Nature Wonders CAMARGUE Provence/France

The unique landscape of the region along the Rhône Delta in France known as the Camargue is relatively young. It is believed that it grew to its present size of approximately ninety five thousand hectares in around 8,000 B.C.

A number of the region's inhabitants are as famous as the landscape of the South of France such as the famous white horses of the Camargue.

Bulls are extremely popular with the local inhabitants. They are often the centre of attention during the region's mostly non-bloody bull fights known as 'Corridas'.

Up to the end of September the farmland of the Camargue's rice farmers is flooded with water up to twenty centimetres deep but there are also colourful fields with an abundance of sunflowers. However, the cultivation of rice also has its drawbacks. Due to the increasing desalinisation of the land the fragile ecosystem is gradually being undermined. However, the people of the Camargue are well aware of this danger to their wildlife and are actively engaged in preserving their unique world of swamps.