Where is pas de calais located? Pas de Calais. Kale. City Hall. Advance to Calais


His, so to speak, progenitor. The English Channel for the British is the English Channel, and most often just the Channel, but in the linguistic tradition of most European countries the French versions of the names have become established: English Channel and Pas de Calais. It is characteristic that in ancient times, in the 1st century. BC, the Romans, who were the first to bring civilization to the shores on both sides of the strait, called it British (if they were on the island of Great Britain) or Gallic (if they were on the lands of the Gauls).
The geological history of the strait is relatively young. It was formed as a result of the flooding of a vast territory, which included deltas and. The hypothesis about what caused the subsidence of the land and the formation of the strait acquired a modern interpretation quite recently, in the first decade of our century - thanks to the latest high-resolution acoustic instruments and hydrographic data obtained from ships equipped with a GPS system. And it was found that the bottom topography of the Pas-de-Calais has such characteristic features that appear on the earth’s surface after extensive floods associated with the melting of glaciers. About 425 thousand years ago, a chalk ridge ran between what is now Dover and Calais, serving as a kind of dam between the sea and the glacier massif. Gradually, northeast of Dover, melting ice floes formed a lake. One day it overflowed, and a powerful stream, passing over the ridges of chalk rocks, swept away the ridge, and then its fragments, chalk - the most loose and crumbly structure of limestone. After 200 thousand years, during one of the relatively short-term glaciations, this natural disaster repeated, spreading to the southwest, and the flood was even stronger than the first. But the landmass under the code name Doggerland, according to a theory put forward by British scientists in the 1990s, existed 8 thousand years ago. This theory is hypothetical, but extremely logical and has recently been supported by new research. So, according to it, this land was a tundra inhabited by people. The basis for such assumptions and the very name Doggerland was given by the discovery of a thorough study of the Dogger Bank sandbank, in the bottom sediments of which prehistoric hunting tools were found. Doggerland also connected the ancient deltas of the Thames and the Rhine. As a result of the melting of glaciers, Doggerland gradually went under water. The final separation of the British Islands from the rest of Europe, and this is no longer a hypothesis, occurred approximately 6.5-6.2 thousand years ago. The resulting strait had boundaries that approximately coincided with the current ones. Except that the distance from the mainland to the islands was even shorter.
It is impossible to say exactly when people began to swim, or, as sailors say, “walk,” through the Pas-de-Calais Strait. Probably at the same time when they first boarded boats or rafts. It is difficult to imagine what could have stopped them from traveling when on a clear day they could see white cliffs on the horizon from what is now the city of Calais. At the end of the prehistoric period, the territory of the British Isles was inhabited mainly by Celtic tribes. The soldiers of Julius Caesar, who landed in 43 g, the place where the fortress of Dover was later founded, found near it earthen structures carved into the rocks, and circles of stones laid out by the Belgae druids, and the Whites were one of the Gallic tribes. It is characteristic that such megalithic buildings were located precisely in this part of Britain, on the coast. This means that communication across the strait between the Briton Celts and the Gaul Celts existed at least from the 1st millennium BC. e. The French city of Calais grew out of a fishing village, and it, in turn, is on the site of Stone Age settlements. And today, fishing is one of the main occupations of residents of villages on both sides of the strait. The Pas de Calais is home to tarbet (halibut), flounder, stingray, mackerel (mackerel), tarsier, whiting and herring, octopus and lobster. Oysters are collected on the shallows, although the best varieties (in a gastronomic sense) are found in other regions of the English Channel, mainly in Normandy. The abundance of fauna is the best indicator of the ecological situation in the sea. And judging by the fact that with the extremely intense shipping traffic in the strait, fishermen are also not left without work, joint environmental control by England and France, with the support of the European Union, is carried out very effectively.
It is unlikely that this would have been the case until the second half of the 20th century. Some even thought it was theoretically possible: since ancient times, the strait had been a place of conflict between the military-strategic interests of the Briton and Gaul tribes. From 1347 to 1558 Cape belonged to England. In the same XVI century. England and France fought for possession of the city of Boulogne-sur-Mer, now the largest fishing port in all of France, specializing in herring fishing in the North Sea. In 1805, Napoleon concentrated a strike force of his Grand Army in Boulogne-sur-Mer and Calais to invade England, and on the opposite bank, in Dover, everything was ready to repel aggression, but these plans were not destined to come true. During World War II, in May 1940, the British Expeditionary Force, along with the French military and other allies, retreated from Dunkirk when German tanks were already at its gates. 338 thousand soldiers were evacuated during the Dynamo rescue operation. In 1944, the Germans made the entire French shore of the strait one continuous fortification (the Atlantic Wall), but, as you know, this did not help them, and the battle won in 1944 as a result of Operation Overlord became one of the powerful factors that brought the end of Nazi Germany closer. The Germans, and above all Field Marshal Rommel, commander of Group B in Northern France, had no doubt that the Allied landing would certainly take place on the shores of Pas-de-Calais, but the enemy landed off the coast of Normandy. A large German naval base was located in the city of Calais, and in the same 1944 it was subjected to heavy bombing by Allied aircraft.
The idea of ​​​​building a tunnel under the English Channel, namely under the bottom of the Pas de Calais, for carriage rides arose at the beginning of the 19th century. However, then it seemed too fantastic and expensive. It cannot be said that this idea sank into oblivion: from time to time other, but in principle similar projects appeared, and construction even began - in 1876 and 1922. But both times, some force majeure circumstances prevented it from continuing: both financial and political. By the middle of the 20th century. The strait's ferry fleet could no longer cope with the transportation of passengers and cargo, and the idea of ​​​​building a tunnel again became relevant. Since 1957, various projects were considered, and history repeated itself: construction began, but for some reason was frozen. In 1986, the British and French governments signed an agreement to build a tunnel between Calais and Folkestone. In 1987, the European Investment Bank and other banks provided the first tranche of 2 billion pounds sterling for the project, while the original construction cost estimate included 7.62 billion euros. On May 6, 1994, rail traffic in a tunnel called the Eurotunnel was opened. It cost 15 billion, which was twice the original estimate. Over the past years, the tunnel has survived several fires and other troubles, and yet it operates almost uninterruptedly, but has not yet fully justified the financial costs of it, but ended 2011 with a profit. Four types of trains are used: high-speed passenger trains, running between London and Paris (travel time 2 hours 15 minutes), so-called shuttle trains, carrying buses, cars and vans between St. Gatte and Folkestone (passengers remain inside the cars); open-car freight trains carrying trucks (drivers travel in a separate carriage) and freight trains carrying containers and other bulky goods.
There are three tunnels in total - two main and one service, providing the technical capabilities and safety of this entire underwater-underground communication - certainly one of the most outstanding engineering structures of our time in Europe.

