Saint Pardon on the Dordogne river - Aug 16, 2015
The Tidal Bore, also called Bore, is generally named un Mascaret in French
A bore is an unusual phenomenon, which arises in wide and
shallow estuaries (around 2-4m deep) with a low tide and a high tidal
coefficient (in the order of 100)
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| It occurs during exceptionally high sea tides |
It is a twice a day tidal phenomenon in which the leading
edge of the incoming tide forms a wave(s) of water that travels up a river
against the direction of the river current.
Around 60 sites are listed in the world. In France it's now
only present in Aquitaine: Gironde : behind Ile Margaux (50cm) Garonne : behind
Ile d'Arcins Right bank (80cm), between Langoiran and Podensac (2.5m) Dordogne
: from St Pardon to Libourne (2.5m)
In Saint Pardon a ride, 10 to 20km/h for 1 kilometer (up to 20 minutes), can be experienced!
We went to the river’s port of Saint Pardon located in the
commune of Vayres.
Only 20 minutes from the city of Bordeaux, and 10 minutes
from Saint-Emilion.
Tidal Bore Rafting
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| Both surfers and paddlers use the boat ramp in the center of the village to enter the water |
For lot of surfers and kayakers, chasing, surfing and jumping this tidal surge is a very unique experience
A video of the tidal bore phenomenon the Aug 16, 2015
Two key features are the intense turbulence the sounds caused by the turbulence
