By area
| Name | Location | Area (km 2) | Area (sq mi) | |
| 1 | Grande-Terre (mainland of New Caledonia) | New Caledonia | 16,372 | 6,321 |
| 2 | Corsica | Mediterranean Sea | 8,680 | 3,350 |
| 3 | Grande-Terre | Kerguelen Islands | 6,675 | 2,577 |
| 4 | Réunion | Réunion | 2,512 | 970 |
Which Island in the Mediterranean does France own?
Mar 21, 2020 · Caribbean French West Indies: French-owned islands in the Caribbean include Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy, the Windward Islands and Saint Martin. Click to see full answer. Likewise, which two countries Islands in the Pacific are administered by France today? French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna (Pacific Ocean)
What island is and official part of France?
24 rows · Green Island (Fortune), Newfoundland and Labrador ("Île Verte") (uncertain sovereignty between ...
What are some territories owned by France?
Jan 29, 2010 · possess islands in the Caribbean Sea. France and the Netherlands share possession of the Antilles, the United Kingdom possesses the British Virgin Islands, and the United States possesses the US...
Which islands are owned by the United Kingdom?
Feb 27, 2017 · The world's oldest condominium is Pheasant Island. It sits in the Bidasoa River between France and Spain just a mile or two from the Bay of Biscay, east of San Sebastian. Pheasant Island has been...
How many islands does France own?
listen); French: Polynésie française [pɔlinezi fʁɑ̃sɛz]; Tahitian: Pōrīnetia Farāni) is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole overseas country. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in the South Pacific Ocean.
What islands in the Caribbean are owned by France?
The four French Caribbean islands -- Martinique, St. Barts, Guadeloupe and St. Martin -- offer an experience that blends laid-back relaxation with a sophisticated vibe, complemented by amazing food that showcases the best of Creole and French cuisine.
What countries do France own?
Everything You Need to Know About the Overseas Territories of...Saint-Martin.Guadeloupe.Martinique.Saint-Barthélemy.French Guiana.Saint Pierre and Miquelon.Wallis and Futuna.French Polynesia.More items...
What island did the French steal?
Clipperton IslandNative name: Île de Clipperton (French)Highest pointClipperton RockAdministrationFranceState private propertyÎle de Clipperton13 more rows
Is French Guiana France?
French Guiana, overseas territorial collectivity of France, situated on the northeastern coast of South America. French Guiana is bounded by Brazil to the south and east, Suriname to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the northeast. The capital is Cayenne.
Is Guadeloupe French territory?
Since 1974 Guadeloupe has had the status of a full région of France. The territory of Guadeloupe is divided into two arrondissements (Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre), which are in turn divided into cantons and communes, each administered by an elected municipal council.
Is Canada owned by France?
Jacques Cartier claimed territory for France in 1535 during his second voyage of discovery, asserting possession in the name of the French king, Francis I. The colony remained a French territory until 1763, when it became a British colony known as the Province of Quebec....Canada (New France)CanadaGovernmentMonarchyKingGovernorHistory18 more rows
Does France have any islands?
The Islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Atlantic Ocean) Reunion island, Mayotte, the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Indian Ocean)Mar 31, 2022
Does Tahiti belong to France?
Tahiti, in the Society islands, became a French colony in 1880. France later annexed other islands to form the French Colony of Oceania. In 1946 the islands became an overseas territory and in 2004 gained "overseas country" status.May 22, 2018
Who owned Haiti?
The island was initially claimed by Spain, which later ceded the western third of the island to France. Prior to gaining its independence in 1804, Haiti was the French colony of Saint-Domingue.
How much did Haiti pay France?
$21 BillionIn 1825, Haiti Paid France $21 Billion To Preserve Its Independence -- Time For France To Pay It Back.Dec 6, 2017
Does Haiti speak French?
