The Camargue Assignment What is the Camargue? Why is it special? Where is the Camargue? Assignment outline |
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Geographically "Camargue" means that part of the delta situated between the two Rhônes. The Delta is a flat area of rivers and marshes where the river Rhône meets the Mediterranean sea. The Camargue has been the product of endless movements of sediments and water. During the last 20,000 years vast quantities of alluvium or sediment carried by the Rhône were dumped into the Mediterranean gradually raising the level of the seabed. When the Rhône started to silt up a new outlet was created known as the little Rhône. Sand dunes on the sea ward side have been created. This was created by wind blowing sand from an offshore bar back onto the delta, and this isolated large pools of seawater between the old coastline and the sea. These pools seasonally receive large inputs of seawater. They have formed a watery, marshy landscape of wetlands and salt beds within the delta. |
Here are some very useful sites for completing your
assignment on the Camargue. A) Satellite Images of the 1994 floods in the Camargue B) Beyond France's information on the Camargue area C) French regional parks official web site D) How Flamingoes feed |
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The Camargue is under threat however, from many different competing landuses including salt farming, tourism, rice farming and hunting. |
The Camargue is special for many reasons, nearly all of them coming from the traditions and cultures that have evolved with the natural environment. The Camargue is the largest nesting area for pink flamingoes, and also has bull fighting, wild horses and hundreds of nesting birds to admire. All rely on the flat, wild landscape of the river delta for their survival. | |
Where is the
Camargue? |
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The Camargue is the delta of the River Rhône, which starts in the Swiss Alps and flows West to Lyon, bewfore flowing South towards the Mediterranean sea. The river splits up into 2 branches at the town of Arles before reaching the sea, these 2 branches are known as the Petit Rhône and the Grand Rhône. This can be seen clearly on the satellite image opposite, as can the salt pans in the South East corner of the map and the Etangs or salty lagoons in the South. | ||
Assignment outline Is development of the Camargue sustainable?
Your task is to produce a 2
page project on the Camargue delta in France. You are to answer the title
question which is above. In your booklet there should be; 4. A conclusion, in which you decide if the development of the Camargue is sustainable and which activity you think would most benefit the people and environment of the Camargue. |