Charente-Maritime 58497 216669110 2008-06-02T18:03:31Z TXiKiBoT 3171782 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|*]] [[an:Charente Maritimo]] [[frp:Charente-Maritima]] [[br:Charente-Maritime]] [[ca:Charente Marítim]] [[cv:Тинĕс енчи Шаранта]] [[ceb:Charente-Maritime]] [[cs:Charente-Maritime]] [[cy:Charente-Maritime]] [[da:Charente-Maritime]] [[de:Charente-Maritime]] [[es:Charente Marítimo]] [[eo:Charente-Maritime]] [[eu:Itsas Charente]] [[fr:Charente-Maritime]] [[id:Charente-Maritime]] [[it:Charente-Maritime]] [[pam:Charente-Maritime]] [[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]] [[nn:Charente-Maritime]] [[oc:Charanta Maritima]] [[nds:Charente-Maritime]] [[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]]