All about the The Mangrove of Martinique with Europcar

What is a mangrove?

It is a coastal littoral forest, amphibian, in a flooded part that is only found in the tropics. It forms the border between land and water and develops in the calm, shallow water areas, that is why that it is mostly found at the bottom of the protected coves.

So the conditions for this type of vegetation depend on different parameters: tides, water temperature (always above 20 °), the supply of fresh water and brackish water. Specific field conditions (muddy soil, poor dioxide and salty), promote the implementation of a fauna and restricted and unusual flora (species able to live there are very few, at most 4)In detail…

From sea to land, the landscape is organized as follows. The species growing closer to the sea (seaside mangrove), on clay soil, mainly composed of silt and highly charged with sulfur, in a completely submerged area by continuously sea is invaded by the paletuvier RED, which is close to the sea thanks to her role colonizer, easily recognizable thanks to its aerial roots hoops which allows him to keep feet despite the unstable ground, whose mode of reproduction is spectacular; it is the only plant species vivipare. 

Red Paletuvier

Further back, the mangrove shrub, which is located in the transition zone of the tides, where the paletuvier BLACK develops, with its remarkable pneumatophores (growths of roots emerging perpendicularly from the mud). 

Black palétuvier

The dry wood pond, consists of a sandy area -argileuse naked, almost devoid of vegetation, because of the small and regular marine immersions that promote the concentration of salt.Finally the transition zone with the mainland, where the ground is periodically submerged are characterized paletuvier GREY AND WHITE 

Visit the mangroves?

After traveling through the island, thanks to your rental car, you may'll want to switch context, you experience a universe, particularly fascinating, both for its mystery by its scenery, by letting you train a must ride in Martinique, way eco tourism in the labyrinths of mangrove for example, the discovery of plant and animal species little known, in a quiet, relaxing and wild, where only animal noises heard !!!

Village Pottery, Trois Ilets, you'll have no trouble finding you park your rental car, you were comfortably installed, to change the means of transport, as well equipped to embark on a "yole"can easily accommodate 10 people, "the Mantou" which will take you out of the harbor towards Génipa Bay, to the east, while listening to the guide's detailed information.

Once reached around the shores of the town of Ducos, you will enter the heart of the mangrove via the Canal Cocotte, orCanal de Rivière Salee.

Another approach to the Mangrove, would be to make a turn in a kayak, "Mangrove Kayaking Evasion" offers this kind of getaway solo or with a guide. With or without GPS in your rental car, it will be quite easy to head into the town of Ducos, particularly Canal Cocotte "place of departure to go on an adventure in gliding board your small boat on an emerald green water.

After a few strokes of oars on an enchanting journey that will leave you speechless, amid this wild nature that offers his show, where there are major players in these famous trees and all the animals that accompany you will be overwhelmed by the scenery.