5. The Champagne regions These regions have clay-covered valleys between chalk ridges (scarps). The chalk ridges of the dry Champagne pays are infertile, well-drained soils but because they have a southerly aspect they are suitable for vines. It is here around the towns of Reims that the famous champagne wine is produced. These are the most northerly vineyards in Europe and as a result the wines from here have a unique taste. The production of wine is a specialist type of farming called viticulture. Other scarp areas are less suited to vines; instead, they are used to rear sheep. Some
farmers in less hilly areas improved their lands with fertilisers to produce cereals. In the low-lying clay-covered wet Champagne pays, soils are better suited to pasture with dairying and beef cattle.
Fig. 7 The soils of the dry Champagne regions are suitable for vines.
6. Sologne Here south of Paris, soils are infertile sands and gravels.Mixed farming is common. Low-valuemaize is grown as animal feed. The River Loire flows across this area and its valley is well known for vineyards and wine production. The region is well forested but forests are used for recreation rather than timber production.
Energy production in the Paris Basin
Energy consumption in the Paris Basin is high. Oil and gas are imported through the port of Le Havre where oil refining and petrochemical production form the basis of the economy.