Open left menu nord-pas-de-calais. Nord-pas-de-Calais, cultural region What is pas-de-Calais

The English Channel or English Channel is located between the southern coast of England and the northern coast of France. Through it the Atlantic Ocean connects with the North Sea. Part of the canal is the Pas de Calais Strait or the Dover Canal, as the British call it.

Geographical data

The total length of the strait in question is 560 km. The maximum width in the west is 240 km, the minimum width in the eastern part is 33.1 km. As for the depth, the maximum reaches 174 meters, and the average depth is 63 meters. The total area of ​​the English Channel corresponds to 75 thousand square meters. km.

The western border of the strait runs between Cape Land's End (Land's End) in England and the island of Ile Virgue, located 1.5 km from the French coast of Brittany. On the island is the tallest stone lighthouse in Europe. The eastern border runs between the French lighthouse of Valde, located 6 km east of the city of Calais, and the northern tip of St. Margaret's Bay in England. It is near the port city of Dover.

The Pas de Calais Strait is 33.3 km long with an average depth of 30 meters. On a clear day, standing on the French coast, you can see the English coast. This is where the most popular route is for swimmers trying to swim from one shore to the other.

English Channel on the map

Name of the strait

The name "English Channel" has been widely used since the early 18th century. It has been designated this way on nautical charts, only in the Dutch manner “Engelse Kanaal”, since the 16th century. As for the French name "English Channel", it was used in France back in the 17th century. From time immemorial, the Spaniards have called the strait "El Canal de la Mancha", and the Portuguese say "Canal da Mancha". The word "mancha" means "spot" in Spanish and Portuguese.

Cities

In terms of population, the English Channel is more densely populated on the English coast than on the French coast. The largest is the English city of Portsmouth with a population of 422 thousand people. Then comes Southampton with a population of 304 thousand people. This is followed by Plymouth with a population of 259 thousand people, Brighton with a population of 156 thousand people, Torbay (130 thousand people) and other cities with smaller populations.

On the French coast, the largest city is Le Havre. Its population is 248 thousand inhabitants. Next comes Calais with 105 thousand inhabitants, Boulogne-sur-Mer with 93 thousand inhabitants and other smaller cities.

In terms of freight traffic, the English Channel is the busiest shipping route in the world. 500 ships pass through it every day. At the same time, ships heading towards the North Sea move along the French coast, and those hurrying to the Atlantic stick to the English shores. This division is associated with a whole series of clashes that were characteristic of the early 70s of the last century. It was after this that two-way traffic was created with a separation zone in the middle.

A railway tunnel has been built under the English Channel. It is double track and has a length of 51 km. Moreover, 39 km pass directly under the strait. The Eurotunnel was put into operation on May 6, 1994. Passengers traveling on the train spend 30 minutes in the tunnel. It connects the English port city of Folkestone and the French town of Coculles, located near Calais.

This engineering structure consists of 3 tunnels. Two of them have rail tracks, and between them there is a service tunnel. Every 380 meters it is connected by passages to working tunnels. It is designed for service personnel and also performs emergency functions. In the event of a breakdown of the rolling stock, passengers can be evacuated using it.

The tunnels have interchanges, which allows trains to move freely. By the way, it is on the left, as on all railways in Great Britain and France. With the advent of the railway tunnel, the number of ferry crossings in the Pas-de-Calais Strait has decreased.

The train leaves the Eurotunnel

The first people to swim and fly across the English Channel

The first time the English Channel was flown across the English Channel was on January 7, 1785 by Frenchman Jean Pierre Blanchard and American John Jeffreys. The flight was attempted to be repeated on June 15, 1785 by the French Pilatre de Rozier and Pierre Romain. But their balloon did not fly from France to England, as the wind direction changed. The ball fell to the ground 5 km from the point of departure, and people died.

The first to swim across the channel was the Englishman Matthew Webb. He began the swim on 24 August 1875 from Admiralty Wharf in Dover. I swam breaststroke and planned to reach the French coast in 5 hours. But a strong current carried the swimmer to the side. So Webb took 21 hours and 45 minutes to swim to Calais. Its zigzag route was 64 km long.

