Charente-Maritime
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robot Adding: [[vo:Charente-Maritime]]
{{Infobox_Department_of_France|
department=Charente-Maritime|number=17|
region=[[Poitou-Charentes]]|
prefecture=[[La Rochelle]]|
subprefectures=[[Jonzac]]<br>[[Rochefort, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]]<br>[[Saintes]]<br>[[Saint-Jean-d'Angély]]|
population=557,024|pop_date=1999|pop_rank=39th|density=81|
area=6864|area_scale=9|
arrond=5|cantons=51|communes=472|
president=[[Dominique Bussereau]]|pres_party=[[Union for a Popular Movement|UMP]]|
img_coa=blason17.PNG|
}}
'''Charente-Maritime''' is a [[departments of France| department]] on the west coast of [[France]] named after the [[Charente River]].
== History ==
'''Charente-Inférieure''' was one of the 83 original departments created during the [[French Revolution]] on [[March 4]], [[1790]]. On [[September 4]], [[1941]], it was renamed Charente-Maritime.
== Geography ==
The land area is [[1 E9 m²|6864]] [[square kilometers|km²]].
Charente-Maritime is surrounded by the departments of [[Gironde]], [[Charente]], [[Deux-Sèvres]], [[Dordogne]] and [[Vendée]].
The department includes the islands of [[Île de Ré]], [[Île d'Aix]], and [[Ile d'Oléron]].
The important rivers are the [[Charente River|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 estuary|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 (drink)|Cognac]] and [[Pineau des Charentes|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, Charente-Maritime|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 Métro|Paris]] and other [[metro]]s are manufactured. It is a popular venue for tourism, with its picturesque [[medieval]] harbour and city walls.
== Demographics ==
The inhabitants of the department are called ''Charentais-Maritimes''.
==Tourism==
[[Image:Meschers-dawn-in-paradise.jpg|left|300|thumb|Sunset in Meschers-sur-Gironde in the Charente Maritime [http://www.betz.lu/index.php/c/2006/09/11/pictures_chalet_des_dunes_meschers_chare]]]
Popular destinations include, [[La Rochelle]], [[Royan]], [[Saintes]], [[Rochefort, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]], [[Île d'Aix]], [[Île de Ré]] and [[Île d'Oléron]].
The department 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, Charente-Maritime|Rochefort]]).
==See also==
*[[Cantons of the Charente-Maritime department]]
*[[Communes of the Charente-Maritime department]]
*[[Arrondissements of the Charente-Maritime department]]
*[[Éclade des Moules]]
==External links==
* {{fr icon}} [http://www.charente-maritime.org/ Charente Maritime website]
* {{en}} [http://www.france-atlantic.co.uk/ Official Tourism Guide of Charente-Maritime ]
* {{fr icon}} [http://www.en-charente-maritime.com/ Official Tourism Guide of Charente-Maritime ]
* {{fr icon}} [http://ubacto.com/ Charente Maritime News]
* {{fr icon}} [http://www.zoo-palmyre.fr/ Zoo de la Palmyre]
* {{fr icon}} [http://www.ile-oleron-marennes.com/ Ile d'Oléron]
* {{fr icon}} [http://www.charente-maritime.images-en-france.fr/ Pictures from Charente Maritime]
* {{en}} [http://www.charente-maritime.wikidot.com/ People, places and events in Charente Maritime]
{{Departments of France}}
[[Category:Charente-Maritime|*]]
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[[id:Charente-Maritime]]
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[[lad:Charente Maritime]]
[[la:Carantonus Maritimus]]
[[lb:Departement Charente-Maritime]]
[[lt:Pajūrio Šarantas]]
[[nl:Charente-Maritime]]
[[ja:シャラント=マリティーム県]]
[[no:Charente-Maritime]]
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[[pl:Charente-Maritime]]
[[pt:Charente-Maritime]]
[[ro:Charente-Maritime]]
[[ru:Шаранта Приморская]]
[[sk:Charente-Maritime]]
[[sl:Charente-Maritime]]
[[sr:Приморски Шарант]]
[[fi:Charente-Maritime]]
[[sv:Charente-Maritime]]
[[vi:Charente-Maritime]]
[[tg:Департаменти Шаранта Приморская]]
[[uk:Шаранта Приморська]]
[[vo:Charente-Maritime]]
[[zh:滨海夏朗德省]]