In Spain, these are the Basque Country, Navarre, Lleida, Huesca, Girona and Catalonia.

IN Atlantic (Western) Pyrenees belonging to France and Spain, the mountains gradually rise from west to east. The Western Pyrenees are medium-altitude mountains, composed mainly of Mesozoic limestones with separate massifs of crystalline rocks.

Aragonese (Central) Pyrenees belong to Spain. This is their highest part, here are located highest peaks Aneto region (3404 m), Monte Perdido (3348 m), Vinmal (3298 m). The most accessible slopes of the Aragonese Pyrenees lie in Spain. The Somport Pass (1632 m) links Spain with France. A little further south, in the Huesca region, the Sierra de Guerra mountains stretch parallel to the main ridge, this is the southern border of the Pyrenees. From the south, the Aragonese Pyrenees are almost always flooded with sunshine, the mountains here are steep and precipitous, and small wooded valleys stretched between them.

Eastern or Mediterranean Pyrenees , ridges and massifs, the slopes of which are covered pine forests, hollows, belong mainly to Spain and partly to France. Here they are separated by a dwarf, entirely Pyrenean state, the Principality of Andorra. The Eastern Pyrenees are ridges and massifs of crystalline rocks, sandstones, limestones, dissected by intramountain basins with flat bottoms.

Pyrenees mountains and foothills in France - one of the most picturesque regions of the country: green mountains in the west are replaced by snowy peaks and dry foothills in the east, the population is also heterogeneous - there are Basques, Gascons, Catalans, and representatives of the small peoples of Europe. And at the same time, in comparison with the same Alps, the nature here is clean and untouched, there are extensive protected areas, but there are practically no fashionable and ever seething alpine-type resorts, and those that are are small, cozy and oriented for the most part not only for skiers, but also for fans of other outdoor activities. At the same time, the western slopes of the mountains abut against the seaside resort areas Spanish Country the Basques and the French Silver Coast, while the eastern ones face the warm Mediterranean coast. As a result, in Pyrenees you can find conditions for almost any type of recreation, which attracts many tourists here, first of all, the French and Spaniards themselves, who visit the Pyrenees en masse, coming here, most often, on own cars for 1-2 days to admire the mountain scenery.

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Central French massif (le Massif Central) located in central and southern France. It occupies an area of ​​85 thousand sq. km. and is located on the territory of several regions of France: Auvergne, Burgundy, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Midi-Pyrenees and Rhone-Alpes. In the north, it smoothly passes into the flat terrain of the Parisian basin, and in the northwest and west - into the Aquitaine lowland. At the same time, in the southwest and east it has common boundaries with the largest mountain ranges of France - the Pyrenees and the Alps, respectively. It is separated from the Alpine mountain range by a deep valley, and from the Pyrenees by the Languedoc plain.

length Central French Massif from north to south - about 450 kilometers, from west to east - 350 kilometers. The highest height of the Central Massif is 1885 meters (Mount Sancy). There are other peaks exceeding a height of 1800 meters above sea level: Plomb du Cantal (1855 m) - the highest point of the Cantal department and the Cantal mountains; Puy Ferrand (1854 m), located near the top of the Sancy; Puy du Rocher (1813 m); Puy Brunet (1806 m); Puy de Peyre Arce (1806 m), the second highest peak of the Cantal mountains.

Higher and more dissected are central regions massif, in which basalt plateaus with cones extinct volcanoes alternate with plateaus and meridionally elongated river valleys. On the northwest and north, the massif gradually decreases and passes into low plateaus. In the south of the Central French massif there is a karst plateau, in the southeast and east there are a number of mountains and plateaus with steep, strongly dissected slopes. Here the Central French massif is characterized by maximum heights (up to 1700 m) - Cévennes mountains , which break off abruptly, and go to the flat terrain of the Rhone valley and the Languedoc plain.

It is characterized by a hilly relief with traces of former volcanic activity, especially in its central part - Auvergne. Here you can observe numerous giant cones (craters) of extinct volcanoes, which over time turned into lakes or vast lava fields. Thanks to geological activity in the past, the Massif Central de France is famous for its mineral springs- Vichy, Mont-Dore, La Bourboule, etc. The volcanic regions of the Central French Massif are distinguished by the fertility of soils developed on igneous rocks.