While French and Haitian Creole both serve as official languages in the country, French is spoken by a very slim minority (most sources estimate between 5% and 10% of Haitians speak French fluently and use it regularly in their day-to-day lives).Sep 7, 2021
Who is responsible for the defence of the islands?
France is responsible for the defence of the islands. The Gendarmerie maritime has maintained a patrol boat, the Fulmar, on the islands since 1997. Law enforcement in Saint Pierre and Miquelon is the responsibility of a branch of the French Gendarmerie Nationale; there are two police stations in the archipelago.
How many islands are there in Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
Located off the western end of the Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula, the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon is composed of eight islands, totalling 242 square kilometres (93 sq mi), of which only two are inhabited.
What is Saint Pierre?
Saint-Pierre is French for Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen. The present name of Miquelon was first noted in the form of Micquetô, Miqueton or Micquellon in the French Basque sailor Martin de Hoyarçabal 's 1579 navigational pilot for Newfoundland, Les voyages aventureux du Capitaine Martin de Hoyarsabal, ...
Where is ice hockey played?
Ice hockey is very popular in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, with local teams often competing in Newfoundland-based leagues. Several players from the islands have played on French and Canadian teams and even participated on France men's national ice hockey team in the Olympics.
What are the most common animals in the Grand Barachois Lagoon of Miquelon?
Seabirds are the most common fauna. Seals and other wildlife can be found in the Grand Barachois Lagoon of Miquelon. Every spring, whales migrating to Greenland are visible off the coasts of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Trilobite fossils have been found on Langlade. The stone pillars off the island coasts called "L'anse aux Soldats" eroded away and disappeared in the 1970s. The rocky islands are barren, except for scrubby yews and junipers and thin volcanic soil. The forest cover of the hills, except in parts of Langlade, had been removed for fuel long ago.
How big is Saint Pierre Island?
Saint Pierre Island, whose area is smaller, 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi), is the most populous and the commercial and administrative center of the archipelago. Saint-Pierre Airport has been in operation since 1999 and is capable of accommodating long-haul flights from France.
What are the ruins of Acadia?
Ruins show that Indigenous American people visited the archipelago on fishing and hunting expeditions before it was colonized by Europeans. The current population is the result of inflows of settlers from the French ports, mostly Normans, Basques, Bretons and Saintongeais, and also from the historic area of Acadia in Canada ( Gaspé Peninsula, parts of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton) as well as Francophones who settled on the Port au Port Peninsula on Newfoundland.
What was the first French colonial empire?
A series of wars with Britain during the 18th century and early 19th century, which France finally lost, almost ended its colonial ambitions in these regions, and without it what some historians term the "first" French colonial empire. In the 19th century, starting with the conquest of Algiers in 1830, France began to establish a new empire in ...
What was the second largest colonial empire in the world?
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the French colonial empire was the second largest colonial empire in the world only behind the British Empire; it extended over 13,500,000 km 2 (5,200,000 sq mi) of land at its height in the 1920s and 1930s. In terms of population however, on the eve of World War II, France and her colonial possessions totaled ...
Where is the French Polynesia?
French Polynesia. Evening falls on the harbor at Papeete, Tahiti. French Polynesia geographically is the largest overseas collectivity of France, taking up an enormous swath of the Pacific Ocean, if you include territorial waters. It consists of 118 atolls and islands, 67 of which are inhabited.
How many overseas collectivities does France have?
French Overseas Collectivities. Most, but not all, of the remaining populated parts of overseas France are called overseas collectivities. France currently has five overseas collectivities—each one has representation in the French Parliament and can vote for president, but its status is not quite that of a region.
What is the smallest Caribbean island?
Saint Barts is the smallest of the French Caribbean islands, with a population of under 10,000 people. It’s mostly known as a high-end vacation retreat for the rich and famous. Formerly a Swedish colony, it was given back to France in 1878, hence the name of the capital city is a very non-French “Gustavia.”
How many regions are there in France?