general information

Part of the English Channel connecting the North Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, functionally (for navigation) - the entrance to the English Channel from the North Sea. In English-speaking countries it is called the Strait of Dover.
Affiliation: coastal waters - France, England, the main fairway is protected by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of ​​1922.
Adjacent regions: departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region (France), Kent (UK).
The most important ports: in France - Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer and Dunkirk, in Great Britain - Dover, Folkestone.
Largest coastal cities: France - Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais; UK - Folkestone, Dover, Ramsgate.
International airports closest to the strait: France - Calais and Dunkirk in Calais, Lille in Lille, De Gaulle/Roissy and Orly in Paris; England - Kent at Menston, Heathrow and Gatwick in London.

Numbers

Length: 37 km.
Maximum width: 48 km.
Minimum width: 32 km.
Maximum depth: 64 m.
Minimum depth: 21 m.

Economy

Navigation is year-round.
Maritime shipping.
Ferry passenger service between Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dunkirk and Dover, Folkestone, Ramsgate, and the Belgian port of Ostend.
Railway connection(“Eurotunnel” passing under the bottom of the Pas de Calais).
Fishing.
Service sector: logistics, business and financial services: on both banks of the Pas de Calais there are many large and small agency, forwarding and stevedoring companies providing transshipment, storage, customs clearance and timely delivery of goods to the end consumer in Europe.
Tourism (there are many small seaside resorts and marinas on both the French and English coasts).

