Parc naturel marin de l'estuaire de la Gironde et de la mer des Pertuis

Descriptif

Exceptional biodiversity in the Marine Natural Park

3 major interdependent zones shape the Park: the 3 channels (Breton, Antioche and Maumusson), the estuaries, including the Gironde, one of the largest in Western Europe, and the ocean.



The "pertuis" - shallow inland seas between the islands of Ré and Oléron and the mainland - and the 6 estuaries create large, silty bays. The encounter between the nutrient-rich freshwater of the rivers and the saltwater of the sea is a source of abundant food for all marine species. The varied natural habitats (sandy coasts, rocky shores, vast mudflats, etc.) are essential feeding, spawning and nursery grounds for many species. They foster exceptional biodiversity! The Park is also an ornithological crossroads of international importance. In winter, thousands of seabirds and coastal birds come here to feed and rest.