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 A
sandbank become nature reserve *** |
Situated in entrance of Bassin d'Arcachon,
between Dune of Pilat and Point of Cap Ferret,
Arguin's bench is a vast emergence of fair
sand which appears hardly from ocean and
establishes vastest sandbank of Girondist
coast. dimensions and forms vary permanently
according to tides and winds (area in ebb
tide is about 4 kilometres long on 2 kilometres
wide). colour of waters which surround it
also changes according to hour, time, luminosity,
passing by all nuances of green and blue,
some translucent jade until most intense
ultramarine.
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Being very appreciated sailors and oyster producers,
who installed there numerous oysterbeds, Arguin's
bench also serves as rest area with numerous sorts
of migratory birds. It shelters so every year in
spring most important colony of terns Caugeks of
Europe . Arguin's bench is classified nature reserve
since 1972.
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times, Arguin's bench had several
naming: Bench of Pile, at end
of 16-th century, left its name
with bank which had joined it
a little in South of Bernet. From
end of 16-th century, it became
a sort of fossil under name of
Hurdy-gurdy Crushes, because much
more in South, a new bench of
Pile had in his turn grown together
in coast. In 18-th century, it
left its name in majestic pond
of Pilat, waters , then in dune
built by sands and little stones
, taken from enormous it imprisoned
fattening, formed by bench and
comblement of pond. |
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4
times a day, Atlantic Ocean enfourne
or removes 200 from 400 million
cubic meters of water. This movement
redescine ceaselessly sandbanks.
It shrinks north pass (left-handler),
fills south pass (right-hand side)
or opposite. In 30 years, it will
not exist more than power plant
passes. And in 80 years, 2 master
passes will reappear. |
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" In ebb tide, wrote
François Mauriac, benches
of emergent sand as backs red
and salted by Gods who live in
depthes. In antour of these immense
bodies in half-gobbled up, stir
streams of translucent jade. Then,
suddenly water becomes black there
where it covers abysses. Only
pines keep in their tourmented
attitude recollection of assaults
which they supported, in other
times, against mad sea ". |
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