Charente-Inferieure

Charente-Maritime
Details
Information
Number	17
Region	Poitou-Charentes
Prefecture	La Rochelle
Subprefectures	Jonzac Rochefort Saintes Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Population  - Total (1999)  - Density	Ranked 39th 557,024 81 /km²
Area	6,864 km²
Arrondissements	5
Cantons	51
Communes	472
President of the general council	Claude BELOT
Location

Charente-Maritime is a département of France on the west coast of the country.

History

On September 4, 1941, the Charente Inférieure département was renamed Charente-Maritime.

Geography

The land area is 6848 km².

Neighbouring départements are Gironde (33) in the south, Dordogne (24) to the southeast, Charente (16) to the east and Deux-Sèvres (79) and Vendée (85) to the north.

Charente-Maritime includes the islands Ile de Ré, Ile d'Aix, and Ile d'Oléron.

See also: List of the communes of the Charente-Maritime département

Economy

The economy of Charente-Maritime is based upon three major sectors: tourism, martime industry, and manufacturing.

During the Summer months, families flock from around Europe to bask in the sun and enjoy the locally avaliable seafood. Popular destinations incude, La Rochelle, Rochefort, and Ile d'Oléron. One popular attraction is in Royan.

Fishing is popular here (either professionally or casually) with oysters, mussels, crabs, and other seafood easily avaliable. On the side of professional fishing, 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.

Lastly, La Rochelle is a seat of major French industry. Just outside the city is a factory for the French engeneering giant Alstom, where the TGV, the cars for the Paris and other Metros.

Demographics

Culture

Miscellaneous topics