Bus tour "Great Britain and famous cities of Europe". Strait of Pas-de-Calais. Bus tour "Great Britain and famous cities of Europe" Entertainment in Nord-Pas-de-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.
Pas de Calais (French Pas de Calais, in English-speaking countries called the Strait of Dover, English Strait of Dover) - the strait between Great Britain and mainland Europe, serves as the entrance to the strait register ] from the North Sea. Length - 37 kilometers, width - from 29 to 32 kilometers, depth - from 21 to 64 meters. Main ports: in Great Britain - Dover, in France - Calais, Boulogne and [You must register to view this link] . The Eurotunnel passes under Pas-de-Calais. The strait was formed in the Anthropocene during the subsidence and flooding of land between the mainland and the British Isles.
Strait of Dover regime
The Strait of Dover (Pas de Calais) is of exceptional importance for navigation. Every day a huge flow of ships goes through it both towards the Atlantic Ocean and to the shores of many European countries. It is estimated that 300 thousand ships pass through the Strait of Dover every year, with at least 40 ships in the strait at any one time. Over 90 percent of ships use the approximately 5 mile wide channel between the Warne Bank and the English coast.
The accumulation of a large number of ships in a narrow strait, moving in different directions, is the cause of frequent collisions and accidents in the area. According to estimates by one Norwegian insurer, almost half of all collisions in the world occur in the area stretching from the English Channel to the Elbe River.
In connection with the current situation in this area, at the initiative of the coastal states, the question was raised about clearer regulation of vessel navigation with the establishment of recommended courses and the division of vessel traffic through the Strait of Dover into two streams.
For these purposes, back in 1961, a group of specialists was formed in London, and then in Paris and Hamburg, which was tasked with preparing proposals for improving navigation, navigation fences and creating a special information service on ship traffic in the Strait of Dover. All proposals were submitted for consideration and discussion at meetings of the Maritime Safety Committee of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) in order to prepare uniform rules for the navigation of ships in the Strait of Dover and adopt them internationally.
Eurotunnel
A railway tunnel runs under the Strait of Dover and under the English Channel, connecting continental Europe with the UK, opened on May 6, 1994. As a symbol of a uniting Europe, at one time it held the title of the longest tunnel in the world, in this capacity it was replaced by the Seikan Tunnel (connecting the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido).
The tunnel has a length of about 51 kilometers, of which 39 are directly at the bottom of the sea. The American Society of Civil Engineers declared the Eurotunnel one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Based on materials from Wikipedia, Great Soviet Encyclopedia, randewy.ru
The body of water that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the southern North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Strait of Dover, French: Pas de Calais or English Channel, Dutch: Nauw van Calais or Straat van Dover, English Channel - this strait separates Great Britain from continental Europe.
"English Channel" - The shortest distance across the channel from the South Foreland point, 33.1 km (20.6 mi) northeast of Dover in Kent, England, and Cap Gris, a headland near Calais in the French department of Pas-de-de-Channel Calais, France.
Between these points lies the most popular route for cross-channel swimmers.
Pas de Calais Strait on the map
Most shipping between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean passes through the Strait of Dover, rather than the longer and more dangerous route around the north of Scotland.
The Strait of Busy International Routes is the busiest shipping lane in the world with over 400 merchant ships a day.
The safety of the route through and along the strait has become a critical issue, with 24 hour shore support over the strait and strict enforcement of shipping lanes. 
In addition to heavy east-west traffic, the strait is crossed north-south by ferries, linking Dover, Calais and Boulogne. The English Channel currently provides an alternative route, beneath the strait, at an average depth of 45 m (150 ft) below the seabed. The city of Dover gave its name to one of the maritime areas of British shipping.
The English name for the canal has been in common use since the early 18th century, noted by the Engelse Kanaal in Dutch charts of the sea from the 16th century onwards. To modern Dutch people, however, it is known as Het Kanaal (without reference to the word "English").
Later, it was also known as the British Channel or British Sea. Under the name Oceanus Britannica, it is designated by the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. On the Italian map of 1450, the name canalites Anglie is used - possibly the first recorded use of a canal designation. Anglo-Saxon name Sud-sǣ (South Sea), as opposed to "North Sea" = Bristol Channel. The word canal was first noted in English in the 13th century. The French name English Channel has been around since at least the early 17th century. The name English Channel usually refers to the narrowest point of the strait.
In Spain and most Spanish-speaking countries, the strait is called El Canal de la Mancha. In Portuguese it is known as Canal da Mancha. This is not a translation from French! In Portuguese and Spanish, Mancha means spot, while the word sleeve means manga, indicating either a phonetic borrowing from French or a common etymology.
In Catalan, the meaning (canal de la Manega) is Manega means "sleeve". Other languages also use this name, such as Greek (Κανάλι της Μάγχης) and Italian (la) Manica. German - Ärmelkanal, literally channel-channel, or more generally Atlantic.
English Channel (French: English Channel; Breton: Mor Breizh, "sea of the Bretons"; Corniche: Mor Bretannek, British Sea)
Primary tributaries - River Exe, River Seine, River Test, River Tamar, River Somme and tributaries of the UK basin rivers
Max. length 560 km (350 mi)
Max. width 240 km (150 mi)
Surface area 75,000 km 2 (29,000 sq mi)
Average depth 63 m (207 ft)
Max. depth 174 m (571 ft)
on Deep Herd
Salinity 3.4-3.5%
Max. temperature 15°C (59°F)
Min temperature 5°C (41°F)
Islands Ile de Bréhat, Ile de Batz, Chausey, Tatihou, Ile St. Marcouf, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm
Settlements Bournemouth, Brighton, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Poole, Le Havre
Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001.