The French pilot Louis Charles Bleriot flew across the strait for the first time on July 25, 1909. A double flight there and back was made by the English pilot Charles Stuart Rolls on June 2, 1910. The first flight with passengers dates back to August 23, 1910. The American pilot John Bevins Moisant committed this risky act. The passengers on the plane were a mechanic and a cat named Fifi.

The first woman swam across the canal on August 23, 1926. It was American swimmer Gertrude Caroline Ederle. Queen of the Waves - that's what they called her in the USA. She crossed the English Channel breaststroke in 14 hours and 39 minutes. The people listed were the first, so their names are widely known in the world.

Ecology

Given the heavy traffic of ships, the strait is experiencing certain environmental problems. They are associated with oil spills and damage to toxic cargo. More than 30% of the world's water pollution incidents occur in the English Channel. The most notorious occurred on January 18, 2007, when the container ship Napoli crashed in the waters of the English Channel.

It carried 41,773 tons of cargo. At the same time, 1684 tons were classified as hazardous. 103 containers fell into the sea. A large oil slick also formed, which negatively affected seabirds. And similar incidents, albeit in smaller quantities, happen in these waters regularly.

Pas de Calais (French Pas de Calais, in English-speaking countries called the Strait of Dover, English Strait of Dover) - the strait between Great Britain and mainland Europe, serves as the entrance to the strait register ] from the North Sea. Length - 37 kilometers, width - from 29 to 32 kilometers, depth - from 21 to 64 meters. Main ports: in Great Britain - Dover, in France - Calais, Boulogne and [You must register to view this link] . The Eurotunnel passes under Pas-de-Calais. The strait was formed in the Anthropocene during the subsidence and flooding of the land between the mainland and the British Isles.

The Strait of Dover (Pas de Calais) is of exceptional importance for navigation. Every day a huge flow of ships goes through it both towards the Atlantic Ocean and to the shores of many European countries. It is estimated that 300 thousand ships pass through the Strait of Dover every year, with at least 40 ships in the strait at any one time. Over 90 percent of ships use the approximately 5 mile wide channel between the Warne Bank and the English coast.

The accumulation of a large number of ships in a narrow strait, moving in different directions, is the cause of frequent collisions and accidents in the area. According to estimates by one Norwegian insurer, almost half of all collisions in the world occur in the area stretching from the English Channel to the Elbe River.
In connection with the current situation in this area, at the initiative of the coastal states, the question was raised about clearer regulation of vessel navigation with the establishment of recommended courses and the division of vessel traffic through the Strait of Dover into two streams.

For these purposes, back in 1961, a group of specialists was formed in London, and then in Paris and Hamburg, which was tasked with preparing proposals for improving navigation, navigation fences and creating a special information service on ship traffic in the Strait of Dover. All proposals were submitted for consideration and discussion at meetings of the Maritime Safety Committee of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) in order to prepare uniform rules for the navigation of ships in the Strait of Dover and adopt them internationally.

A railway tunnel runs under the Strait of Dover and under the English Channel, connecting continental Europe with the UK, opened on May 6, 1994. As a symbol of a uniting Europe, at one time it held the title of the longest tunnel in the world, in this capacity it was replaced by the Seikan Tunnel (connecting the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido).

The tunnel has a length of about 51 kilometers, of which 39 are directly at the bottom of the sea. The American Society of Civil Engineers declared the Eurotunnel one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Based on materials from Wikipedia, Great Soviet Encyclopedia, randewy.ru

Simply put, it is a relatively narrow part of the sea or ocean that separates two land masses and connects two adjacent bodies of water.

In this article you can learn about where the Pas de Calais Strait is located. But, before moving on to the main topic of the article, for comparison, let’s briefly consider what other straits exist in the world.

Straits are very important for shipping due to the fact that they allow ships to travel the shortest and perhaps the only route from one basin to another. In addition, on the one hand, they connect the seas and oceans, and on the other, they separate land areas. They differ from canals in that they are of natural origin.