Climate and weather

Temperate maritime.
Average January temperature:-4°C.
Average temperature in July:-17°C.
Average annual precipitation: 670 mm.
In autumn and winter there are frequent storms and fogs.

Attractions

City of Calais: Watchtower (XIII century) on Armory Square, Notre-Dame de Calais Cathedral (Gothic, XIII century). tower - XIV-XV centuries, Citadel (XVI century); The City Hall building (1911-1926) is an exact copy of a building in the Flemish Renaissance style that was demolished in 1818. The tower-beuffroy (veche tower) of the City Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site among other beffrois of France and Belgium; sculpture by O. Rodin “Citizens of Calais” (1895), International Center for Lace and Fashion; Museum-manufactory of lace.
City of Boulogne-sur-Mer: beffroy tower (11th century), part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site; Castle of the Counts of Boulogne (XII-XIII centuries), fortress walls of the Upper Town (XIII century). Notre-Dame de Boulogne Cathedral (19th century), built on the site of a destroyed Gothic cathedral, the crypt contains authentic elements of Romanesque and Gothic architecture; Hotel Desandruins (neoclassicism, 18th century); National Center for the Study of the Sea (marine aquarium, exhibition of marine fauna and an exhibition on modern methods of managing marine resources).
■ G City of Dunkirk: beffroy tower (XIII century), Saint-Eloi church (Gothic, XV century), City Hall (early XX century), Museum of Fine Arts. Museum of Contemporary Art with a park of sculptures and the child-oriented Portoir Museum (city history);
City of Dover: white chalk cliffs. Dover Lighthouse and Dover Castle (Fortress), founded around 50 BC. e. (buildings from the 11th to 12th centuries have been preserved in the castle, but the main part of it today is a reconstruction of the 20th century); Connaught Park, Cowgate Nature Reserve, Dover Museum, Embankment.
City of Ramsgate: Victorian architecture. Maritime Museum. King's Landing.
Town of Folkestone: near the city - Railway Museum (equipment of the 1930s).

Curious facts

■ Dover Castle, due to its strategic location since ancient times called the “key to England”, is one of the largest castles in England, built on the site of Roman fortifications, rises 114 m above the sea. It keeps many legends, including related with kings and queens who visited and lived here for a long time. The castle is also famous for its tunnels, dug into the chalk rocks at a depth of 15 m during the Napoleonic wars. Their total length is about 6.3 km. The tunnels became barracks, housing up to 2,000 soldiers in 1803. In addition, a hospital was equipped. The tunnels were abandoned in 1826 and served as a bomb shelter, command post and again as a hospital during World War II.
■ In 1580, an earthquake occurred off the coast of Dover, accompanied by the destruction of the city walls and a tsunami. This earthquake is reported by all the chronicles of England, France and Flanders in the 16th century. It is also mentioned in Shakespeare’s tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” through the lips of the nurse Juliet. Most likely, the author himself experienced it. During the construction of the Eurotunnel, special studies were carried out and it was found that the earthquake of 1580 had a force of up to 5.9 points.
■ The wedding dress of Kate Middleton, who married England's Prince William in 2011, was made from machine-made lace created in Calais, a recognized center for the production of this exquisite material. Among the floral patterns on the dress were woven symbols of Great Britain - a rose, thistle, daffodil and clover.
■ Auguste Rodin's sculptural composition of six figures, installed in front of the City Hall in Calais (1895), is associated with a real event in 1347, described in the chronicles of the Hundred Years' War. Having besieged the city, whose inhabitants suffered hunger and other cruel hardships, the English king Edward lit mockingly declared that he would end the siege if six respected citizens of Calais came to bow to him with the keys to the city gates. Moreover, they should be dressed in canvas shirts, and around their necks they must have ropes. Six people from among the most noble and wealthy townspeople volunteered to fulfill this condition. Edward III still did not dare to kill these worthy people, as he initially intended. In France, six citizens of Calais and Rodin's masterpiece are a symbol of patriotism. Replicas of this sculptor’s creation are installed in Basel, London, near the Houses of Parliament, Washington and Los Angeles.
■ Field Marshal Rommel learned about the Allied landing only three hours after it began; the day before, he left for Berlin on personal business. The “desert fox”, as Rommel was nicknamed for his cunning operations in North Africa, was let down, his vaunted intuition degenerated into blind self-confidence, his intelligence worked extremely poorly.

