Manufacturing Paris Basin

Introduction:
1. The region that I have studied is the Paris Basin in France.
Physical factors and human factors have influenced the
development of manufacturing in this region.
2. A region is an area of the earths surface that has one or more
characteristics, be they physical or socio-economic, which
distinguish it from other areas.

Physical Factors:
1. Paris is attractive to industry because of its physical factors,
its low-lying landscape and the presence of large rivers make
it one of Europes most accessible cities.
2. The low-lying relief enabled the construction of
communications networks across the region and so it has an
excellent transport infrastructure and low transport costs
which benefit industry.
3. This undulating and flat hinterland of Paris provided sites
where lighter industries could build relatively cheaply, such
as Cosmetic Valley where over 550 companies are now
situated.
4. The River Seine runs through Paris for over 13km and the
city has an inland port with access to the Atlantic Ocean
through the port of Le Havre.
5. The manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock is
located along the Seine as bulky raw materials can be brought
in cheaply on river barges.
6. The regions ample natural resources supply many materials
for manufacturing industries within the Paris Basin, such as
wheat for bread and confectionery, cutting down on import
costs.

7. As a result of the Paris Basins central geographical location

in Europe, trading between neighbouring regions along the
London-Milan axis can be done relatively cheaply.

Human Factors:
1. The well-developed infrastructure and large market of the
Paris Basin has resulted in it becoming a core manufacturing
region in France.
2. The French high-speed rail network (TGV) has its centre in
Paris and the region is also the focus of most French road
networks, resulting in Paris becoming a major nodal point in
France.
3. Paris is also the focus of an efficient rail network operated by
the SNCF, which allows fast and cheap travel across France,
and of an extensive underground network, operated by the
RER.
4. Charles de Gaulle Airport, situated in central Paris, serves the
greater Paris region and is one of Europes major airports,
facilitating Paris to efficiently import goods and materials by
air.
5. Heavy industry such as steel and oil refining, is located along
the regions extensive canal network, along the canal St.
Denis and the canal de LOurcq.
6. The basin has a large market of 22 million people, and with
12 million of these living in the affluent Paris City,
manufacturers have direct access to one of the wealthiest
markets in the world.