The southern part of the Central massif is composed of thick strata of limestones that form Kos plateau . This is a karst area, where depressions, dips, caves and deep gorges cut by riverbeds are quite common. Most major rivers- , Dordogne, . All of them begin their journey precisely on the slopes of the Massif Central, which is, to some extent, the ancestor of many famous rivers in France.

It belongs to the regions of France with a predominance of the urban population (about 60% of the region's population is concentrated in thirty agglomeration cities, which cover a quarter of its territory). There is enough big cities France such as Clermont-Ferrand, Saint-Étienne and Limoges. In addition, thanks to the favorable climate and developed transport network, the population of smaller towns is also growing in the region, which are gradually turning into major centers of the social and economic life of the region: Rodez (more than 49,000 inhabitants), Brive-la-Gaillard (58,000) and Le Puy-en-Velay.

southeastern part Central French Massif in its composition it has the Cévennes mountain chain, which can be distinguished into an independent mountain range, because. the relief here has a slightly different characteristic, nature and age of formation. Here, steep mountain slopes are most common, the age of which is somewhat lower than that of the main "volcanic" part of the Central French Massif, which in turn is reflected, as in climatic conditions, and on the development of infrastructure, which are somewhat different.

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The mountains in France are the southeastern outskirts of the Central French Massif and, at the same time, its highest part. The Cévennes stretch from southwest to northeast for 150 kilometers. They are composed mainly of granites, gneisses, phyllites, shales, and in some places - volcanic rocks. The top surface is plateau-like, the southern and eastern slopes abruptly break off to the Rhone lowland, forming stepped faults; the northern and western slopes are gentle, turning into lowlands, separating from the main part of the Central French Massif.

act as a watershed Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Many of the main rivers of France originate in the Cévennes: Allier, s, belonging to the Atlantic Ocean basin, and Du, Tave, Ardèche, Seze, Gardon, flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. The Cevennes are divided by the Gieres valley into southern and northern.

They break up into numerous mountain ranges: Montaigne Noir (peak de Nord peak 1210 m), Mont de l'Espinuz (1126 m), Lakou (1266 m), Garrigue (943 m), Loser (peak de Finiel peak 1702 m), Margeride (peak Mont de Randon 1554 m), Vivaret (peaks of Gerbier de Jonque 1562 m and Mezen 1754), Cuaron (1061 m) and Velais (1423 m). consist of the Lyonnais (937 m), Beaujolais (1012 m) and Charollais (774 m) mountain ranges and are much lower than the southern Cévennes. The southern Cévennes are dominated by igneous rocks; granites and schists, with the exception of the Garrig Mountains, which are composed of sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic system. In the northern Cévennes, the southern part is formed by granite rocks, and the northern by limestones of the Jurassic system.

economic life The population of the Cévennes region is largely based on green tourism and small-scale farming, mainly raising cattle. The structure of the mountain slopes in the past contributed to the construction of terraces for growing grapes, olive trees, chestnuts and mulberries. The Cevennes were at one time the center of silk production, and many medieval mills still remain landmarks of the local landscape.

Skiing in the Cévennes did not become widespread, because. snow cover in this region is unstable and, despite the mountainous terrain, is short-lived due to low winter precipitation. However, there are also two well-known small ski resorts in the Cévennes, equipped with snow cannons, which help to compensate for the uneven snow coverage of the slopes. These are the resort of Prat Peyrot on the southern slopes of the Aigual and the resort of Blemar on the northern slope of Mount Loser.

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The mountains located on the border of France and Switzerland, in the north-west of the mountain ranges of the Alps, are crescent-shaped and almost exactly repeat the configuration of this mountain range. The length of the mountain range is 340 km. The highest point is Mount Cre de la Neige (Crêt de la Neige), towering 1720 meters above sea level. The Jura Mountains are a natural barrier not only for the two neighboring states, but also for climatic zones. themselves Jura mountains are characterized by the harsh semi-continental climate of the highlands, despite their modest height parameters. The complex geology of the mountains makes this area a reference model for many geological disciplines. That is why the Jura Mountains gave their name to the Jurassic geological period.

located on the territory of 2 countries: France and Switzerland. From an administrative point of view, the Jura Mountains (Massif du Jura) are located within three regions of France and nine French departments: Burgundy-Franche-Comté (departments Du, Jura, Saone-et-Loire and Territory Belfort), Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (departments - Ain, Isère, Haute-Savoie and Savoy) and Grand Est (department of Haute-Rhin). In Switzerland, the Jura Mountains (Massif du Jura) are located on the territory of eight cantons: Argau (Canton d "Argovie), Basel-Land (Canton de Bâle-Campagne), Bern (Canton de Berne), Jura (Canton du Jura), Neuchâtel (Canton de Neuchâtel), Solothurn (Canton de Soleure), Vaud (Canton de Vaud) and Zurich (Canton de Zurich). Jura mountain range continues in Germany with two limestone plateaus of moderate height: the Swabian Albs, located in Baden-Württemberg, and the Franconian Jura, located in Bavaria.