Strait of Dover, between the coast of France and the island. Great Britain. Franz. Pas de Calais - "Strait of Calais"(pas - "strait, channel". Calais is a city in French. shore of the strait). English, title Strait of Dover - "Straits of Dover" or "Straits of Dover"(strait - "strait", Dover is a city on the English side of the strait). In ancient times, the Strait of Gaul was called after its location on the shores of Gaul.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST.Pospelov E.M.2001.

PAS DE CALAIS see British Isles

Brief geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008.

Pas de Calais (French) Pas de Calais, English Dover Canal), a strait between the northern coast of France and south. coast of England. Connects the North Sea with the Strait. English Channel. Length 37 km, width 32–51 km, navigable depth 21–64 m, prevailing 25–40 m. In the middle of the strait there are shallows dangerous for navigation with depths of up to 1.5 m. Tides up to 3–5 m, tidal currents with speed up to 3.5–5.0 km/h. The constant current is directed eastward at a speed of 1–2 km/h. P.-de-C. has strategic importance as the most convenient and shortest route from the Northern countries. and Center. Europe to the Atlantic Ocean. Basic French ports: Boulogne, Calais, Dunkirk, English: Dover, Folkestone. There is a railway under the strait. a tunnel connecting the British Isles with Europe.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006.

Pas de Calais (Strait of Dover), in the western Atlantic Ocean, between mainland Europe (France) and the island of Great Britain, connects the English Channel with the North Sea. Educated in con. Quaternary period when river valleys are flooded as a result of rising sea levels. One of the most intense areas of shipping in the World Ocean, it is used as the shortest route from the Center. and Sev. Europe to the Atlantic Ocean. Dl. 37 km, latitude. from 32 to 51 km, depths: navigable part 21–64 m, prevailing 25–40 m. To the center. parts of the shallows dangerous for navigation (1.5 m). A constant current follows in the east at a speed of 1–2 km/h. Tides up to 5 m, associated with currents of up to 5 km/h. Ch. ports: in the UK - Dover, Folkestone; in France - Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer and Dunkirk. A tunnel was built under the strait connecting the continent with the island. Great Britain.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Edited by prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006.

Pas de Calais Pas de Calais is a department in France (see France), part of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region (see Nord-Pas-de-Calais). The administrative center of the Pas-de-Calais department is Arras (79 thousand inhabitants), a city on the Scarpe River, the main city in the historical region of Artois. Arras is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Ancient capital of the Atrebates tribe, until the 12th century. the city belonged to the Counts of Flanders, and became famous for its carpets. The city has preserved Roman fortifications and a citadel (the former headquarters of Turenne). The cathedral (1773-1883) was previously intended for an abbey. The former Abbey of Saint-Vaast is a very beautiful ensemble with two internal galleries. Currently, it houses a library and a Museum of Fine Arts (medieval sculpture, 17th-century painting, as well as porcelain and archaeological finds). The city has many houses in a typically Flemish style. From the town hall building with the clock tower, a chain of underground passages begins that penetrates the city center.
The department contains such ancient towns as Calais, Boulogne, Etaples, Montreuil-sur-Mer, Saint-Omer. Calais (Calais, 76 thousand inhabitants), a port near the Pas-de-Calais Strait. An important transport hub. Sea passenger ferry to Dover (UK). Of all the French ports, Calais is the closest to England: the strait between France and Great Britain is only 31 km wide and is an arm (“English Channel”) of the North Sea, one step away from Calais (“Pas de Calais”). Calais has an ancient production of lace, tulle, and embroidery. Already in the 14th century. was an important trading port. The name of the city is associated with a historical event from the time of King Edward III: in order to avoid the death of the inhabitants, a group of “citizens of Calais”, led by Eustache de Saint-Pierre, brought the keys to the city to the English king. A sculptural composition by Rodin created in 1895 on this theme is exhibited in Calais. From the middle of the 14th to the middle of the 16th century. The city was owned by the British. The city citadel was fortified by Vauban, but retained only the details of the previous fortifications - the ruins of two towers. The citadel was heavily damaged during the war of 1939-1945. and therefore underwent reconstruction. You should see the Guet Tower from the 13th century, the Notre Dame Church from the 13th-16th centuries. and the Museum of Fine Arts and Dentelle.

