Bay of Somme

Located in France on the littoral of the area Picardy, the territory known as “of the Baie of Somme ” extends on 70 km ² between the point from the Hourdel in the south and the point from Saint-Quentin-in-Tourmont in north. The Somme, coastal River which gave its name to the department, is thrown in the Manche at this place.

Presentation

The bay is mainly made up of two mediums:

the Slikke, covered by the sea twice a day,
the Salt meadow or “mollières” who is covered by the Mer only at the time of large the Marée S.

It consists of two encased estuaries: that of the Sum in the south, and that of Maye, small coastal river, in north.

The bay of Somme is today recognized on the international plan for its ecological richness ; she is in particular regarded as a high ornithological place. Its various zones offer conditions of reception favorable to the sedentary and migrating birds. This richness caused creation, in its northern part (mouth of Maye), of a national reserve of hunting in 1968 transformed into natural reserve (with modifications of the limits) in 1994.

It is not rare to see herds of Mouton S grazing in bay with low tide, the particular taste of their flesh gave place to the name of “salt meadow lambs”. The part of discovered bay with low tide in which come to nourish the sheep calls the Estran. It is out of Bay of Somme that the equine race of the Henson S. was created.

Lastly, the bay of Somme is also considered by the presence of Phoque S (marine seal-calves) (more than 100 in 2006 and 2007) but also of some gray seals, which it is recommended not to approach.

Since 1999, the bay belongs to the Club of most beautiful bays of the world, as well as the Baie of Halong or the bay of the Mont Saint-Michel.

She is however threatened of stranding and the first damage is already visible.

The November 23rd 2006, with the Ministry for Ecology, the Development and Installation durable, a delegation made up of the services of the State, elected officials and technicians of the Mixed trade-union supported the candidature of Bay of Nap-Large Littoral under its future certification “ Grand national site ”, which must make it possible to carry out installations essential to the safeguarding of the site.

References

Random links: