FRANCE

FRANCE.

Tourism.
Somme Bay.
Stamp issued on 27.06.1998.
Face value: 3 French francs.
Design: Jean-Paul Véret-Lemarinier (1944-2021).
Printed by ITVF, Boulazac.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 9,473,425 copies.
Size: 31 x 41 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 3400.
- Michel No. 3307.
- Scott No. 2645.
- StampWorld No. 3290.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 3488.
- Unificato No. 3147.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 3168.

The Somme Bay (French: Baie de Somme) is a large estuary, with the appearance of an arm of the sea, in the Picardy, in the región of Hauts-de-France. The bay drains six rivers into the English Channel, mainly the River Somme, and covers a total area of 72 km² (28 sq mi). The bay is noted for its ornithological richness, as well as being a major tourist attraction. When the tide is out, the Baie is characterized by wide, flat areas of marsh and sand, from which glasswort (locally: salicornes) are collected. Small ponds, dug into the marshes and filled with fake plastic ducks, are used to attract migratory birds for hunting. As the tide rises the bay fills, during which time numerous working, leisure and tourist boats cross between the surrounding villages. In 1994 it was declared a National Nature Reserve (Réserve naturelle nationale de la baie de Somme). In addition to the ornithologic fauna, the presence of seals must be highlighted.