A very interesting natural site is the Gulf of Lyon, known even by the ancient Romans. This place has an amazing history stretching over many centuries. Read about this bay in this article.
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The story of the Gulf of Lyon must begin with its name. In ancient times, the bay was called Gallic, in Latin it sounded like "Sinus Gallicus." This happened because the Romans invaded the lands of the Gauls located to the north along the coast of this bay. The Gulf of Lyon is the modern name of the natural site. However, no one can be 100% sure of why it sounds that way. According to the generally accepted version, this naming was given to the bay in the eighth century.
In the Middle Ages it was called Sinus (Mare) Leonis, which translated as the "Lyon Sea". If you turn to French dictionaries, you can find an explanation for this phenomenon. The fact is that in the past the gulf had a cruel and dangerous disposition, like that of a lion. The dictionaries also provide references to texts in Latin. Fishermen and sailors often died from the surging waves, a large number of ships suffered. An interesting fact is that the city of Lyon, located north of the Mediterranean Sea, has nothing to do with the bay.
Formation
The Gulf of Lyon was formed in the Oligocene era under the influence of tectonic changes. During its existence, sediments accumulated at the bottom, which led to the formation of the shelf. After 200 meters from it is located the abyssal plain - a kind of field at the depth of water, which occupies most of the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. The western and northern coasts are low-lying plains. It is on this territory that there are lagoons and swampy lowlands. In the eastern part, the coast is taller and steeper.
Location
The bay is located next to the Mediterranean Sea. Its coast lies in the south of France. The lands adjacent to the bay belong to such French regions as Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon. Several rivers flow into the bay, for example, the Aude, Orb, Vidurl, Tet and Ero. The most famous of them is Ron. The bay extends from Catalonia, an autonomous community in Spain, to a port called Toulon.
The Gulf of Lyon is connected with the Biscay and Languedoc, as well as the Southern Canals. In the Mediterranean port called Seth, the Southern Canal originates, near Toulouse it adjoins the Garron Canal, and through it you can get to the Bay of Biscay. This reporting system is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an outstanding example of engineering.
Features
A distinctive feature that the Gulf of Lyon possesses is the dominance in the territory of two piercing, very cold winds. Mistral - northwest wind. In the spring season, it travels from the Cévennes mountain range to the Mediterranean coast of France. It is so strong that it is capable of uprooting mighty trees. It causes huge damage to agriculture in the Rhone Valley and coastal Provence. But there are positive features in Mistral. For example, the wind accelerates the clouds with its power, so the sky of the Riviera becomes clear, and the weather becomes sunny.
The north and north-east wind of Tramontan is due to the large difference in pressure from mainland Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Its speed exceeds 100 km / h, and sometimes reaches 130 km / h. Gusts of Tramontan wind ruin everything that stands in their way and cause enormous damage to nature and agriculture.
Residents
As mentioned earlier, the Gulf of Lyon has a rich history. The Phoenicians and Greeks lived on its coast. They occupied these territories in ancient times. However, in the 2nd century BC, the Romans chose the coast, making the territory one of the most Romanized provinces of Gaul. Some of the ancient cities have survived to this day. In them you can see ancient temples, aqueducts, amphitheaters and triumphal arches. All this is the cultural heritage of Antiquity, because these buildings are examples of the traditional architecture of the Ancient Greece and Rome.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the coast of the gulf became a tidbit for German barbarians. They were engaged in the robbery of rich villages, did not build new buildings and did not seek to gain a foothold in these territories. Therefore, in the 8th century AD, Arabs came here, and in the 9-13 centuries, the bay became part of the Holy Roman Empire and, subsequently, the French kingdom. In subsequent centuries, the bubonic plague raged on the coast of the bay, but already in the 19th century the rapid growth of port cities and the active development of the economy began. Marseille became the largest city.
What does the Gulf of Lyon mean for modern France? Firstly, it is one of the most visited tourist places, which, of course, brings considerable income. Secondly, on the coast of the Gulf are such cities that are considered the most important military bases of France. For example, the harbor of Toulon played a large role in World War II. Thirdly, local cities are of great importance for the country's economy, because many of them are international ports.
Marseilles
The second most populated city in France. Modernity and antiquity mixed in it into one cocktail, which attracts tourists from all over the world. Marseille is considered the largest port in France and the entire Mediterranean region. Since its foundation to this day, it is one of the most multi-ethnic cities in France. This is due to the fact that Marseille is a kind of “window to Europe”. Immigrants from Greece, Italy, Russia, Armenia, Corsica, China and Vietnam have transformed Marseille into a multinational city.
Toulon
What is the Gulf of Lyon without port cities? It is impossible to imagine it without Marseille and Toulon, because it was precisely these settlements in the past that turned the coast of the bay into developed territories. Toulon is located on Mount Faron. The Phoenicians mined shells here, and from them they received precious purple, with the help of which they dyed fabrics. Many kings participated in the wars for Toulon, because, having received this city, they would have become the owners of a monopoly on trade in the Mediterranean. The Royal Tower, which serves as a reminder of the bloodshed of the past, has survived to this day.
