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11/01/2010

The coastal map

The coastal map

Now on Géoportail you can view the coastal map, which is the product of assembling IGN’s land maps with the maps of the seas and oceans produced by the SHOM (Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the French Navy). Another great reference tool to improve your knowledge and understanding of France’s coastal areas

Either side of the coastline

Géoportail coastal map (Tibidy Island)

To make this coastal map, maps of the areas to 10km either side of the coastline (demarcation line between marine and terrestrial zones, as determined by the two organisations concerned) produced by IGN and the SHOM (Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the French Navy) were put together edge to edge.


How can I display the coastal map ?

"Coastal map" layer - Géoportail

- Go to the commune of your choice that is situated near the coast

- In the ‘Layers catalogue’, open the ‘COASTLINE’ file, and tick the ‘Coastal map’ box

> Direct access

Help with reading the map

The marine map is designed to meet the requirements of marine navigation. It shows, amongst others, the sea’s depth, the nature of the sea-bed, maritime signals etc. *

Below you will find some tips to improve your understanding of the marine part of the coastal map.

> Ocean depth

Depth is indicated by the following colours:

Coastal map - green: SHORE

green : indicates the shore (whole of the zone covered at highest tides and uncovered at lowest)

Coastal map – dark blue: shallow zones

dark blue: indicates shallow zones

Coastal map – light blue: indicates deeper zones

light blue: indicates deeper zones

Coastal map - white: indicates deepest zones

white: indicates deepest zones


The sounding, that is, the height of the water as compared with the level at the lowest tide, (hydrographic zero) is indicated by two figures (usually in italics): the first number represents the metres and the second, in subscript, represents the decimetres. If the first number is underlined, the level is a negative level as it only emerges at the lowest tides (above the map zero).

If the figures are not in italics the sounding is less reliable.  

> Buoys

Coastal map - buoys

The buoys represent fixed or floating maritime buoyage (beacons, boat hooks, buoys etc.)

> Other symbols

You can find an exhaustive list of all the symbols used on the marine section of the coastal map in the marine mapping document on the SHOM website.

 


 

Why do we need a coastal map ?

The coastal map that can be viewed on Géoportail fulfils a range of needs.


Local authorities : the European Union recommends a specific sustainable development approach for coastal areas: the Integrated Coastal Zone Management program, which advocates “environmentally sustainable, economically equitable, socially responsible, and culturally sensitive management of coastal zones” (recommendation 2002/413/CE of the European Parliament and Council). The coastal map is a tool that facilitates integrated management in that it provides a detailed, continuous description of the coast.


Civilian safety: the coastal map provides assistance in managing emergencies that require the coordination of land-based and marine resources.


General public : the coastal map is a useful resource for coastal walks, sea-shore sports etc.

 


The ‘coastal map’ layer currently covers the North Sea, Channel and Atlantic coasts, with the Mediterranean coast due to be added by the end of 2009.

 

* NB : the coastal map cannot be used instead of a navigation map for sailing purposes, as it has no legal value.

 

 

 

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