Parc naturel régional de Camargue
The Regional Natural Park of Camargue (French Parc naturel régional de Camargue ) extends in the French department of Bouches -du -Rhône in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur. It is located in the eponymous landscape Camargue, in the delta of the Rhone. The area extends roughly between the estuary of the Grand Rhône and Petit Rhône and thus comprises the Grande Camargue, in the South West but also parts of the Petite Camargue, located on this side of the border with the neighboring region of Languedoc -Roussillon. The park office is located in the village of Mas du Pont de Rousty (43 ° 29 ' 24 "N, 4 ° 24' 16" O43.494.4044444444444Koordinaten: 43 ° 29 ' 24 "N, 4 ° 24' 16" E ).
The nature reserve was established in 1970 and covers an area of 86,000 hectares. The area is populated only very weakly with about 7200 inhabitants and is located on the territory of the municipalities
- Arles and
- Saintes- Maries- de -la -Mer
Off the coast line, there is another three miles wide belt of sea, is also allocated to the Natural Park.
Landscape
The area of the Park is geologically formed by the Rhone, which led to a severe silting of the estuary with its regular floods and sediment transport of the powerful and formed the mighty delta of the Camargue. By channeling and construction of levees along the Rhône floods find place today hardly mean we have to control the water supply artificially, to maintain the ecosystem.
The Nature Park consists of approximately 55% natural landscape and is divided into the following areas:
- The Upper Camargue ( west and south of the city of Arles ) is used mainly agricultural, with the cultivation of crops, including rice and livestock ( Camargue Horse and Camargue cattle) are emphasized.
- The Middle Camargue is marked in the center of the nature reserve around the brackish water lake Etang de Vaccarès, which is known for its rich population of waterfowl. Especially the pink flamingo has become a hallmark of the nature park. Otherwise dominated wetlands with reed beds and beach lilac.
- The Lower Camargue is determined by sandy beaches and salt water lagoons in the south-east the salt in the Salin- de -Giraud is economically recovered.