Far from the Seismic Belt, and tectonically tranquil, Britain is one of the last countries where one would expect to find signs of geothermal development. It is true that at present such signs are modest; but a start has been made and it now looks as though some useful achievements may result quite soon. Only a few years ago France was thought of as a geothermally barren land; but now something approaching 25,000 dwellings, about 50,000 m2 of greenhouses and some commercial and administrative buildings are being heated by hot underground waters in the vicinity of Paris, while very ambitious plans are afoot for further direct applications of earth heat in other parts of France