France is divided into 18 regions, which are fundamentally similar to what’s referred to as states or provinces in other countries. Of those total regions, 13 are located in Europe (12 in mainland France and one in Corsica). These are collectively referred to as Metropolitan France.
Which country has the lowest population density?
Only Mongolia and Greenland have lower population densities. Its low population is primarily due to the fact that most of the land is a thick, impenetrable rainforest. This part of Overseas France is best known as the launch location for the European Space Agency because its the closest part of the EU to the Equator.
Where is Réunion located?
Réunion is the other overseas region of France, and the largest overseas region in terms of population, with over 850,000 inhabitants. A single island, it’s located 680 km (420 miles) off the east coast of Madagascar and is approximately 100 miles from the nation of Mauritius.
Is France a country?
France is just a single country, which happens to be scattered all over the world. The non-European parts of France are collectively called the Départements et Territoires D’outre-mer or, the Departments and Territories Overseas.
Where is Pheasant Island?
Pheasant Island from the International Bridge over the Bidasoa river. On the left Irun, Spain; on the right Hendaye, France. Louis XIV of France and Philip IV of Spain meeting on Pheasant Island for the Treaty of the Pyrenees.
What was the most important event in the history of the island of Pyrenees?
The island as seen from the Spanish side. The most important historical event to have taken place on the island was the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees . This was the climax to a series of 24 conferences held between Luis de Haro, a Grandee of Spain and Cardinal Mazarin, Chief Minister of France, in 1659 following the end ...
Who was Louis XIV's wife?
1659 – Louis XIV met his future wife Maria Theresa of Spain (1638–1683); they were the parents of le Grand Dauphin; a year later – at the Meeting on the Isle of Pheasants – she said farewell to her father, Philip IV of Spain and much of the Spanish court, before crossing into France to become the consort of Louis XIV.
How many islands are there in Saint Pierre?
It has one island that’s actually two islands! Perhaps the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon should be known as Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and Langlade. The largest island is technically known as Miquelon-Langlade, and it is dumbbell shape, the northern portion being Miquelon and the southern portion being Langlade.
What was the role of Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the American prohibition?
During the 1920s and the American prohibition, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon featured prominently in efforts to smuggle alcohol into the US, with infamous mobsters setting up operations on the island. In fact, even Al Capone used the islands, and was a client of Hotel Robert, a hotel that still operates to this day.
Is Newfoundland in the 30 minute time zone?
You can travel through time. Newfoundland is known for its own quirky 30 minute time zone, but Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is something else entirely. They too have their own time zone, this one being 30 minutes ahead of Newfoundland time.
Do people in Newfoundland have European license plates?
While it may not be an everyday occurrence, it is not uncommon to see cars with European license plates in Newfoundland , making it the only place in North America that you will see this with any regularity!
Is Newfoundland part of Canada?
Just off the coast of Newfoundland is a collection of islands that are not part of the province. Indeed, they are not even Canada! Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are the last piece of French territory in North America. They are quite distinct from Newfoundland and Labrador, making them a must visit.
Overview
Demographics
The total population of the islands at the January 2016 census was 6,008, of which 5,412 lived in Saint-Pierre and 596 in Miquelon-Langlade. At the time of the 1999 census 76% of the population was born on the archipelago, while 16.1% were born in metropolitan France, a sharp increase from the 10.2% in 1990. In the same census, less than 1% of the population reported being a foreign national.
Etymology
Saint-Pierre is French for Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen.
The present name of Miquelon was first noted in the form of Micquetô, Miqueton or Micquellon in the French Basque sailor Martin de Hoyarçabal's 1579 navigational pilot for Newfoundland, Les voyages aventureux du Capitaine Martin de Hoyarsabal, habitant du çubiburu: "Giſant le cap de Breton & le pertuis de Miqueton est oest, y a 42 l. [leagues]" ... "Gisant la Colombe de S. Pierre le …
History
Archaeological evidence indicates that native peoples, such as the Beothuk, visited St Pierre and Miquelon, but it is not thought that they settled on the islands permanently.