Boulogne (Boulogne-sur-Mer, 50 thousand inhabitants), a city and port in western France, near the Pas-de-Calais Strait. Passenger services to Dover and Folkestone (UK). Boulogne produces a quarter of the national fish catch. Citadel 13th century built by the son of Philip Augustus. It is worth visiting the palace-museum of the Counts of Boulogne and the 12th century bell tower. - part of the donjon of the former castle.
The fishing port of Etaples, which has gone through numerous wars. Local attractions include the Quentovic Museum, the Hotel de Ville and the Maison de la Faune et de la Flore. The Baie de la Canche Nature Reserve covers an area of ​​500 hectares and is home to 420 plant species, of which 80 are very rare.

Montreuil-sur-Mer is a very popular resort. Citadel 10th century it was rebuilt several times (in the 12th, 14th and 16th centuries). The towers of Reine Berthe and de Blanche have been preserved. The magnificent panorama that opens up while walking through the remains of the fortifications at one time shocked Victor Hugo so much that he moved the action of one of the episodes of Les Miserables here. The chapel of the former orphanage houses the city museum.

The town of Saint-Omer, immersed in the midst of modern life, carefully preserves its historical heritage. Of the ancient monuments, especially interesting are the medieval houses on the Grand-Place, the Gothic Basilica of Notre Dame (13-16 centuries), which has practically preserved its original appearance. The Hotel Sandelin (1776) houses a museum of fine arts exhibiting antique furniture, tapestries, ivory, paintings, ceramics and faience from the North and Delft, very valuable church utensils and an original collection of pipes - 2 thousand pieces. . The Henri-Dupuis Museum is located in a private house from the 18th century.

The luxury resort of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, located on the so-called “Opal Coast” with a magnificent beach and the famous L'Enduro motorcycle track. Luxury is hidden and discreet in English, unnoticeable to the prying eyes of others. The Touquet Museum (du Touquet) displays a collection of paintings from the “Etaples school”, as well as works by contemporary artists (Licata, Van Hecke). The Palais de l'Europe houses a doll museum, where toys from different eras tell the history of the city and region up to the present day.

Encyclopedia of tourism of Cyril and Methodius. 2008.

Synonyms:
    strait

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 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. It is here that the most popular route is located for swimmers trying to swim from one shore to another.

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.

For 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.

The administrative center of the Pas-de-Calais department is Arras (79 thousand inhabitants), a city on the Scarpe River, the main city in the historical region of Artois. Arras is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Ancient capital of the Atrebates tribe, until the 12th century. the city belonged to the Counts of Flanders, and became famous for its carpets. The city has preserved Roman fortifications and a citadel (the former headquarters of Turenne). The cathedral (1773-1883) was previously intended for an abbey. The former Abbey of Saint-Vaast is a very beautiful ensemble with two internal galleries. Currently, it houses a library and a Museum of Fine Arts (medieval sculpture, 17th-century painting, as well as porcelain and archaeological finds). The city has many houses in a typically Flemish style. From the town hall building with the clock tower, a chain of underground passages begins that penetrates the city center.

