Rhône-Alpes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rhône-Alpes
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| Country |  France |
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| Dissolved | 1 January 2016 | ||
| Prefecture | Lyon | ||
| Departments |
8+1 Metropolis
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 43,698 km2 (16,872 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(1 January 2014)
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| • Total | 5,645,407 | ||
| • Density | 129.1914/km2 (334.604/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| ISO 3166 code | FR-V | ||
| GDP (2014) | Ranked 2nd | ||
| Total | €207 billion (US$228 bn) | ||
| Per capita | €32,000 (US$35,200) | ||
| NUTS Region | FR7 | ||
Rhône-Alpes was a large administrative region in France. It was located in the eastern part of the country, close to the southern border. The region got its name from the Rhône river and the famous Alps mountain range.
On January 1, 2016, Rhône-Alpes joined with another region called Auvergne to form a new, bigger region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The capital city of Rhône-Alpes was Lyon. Lyon is the second-largest metropolitan area in France, right after Paris. This region was also very important for Europe's economy. It had the sixth-largest economy among all European regions.
Contents
Exploring the Geography of Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes was in the southeast of France. It shared borders with several other French regions. To the north were Burgundy and Franche-Comté. To the west was Auvergne. In the southwest, you'd find Languedoc-Roussillon. To the south, it bordered Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
Mountains and Rivers
The eastern part of the region is home to the mighty Alps mountains. This area borders both Switzerland and Italy. The highest point in the region, and in all of Western Europe, is Mont Blanc. This huge mountain sits right on the border between France and Italy.
The central part of Rhône-Alpes is made up of river valleys. The two main rivers are the Rhône and the Saône. These two rivers meet in the city of Lyon. The western part of the region marks the beginning of another mountain range, the Massif Central.
Lakes and Gorges
Rhône-Alpes also has some beautiful lakes. These include Lake Geneva (known as Lac Léman in French) and Lake Annecy. The Ardèche river flows through the southwest. It has carved out the deepest gorge in Europe, which is a really impressive natural wonder!
Languages and People
Just like the rest of France, French was the only official language spoken in Rhône-Alpes. In the past, people also spoke languages like Arpitan and Occitan. However, these languages are not as common today. The region is also home to many people from different countries. These include immigrants from Armenia, Italy, North Africa, Poland, and Portugal.
Departments of the Region
The Rhône-Alpes region was divided into several smaller areas called departments. These departments were:
Winter Sports History
Rhône-Alpes has a rich history with winter sports. It hosted the Winter Olympics three times! The games were held in:
Images for kids
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The Kiosque Peynet on the Champ de Mars in Valence.
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Castle and rooftops in the old section of Chambéry
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The Palais de l'Isle in Annecy
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The Bastille, 264 m above Grenoble
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Saint-Gervais-les-Bains has been a popular holiday destination since the early 1900s
See also
In Spanish: Ródano-Alpes para niños
