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France is the largest country in the European Union and the second largest in Europe, France has been one of the world's foremost powers for many centuries. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonized much of North America; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built one of the largest colonial empires of the time, including large portions of North, West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and many Pacific islands. France is a developed country and possesses the fifth largest economy[12] in the world—according to nominal GDP figures. It is the most visited country in the world, receiving 82 million foreign tourists annually.[13] France is one of the founding members of the European Union, and has the largest land area of all members.

Karl