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The Camargue is located in the South of France between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhône River delta. The region is famous for the extensive coastal wetlands it supports. A few weekends ago my partner and I decided to take our bikes and cycle across the region to both stretch our legs and take in some of France’s beautiful landscapes and nature. While much of the Camargue have been drained and modified to support agriculture, there are sections that remain under natural vegetation. Wetlands within the region are important stop-over points for migratory birds, and we were able to spot a few bird species that we had never seen before. The highlight for me was seeing 50-80 Grus grus, aka Common or Eurasian cranes, which can only be found in the region as they pass through on their way to the summer breeding grounds in Russia.

In addition to the unique and stunning wildlife that live in and visit the Camargue, the region’s economy is strongly driven by tourism and also supports important food crops.

Haiku and photo: Steph Januchowski-Hartley