On 21 October 1520 the Portuguese explorer João Álvares Fagundes landed on the islands and named the St. Pierre island group the 'Eleven Thousand Virgins', …
Politics
Since March 2003, Saint Pierre and Miquelon has been an overseas collectivity with a special status. The archipelago became an overseas territory in 1946, then an overseas department on 19 July 1976, before acquiring the status of territorial collectivity on 11 June 1985. The archipelago has two communes: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon-Langlade. A third commune, Isle-aux-Marins, existed …
Geography
Located off the western end of the Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula, the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon comprises eight islands, totalling 242 square kilometres (93 sq mi), of which only two are inhabited. The islands are bare and rocky, with steep coasts, and only a thin layer of peat to soften the hard landscape. The islands are geologically part of the northeastern end of the Appalachian …
Economy
The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing the fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The climate and the small amount of available land militate against activities such as farming and livestock raising (weather conditions are severe, confining the growing season to a few weeks, and the soil contains significant peat and claya…
Culture
Every summer there is a Basque Festival, which has demonstrations of harrijasotzaile (stone heaving), aizkolari (lumberjack skills), and Basque pelota. The local cuisine is mostly based on seafood such as lobster, snow crab, mussels, and especially cod.
Ice hockeyis very popular in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, with local teams often competing in Newfoundland-based leagues. Several players from the islands have played on French and Cana…
in Africa
- East Africa and the Indian Ocean
1. Madagascar (1896–1960) 1.1. Kingdom of Imerina(protectorate) (1896) 2. Isle de France (1715–1810) (now Mauritius) 3. Djibouti (French Somaliland) (the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas) (French Somalia) (1862–1977) 4. Mayotte(1841–present) 5. Seychelles(1756–18… - French Equatorial Africa
1. Chad(1900–1960) 2. Oubangui-Chari (currently Central African Republic) (1905–1960) 2.1. Dar al Kuti(protectorate) (1897) (in 1912 its sultanate was suppressed by the French) 2.2. Sultanate of Bangassou(protectorate) (1894) 3. Present-day The Republic of Congo, then French Congo(187…
in The Americas
- Present-day Dominican Republic(1795–1809)
- Canada
- Present-day United States
in Asia
- French Indochina
- India and Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Basilan(1845)
in Oceania
See Also
External Links
Legal Status of French Territories
French Overseas Regions
- France is divided into 18 regions, which are fundamentally similar to what’s referred to as states or provinces in other countries. Of those total regions, 13 are located in Europe (12 in mainland France and one in Corsica). These are collectively referred to as Metropolitan France. The other five regions are overseas regions and have equal status with other regions that might come top …
French Overseas Collectivities
- Most, but not all, of the remaining populated parts of overseas France are called overseas collectivities. France currently has five overseas collectivities—each one has representation in the French Parliament and can vote for president, but its status is not quite that of a region. A good analogy for these might be the territories of Canada or Australia. That means these overseas col…
French Overseas Territories
- Let’s talk about France’s position in the south. Really far south. There’s one place in the world considered a French territory in the traditional sense of the word, and that’s the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises). This territory is entirely uninhabited and consists mostly of small islands in the Indian Ocean. These islands have no rep…
Special Status Islands
- New Caledonia is a territory that was granted statut particulierin 1998. It’s considered neither a region nor a collective of France. During the 1980s, there was a great deal of violence and political turmoil on the island. That culminated in the 1998 Nouméa Accord, which created a special status for the territory and mandated that a referendum would take place in 20 years. That referendum …
Populated Parts of Overseas France
- For all practical purposes, 11 distinct parts of overseas France are populated and can be visited. I’ve personally visited seven of the 11 places on an island-hopping journey of the Caribbean, and I hope to visit the remaining four over the next several years. All of these populated territories are in or border the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, or the Indian Ocean.