I'd rather take a photographic look at it. the Baie de Somme in this article. For nature lovers, an ecological expanse of over 70Km2 how can we not talk about it? Let's discover this little paradise for nature photographers 😍 !
Where is the Baie de Somme located?
As the title suggests in the Somme department!!! 😜 What news!! No kidding and more to the point between Hourdel Point to the south (not to be missed) and Le Crotoy or rather Saint Quentin en Tourmont to the north. The Bay is formed by a river: the Somme which flows into la Manche.
But one of the special features of this Bay is thatIt is joined by the Maye river arriving from the north, which in the end forms an interlocking double estuary giving it its great size. As a result, these large areas allow a variety of environments offering a fabulous nature reserve for seals and, above all, for birds!
Sunset, Pointe du Hourdel, Somme, France
The characteristics of the Bay
As mentioned above, the Baie de Somme is a small natural paradise for fauna (and flora). There are 2 main environments:
It's easy to see why the Bay is so important for wildlife. On the one hand, we have a double encounter between freshwater and seawater, which will generate an ideal environment for a whole category of fish (bass, plaice, dab, herring, etc.) Unfortunately, we have observed a loss of 80% of fish stocks in 30 years in the Bay. Let's take care of our planet 😱 !
On the other, we'll find sandy areas ideal for resting our famous seals, as well as a host of water birds.
Fauna of the Baie de Somme
As you know by now, the Baie de Somme is blessed with a wealth of natural resources, so we're going to find a whole host of species here:
As you can see, it's quite varied, and it's my duty as a nature photographer not to forget this biodiversity:
As I said earlier, Whether you're an amateur or a professional nature photographer, you'll find what you're looking for, and given the size of the region, there's something for everyone.! 😅 If sometimes you find the time long, there is also an interesting flora on this coastline. (Iris, Sea Buckthorn, Lychnis, Centaury...)
You'll find a plethora of photo courses all around the Bay by various providers.
If you don't want to waste any time locating good photo spots, you can always turn to well-known reserves such as Parc du Marquenterre or even the Grand-Laviers Ornithological Reserve.
The Bay is a protected site
Since 1999, the Bay has been one of the most beautiful in the world and has been classified as a World Heritage Site. "Baie de Somme Nature Reserve covering almost 3,000 hectares. The Bay is also part of the Marine Nature Park des estuaires picards et de la mer d'Opale created in 2012. Also labelled Grand site de Francesince 2011, with an action programme focusing on 4 key areas:
For further information, major sites are first and foremost unique places preserved and appreciated for their "natural beauty".
They must commit to a territorial strategy aimed above all at preserving their landscapes, their identity, their history and traditional activities, and ultimately their unique values.
The label is a guarantee for residents and visitors that they are living in an authentic and remarkable place, both in terms of the quality of the spaces and the quality of the services on offer..
Conclusion
The conclusion of this article is quite simple: discover the Baie de Somme (protect it, respect it) and photograph it as much as possible. INDISPENSABLE! NOT TO BE MISSED under any circumstances! It's not the only magnificent place in France, but it's a must-see at least once in your life!
That's it, I think there's a lot more to say about the Baie de Somme, but above all I hope I've given you the desire to go there and put your finger on the device 😜 . Read more articles on the Dragonstreet Photography diary.
See you soon,
David
