Page 50 - MG Magazine

ust alone in the bay of Saint-Malo there are
about 350 shipwrecks. Today, many of them
can be discovered on underwater trips that
bring back to life many stories that were for-
gotten in the past. Diving lovers can discover
corsair ships that rest there since the 17th
Jcentury or vessels from the Second World War.

UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRAILS
The Saint-Malo Underwater Archaeological Trail offers
the perfect adventure for divers who love history. It´s a
route that runs through its seabeds discovering marvel-
lous treasures. This unbelievable sight starts from the rock
of Bizeux, to the north, where the 18th-century corsair
frigates of the Natière are located. There, some 3,000 ob-
jects were discovered, such as cannons, sailors' personal
belongings and even the skeleton of a Barbary macaque.
To the northwest, we can find Le Garibaldi, a 25-meter
British ship from the 19th century. Continuing in the same
direction, there is the M4600, a German patrol ship from
World War II. The next stop is on the island of Cézembre,
where you can see the SS Hilda, a steam ship that made the
route between England and Saint-Malo. The tour ends on
the late 19th century steam freighter Le Fetlar.

MARITIME ADVENTURE
The archaeological site located at the foot of the Bizeux
rock, in the Rance estuary, is unique in Brittany, as it allows
underwater exploration on a ship sunk in the 18th century. © le-gal-yannick
The ship lays on the sand at about 3 to 10 meters deep,
depending on the tides. It still shows a beam of about 10
meters and a length of about 15 meters, and also 5 can- TIDES AND BOREHOLE
nons and a 3-meter-long wrought iron anchor. The visit is
carried out accompanied by a professional from Adramar, Tides that exceed 90 coefficients are considered
a French association created for the marine archaeological large tides. It is a natural phenomenon that oc-
development and research. Along the visit you can see the curs during a full or new moon, when the sun and
remains of the shipwreck while being introduced to mar-
itime archaeology, in the knowledge of submerged herit- the moon are aligned with the Earth and, there-
age, and in the flora and fauna of the estuary. fore, the attraction on the mass of the oceans is
more important.
SAINT-MALO AND ITS TIDES
During low season, free of tourists, the corsair city of
Saint-Malo offers quiet streets and illuminated shops. Its Borehole is a phenomenon associated with tides, in
fortifications, facing the sea, are less crowded and from which the rising tide front forms a wave that rides el francés yannick bestaven ganador | the winner
them you can enjoy, without haste, its spectacular views. up a narrow river or bay against the direction of
At the beginning of the high tide season, the Saint-Malo
coastline and the bay of Mont Saint-Michel are the theatre the river flow or bay current. It happens during the
of the largest tides in Europe, with an amplitude between liveliest tides, and consists of a wave that goes up
low and high tide about 12 meters. The sea disappears and rivers, and estuaries.
reappears with force at 6 o'clock. An impressive show or-
chestrated by nature.

MG MAGAZINE 50