The department contains such ancient towns as Calais, Boulogne, Etaples, Montreuil-sur-Mer, Saint-Omer. Calais (Calais, 76 thousand inhabitants), a port near the Pas-de-Calais Strait. An important transport hub. Sea passenger ferry to Dover (UK). Of all the French ports, Calais is the closest to England: the strait between France and Great Britain is only 31 km wide and is an arm (“English Channel”) of the North Sea, one step away from Calais (“Pas de Calais”). Calais has an ancient production of lace, tulle, and embroidery. Already in the 14th century. was an important trading port. The name of the city is associated with a historical event from the time of King Edward III: in order to avoid the death of the inhabitants, a group of “citizens of Calais”, led by Eustache de Saint-Pierre, brought the keys to the city to the English king. A sculptural composition by Rodin created in 1895 on this theme is exhibited in Calais. From the middle of the 14th to the middle of the 16th century. The city was owned by the British. The city citadel was fortified by Vauban, but retained only the details of the previous fortifications - the ruins of two towers. The citadel was heavily damaged during the war of 1939-1945. and therefore underwent reconstruction. You should see the Guet Tower from the 13th century, the Notre Dame Church from the 13th-16th centuries. and the Museum of Fine Arts and Dentelle.

Boulogne (Boulogne-sur-Mer, 50 thousand inhabitants), a city and port in western France, near the Pas-de-Calais Strait. Passenger services to Dover and Folkestone (UK). Boulogne produces a quarter of the national fish catch. Citadel 13th century built by the son of Philip Augustus. It is worth visiting the palace-museum of the Counts of Boulogne and the 12th century bell tower. - part of the donjon of the former castle.

The fishing port of Etaples, which has gone through numerous wars. Local attractions include the Quentovic Museum, the Hotel de Ville and the Maison de la Faune et de la Flore. The Baie de la Canche Nature Reserve covers an area of ​​500 hectares and is home to 420 plant species, of which 80 are very rare.

Montreuil-sur-Mer is a very popular resort. Citadel 10th century it was rebuilt several times (in the 12th, 14th and 16th centuries). The towers of Reine Berthe and de Blanche have been preserved. The magnificent panorama that opens up while walking through the remains of the fortifications at one time shocked Victor Hugo so much that he moved the action of one of the episodes of Les Miserables here. The chapel of the former orphanage houses the city museum.

The town of Saint-Omer, immersed in the midst of modern life, carefully preserves its historical heritage. Of the ancient monuments, especially interesting are the medieval houses on the Grand-Place, the Gothic Basilica of Notre Dame (13-16 centuries), which has practically preserved its original appearance. The Hotel Sandelin (1776) houses a museum of fine arts exhibiting antique furniture, tapestries, ivory, paintings, ceramics and faience from the North and Delft, very valuable church utensils and an original collection of pipes - 2 thousand pieces. . The Henri-Dupuis Museum is located in a private house from the 18th century.

The luxury resort of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, located on the so-called “Opal Coast” with a magnificent beach and the famous L'Enduro motorcycle track. Luxury is hidden and discreet in English, unnoticeable to the prying eyes of others. The Touquet Museum (du Touquet) displays a collection of paintings from the “Etaples school”, as well as works by contemporary artists (Licata, Van Hecke). The Palais de l'Europe houses a doll museum, where toys from different eras tell the history of the city and region up to the present day.

Pas de Calais. Arras. City Tower (Beffroy).

Pas de Calais. Arras. Central Square (Grand Place). On the square there are typical Flemish houses from the 15th to 17th centuries.

Pas de Calais. Arras. Heroes' Square (Pitet Place). Panorama.

Pas de Calais. Kale. City Hall.

Pas de Calais. Lighthouse in Calais. Erected in 1848, electrified in 1936.

Pas de Calais. Kale. Ge Tower (13th century), until 1848 it was used as a lighthouse.

Pas de Calais. Kale. Ancient houses on the embankment.

Pas de Calais. Etaple. Old rope factory building.

Pas de Calais. Saint Omer. On the Rue des Épes.

Pas de Calais. Saint Omer. Basilica of Notre Dame (13th-14th centuries).

Pas de Calais. Boulogne-sur-Mer. Panorama of the city.

Pas de Calais. Boulogne-sur-Mer. City Tower (Beffroy).

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