Strongly depends on the topography of the massif. Here you can find areas with humid mountain climate, and with a typical continental. Temperature changes in summer compared to winter are very significant. Cold temperatures and rainfall increase with altitude. Precipitation is abundant throughout the mountain range and is rarely less than 1,000 mm per year. The wettest regions are the highlands of the High Jura with an altitude of more than 1400 meters above sea level, where more than 2000 mm of precipitation often falls annually. From the eastern part of the Jura massif is characterized by a slightly lower amount of precipitation. In winter, at an altitude of over 800 meters above sea level, precipitation falls in the form of snow. However, during warm winters, permanent snow cover is established only at an altitude of over 1400 meters. In terms of temperatures, the Jura is divided into two main regions: the southwest, with mild and humid winters and hot summers, and the northeast, with cold winters and cool summers. Temperatures can vary greatly by season and from one place to another. Some valleys are affected by the "cold bowl", where the absolute cold record of the Jura was recorded in the town of Brevin, Switzerland, -41.8 degrees. (1987). Within the French Jura, the absolute coldest record was recorded by the Météofrance service in the city of Mut, and amounted to -36.7 ° C (January 13, 1968). In the same city, a record heat for the French Jura was also recorded: the air temperature reached + 35.7 ° C (July 31, 1983).

Northern regions of the Jura belong to the main European watershed, separating the rivers of the Rhone and Rhine basins. The southwestern region has only a local watershed belonging to the Rhone. To the basin of the Rhone belong Venoge, Valzerina, Ain and Du; the Rhine basin includes the Bir, then the Ziel and others that flow into the Aar. There are large lakes: Neuchâtel and Biel, however, most of the region's lakes are quite small (for the most part, these are trough lakes with monotonous shores, such as Lake Sainte-Pointe in the Doubs River basin and Joux Lake in the Orba basin).

Economic life of the population in the Jura region revolves around agriculture, mining and several manufacturing industries. Agriculture is developed mainly in the valleys of the mountain soles and foothills, where grapes and nuts are cultivated, among other things. The Jura mountain range is mined for building stone (Solothurn marble), lithographic slate, gypsum, rock salt, asphalt (in Val Travere), brown iron ore, marl and clay. The region has a low population density. Only the industrial highlands of Waadt and Neuchâtel, as well as the fertile plateaus of the mountainous regions of the Jura, are more densely populated. In addition to agriculture, cattle breeding and mining, the main sources of income are the production of iron and steel goods in the French departments of Jura and Doubs, the manufacture of watches in the Waadt, Neuchâtel and Bernese Jura and in the French department of Doubs, the manufacture of toys near St. Croix, cement production and processing vermouth in Val Travere, glassmaking and papermaking in the Beer valley.

Skiing in the Jura is not widespread, because. snow cover in this region is unstable and, despite the mountainous terrain, is short-lived. However, this does not mean that this type of sports recreation is not offered here. The main entertainment for tourists here are horse riding, cycling and hiking, downhill from the mountains on snowshoes.

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Vosges mountains - a mountain range located in the north-east of France, parallel to the Rhine, on the west bank. The Vosges are located north of the city of Belfort, near the sources of the Moselle, in straight high precipitous mountains, without connecting spurs with the Jura, and stretches north to the sources of the Lauter river. The total length of the Vosges mountain range, including the northern spurs located in Germany, reaches 830 km with a width of 40-60 km. Like the Black Forest in Germany, the Vosges drops steeply to the Rhine valley, on the other hand, it slowly drops to the Lorraine plateau, crossed by numerous chains of hills. The Vosges is predominantly composed of granite, gneiss, variegated Triassic sandstone, red Permian bedrock, porphyry, melafir, and conchoidal limestone.

