Charente-Maritime
Encyclopedia : C : CH : CHA : Charente-Maritime
| Charente-Maritime | |
|---|---|
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Details | |
| Information | |
| Number | 17 |
| Region | Poitou-Charentes |
| Prefecture | La Rochelle |
| Subprefectures | Jonzac Rochefort Saintes Saint-Jean-d'Angély |
| -1999 -Population density>Density | Ranked 39th 557,024 81/km² |
| Area | 6864 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.
History
Charente-Inférieure was one of the 83 original départements 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 départements of Gironde, Dordogne, Charente, Deux-Sèvres, and Vendée.
The département includes the islands of Île de Ré, Île d'Aix, and Ile d'Oléron.
The important rivers are the Charente and its tributaries, the Boutonne and the Seugne, along with the Sèvre Niortaise, the Seudre, and the Garonne, in its downstream part, which is the estuary of the Gironde.
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. Cognac and pineau are two of the major agricultural products.
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. It is a popular venue for tourism, with its picturesque medieval harbour and city walls.
Demographics
The inhabitants of the département are called Charentais-Maritimes.
Tourism
Popular destinations incude, La Rochelle, Rochefort, Île d'Aix, Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron.
The département is served by the TGV at Surgères and La Rochelle. It can also be reached by motorway by the A10 (E5, Paris-Bordeaux) and A837 (E602, Saintes-Rochefort).
See also
- Cantons of the Charente-Maritime département
- Communes of the Charente-Maritime département
- Arrondissements of the Charente-Maritime département
External links
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