The Paris Basin

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.
 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.
SKETCH MAP
 Sketch Map Question
 Draw an outline map of a European region
– not Ireland. Show and name the
following on it:
 Any two physical features in the region.
 Any two urban centres in the region.
 One transport feature in the region.
 (20 marks)
 Physical Characteristics

 Relief

 Soils

 Drainage

 Climate
LAND RIVERS WEATHER SOILS
 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.
 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.

 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.
 Sedimentary rocks – chalk, limestone & sandstone make up
bedrock – allows drainage
 Climate
 Changes as you travel from west to east across the
region but mainly cool temperate oceanic
 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.
 Frontal rain from Atlantic, summer – convectional
 The even distribution of rainfall and the long
growing season are great advantages for
agriculture.
Towns of the Paris
Basin:

• Paris
• Beauvais
• Epernay
• Reims
• Rouen
 Primary Economic Activities.

2 main topics are:

 Agriculture
 Energy Production

 Agriculture is influenced by factors such as:

 Fertile soils
 Mild climate
 Low lying relief
 Agriculture
 Modern & highly mechanised ag sector – employs 4%
 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.
Farm production in different farming areas (pays) of the
Paris Basin
 Differentfarming 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.
 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.
Conditions: Types of farm:
Fertile Limon Soil Intensive farming
Sedimentary rocks Large farms (400Ha +)
Hours of sunshine Brie and Valois: Mechanised
Summer rainfall Clay soils High yields
= crops grow and ripen Pasture land
Dairying
Brie cheese Champagne
Milk/cream to city Region:
Picardy & Artois:
Low lying flat (Wet area)
areas Dairying

Agriculture
Limon soils Cattle breeding
Barley Low lying valleys
Wheat
Sugar beet
Champagne
Dairying in coastal
Ile de France: Region:
areas
‘Granary of (Dry area)
France’ Clay valleys
Low lying centre between chalk
region ridges
Limon soils Well-drained
Wheat Southerly aspect
Supply of bread Viticulture = wine
 Fishing
 Coastline facing English Channel
 Fish central to French cuisine
 Fishing fleets dock in Cherbourg, Le Harve,
Dieppe
 Fishing trawlers go as far as waters around
Ireland & Bay of Biscay
 Demesal, pelagic & shellfish species caught
 Modern technology and ships
 Aquaculture
Energy
 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.
 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 3rd greatest oil-consuming country in
Europe after Germany and Russia and 10th 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.
 Coal 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.
 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.
 SECONDARY ECONOMIC
ACTIVITES
 France is the 6th largest economy in the
world
 One fifth of all manufacturing in France is
in the Paris Basin

 Technological parks in satellite towns

around Paris
 17 universities & other third level regional
colleges
 Secondary Economic Activities
(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 bottling
 Types of industry:

Industry: 20% of workforce employed in industry

Jewellery (Cartier)
Perfume (Yves St. Laurent)
Clothing (Chanel, Dior)
Luxury goods (Louis Vuitton)
Car manufacturing (in Canal St. Denis: Citroen)
Academic printing and publishing (near
Sorbonne university)
Oil/Steel/iron refining (Canal St. Denis)

Large export trade

Fashion industry- skilled labour force
Cosmetics based in cities outside Paris – Decentralisation of
manufacturing, nicknamed the cosmetic valley
 Tertiary Economic Activities.
70% of population
work in this sector
 Tertiary Economic Activities: Tourism

Art - 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 - 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 dinner 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.

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.
Other tourist attractions 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 Normandy landing sites in memorial to WW2

 Transport
Transport in the Paris Basin is key 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.
 The Metro system 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.
THE PEOPLE
Human Processes.
Jean Marie Le Pen
Urban centre
Paris
 Paris city
 Largest urban economy in European
mainland – GDP larger than Switzerland
or Belgium

 Due to
o Location – central, primate city
o Multifunctional city
o Route focus
 Paris – global influence
 9000 foreign companies – 40% of all of
France’s
 European leader in convention centres,
international exhibitions & trade fairs
 Fashion – global exports
 Disneyland Paris – Europe’s most visited tourist
attraction
 HQ of UNESCO, OECD & International Energy
Agency