Aigues Mortes

Description of the article « Aigues Mortes »

In the south of France, Aigues-Mortes was the only port of the Kingdom of France on the Mediterranean. It is from this port that Louis IX, known as Saint-Louis, embarked twice for the crusades in the Holy Land. The fortifications protected the city, mainly from Barbary pirates.

The city adjoins the salt production ponds. The red color of the water in the foreground is due to microorganisms adapted to high salt contents. They serve as food for small animals which are prey to the pink flamingos in the foreground, which owe their color to this diet.