Camargue
Quick facts
- European Diploma of Protected Areas (code FR940001)
- Since Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 CET 1966
- Country: France
- Administrative region: Not available
- Surface area: 131 km2 (13117.00 ha)
- Marine area: Not available
Source and more information: Council of Europe
Description
Site contact authorities
| Manager | SNPN (Société Nationale de Protection de la Nature) |
|---|---|
| Information | Reserve Nationale de Camargue La Capelière F-13200 Arles tel. 0490970097 fax 0490970144 |
| Official contact international | |
| Official contact national | |
| Official contact regional | |
| Official contact local |
Description
| General character of the site | The reserve occupies an area of the Rhone delta between the Greater and the Lesser Rhone, with the sea to the south; its principal feature is the Vaccarès Lagoon. Annual rainfall is about 560mm; the rain falls chiefly in the autumn and winter causing temporary flooding; however, intensive evaporation in the summer, due mainly to wind, takes off about 1400mm water and dries the land again. The deficit is covered by water pumped from the Rhône. The salt groundwater is responsible for the development of characteristic halophitic vegetation. |
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| Quality | |
| Vulnerability | It is difficult to maintain the natural water regime while irrigation for agricultural purposes continues. Strong erosion of the coastline due to an increasing marine water level; pollution of the Rhône; pressure of civilisation and tourism from outside; hunting in the vicinity of the reserve. |
| Designation | |
| Owner | The entire reserve is owned by the state which subsidises the administrative body. |
| Documentation | Council of Europe - European Diploma Series (1966), Réserve naturelle de Camargue, Strasbourg |
| Habitat types | |
| Flora | |
| Fauna | |
| Potential vegetation | |
| Geomorphology | |
| Educational interest | There are three information and visitor sites:-Information center of Capelière (suggestions and visits)-"Salin de Badon" site-Coastline and sea dike accessible for hikers and bikers (more than 12 kilometers of paths) in the reserve |
| Cultural heritage | -Former royal saltmine of Salin de Badon-Remnants of the abbey Cisterienne d'Ulmet-Various historic sites whereunder two exceptional ones of the fourth and fifth century |
| Justification | |
| Methodology | |
| Budget | |
| Management plan | |
| URL official | http://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.tm.fr/lesparcs/camac.html |
| URL interesting | http://www.biosfera.fr/camargue/camarweb/pageparc/reserve.htm |