This article is devoted to one of these natural channels called Pas de Calais (strait).

Brief description of the world's straits

Separating o. Sumatra is the longest in the world (1000 km). It connects the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans.

(Northern Hemisphere) - the longest (850 km) and shallowest of all major straits. It is located between about. Sakhalin and the Asian coast and mixes the waters of the Seas of Okhotsk and Japan.

The Strait of Gibraltar is the deepest and separates Africa and Europe. located near the Australian continent - the widest. Second in width (more than 180 km) is the Korea Strait, separating the Korean Peninsula from Japan.

The Bosphorus is the narrowest. It separates Europe from Asia and, in addition, divides Constantinople (Istanbul) into 2 parts. Its width does not exceed 1000 meters. It is also the shortest (30 km) of all the straits in the world, separating large islands from continents, peninsulas and archipelagos.

And finally, the Pas-de-Calais is a strait located in an amazingly beautiful area called Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

General information about the area

The harsh beauty of these places (French Flanders) is unique. People live here who have come to terms with a rather cold, humid climate (the average summer temperature here is no higher than 20 degrees).

This part of the country is not very spoiled by the attention of tourists. The attractions of these places were largely destroyed during the Second World War, and the waters of the shores washed by the English Channel are mainly suitable only for windsurfers. You won't be able to soak up the beaches under the hot summer sun here.

This is one of 3 regions with access to the strait. And yet, a fairly long coastline with golden beaches and cliffs represents the pride of this part of France, although it does not indulge in the bright colors of nature.

Pas de Calais

The Strait of Dover (English name) is located between the coasts of the island of Great Britain and France. In ancient times it had the name Gallic due to its location on the shores of Gaul.

The strait is the narrowest part of the English Channel. Along the English coast it extends from Cape Forland to Cape Dungenes, and along the French coast from Calais harbor to Cape Greene. The narrowest point is 33 kilometers wide. Between French Calais and English Dover - 44 kilometers.

The English Channel, the Pas de Calais Strait - together they connect the waters of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the Pas de Calais is 37 kilometers, the width is from 32 to 51 kilometers. The navigable part has a depth of 21 to 64 meters.

The main naval bases and ports located on the shores of the strait: French Boulogne, Calais, Dunostrovakerk; English Folkestone and Dover. Calais and Dover are connected by ferry.

Meaning, mode

Pas de Calais is a strait that is quite important for navigation. Every day a large number of ships pass through it both to the Atlantic Ocean and to the shores of many European countries. Up to 300 thousand ships pass through the strait every year, and at any time there are approximately 40 ships in the strait.

The periodic accumulation of a huge number of ships moving in different directions at this bottleneck is the cause of accidents in this area. According to one statistics from Norwegian insurance companies, almost half of the collisions worldwide occur in the area from the English Channel to the Elbe River.

In connection with this situation, on the initiative of the coastal states, a group of specialists was created back in 1961 to prepare proposals for improving the situation in this region.

The current in the Northeast (surface) has a speed of about 4 km/h. The Pas de Calais Strait has semi-diurnal tides. Their height reaches 6.5 meters. In autumn there are frequent fogs. The mode and conditions of navigation in this strait are similar to those in the English Channel.

In conclusion about the Eurotunnel

A railway tunnel was opened under Pas-de-Calais and the English Channel in May 1994, connecting mainland Great Britain with Europe. This is a kind of symbol of a uniting Europe. At some point it had the title of the longest tunnel in the world. However, the Seikan Tunnel, connecting the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido, replaced it. The Eurotunnel is about 51 kilometers long, and 39 of them are at the bottom of the sea.

The famous Society of Civil Engineers in America declared this grandiose structure one of the seven modern wonders of the world.

The Pas de Calais Strait has several names. The ancient Gallic tribes called it Gallic because it was located opposite the province of Gaul.

The British call the Strait of Dover because... There is an ancient castle on the shore, and there is also a port and city of the same name.

The reservoir divides mainland Europe from the French side and island Europe from the UK side. This is the narrowest part of the English Channel.

