Nord-Pas-de-Calais

I

Introduction

Nord-Pas-de-Calais, administrative region, northern France. It is bordered on the north-west by the English Channel, on the north and east by Belgium, and by the French region of Picardy to the south. The region is divided into two departments—Nord and Pas-de-Calais—and has a total land area of 12,414 sq km (4,793 sq mi).

II

Physical Geography

The main rivers of Nord-Pas-de-Calais are the Schelde, Sensee, Canche, and Scarpe. The Schelde, known as the Escaut in France, rises near the town of Gouy in Picardy and flows through the east of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, passing the towns of Cambrai and Valenciennes. The region is low-lying and flat with much of it below sea level; in the south-west and south-east are the Cambrais and Avesnois hills, although elevations rarely rise above 200 m (660 ft). The coastline between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Calais is known as the Côte d’Opale, and is characterized by sheer chalk cliffs. Cape Gris-Nez, a promontory that extends into the Strait of Dover, is the closest point of France to the British Isles.

III

Population

Around 4,048,000 people live in Nord-Pas-de-Calais (2007), making it the fourth most populated region in the country. The region is densely populated—the average population density is 324 people per sq km (839 per sq mi) and over 80 per cent of the population is urban. The regional capital is the city of Lille(population, 2005 estimate, 225,100); other well-known towns include Roubaix (2005 estimate, 97,600); Calais (2005 estimate, 74,500); Dunkerque (2005 estimate, 69,500); Boulogne-sur-Mer (2005 estimate, 45,100); Douai (2005 estimate, 43,200); Arras (2005 estimate, 41,400); Lens (2005 estimate, 35,000); and Cambrai (2005 estimate, 33,100).

French is the official language of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, but two minority languages—West Flemish and Picard—are also spoken. A range of higher education institutions are located in the region’s capital city. The University of Lille originally opened in 1562, and was reorganized in the late 1960s and early 1970s into the Université de Lille I (science and technology), Université de Lille II (law and health sciences), and Université Charles de Gaulle (Université de Lille III; human sciences, literature, and the arts). The Catholic University of Lille was established in 1875. Higher education courses are also offered by the Université d’Artois (1992), with branches at Arras, Béthune, Douai, Lens, and Lievin; and the Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale (1991), with campuses at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais, Dunkerque, and Saint-Omer. Lille was named European Capital of Culture for 2004.

IV

Economy

Nord-Pas-de-Calais is highly industrialized—textile production is the traditional industry and is focused on Lille, Roubaix, Tourcoing, and Armentières. Coal-mining, previously a mainstay of the region’s economy, has declined in recent years. Metalworking remains an important factor in the economy, alongside tourism. Calais is France’s premier passenger port and the site of the French entrance to the Channel Tunnel at Coquelles. The principal agricultural commodities of Nord-Pas-de-Calais are wheat, barley, potatoes, flax, and hops. Pork is a famous product of the region.