Pas de Calais
(French Pas de Calais, English Dover Canal ), a strait between the northern coast of France and south. coast of England. Connects North Sea from the prol. 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
(Straits 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 - department in France (cm. France), part of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region (cm. 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 Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .
Synonyms:
See what "PAS DE CALE" is in other dictionaries:
Calais Calais Country France Region Nord Pas de Calais Department Pas de Calais Subprefecture of Calais Number of cantons 5 Number of communes 28 Population (2009) ... Wikipedia
Fr. Calais Nord Ouest canton of France (AE level 3) ... Wikipedia
Fr. Calais Center canton of France (AE level 3) ... Wikipedia
Fr. Calais Est canton of France (AE level 3) ... Wikipedia
Fr. Calais Sud Est canton of France (AE level 3) ... Wikipedia
- (Calais), a city in France, a port on the Pas de Calais Strait, the administrative center of the Pas de Calais department. About 80 thousand inhabitants. An important transport hub. Sea passenger ferry to Dover (UK). Mechanical engineering, chemical, food... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
Kale: Kale (plant), or Grunkol (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica L.) is an annual vegetable plant, a type of cabbage. Kale (Gypsies) is one of the “large” gypsy groups. Kale (satellite) is an irregular satellite of Jupiter, ... ... Wikipedia
So, from the Netherlands we headed to the French port of Calais, from where we had to take a ferry across the Pas de Calais (the narrowest part of the English Channel) to the UK. We crossed the strait twice and in this post the chronology of my story will be broken, some of the photos are from the way to England, some are from back to the mainland.
Pas de Calais, (French: Pas de Calais) Strait of Dover (English: Strait of Dover), a strait between mainland Europe (France) and the island of Great Britain. In ancient times it was called the Strait of Gaul, due to its location on the shores of Gaul. The length of the strait is 37 km, width from 29 to 35 km, minimum depth 21 m. The main ports are: in the UK - Dover, in France - Calais, Boulogne, Dunkirk
On the day we moved to England, the weather was not favorable to us, it was raining and stormy. However, we took a few photos on the open deck.
Oncoming ferry. Same as ours.
The ferry covers the distance between French Calais and English Dover in less than two hours. However, as we approached Dover our progress stalled. Dover was not receiving ferries due to the storm. We had to wait about an hour and a half for permission to moor.
And here it is, finally, Foggy Albion...
Dover is a port city located on the east coast of England, belonging to the county of Kent. A characteristic feature is that Dover is located on the seashore in the narrowest section of the English Channel, namely the Pas de Calais Strait.
Dover was built on the River Douai at its mouth, in a valley that is surrounded by the world famous unique white cliffs. They can often be seen by those travelers who cross the Pas de Calais. The distance between the two shores of the Pas de Calais in its narrowest part - namely between the South Foreland capes and Cape Gray Nose (or in the original - Cap Gris Nez) is only 34 kilometers.
Approaching Dover from the open sea, you can see its chalk cliffs. These rocks rise above the sea, their simply dazzling whiteness is the first sign for sailors - their approach to England and because of this these rocks received the name - “Keys to England” - its beauty simply amazes the imagination.
The city of Dover (Kent), located on the seashore near the Pas de Calais Strait, was founded on the site of an ancient Roman settlement town. It has a truly unique and rich history. Of course, due to the close proximity of France (namely, a distance of 34 km from its shores), this city had enormous strategic importance - for protecting the entire territory of Britain from attacks.
And now the first English houses
Now let's move forward in time a week, we'll talk about staying in the UK ahead, and let's trace the path in the opposite direction.
This time the weather spoiled us with sunshine.
Snow-white chalk cliffs.
Remains of defensive structures on the hill. The castle of this city is located on the top of the White Rocks with an altitude of about 114 meters above sea level, and now, as during the reign of the Romans, it is an outpost of defense.
At the port of Le Havre. The white bus is ours; it traveled with us on the ferry across the strait.
The customs building, here we went through passport control.
Let's set sail... Farewell, Foggy Albion!
The return journey was uneventful and soon Kale appeared ahead.
In the 13th century, Calais was transformed by the Count of Boulogne from a fishing village into a large coastal fortress. After the victory at Crecy (1346), the English king Edward III could not take Calais for a whole year. The events of the siege are immortalized in the monument to the citizens of Calais, which was commissioned by the city of Rodin. The English continued to own the city until 1558, when the Duke of Guise recaptured it from Mary Tudor. This was England's last territory in continental Europe.
Calais is the largest transport hub in northern France. The ferry line between Calais and Dover in England carries the main flow of goods between the two countries. Following the opening of the railway tunnel in 1994, ferry traffic declined, causing one of the two ferry operating companies, SeaFrance, to go under and is currently in liquidation. On the other hand, thanks to the opening of the tunnel, passenger traffic through Calais has increased dramatically. Currently it is more than 10 million people per year.
PS. Many photographs were taken through the glass of the bus, hence the quality of the photos is not very good((.