Origin of the Pas de Calais Strait

The formation of the strait took place during the first Pleistocene ice age. The result was a dam made of ice (from Scandinavia to Scotland), near which a lake was formed, thanks to the Thames and Rhine rivers. And then, due to its growth, the lake began to flow into the English Channel, forming the Pas de Calais Canal.

In Pas de Calais, constant geological research is being carried out, which is associated with the construction of a tunnel along the bottom of the strait. Therefore, scientists believe that the reservoir was formed as a result of erosion processes. Once upon a time there was land in this place that connected Europe and Great Britain.

In the eastern part of the Veld there is a chalk canyon called Bouillon, where the strait originates from. There is a lot of chalk, both on the English and French sides. It is located on the banks and at the bottom, which made it possible to build the Eurotunnel without any problems.

Strait of Pas de Calais on the map

Relief of the strait

The bottom consists of Paleozoic rocks, cut everywhere by terraces. From the outside they resemble platforms that were leveled by water. The bottom is mostly flat, although it is broken by various structures - shoals, islands, alluvial deposits, depressions. Shoals and islands were formed by volcanic rocks as well as metaphorical ones, and alluvial deposits were created by sandbanks.

In the channel, as throughout the English Channel, the sedimentary rocks are pebbles and coarse-grained sediments, which are carried by the tides. The pebbles are located near France, near the island of Ushant and Cape Ag, as well as in other places. The stone is well-rolled, which began in the Pleistocene period. Sediments - fine-grained and coarse-grained - are sand that arose due to faulting and crushing of Upper Cretaceous rocks. About 600 cubic meters of sand are transported into the North Sea every year, which then moves to the mainland.

Historical events

The Pas-de-Calais region is seismically unstable. Strong earthquakes were recorded here back in the Middle Ages. For example, in 1580, in April, very strong tremors ranging from 5 to 9 points were observed in the north of France, Flanders and England.

Several famous naval battles took place in the strait, associated with the confrontation between the English fleet and the Invincible Armada of Spain (1588). The naval base was located here during the First World War - near Boulogne, and Dover performed patrol functions in the strait, protecting the shipping regime.

Cities

On the shores of the strait there are several large cities, which are also seaports. These include Dover, Dunkirk, Boulogne, Folkestone and Calais. There are also several smaller settlements where residents engage in fishing.

Characteristics of Pas de Calais

The length of the strait is 37 kilometers, and the width at its narrowest point reaches 33 km. The depth ranges from 30 to 70 meters. The average depth is 30 m, and in the deepest place it reaches 68 meters. In the navigable part, the depth ranges from 21 to 72 meters, and in the middle of the Pas-de-Calais there are wide banks. The weather in the strait is determined by a temperate maritime climate, so there is wind and it can be rainy and cloudy. About 670mm of precipitation falls annually.

Dover. white rocks photo

In winter, masses of water move east, and in summer, surface water moves from the coast, and deep water, on the contrary, towards the coast. The lowest temperature is observed in winter, dropping to 9-10 degrees Celsius in the west, and +6 C in the east. In summer, the temperature rises to 17 degrees Celsius. In the strait there are fluctuations in temperatures, currents and straits, and the speed of water flow.

The waters of the Atlantic Ocean flow through the Pas de Calais and the English Channel, which then flow into the North Sea. The direction of water and water regime can change due to the wind regime, determined by the proximity of the North Sea. In the winter, spring, and autumn seasons, the water flows from the west and northwest, and in the summer it turns to the southwest.

Animal world

The waters of the strait are inhabited by stingray, octopus, squid, halibut, herring, mackerel, and flounder.

• If it is a sunny day and clear weather, then you can see the opposite shore from one side or another. In particular, buildings, cities, ships.
• The Pas de Calais Strait is one of the busiest in the world, receiving almost 400 ships per day. Each port and city has a huge number of attractions. For example, in Boulogne there is an ancient citadel built in the 13th century, as well as a palace museum belonging to the Counts of Boulogne. There is also a citadel in the popular resort of Montreuil-sur-Mer, and was built in the 10th century. Beautiful medieval towers, fortifications, and walls have been preserved nearby.