A magnificent tourist zone in Vendée, strewed with charming bed and breakfast, would be the first one to be submerged should  the level of the ocean climb because of the looming arctic glaciers melt down.

The swamp of Marais Poitevin, a coastal zone of Vendee, Deux-Sèvres and Charente-Maritime, is a space which was given up by a withdrawing ocean about five centuries ago. In fact, it was the monks of five abbeys of the region who began the work of draining the water from the swamp, building dams and channels. This titanic job continued until the 80s.

Wet swamps, which is the most oriental part, is qualified as green Venice, and  cover for their part a surface of about 17 000 square miles, whereas swamps qualified as intermediaries (imperfectly dried out) represent approximately 11 000 square miles. The height of this swampy zone is at an intermediate level between that of high waters and low waters. With my GPS, I find heights going from less two yards to 10 yards.

My conclusion : the debate of Copenhagen on the rise of the level of the oceans gives me the shivers.