46°20′N0°40′W / 46.333°N 0.667°W /46.333; -0.667
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TheMarais Poitevin (pronounced[maʁɛpwatvɛ̃]) orPoitevin Marsh is a large area ofmarshland in the former province ofPoitou in western France.
It is a remnant of what was the formerGulf of Poitou [fr]. The western zone near the sea (about two-thirds of the area) is called the "dry marsh" (or "dried marsh"). It is used for farming and livestock breeding. The eastern zone, called the "wet marsh", is a maze of islets crisscrossed by picturesque canals, primarily now a tourist destination for boating. It is nicknamedThe Green Venice (la Venise Verte).[1]
With an area of 970 square kilometres (370 sq mi),[2] this is the largest marsh on France'sAtlantic coast and the second largest of the country, after theCamargue in Provence.[3] The Marais Poitevin is the most important area ofangelica cultivation in France. Extending across three departments (Vendée,Deux-Sèvres, andCharente-Maritime), it is situated west ofNiort, north ofLa Rochelle, and south ofFontenay-le-Comte.
In 1979 the Marais Poitevin was declared aRegional Natural Park (French:Parc naturel régional), in an effort to help preserve it. The marsh lost that status in 1997, due to intensive agricultural development around the Marsh that endangered the unique character of the region. Only a core Interregional Park (Parc Interrégional du Marais poitevin) of 185 square kilometres (71 sq mi) remains. Attempts to regain the full Park classification started in 2002, and supporters proposed a new charter in 2006. While this was accepted by the local authorities, it was rejected in late 2008 by the national government due to a perceived "juridical fragility".
Tourism includes boating in traditional barques, which is a form ofpunting. There are several piers (French:embarcadères), from which boats can be hired. The myriad canals have become covered in greenduckweed (hence the Green Venice nickname). The drained marshland is home to a varied fauna.
The marsh developed above alimestone plateau, dating from theJurassic period.[4] This plateau covered much of the former province ofPoitou. TheWürm glaciation, c. 24,000–10,000YBP, caused significant marine regression and the recovery of much river erosion (a watershed of c. 535,000 ha), thus exposing the marl-limestone formations. The villages ofMaillezais,Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm, andMarans developed on such hillocks.
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