Geography of the Rhone delta

Situation

The department of the Rhone delta is limited by the Durance to north, Small the the Rhone in the west, the solid masses of the Holy-Victoire mountain and Holy-Balsam in the east and the the Mediterranean in the south.

Relief

On both sides of the marine pond of Berre, it presents very different areas. To the west, around the bar of the Alpilles, extend from the plains:

- southern part of the Comtat Venaissin, covered with irrigated cultures,

- gravel of the Crau which, on the other side of the Large Rhone, where little by little the market gardenings encroach on stones rejected by the Durance, form between Alpilles and the pond of Berre a sorry surface where breath the mistral.

- pastures, vines and rice plantations of the the Camargue, equipped with a national park (reserve of fauna and flora). The Camargue, with its 26.000 hectares of ponds, its marshes and its rice plantations, remains the kingdom still preserved of the bulls, the horses and a rich coloured fauna of 400 different species.

In the east, the other reliefs limestones of Préalpes of Provence (chains of Trévaresse, of Estaque and Star, Holy-Victoire, Saint-Cyr military school and Holy-Balsam) culminate to 493 m with the Signal of Opies. They are started by the valleys of the Arc (basin of Aix-en-Provence), of Touloubre (Living room-of-Provence) and of Huveaune (Aubagne - Marseilles), richer plains where the corn, the vine, the olive-tree is cultivated there, like fruit and vegetables of Provence.

The most cliff of France east that of the Cape Canaille which dominates Cassis top from its 405 Mr. The culminating point is the peak of Bertagne (1 041 m).

Agriculture, industry, services

The maritime activities and fishing animate the coast, of the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer to Ciotat.

Industries and the services are concentrated in the agglomeration of Marseilles (city and surroundings).

Climate

The climate, of Mediterranean type, is influenced especially by the wind of north, the mistral. The rate of timbering reaches 18%. Wooded surfaces shelter a very rich fauna and a flora; many animal species and vegetable are protected, with ground like at sea.

The department is entirely subjected to the Mediterranean climate, attenuated in altitude with the top of 700 m where the garrigues of kermes oak, cistuses, rosemary etc, the forests of pines of Alep and holm oaks leave the place with the oaks and pines woodland. The littoral of the creeks, not receiving that 370 to 450 mm of rain per annum on average is the most arid area of France.

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