Vosges can be conditionally divided into two parts: southern, higher, and northern. The average height of the southern Vosges is 950 m. Not far from the beginning of the chain, to the north of the Belfort Passage, rises Mount Borenkopf (1074 m), the domed peaks of Zhiromagny, or Balon d "Alsace (1,274 m), and Balon de Cervans (1,216 m Adjacent to this group of medium-altitude mountains is the westward-facing Faucille chain, so named for its sickle shape. Fossil connects the Vosges with the Langres plateau. Further, the chain rises to the domed summit of Grand Ballon, the giant of the Vosges (1423.7 m), then the mountains Storkenkopf (1366 m) and Rotenbachkopf (1316 m.), Altenkraekopf (1277 m.) are located. Several French rivers originate in the valley adjacent to these mountain ranges - Mörtha, Valogne and Moselotte. , small picturesque lakes are widespread here.

Northern Vosges below the south. The highest point is Mount Rocher de Mutzig - 1,010 m. A little lower is Mount Donon (1,009 m). The northern Vosges gradually decrease, and at the wide Saverne (Saverne) passage they are only 380 m high, and further north they gradually pass into the Lorraine Plateau with a height of 220 to 320 meters above sea level.

Climate Vosges unstable, and as in the Jura region, strongly dependent on the topography of the massif, as well as on the weather conditions formed in the Alps. The Vosges are marked by heavy rainfall, which affects the well-developed river network of the region. The western slopes, dominated by the eastern masses from the ocean coast, are occupied mainly by forests and pastures. At the same time, on the eastern slopes of the Vosges (Alsace), continental air masses have a noticeable influence, which makes it possible to cultivate vineyards in these areas, which are distinguished by a dry and warm climate.

In the Vosges there are practically no large industrial enterprises, as well as large cities. The largest cities are Colmar and Mulhouse. There are a few other very small towns with industrial enterprises of local caliber. Large-scale production in the Vosges was never opened, thanks to which the wild nature was preserved here in good condition. This is one of the few places in Western Europe where roe deer, wild boars, deer live in the wild, and 60% of the territory is covered with forests.

The weak level of urbanization, in turn, contributes to the tourist attractiveness of the Vosges. The Central and Southern Vosges is a world-famous resort area and a pan-European center for winter sports. Regional Natural Park "Northern Vosges" - protected area, listed world heritage UNESCO.

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High and Low Ardennes . The high Ardennes lie to the north of the river Ourth, here you can find the highest peaks, reaching heights of over 600 m. The highest point of the Ardennes is also located here - Signaal van Botrange (694 m). Another peak is located in the north of the province of Luxembourg - Baraque de Fraiture (652 m). The Low Ardennes are in the southwest, in southern province Hainaut, Namur and Luxembourg, and in the western part of France. Here, as a rule, not high mountains and hills up to 500 meters above sea level. Geologically, the Ardennes deserve great attention; beginning with the Cambrian deposits and up to modern formations, here one can find sediments of all geological systems, of which others are very completely and very well represented.

As well as the Vosges, they are distinguished by a large degree of forest cover. Forests, mostly deciduous (oak, beech, ash, aspen), rarely spruce, adorn the slopes of the mountains, covered with a thicker soil layer; in other places there are only pastures, bushes, as well as wastelands and swamps. Only in the north and west, where the Ardennes merge with the plains, is agriculture possible. The deep, sometimes narrow, rocky valley of the Meuse between Mézières and Namur cuts through the entire Ardennes from south to north. The same transverse valleys form Urta and Sur (Ourthe, Sure). Agriculture is also developed in the valleys.

Climate in the Ardennes due to the terrain and altitude - there is more precipitation here than on the adjacent plains (in winter, snow cover is retained for up to several weeks a year). In the Ardennes, the influence of the sea slightly decreases, here the climate becomes more continental, although frosty and snowy winters are rare here. The average January temperature for the Ardennes is slightly lower - 1 degree; and in general, the region is characterized by 120 frosty days a year. The average July temperature is +14 degrees. The annual rainfall in the Ardennes, where damp winds are held back by mountains, reaches 1500 mm.

Very important industrially. They are used as a source of building stone. In addition, deposits of roofing slates, iron, zinc and lead ores have been discovered and developed. Particularly rich in minerals are the northern regions of the region, between Luttich and Valenciennes, which are rich in coal deposits that support the industrial activity of Belgium.

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