Charente-Maritime
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| Charente-Maritime | |
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| Missing image Blason_france_Charente-Maritime_petit.jpg Coat of Arms de la Charente-Maritime Details | |
| Information | |
| Number | 17 |
| Region | Poitou-Charentes |
| Prefecture | La Rochelle |
| Subprefectures | Jonzac Rochefort Saintes Saint-Jean-d'Angély |
| Population | Ranked 39th
81 /km² |
| Area | 6,864 km² |
| Arrondissements | 5 |
| Cantons | 51 |
| Communes | 472 |
| President of the general council | Claude Belot |
| Location | |
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Charente-Maritime is a département on the west coast of France named after the Charente River.
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History
Charente-Inférieure was one of the 83 original departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. On September 4, 1941, it was renamed Charente-Maritime.
Geography
Charente-Maritime is surrounded by the departments of Gironde, Dordogne, Charente, Deux-Sèvres, and Vendée.
The department includes the islands of Ile de Ré, Ile d'Aix, and Ile d'Oléron.
The important rivers are the Charente, the Sèvre, the Seudre, the Boutonne, the Seugne, the Gironde, and the Garonne.
Climate
The climate is mild and sunny, with less than 900 mm of precipitation per year. Average temperatures vary from 20°C in summer to 5°C in winter.
Economy
The economy of Charente-Maritime is based on three major sectors: tourism, maritime industry, and manufacturing.
During the summer months, families flock from all over Europe to bask in the sun and enjoy the local seafood.
Charente-Maritime is the headquarters of the major oyster producer Marennes-Oléron. Oysters cultivated here are shipped across Europe.
Rochefort is the site of shipbulding and a French naval base.
La Rochelle is a seat of major French industry. Just outside the city is a factory for the French engineering giant Alstom, where the TGV, the cars for the Paris and other metros are manufactured.
Demographics
The inhabitants of the department are called Charentais-Maritime.
Tourism
Popular destinations incude, La Rochelle, Rochefort, and Ile d'Oléron.
The department is served by the TGV at Surgères and La Rochelle. It can also be reached by road by the A10 and A837.
External links
- Charente Maritime website (http://www.charente-maritime.org/)
- Charente Maritime News (http://ubacto.com/)
- Zoo de la Palmyre (http://www.zoo-palmyre.fr/)
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