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PARIS

PARIS — The City of Light. PARIS. Introduction

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PARIS

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  1. PARIS — The City of Light PARIS

  2. Introduction Paris, the capital of France, is located in northern France on both banks of the Seine River, 145 km (90 mi) from the river's mouth on the English Channel. A total of 2,135,300 (2002) inhabitants live in Paris proper, and almost 11 million persons (1999) live in greater Paris (the Ile-de-France region), which is one of Europe's largest metropolitan areas. A city of world importance and the business, historic, intellectual, diplomatic, religious, educational, artistic, and tourist center of France, Paris owes its prosperity in large part to its favorable position on the Seine, which has been a major commercial artery since the Roman period. Climate The climate is characterized by a lack of extremes, with an average temperature of 19 degrees C (66 degrees F) in July and 3 degrees C (37 degrees F) in January. The 585 mm (23 in) of precipitation is well distributed throughout the year, often in the form of a soft drizzle. Economy Paris has been one of the major cities of Europe since the Middle Ages, but the development of the city as it exists today occurred in the second half of the 19th century. Its greatest growth came during a 40-year period after 1850, when the population doubled in size to more than 2 million; it reached a peak in 1921 (2,906,500), after which people began migrating away from the city. Since then, as homes have been replaced by offices in Paris proper, most of the growth has occurred in the suburbs, where a large portion of the blue-collar work force lives. Of a total of 2 million commuters, about half travel daily from the outlying areas to the city center, and half travel from central Paris to the suburbs. The economic activities of Paris overshadow those of any other part of France in importance and complexity. About 65 percent of the nation's bank and corporate headquarters are in the city. Much of the industry in central Paris is of the small-scale craft type, based on skill and most often family owned. Many of these industries make luxury items such as perfumes, furs, gloves, jewelry, toys, clothing, wooden articles, and other high-value goods. Book printing and publishing are major activities in central Paris. Heavier industries are situated in the suburbs. These include the manufacture of automobiles, machine tools, railroad rolling stock, electric and electronic products, chemicals, and processed foods. Construction and the production of building materials are also important. Tourism, however, is by far the city's largest source of income; it is one of Europe's leading tourist attractions. Dominating the skyline of Paris, one of the most famous landmarks in the world — the Eiffel Tower — was built for the Paris Exposition (World's Fair) of 1889,.

  3. Louvre • The world’s greatest art museum. • Contains Asian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, sculptures, paintings and drawings. • Contains the Mona Lisa by da Vinci and The Venus de Milo statue.

  4. Notre Dame • A gothic masterpiece. Notre Dame, conceived by Maurice de Sully, was built between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries (1163-1345). • The famous Parisian church is known for its majesty and stone carvings.

  5. Arc de Triomphe • Built by Napoleon I to honor his military victories and troops in 1806 • Finished in 1836. • Rises above the Place Charles de Gaulle public square.

  6. Eiffel Tower • 984 feet tall • Built in 1889 for the Centennial Exposition (World Fair). • Constructed by Gustave Eiffel.

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