Saint-Malo is famous for its tides, among the largest in Europe: learn how they are formed and what force can move such masses of water for our great pleasure as walkers and fishermen!
One of the great pleasures of a stay at our hotel in Saint Malo with sea view is to enjoy the tides every day, the changing landscape they bring to the coast and the walks they offer! But before you take a stroll along the beach or shore, find out all about the phenomenon of the tides, so you can better appreciate them during your next stay!
A COMPLEX SCIENTIFIC PHENOMENON
The principle of attraction has been known since Newton: the force exerted by a heavy body like a planet or satellite on other bodies. It's this particular force that lifts the masses of water on Earth and creates the tides.
It's the Moon (smaller but closer) and the Sun (heavier but further away) that exert a variable gravitational pull on the Earth and move the water. This force of attraction is variable because the position of these two stars is always changing in relation to the Earth.
When an ocean or large body of water passes along the Moon's axis, the attraction is at its strongest, creating a high tide.
Conversely, when this same point of the globe is on the opposite side of the Moon, this force of attraction is reduced, corresponding to low tides.
It's important to understand that this force is gigantic (even if you can't feel it) and that it can also lift the earth's crust by around 40 cm.
The Sun plays a lesser role due to its distance, but its effect is combined with that of the Moon. When the two stars are on the same axis, their effects add up to high-coefficient tides. On the other hand, when the Sun is at right angles to the Moon and Earth, we see the phenomenon of neap tides, with very low tides as their forces of attraction cancel each other out.
Tidal effects occur on every body of water on the planet. As a result, even large lakes like Lake Michigan are affected to a lesser extent than seas and oceans.
The impact on the Mediterranean Sea is minimal, as it is a relatively enclosed, bowl-shaped sea. Oceans such as the Pacific and Atlantic, on the other hand, are subject to significant tides. That's why in Saint-Malo, tides are part of the daily rhythm of local life, with 2 low tides and 2 high tides every 24 hours.
THE TIDES IN SAINT-MALO
Thanks to its geographical location, the Bay of Saint-Malo is blessed with some of the highest tides in Europe. When the huge masses of water from the Atlantic Ocean rush into the narrow neck of the English Channel, the sea forms a highly amplified wave that rushes quickly and powerfully onto the coastline.
As a result, the difference between high and low tide averages more than 12 meters around the Saint-Malo area. The result is a totally altered landscape between low and high tide, with vast stretches of open sand ideal for walking, photography and fishing.
This phenomenon is even more impressive at high tide!
This happens 6 to 10 times a year, with tidal coefficients in excess of 100. In 2020, the next dates to remember are February 10 to 13 and March 10 to 13. It's an opportunity for some great walks and probably some miraculous fishing!
