Overseas departments of France: description, history and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

France is a state in Western Europe, but its borders are not defined only by the Eurasian continent. The property of this country is located in various parts of the globe. Where are the overseas departments and territories of France located and what are they? Find out in this article.

French overseas possessions

The Republic is located in the west of the Eurasian continent surrounded by Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Andorra and Monaco. In the south it is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean.

France is a presidential-parliamentary republic. The administrative division of the state is quite complex and includes regions divided into departments with cantons and districts, as well as communes. In addition, there are territories and overseas departments of France.

The state's non-continental lands are former colonies. They are located on islands in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indianoceans. Administratively, areas, overseas and special communities are sometimes distinguished among the territories.

Territories and overseas departments of France (list)

The amount of French land outside the continent has not always been the same. Many territories, for example, as part of Algeria, lost French control in 1959 and 1962. Some lands remain disputed.

Madagascar claims the French Esparce Islands, Suriname claims French Guiana, the Comoros claim the island of Maiore (Mayotte), Vanuatu claims two islands in New Caledonia. France, in turn, announced a claim to Adélie Land, which is located in Antarctica. The global community has so far rejected all claims.

The current overseas departments of France are shown in the table below.

Name	Region
Reunion	Indian Ocean
Guadeloupe	Caribbean
Guiana	South America
Martinique	Caribbean
Maiore	Indian Ocean

As such, there are only two overseas territories of the state.

Name	Region
Clipperton	Pacific Ocean
French Southern and Antarctic Territories	Indian Ocean

Other lands are often referred to as overseas territories of France, although they have different statuses and rights.

Name	Region	Status
St. Barthelemy	Caribbean	Overseas Community
Saint Martin	Caribbean	Overseas Community
Woliss and Futuna	Pacific Ocean	Overseas Community
French Polynesia	Pacific Ocean	Overseas Community
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	North America	Overseas Community
New Caledonia	Pacific Ocean	Special administrative-territorial entity

The difference in statuses and rights

French overseas possessions are territories that belong to the state, but are removed from it at considerable distances. Currently, they are not colonies, and their inhabitants have all the rights of French citizens. Overseas populations can move freely within the European Union area.

French overseas departments by politicalstatus equal to the departments on the continental part of the country. In the country's constitution, they also appear as regions. In each of them, a regional council is formed, whose members can be members of various national structures (the Senate, the National Assembly) with the rights of ordinary French citizens.

Overseas communities differ from departments in wider rights. They have their own social security system, customs and fiscal independence. Communities are not subject to the laws of mainland France. They have an autonomous government and are not affiliated with the European Union.

History

From the beginning of the 16th century, France became a strong colonial state. Controlled territories were located in all regions of the world. The colonies were both separate islands in the middle of the oceans, and the continental lands of Canada, Africa, etc. Until now, in many African countries, French is the state language.

The modern overseas departments of France were only colonized in the 17th century. Their lands were used as plantations for growing sugar cane, tea and other products. Slaves brought from Africa served as labor force.

After World War II, some territories repeatedly changed their status. Some of the lands were declared departments, including Algiers. After a long struggle, the country managed to win back its independence.

The territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon first becamedepartment, but later changed to community.

It took a relatively long time to resolve the issue with the Comoros. France captured them at the beginning of the 19th century. The government of the islands organized a referendum where everyone except Mayotte voted for independence. With the support of the UN, the Comoros gained independence, and Mayotte remains part of France to this day.

Interesting places and facts

It is difficult to give a general description of all overseas possessions. They are located in different parts of the planet, have different climates, nature and population. Approximately 3 million people live outside the continent. The main occupation for many is the service sector, because these regions are popular among tourists.

French Guiana is a French overseas department in South America. It is the largest department in the state. Unlike other territories, it is located on the continent. Reeds and fruits are grown here, minerals are mined. Tourists are attracted here by national parks and reserves located in tropical forests.

Other overseas territories are not far behind in attractiveness. New Caledonia is often called one of the most beautiful places in the world. People come to Guadeloupe for diving, walks in the national park, and to see the La Soufrière volcano. The most densely populated area, Reunion, also has a unique nature. There are several nature reserves, a meteorological station and a volcanic laboratory.

Conclusion

Amongoverseas territories of France - departments, communities, territories with a special status. All of them have different rights and powers. Most of the territories are located in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans, the largest department, French Guinea, is located on the continent of South America.

Overseas territories are far removed from France, but are controlled by it. They are former colonies that the state took over between the 16th and 19th centuries. Territories differ in population composition, local customs, culture and economic level. Recently, tourism has been actively developing in most lands.